and the winner is ... Lee Cohen

Lee Cohen from Red's Salon and Spa, Cairns proves he is this country leading trend setter by winning the hairdressing industry's ultimate accolade Australian Hairdresser of the Year on Monday 1st March at a gala awards ceremony held at Sydney Town Hall.

"The Australian Hair Fashion Awards is the most prestigious and competitive awards in the hairdressing industry. To be acknowledged as the best of the best from amongst all of the extremely talented hairdressers in Australia is a huge honour," said Lee.

"One of the greatest things about the Australian Hair Fashion Awards is it creates a level playing field. If your collection captures international hair fashion trends and translates those trends into hair cuts and colour that your clients can achieve, it doesn't matter whether you come from Cairns, Sydney or Timbuctoo, you can still be awarded Australian Hairdresser of the Year."

The Australian Hair Fashion Awards are judged in London by a panel of the UK's most acclaimed hairdressers. According to UK judge Beverley Cobella (2002-2003 British Hairdresser of the Year). "The collections entered into the category of Australian Hairdresser of the Year were incredible. These images could have stepped out of Vogue, Tatler, Marie Claire or any other glossy magazine."

Nicolas Jurnjack was judged by Australia's fashion and beauty media to be this country's leading Session Stylist of the Year. Kellie Stratton was acknowledged Make-Up Artist of the Year and David Gubert received the accolade Fashion Photographer of the Year.
Shane Henning from Noddy's On King was acknowledged for his ongoing contribution to the Australian Hairdressing Industry with the title of Australian Masters.



Other winners from the 2004 Australian Hair Fashion Awards include:

Creative Colourist of the Year: Geoffrey Herberg, Chemistry for Hair, Brisbane

Men's Hairdresser of the Year: Grant Norton, Toni&Guy, Parramatta

NSW Hairdresser of the Year: Anthony Nader, Raw Hair, Sydney

VIC Hairdresser of the Year: Joey Scandizzo, Rokk Ebony, Melbourne

QLD Hairdresser of the Year: Lee Cohen, Reds Salon and Spa, Cairns

SA Hairdresser of the Year: Robert Bava, Toni&Guy, Adelaide

WA Hairdresser of the Year: Larry Duplock, Lexingtons, Perth

ACT Hairdresser of the Year: Angela Allport, Cataldo's Salon, Canberra

Apprentice of the Year: Nigel Hazon, Brad Ngata Hair Direction, Sydney

Artistic Team of the Year: Brad Ngata Hair Direction, Sydney

Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year: Vass Eliadis, Identity Cut and Colour, Brisbane

Best New Product: Osis Scream by Schwarzkopf

Best New Packaging and Design: Aveda Light Elements by Aveda

Best Salon Design: Yummy Mummy's, Mosman

Salon Business of the Year: Brad Ngata Hair Direction, NSW

The Australian Hair Fashion Awards are sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional.

Bio Ionic Hair Straightening Products - www.girl.com.au/bio-ionic-hairstraightening.htm