West Bridgford stylist reaches finals of national hairdressing competition
Jessica Neil, who works at KH Hair on Central Avenue in West Bridgford, has been named as just one of six finalists in the prestigious Eastern Hairdresser of the Year title at HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards 2022.
Jessica was chosen when her hair collection caught the eye of a judging panel made up over 100 leading hairdressers including celebrity stylists, session stylists, salon owners, previous winners and Hall of Fame** members. She had to submit four photographic images demonstrating the breadth of her hairdressing expertise, showcasing evidence of both technical skill and creative ability.
“This is such a proud moment for me”, says Jessica. “These awards always bring together such exceptional talent and to see my name alongside those shortlisted is mind-blowing. I’d love to bring the trophy back to West Bridgford and hope the judges will recognise the love and hard work that has gone into my collection.”
KH Hair managing director, Darren Messias, says the whole Group is very proud of Jess. “These awards are the pinnacle for any hairdresser within our industry, so to be in the last six for the Eastern region is a tremendous achievement. It is also testament to Jess for all her hard work, vision and determination and we are all so excited for the finals in November.”
The Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, are now in their 38th year and are an annual celebration of hairdressing excellence, recognising the remarkable achievements of stylists from across the United Kingdom. Regional categories honour the finest hairdressing talent from across Britain with a separate category for International Collection of the Year, while seven specialist categories reward specific areas of hair expertise including Afro, Men’s, Avant Garde and Colour. New for 2022 is the Session Hairdresser of the Year award which is by nomination only and see the very best stylists from the world of session put forward their favourite images of the last 12 months. The most anticipated award of the evening – British Hairdresser of the Year* – is by nomination only and is widely regarded as the industry’s greatest accolade.
Jayne Lewis-Orr, executive director of HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards said: “Every year, HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards serve as a reminder of the passion, artistry and expertise that this incredible industry has to offer, and it is a privilege to celebrate the talent and brilliance of creative individuals from across the country. In reaching the finals, Jessica has demonstrated excellence in all areas of their craft and an ability to bring together the magical elements that make a photographic collection stand out from the competition.”
Schwarzkopf Professional are the sole sponsor of the event and have been since its launch in 1985. Julian Crane, general manager for Henkel Beauty Care Professional UK & Ireland said: “As always, Schwarzkopf Professional is delighted to sponsor this revered event and we thank all participants for their continued support. My sincere congratulations to the finalists who once again have raised the bar with the standard of entries – the passion and creativity of this phenomenal industry never fails to impress.”
Jessica will now submit a further four images for the final round of judging, which takes place in September and the winners will be announced at a Black-Tie event to be held on Monday 28th November at Grosvenor House, a J W Marriott Hotel on London’s Park Lane.