Award-winners are a cut above the rest

We can now reveal the winners of The Gazette’s inaugural Hair And Beauty Awards.

The people’s choice awards were set up to celebrate the fantastic talent within the hair and beauty sector across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

The event – held in association with Direct Hair Beauty, Rebecca Jayne, Synergy Dental Clinic, The Good Salon Guide and VL Lancs – saw hundreds of guests attend a sparkling presentation evening at Viva Showbar, Blackpool, where the winners were announced and presented with their coveted trophies.

The glamorous occasion saw the top contenders in each of the 10 categories enjoy food, drinks and entertainment.

Maria Farmer, managing director, of awards main sponsor, Thornton-based Direct Hair Beauty, said: “We were extremely proud to have been involved in the first Gazette Hair And Beauty Awards. My team and I certainly enjoyed the night.

“There are some very talented people out there in the hair and beauty industries and they deserve the recognition.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists at this extremely successful event.”

Winner of the Gents Barber Of The Year, Zana Najmaden Kurdy, of The Beach Barber, said: “I was really pleased to be named the winner in this category. And I really enjoyed the night.

“It does mean a lot because it came from the customers and for us, it is all about the customer.

“This will push us to work even harder for the future.”

Winner of the Hair Salon Of The Year Award was Nefarious Hair Salon.

Matt McGuinness-McNally and Jo Bleach from the salon, said: “We would like to sincerely thank everybody who voted for us. And congratulations to all the worthy finalists.

“We had five finalists and three winners from the salon, it’s such an honour in our 10th anniversary year.

“The Nefarious family couldn’t be happier.”

Abbie Butcher, salon owner at Abzsolute Beauty, winner of the Beauty Salon Of The Year, said: “A massive thank you to everyone who voted for Abzsolute Beauty.

“I was so proud to receive Beauty Salon of the Year 2015. It means so much knowing it’s a public vote. I never expected to win, as beauty is a very strong category with many other great salons in the area.

“I would like to congratulate all the other finalists, it was a fabulous turn-out and everyone looked amazing.”

The winners

HAIR SALON OF THE YEAR

Nefarious Hair, Red Bank Road, Bispham

Also on the shortlist were:

David Maria Hair Studio

Hair by Andrew Williams

Kiss Hair And Beauty

SOS Hair Design

The Snip

The Hair Studio

HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Leanne Manning – The Snip, Fleetwood

Also on the shortlist were:

Alison Warnes, Nefarious

Andrew Quitter, Hair by Andrew Williams

Sarah Mooney, SOS Hair Design

Victoria Witham, O’Hara Hair Salon

Zana, The Beach Barber

GENTS BARBER OF THE YEAR

The Beach Barber, Central Drive, Blackpool

Also on the shortlist were:

Alistair’s His And Hers Barbers

Jonathan Haworth, Fellas

Jojo’s Barbers Shop

The Butcher

BEST BRIDAL/SPECIAL OCCASION HAIRDRESSER

Michelle Taylor – Hair By Andrew Williams, South Shore

Also on the shortlist were:

Alison Warnes, Nefarious

Leanne Manning, The Snip

BEAUTY SALON OF THE YEAR

Abzsolute Beauty – Ansdell Road, Blackpool

Also on the shortlist were:

La Belle Beautique

Obsession The Beauty Lounge

The Snip

Totally Polished

BEAUTY THERAPIST OF THE YEAR

Sarah Rowe – Totally Polished, Waterloo Road, South Shore

Also on the shortlist were:

Carla Haigh, The Snip

Lorren Mills, La Belle Beautique

Sharon Turner, Angel Cottage Beauty Room

Toni Cirillo Moreton, Essential Beauty By Toni

NAIL TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Paulina Charlikowska – Obsession The Beauty Lounge, South Shore, Blackpool

Also on the shortlist were:

Carla Haigh, The Snip

Lauren Abram, Rebecca Jayne

Michelle Beard, Totally Polished

COSMETIC THERAPIST OF THE YEAR

Rebecca Abram, Rebecca Jayne, Poulton

Also on the shortlist were:

Cherie Scanlon, Total Aesthetics

Dawn Attewell, Therapy House

Deborah Woods, David Maria Hair Studio

TRAINING CENTRE EXCELLENCE AWARD

Total Training, at Nefarious Hair, Blackpool

Also on the shortlist were:

Blackpool And The Fylde College

VL Lancs

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Jordan Cassar – Total Training at Nefarious, Blackpool

Also on the shortlist were:

Brittany Smith, David Maria Hair Studio

Lucy George, Rebecca Jayne

Nicole Robinson, Solo Scissors