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Most Wanted 2025 Is Open For Entry – And We Have News!
Most Wanted 2025 Is Open For Entry – And We Have News!
Introducing a whole new line-up of categories aligned with today’s business and creative priorities
by JOANNA | CONNECT
Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted is 25 years old this year – time to refine and reimagine it for a new era.
Today we’re officially opening the competition with an exciting new line-up of 12 purpose-driven categories, designed to reflect how you work and think now. From Collaborations to Community, Education to Engagement, are awards are focused on what matters to you – and what makes our industry so utterly special and unique.
This year, Most Wanted is truly inclusive and democratic, open to all hair professionals from across the entire industry – and across Britain and Ireland. The owners and employees of salons and barbershops and other workspaces; freelance, session and self-employed hairdressers; educators and entrepreneurs… Most Wanted sees you all!
What has not changed is that Most Wanted is free to enter and based on work you’ve already done; there’s no need to shoot or create something new and exclusively for the competition, at your expense.
Once again, entries are digital, creating a level playing field for all.
And Most Wanted is still judged by people who matter – top industry names, of course, but also journalists from leading fashion and beauty media, talent scouts from international management agencies, fashion designers and educators, directors of photography and film, session stylists and brand innovators. This fresh perspective is one of the reasons we get such great results!
Ah yes, let’s talk about winning.
Most Wanted culminates in a spectacular gathering of amazing names and faces in London – it’s the industry at its very best, and the perfect backdrop for the winners to be announced. Trophies will be handed out, for sure, but winning Most Wanted is about so much more. It’s a night when the industry celebrates your skills, your journey, your passion – it celebrates you. And as you make your way back from the stage, you’ll be entering a whole new world full of opportunity, distinction and respect from your peers.
Ah yes, winning a Most Wanted award is just the beginning…
Most Wanted 2025 – ALL NEW Category Listing
The Most Wanted award for: COMMUNITY
For a hair professional or team going above and beyond their core business to provide meaningful support to their local community and/or a local organisation. Judges will look for an ongoing commitment to a single cause with clear evidence of positive impact.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals and businesses regularly providing hairdressing services to clients.
The Most Wanted award for: COLLABORATION
When creative talents come together, it can lead to an incredible result. Tell us about a specific project you worked on – a shoot, show, campaign or training course, perhaps – where you collaborated with creative(s) from outside your usual team to create something new and relevant, and which you could not have created on your own. Judges will look for a clear strategy for the project, an exciting, impactful execution and evidence of success.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals working in a creative capacity. Your collaborator can be based outside of the UK and Ireland.
The Most Wanted award for: PURPOSE
For an individual hairdressing professional or business truly committed to a specific cause, whether that’s sustainability, mental health, the under-represented in society – whatever is close to your heart. Finalists in this category will be able to demonstrate that purpose permeates everything they do and has a positive impact.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals and businesses regularly providing hairdressing services to clients.
The Most Wanted award for: ENGAGEMENT
Building an engaged online community around a business is crucial nowadays, and we’re looking for examples of excellence in the field. So, how do you build yours, which channels do you use and why, and how do you maintain audience attention? This is not about the size of your following, rather the impact you and your social fans create together.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals and businesses regularly providing hairdressing services to clients.
The Most Wanted award for: EDUCATION
Education is the lifeblood of hairdressing – constantly upgrading our knowledge and skills is the only way we can provide the best service to clients. So, this award goes to an individual or business delivering exceptional hairdressing education, with our judges looking for output that’s relevant, innovative and making a difference.
Open to all hairdressing professionals delivering education, as well as colleges, private academies and other education providers. Not open to educators working in-house for product companies.
The Most Wanted award for: CREATIVITY
Creativity comes in all different forms: asymmetric, vibrant, odd, spontaneous. This award is for a hair artist who’s excelling at their craft, whether that’s cutting, colouring or styling any hair type, and whose creative output results in something beautiful and transformational.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals working in a creative capacity.
The Most Wanted award for: EXPERIENCE
This award is for a hairdressing business taking customer service to the next level. We want to hear how you are focused on delivering the best possible experience for your clients at all relevant touch points – in real life and online – and the resulting benefits to business.
Open to businesses regularly providing hairdressing services to clients. Single locations only. It is not possible to enter as a group, although individual sites within a group may enter themselves.
The Most Wanted award for: NEW SPACE
We’re looking for a new or revamped hairdressing workspace that not only brings something interesting to the market, but that also delivers something exciting to its clients. Judges will be taking everything into consideration, from fit-out to service menu, and they’ll want to see evidence of success.
Open to businesses regularly providing hairdressing services to clients, opened or refurbished since March 2024.
The Most Wanted award for: LEADERSHIP
Do you run a hairdressing business, manage a department at work or lead a team (eg, backstage at Fashion Week) that consistently delivers great results? Use your entry to tell us about your drive and decision-making, the goals achieved and the direction you want to take next.
Open to individual hairdressing professionals in a leadership role.
The Most Wanted award for: IMAGE
For a hair professional who’s crafted a hair look capturing a contemporary vibe shift, or a trend that’s about to boom.
Open to all individual hairdressing professionals. Maximum of three entries per entrant.
The Most Wanted award for: SESSION
For the most exciting hair professional working in session.
This category cannot be entered; finalists will be determined by votes from leading fashion and beauty titles, alongside creative directors, producers, photographers, fashion stylists and make-up artists.
The Most Wanted award for: INFLUENCE
Awarded to the most influential, impactful hairdresser of the year.
By invitation only; following nominations from a panel of hair, beauty, fashion, business and media experts, a shortlist of names will be drawn up. Those shortlisted will be invited to submit an entry for assessment by a separate judging panel.
Entries close on 28 July, so find your category fit, go forth, and conquer Most Wanted 2025!
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The It List Is Live! We’re Searching For The Talents Of Tomorrow
The It List Is Live! We’re Searching For The Talents Of Tomorrow
If you’re 30 or under, make sure we find you!
by JOANNA | CONNECT
Chris Appleton… Sophia Hilton… Leigh Keates… Grace Dalgleish… Giuseppe Stelitano… Cyndia Harvey… Marlon Hawkins… Paddy McDougall… Hayden Cassidy… What have they got in common? Every single one put their name on the It List, the hottest awards event for hair talents aged 30 and under.
Question is: are you next?
Well, now is your chance because the It List 2025 is officially OPEN, with six sought-after titles waiting to be claimed. From the assistants keeping salons running smoothly to young bosses bringing it with their businesses and the session stylists making magic happen at fashion week, we’re looking for the names who are set to shape the future of British and Irish hairdressing.
Six titles – six changes to get on the It List!
The Business Builder – for a hair professional who has built a remarkable business
Open to hair professionals aged 30 or under, who have launched a business serves clients, the industry, or both.
The Editorial Stylist – for a stylist making waves backstage, in the studio or on location
Open to hair professionals aged 30 or under, whether employed, self-employed or freelance.
The Rising Star – for an impressive and fast-improving salon or barbershop assistant
Open to hair professionals who are employed at a salon or barber shop and aged 30 or under, with testimonial from the owner or manager. Entrants must have no more than three years’ experience on the floor and be educated to (or working towards) minimum NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
The Salon Stylist – for a hair stylist delivering stand-out skills behind the chair
Open to hair professionals who are employed full-time at a salon or barber shop and aged 30 or under. It is not possible to enter this category if you are the business owner.
The Visionary – for a hair professional demonstrating head-turning artistry
Open to hair professionals aged 30 or under, whether employed, self-employed or freelance.
The One to Watch – for an outstanding hair talent demonstrating all-round excellence
Open to hair professionals aged 30 or under, whether employed, self-employed or freelance.
The It List is free to enter, smashing records year on year, and we know why! It’s because the It List is a gateway to career growth, success and opportunity – winners go on to sign deals with talent agencies, boss it in business, become brand ambassadors, assist leading session stylists at global fashion weeks. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that? The hunger is real!
Last year’s It List was judged by experts including Little Mix stylist Aaron Carlo, session hairdresser Adam Garland, photographer Alex Barron-Hough and influencer Maddie Bruce, with a Grand Final held in a former Tate & Lyle sugar factory in the heart of East London attended by 650 hair artists dressed in the sleekest, wildest, gender non-conforming fashion.
And our longterm It List partner, ghd, took things to the next level, with high-tech gifts galore for the winners and a high-octane live performance that re-enacted Versace’s iconic supermodel reunion to George Michael’s ‘Freedom 90’. It was a masterclass in fashion, trend, style and fun and we LOVED IT!
Says Creative HEAD editorial director Amanda Nottage: “It is so important to our industry to support emerging talent: the trailblazers who are breaking glass ceilings, setting new standards (sometimes in ways we don’t expect) and overhauling our industry bit by bit to steer it towards a new, more exciting future. New stars need to be heard – and the It List completely cranks up the volume!”
Make your mark in 2025 by getting your name on the It List. Just like Chris, Sophia, Leigh et al, your career will go stratospheric as a result.
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The Pricing Mistake 68% Of Hair Pros Are Making
Advertorial
The Pricing Mistake 68% Of Hair Pros Are Making
Are you charging enough? We have the pricing tips you need
by AMANDA | INFORM
Salons are feeling the squeeze more than ever, especially those employers hit by the changes introduced in the Autumn Budget. The rising cost of living has impacted everyone, and you’ll know from your own bills how the prices of, well, just about everything are continually nudging up. The obvious step is to raise your prices too – even though salons hate to do it! But you can’t stop there. Now is the time to get savvy about pricing – incorporating ideas such as dynamic pricing and price reviews – to see a real impact on your profitability. We’ve asked Fresha, the go-to platform for beauty and wellness bookings, for the six steps you need to be taking right now!
Step 1: Set discounts that keep your salon’s profits healthy
Keep your profits in mind as you choose which services to discount with smart pricing and by how much. Making your off-peak prices and last-minute discounts too high could undervalue your services or impact your self-employed staff’s earnings. So, determine the perfect amount that will let you make a healthy profit while attracting plenty of clients.
Choose whether to offer a percentage or fixed amount for each discount based on the service’s original price. For example, with lower-priced services, a percentage discount may offer better perceived value; 15 per cent off a service that costs £20 may sound more appealing to your clients than £3 off.
Step 2: Identify the best times for off-peak prices in your reports
Check your sales reports to see when your least busy periods are, and set your off-peak prices to automatically switch on during those times. You can even set multiple off-peak times per day. For example, if your salon tends to be quiet right when you open and during the afternoon lull, set your off-peak prices for services booked between 10am to 11am and 1pm to 2pm.
Be sure to examine a big enough sample of your sales reports to identify patterns in your bookings. A few months or even a year’s worth of reports will give you the clearest possible picture of your off-peak periods and help you stay booked during those off-peak times.
Step 3: Offer bigger last-minute discounts closer to the appointment time
To create a sense of urgency and encourage clients to book quickly, offer bigger discounts for bookings made closer to the appointment time. Be sure to strike a balance with a discount that tempts clients to quickly book empty slots, without encouraging them to only book last-minute. For example: offer 10 per cent off bookings made between 24 to 48 hours before the appointment time, and 20 per cent off bookings made on the same day of the appointment.
Step 4: Switch your smart prices on and off at optimal times
Be strategic about when you activate your smart prices to maximise your revenue. For instance, if you get more walk-in appointments during the summer season, deactivate your off-peak prices and last-minute deals to avoid offering discounts on booking slots that would have sold at full price anyway. Then activate them again once walk-in traffic starts to slow down.
On the other hand, if you typically get booked by clients preparing for seasonal events like holidays, and weddings, you could switch on your off-peak pricing ahead of time to fill up your calendar in advance, then switch it off again once you’ve got a few weeks’ worth of bookings.
Step 5: Promote your smart pricing to as many audiences as possible
Make the most of your smart pricing and encourage clients to book by promoting your discounts at every opportunity. Ask your staff to mention your smart prices in their conversations with clients. Share your offers regularly on social media to make sure your followers are kept in the loop; always make your posts engaging and shareable to increase your chances of reaching new clients.
You can also use a blast campaign to instantly share your smart prices with clients who are most likely to book. For instance, you could send your most frequent clients a text message to promote a last-minute offer on next-day bookings. Or send an email highlighting your off-peak hours to clients who have more time during the day, like students or parents whose children attend school.
Use your off-peak pricing and last-minute offers to stay booked and get more value out of each day. For example, when your clients book through Fresha, they can only use one discount at a time, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally doubling up on discounts. Plus, you can switch them on and off in minutes, so don’t be afraid to try out different discounts to figure out what works best for you.
Not signed up to Fresha yet? Sign up now for free, and see what the go-to booking platform for beauty professionals can do for your salon.
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