Record number of stylists battling to be the NHBF Photographic Stylist of the Year

The competition to be the NHBF’s Photographic Stylist of the Year has been hotter than ever this year, with a record number of stylists and salons battling it out to win this prestigious industry accolade.

A final shortlist of competitors was agreed at a judging event last week. All the finalists will be invited to the NHBF’s Britain’s Best competition at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire on Sunday 15 November, where the overall winners will be revealed.

More than 200 entries were received across the competition’s categories of Ladies, Men’s and Afro-Caribbean. The standard of entries was extremely high once again, making the process of shortlisting extremely difficult.

This year’s judges were: Matthew Curtis, session and celebrity stylist, Nicola Shannon, editor of Professional Hairdresser, Rachel Gould, editor of Modern Barber, Matthew Batham, deputy editor of Hairdressers’ Journal International, NHBF president Paul Curry, NHBF past president Mark Coray and Ian Egerton, managing director of The Stress Exchange in London.

NHBF president Paul Curry said:

The sheer quality and talent of this year’s entries made the judging process a real headache – but what a great headache to have! My congratulations go out to all our shortlisted stylists and I wish you all the very best of luck on the day at Britain’s Best. Just to have been shortlisted in a competition where the standards have been so high is a huge achievement.

“The fact this year’s Photographic Stylist of the Year has been the most popular ever once again illustrates just how skilled and talented our industry is. More widely, competitions like Britain’s Best and the Photographic Stylist of the Year are a hugely important platform for showcasing the creativity, passion and innovation that exists within hairdressing. I am proud the NHBF is continuing to inspire and nurture the most talented teams and stylists within our industry.”

The Photographic Stylist of the Year competition is this year being sponsored by ITEC, a leading hair and beauty qualifications body, and Spencer Scissors.

This year’s finalists are:

Ladies’ Category 1 – Fashion Look (open to students and trainees)

Jonathan Allbut, Lisa Hauck Hair & Make-up, London
Billy Fry, Strands Hairdressing, Whiteley, Fareham
Amber Wray, The Hairbank, Urmston, Manchester

Ladies’ Category 2 – Fashion Look (open to all)

Paula Grocock, Toxic Cherry, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Victoria Stevens, Tops Hair Salon & Beauty, Melksham, Wiltshire
Craig Barnett, Sutherland & Barnett, Nottingham
Nicola Smyth, Nicola Smyth Award Winning Hair, Leamington Spa

Ladies Category 3 – Fashion Collection (open to all)

Troy Boyd, Emma J Steven, Birmingham
Ross Charles, Ross Charles, York
Caroline Sanderson, Ego Hair Design, Inverness
Ben Driscoll-Price, Robert John, Portished

Ladies Category 4 – Afro Caribbean Fashion Look (open to all)

Rita Wiafe, All Hair & Beauty Salon, Nottingham
Benjamin Madle, Headhunters, Woking
Kelly Murry, Spirit Hair Company, High Wycombe

Men’s Category 1 – Fashion Look (open to students and trainees)

Eirann Byrne, AKA Hairdressing, Bristol
Reef Healey, Gary Pearce Mans Hair, Huddersfield

Men’s Category 2 – Fashion Look (open to all)

Dean Vinning, Sixth Sense Salon, Birmingham
Craig Condy, Safehands Barbers, Glasgow
Allan McKechnie, Rutherfords, Oban, Argyll

Men’s Category 3 – Fashion Collection (open to all)

Kade Kut, Image Barber, Bedford
Michael Damiano, Image Barbers, Bedford
Laura Kulik & Ria Kulik, The Hairbank, Urmston
Dan Rix, Company of Master Barbers

Afro-Caribbean – Fashion Look (open to all)

Kade Kut, Image Barber, Bedford
Michael Damiano, Image Barber, Bedford

Full details about Britain’s Best, and spectator tickets, can be found at www.britainsbest.me