CONFIDENTIAL
Embargoed until Saturday 10 May 2008 11pm
Cream Of Crop Win Top Hairdressing Awards
Winners of Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdressing Awards 08 / 09
A cut above the rest, a young Auckland hairdresser has won the coveted title of New Zealand’s top hairdresser in the
country’s most prestigious industry awards.
The youngest recipient ever to receive the award, 25-year old Diana Moar of Ponsonby salon D has been named Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdresser of the Year 2008/2009.
The award was announced earlier this evening at an exclusive gala dinner attended by more than 300 hairdressers at
Auckland’s Town Hall.
Ms Moar, originally from Christchurch, picked up four awards in total, also winning Northern Hairdresser of the Year,
Best Makeup and Best Photography.
Steve Hogan, Global Technical Director Schwarzkopf Professional and Essential Looks Creative Director said Ms Moar’s
entry really stood out as something fresh and exciting.
“The hair, models, styling, makeup and photography all work together seamlessly. Superbly executed, Diana’s work shows
real progression, texture and movement. While unusual for one person to win in so many categories, in Diana’s case this
is testament to the quality of her work.”
Regarded as the industry ‘Oscars’, Hairdresser of the Year is the most coveted of the awards, with Catwalk, Salon Team
and Newcomer of the Year also prestigious awards to win.
Chuny-Yang Su (Yoshi) from Buoy in Wellington won Catwalk Hairdresser of the Year with his entry described by the judges
as fashion forward, brave and strong in direction and artistic flair. Salon Team of the Year went to D in Ponsonby, while Newcomer of the Year went to Jennifer Thorpe of Servilles Newmarket. Central Hairdresser of the Year
went to Michael Beel from Buoy in Wellington and Southern Hairdresser of the Year to Alison Officer from DNA in
Ashburton.
The final tally saw Auckland salon D come out top with five awards, Buoy in Wellington with two, and Servilles Newmarket and DNA in Ashburton with one each.
With judging conducted anonymously by a panel of international judges, the winners were chosen from 18 finalists,
previously whittled down from more than 200 entries.
Held biannually for 20 years, the Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdressing Awards are regarded as the most credible and
prestigious in New Zealand. This is because all salons throughout the country can enter and entries remain anonymous
throughout the judging process which takes place in Germany. This ensures the awards are based solely on talent and the
quality of work submitted.
Kat Laing, Schwarzkopf Professional’s National Technical Manager says the awards are about acknowledging the ‘best of
the best’. “The Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdressing Awards represent a truly unbiased picture of the standard of
hairdressing in our country and provide a yardstick by which hairdressers measure their creative achievements.”
This year’s judging panel consisted of Tom Kroboth, Aveda European Artistic Director and former Schwarzkopf Professional
Hairdresser of the Year in Germany; Simon Ellis, Global Image Director Schwarzkopf Professional and former Creative
Director Vidal Sassoon London; and Steve Hogan, Global Technical Director Schwarzkopf Professional and Essential Looks
Creative Director.
Mr Hogan said the calibre of this year’s finalists was very high, with the judging panel finding it hard to select just
one winner in several of the categories. “All 18 finalists deserve congratulations.”
Winners of the Schwarzkopf Professional New Zealand Hairdressing Awards 2008/2009:
Hairdresser of the Year - Diana Moar, D, Ponsonby, Auckland
Prize: trip (for one) to Salon International in London including ticket to event, return flights, five nights
accommodation, $2000 spending money, and a Porsche Boxster for the summer courtesy of sponsor Porsche.
Catwalk Hairdresser of the Year - Chuny-Yang Su (Yoshi), Buoy Hairdressing, Wellington
Prize: trip (for one) to Salon International in London including ticket to event, return flights, five nights
accommodation, $2000 spending money.
Salon Team of the Year - D, Ponsonby, Auckland
Prize: trip (for team) to Hair Expo in Sydney including tickets to event, return flights to Sydney and four nights
accommodation.
Newcomer of the Year - Jennifer Thorpe, Servilles Newmarket, Auckland
Prize: trip (for one) to Hair Expo in Sydney including tickets to event, return flights to Sydney and four nights
accommodation.
Northern Hairdresser of the Year - Diana Moar, D, Ponsonby, Auckland
Central Hairdresser of the Year - Michael Beel, Buoy Hairdressing, Wellington
Southern Hairdresser of the Year - Alison Officer, DNA Hairdressing, Ashburton
Best Photography - Hannah Richards for Diana Moar, D Ponsonby, Auckland. Judged by Manuel Pandalis, Indola Photography, Germany
Best Makeup - Steph Lai for Diana Moar, D Ponsonby, Auckland. Judged by MAC NZ
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