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The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, exploded with electrifying energy June 7-9, as Hair Expo 2003 - the largest hairdressing event in the Southern Hemisphere thrilled crowds in excess of 23,000 with all the passion, beauty and talent the hair industry has to offer. Combining the most talented stylists and performers from
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Australia, Europe and the US, Hair Expo is unique in the international hair industry in that it is the only event on the world circuit that combines an exhibition with a complete, comprehensive seminar and education programs, as well as the much applauded evening gala shows and an awards ceremony. |
The exhibition halls at Hair Expo this year incorporated 30% more floor space than previous years, making the exhibition the largest ever. It also boasted the largest number of international
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exhibitors, with companies from the UK, USA, South Africa, Pakistan, Taiwan, New Zealand and other regions in the Asia Pacific rim arriving in Sydney to display their goods and services. |
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The feedback from exhibitors has been extremely positive, with many saying they had exceeded their expectations by up to
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400%! As a result, 40% of next year's exhibition space has been re-booked for Hair Expo 2004. |
The Hair Expo educational and seminar program included super Australian stylist and industry pioneer Benni Tognini, who shared
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his artistic energy and 27 years experience; freehand stylist with a martial arts twist, Joe Giampa; the 2003 Apprentice Champion of Champions; holistic hairdressing when Australian Hairdressers of the Year Oscar Cullinan and Mick Luppino team up for Aveda; and the ever-popular International Open Cutting Competition, where stylists have to prove their skills without styling products, blowdryers or tricks - just sensational cutting. |
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This year's event also marked another first - the largest lineup of international talent ever seen by Australian audiences under the one roof. The quality and style of education on offer at Hair Expo
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2003 was unlike any seen before including: TIGI International Creative Director Anthony Mascolo and Vidal Sassoon legends Annie Humphreys and Tim Hartley through to the hottest young stylists on the world hair circuit such as Redken's Lee Stafford (UK)… |
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…Toni & Guy's Gary and Kirsten France (UK), Paul Mitchell's Melissa Jacqua (USA), Wella's Martina Acht (Germany) and the exhilarating Hair Mania team from Korea. |
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The evening gala shows and parties are always a much-anticipated highlight of the Hair Expo weekend and this year was certainly no different. The magical Vidal Sassoon Past Present Future retrospect, starring the beating heart of the Sassoon team today…
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… Annie Humphreys and Tim Hartley and directed by producer extraordinaire Mike Esa, was completely sold out weeks before the event and proved why the Vidal Sassoon name is still up there with the best some fifty years after making it's mark in London's swinging sixties. | |
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On the homefront, the crowds lapped up the edgy talent on show from Australia's leading young stylists in GenerationNext, a cool blend of hair and fashion that clearly demonstrated that these hungry young stylists are a force to be reckoned with.
Then there was the grand finale to the Hair Expo long weekend - The 18th Hair Expo Australian Hairdressing Awards. Announced on the evening of Monday 9 June, these 'Oscars' of the hair world are the industry standard and the 'Everest' of hairdressing excellence. The evening's biggest accolade - the Australian Hairdresser of the Year award - was taken for the fourth time in five years by super stylist Shane Henning from Noddy's on King salon. Without a doubt one of Australia's most admired stylists who's work has been seen all over the world, Shane's humble acceptance speech only went to show why he is one of the industry's favourite sons.
18th Hair Expo Hairdressing Awards
| Australian Hairdresser of the Year |
Shane Henning, Noddy's on King, Newtown |
| Best New Creative Force |
Dmitri Papas, Stelios Papas Salons, Brisbane |
| Apprentice/Trainee of the Year |
Weila Shieh, Tognini's Hair Skin Body, Brisbane |
| Salon Team of the Year |
Noddy's on King, Newtown |
| Hairdressing Technician of the Year |
Angela Pastore, Colour Cosmetica, Adelaide |
| Excellence in Hairdressing Education |
Benni Tognini, Brisbane |
| Excellence in Salon Marketing |
Sandy Chong, Suki, Newcastle |
| Best New Salon Design |
Vogue Nationale, Brisbane |
| Photographic Collection of the Year |
Noddy's on King for Shane Henning's entry |
| New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year |
Lucy Vincent-Marr, Stephen Marr Hair, Skin, Body, Auckland |
| Hair Expo Hall of Fame |
Alyson Schoer |
According to Directors Anthony and Susa Wynne-Hoelscher, "Hairdressers are the single most influential group in the world in terms of their capacity to energize, enthuse and lift their clients, both cosmetically and spiritually. In Australia alone, hairdressers share a personal (some might say intimate) relationship with more than six million other Australians…we are proud of what Australian hairdressers have to offer the world and are pleased to be able to showcase their work at Hair Expo, while at the same time delivering the industry the opportunity to experience the creme of world hairdressing… "
For more information about the Hair Expo event click here!
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