HJ's British Hairdresser of the Year Akin Konizi is to defend his current title at the 2010 British Hairdressing Awards...and gets set to make hairdressing history!
Akin Konizi, current British Hairdresser of the Year
The waiting is over and the nominees for the 26th British Hairdressing Awards have been announced. From a specially selected group of industry experts, beauty journalists and international trade press, eight inspirational and influential hairdressers – the cream of the British hairdressing industry – have been nominated for the prestigious British Hairdresser of the Year award.
2008 & 2009 HJ's British Hairdresser of the Year Akin Konizi – who is one of three Directors that owns and runs the successful HOB Salons group – joins fellow nominees Andrew Barton, Mark Hayes (International Creative Director of Sassoon), Angelo Seminara (International Creative Director for Trevor Sorbie), Errol Douglas, Phil Smith (TONI&GUY) and hairdressing duo Gary Hooker & Michael Young, in his bid to become the HJ's British Hairdresser of the Year 2010.
In the British Hairdressing Awards' 26-year history, there have only been fifteen hairdressers who have been awarded this esteemed title. They are – Trevor Sorbie, Anthony Mascolo, Irvine and Rita Rusk, John Frieda, Andrew Collinge, Nicky Clarke, Charles Worthington, Umberto Giannini, Beverly C, Mark Hill, Antoinette Beenders, Lisa Shepherd, Andrew Barton, Angelo Seminara and for the last two consecutive years, HOB's Akin Konizi.
Nominated for the fifth consecutive year, should Akin win and continue his reign for another year at this year's prestigious event, Akin will enter the British Hairdressing Awards' Hall of Fame as the only hairdresser in history to secure this award for three consecutive years.
Jayne Lewis-Orr, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Hairdressers Journal International, was delighted to announce the nominees, saying, "British hairdressing is viewed throughout the world as being creative and inspiring and the eight British Hairdresser of the Year nominees all live up to that expectation. The forthcoming months are going to be very exciting… I wish everyone involved the best of luck, as winning a British Hairdressing Award can really change your life."
Acknowledged by the industry as a cutting genius, Akin Konizi is the creative force behind HOB Salons, a company with 20 stylish salons based throughout London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Leeds.
Akin's hairdressing style epitomises the HOB brand and his trademark precision cutting technique has seen Akin catapulted into the top league of hairstylists, whilst his natural ability to translate catwalk fabulous hair into fashion-led, wearable hairstyles has given Akin a loyal following in the industry and amongst beauty journalists, celebrities and clients alike.
In addition to his role as International Creative Director, Akin heads up the company's education at HOB's international training academy in London's Camden Lock, teaching the company's 450 plus staff, whilst offering a variety of external courses to fellow hairdressers across the world. Furthermore, this year Akin was appointed as the Global Brand Ambassador for styling super-brand ghd, which sees him working on a host of projects across the globe.
Akin says of his nomination, "I feel extremely proud to be recognised again by my fellow peers, receiving yet another nomination and to be sat amongst such icons in the industry. Having secured this title for the last two years, entering the Hall of Fame with a third win would be unimaginable and to continue flying the flag for British Hairdressing throughout 2011 would be an absolute honour."
The British Hairdressing Awards 2010 is presented by Hairdressers Journal International and sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. The winners in all sixteen categories, culminating in the premier accolade, British Hairdresser of the Year 2010, will be announced at a fantastic star-studded awards ceremony and dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, AJW Marriot Hotel, Park Lane, London on Monday 22nd November 2010.