Most Wanted

Reward, respect, recognition… they have it all! Congratulations to our nine newly crowned UK’s Most Wanted winners

Back in June, more than 50 iconic judges – influential experts in the worlds of hairdressing, fashion, beauty, art, new media, publishing and PR – gathered to assess hundreds of UK’s Most Wanted entries. Forty fabulous finalists shot to the top, later joined by our five highest-scoring Hair Icon contenders – earning a record-breaking number of votes from the readers of Creative HEAD and Headfirst. Finally, on Monday 7 September, in the company of their peers, colleagues, friends, family and of course, Brit-hot comedian Jimmy Carr, our worthy winners were crowned, each taking home a coveted UK’s Most Wanted trophy and receiving the reward, respect and recognition they deserve.

As our winners bask in their victorious glory and get set for exciting times ahead, we showcase their sparkling success stories.

FOR THE SMARTEST HAIRDRESSING WEBSITE LAUNCHED BY A UK SALON

hmhair.co.uk

With a key aim to maximise footfall to Headmasters’ 36 salons, PR director Laura Hinton (pictured left, six months pregnant!) and marketing manager Emma Freeman gave the salon group’s website an overhaul this year. Stylish and user-friendly, hmhair.co.uk now helps thousands of users quickly locate their nearest salon, delivers great haircare advice and showcases downloadable special offers – the website’s most popular page! For hairdressing professionals, there’s a Vacancies area and Franchising zone. It’s clear the navigation system is integral to this website’s success, but it’s the attention to detail that impressed our judges. A newsletter button on every page encourages new users to sign up (capturing precious data), while the use of Google Analytics allows the team to monitor visitor habits and shows that the website receives approximately 28,730 unique users per month. With proven business benefits, this really is a winning website.

FINALISTS: anneveckhair.com; garyhedley.com; rainbowroominternational.com; thechapel.co.uk

"Clear navigation – easy to find what you are looking for"

FOR A FIRST-CLASS TEAM OFFERING UNRIVALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE

Review, Petersfield

For 20 years, Review has offered top-class services in stylish surroundings, and its managing directors Paul Hawes and Elaine Armitage have fostered a 22-strong team that is committed to providing fantastic customer care. Perhaps this is due to the company’s attitude to achieving a desirable work-life balance and the flexible working hours. It could be down to the quarterly staff reviews, the team days out, the 
City & Guilds accredited training programme, or the numerous award wins. Then there are the salon’s impressive statistics, including a 93 per cent client retention rate, columns routinely fully booked up to eight weeks in advance, and client testimonials applauding ‘consistently high standards’. We’re confident it was all the above that jumped out at our judges, earning this thriving salon its coveted award win.

FINALISTS: Cienté, Berkhamsted; Clipso, London; Electric Hairdressing, Reading; Rainbow Room International, Glasgow

"A very comprehensive entry – shows incredible effort all round"

FOR A CREATIVE DIRECTOR SHOWING EXCEPTIONAL BRAND AWARENESS

Sally and Jamie Brooks, Brooks & Brooks

Over the years, Sally and Jamie Brooks have nurtured a top-quality brand, cultivating the ‘next big idea’ at every opportunity. This commitment to delivering both exceptional service and creative innovation forms the basis of the Brooks & Brooks brand and trickles down through everything the company produces. For Sally and Jamie, staying ‘on brand’ means ensuring results are brilliant every time. And it works. The salon has officially beaten the recession – revenue is up 20 per cent on last year, show and seminar bookings are through the roof, and they’ve won commercial contracts with Nivea and Dove. What’s more, session work in the likes of Brazilian Vogue has further enhanced brand recognition. One word: wow!

FINALISTS: Akin Konizi, hob salons; Errol Douglas, Errol Douglas; Leonardo Rizzo, Sanrizz; Robert Eaton, Russell Eaton

"A strong identity and a clear vision"

FOR A SHOW TEAM THAT DELIVERS THE ULTIMATE ON-STAGE PERFORMANCE

hob salons Creative Team

Headed up by international creative director Akin Konizi, this five-strong team prides itself on artistic integrity, a never-stop-learning attitude and a commitment to quality. Forever pushing creative boundaries, the hob salons Creative Team has become famous for its show-stopping work and signature precision hairstyles, and the team works hard to teach audience members how to translate the skills they learn into their own work – an attribute duly noted by our judges. An eye for selecting first-class models, an enviable stage rapport and a sense of pride in everything they do adds to the magic. With shows last year including high-profile events in Brazil, Italy and Russia, and a product launch in Venezuela comprising workshops, seminars and a catwalk show to 1,000 guests, it’s little wonder the team is in such high demand.

FINALISTS: Brooks & Brooks Artistic Team; Rush Artistic Team; Sanrizz Artistic Team; 
TIGI International Creative Team

"Confident, modern, thorough and informative"

FOR A BUSINESS DIRECTOR WHO HAS SKILLFULLY SHAPED A RED-HOT SALON BUSINESS

Ken Picton, Ken Picton Salon

Having launched his own business 19 years ago, Ken Picton has worked hard to ensure his Cardiff Bay salon is a boundary-busting business. Recent shrewd moves include a £300,000 expansion, making room for a Glow Skin Clinic (providing cosmetic treatments from botox to teeth whitening), and a 15 per cent price increase, which saw Ken upgrade the client service and increase the appointment time – a price hike that went unchallenged by clients. With turnover up six per cent on last year, Ken predicts the expansion will deliver a 15-20 per cent growth in business – but he puts just as much attention into keeping his staff buzzing: exceptional service and retail sales are rewarded with bonuses, holidays and vouchers, and with retail sales averaging £2,500-£3,000 per week, it’s clear everything is working!

FINALISTS: Barrie Stephen, Barrie Stephen Hair; Darren Fowler, Clipso; Mark Woolley, Electric Hairdressing; Paul Hawes and Elaine Armitage, Review

"An outstanding presentation demonstrating good all-round business performance"

FOR THE CUT AND COLOUR LOOK OF THE YEAR

Errol Douglas, Errol Douglas

A hairdressing hero and successful salon owner, Errol Douglas should be immensely proud of his win. This sensational image, inspired by fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, won him top scores from our judges – proof that this look ticks all the right boxes. A touch of boho, a soupçon of gypsy – this look encapsulates not only the scale of this year’s cutting-edge curl, but also the return of hyper-natural highlights and lowlights. It has been expertly styled, with a combination of layers, razoring and textured twist-cutting, infused with a delicate mix of golden tones, and scrunch-dried, before being loosely tonged. This is super-sexy hair that women everywhere long for – seriously hot hairdressing at its most beautiful.

FINALISTS: Akin Konizi, hob salons; Carl McCaffrey, Toni&Guy; Gary Hooker and Michael Young, Hooker & Young; Simon Bryer, Michael Van Clarke

"Beautiful colour, great definition and naturally sexy"

FOR AN UNDER-25-YEAR-OLD STAR IN THE MAKING

Katie Mulcahy, Lisa Shepherd Salons

At just 23, Katie Mulcahy has a number of industry awards and accolades under her belt, a portfolio of beautiful photographic images to boast about and a top job at a successful salon group. A member of this year’s Fellowship FAME Team, Katie not only shows maturity and dedication, but also has oodles of passion and determination – it’s no wonder she won over our judges. She’s been described by her boss, Lisa Shepherd, as “the future of our industry” and by her loyal client, BBC presenter Miriam O’Reilly, as “the most talented hairdresser I’ve ever had” – you get the idea! But, of course, an overriding quality is Katie’s ambition – she’s determined to make it to the top and we’re sure she’s well on her way. Truly one to watch!

FINALISTS: Alfie Booth, Andrew Collinge Hairdressing; Christopher Appleton, George’s Hairdressing; Megan Zarrabi, hob salons; Victoria Nebbett, Monroe Hairdressing

"Bubbly, down to earth, well respected and extremely passionate about her role"

FOR THE MOST ADMIRED UK HAIRDRESSING PROFESSIONAL, AS VOTED FOR BY READERS OF CREATIVE HEAD AND HEADFIRST

Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck, Toni&Guy