Which Irish Salon Won Big At The IHF Hairdressing Championships?

Competition is highlight of the annual Gala Event in Kilkenny

by AMANDA | INFORM

Left: Amanda Ryan. Right: Emma Kileen

Mayo’s Allure Hair & Beauty are celebrating a clean sweep of the biggest trophies at the Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) Hairdressing Championships, held at the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny.

Amanda Ryan was crowned Irish Hairdresser of the Year, while her colleague, Emma Killeen, received IHF Irish Trainee Hairdresser of the Year. Amanda went on to win first place in four additional categories, with Emma also scoring two first places in other categories.  

It was also an exceptional result for Dublin’s Patrick Browne, who took first, second and third places for Barber Technique – Specialist.

“This year’s awards showcased an extraordinary standard of creativity and skill,” said IHF president, Mark O’Keeffe. “It highlights the remarkable level of talent we continue to nurture in Ireland, with our industry standing proudly on the world stage.”

And the winners are

IHF Irish Hairdresser of the Year
Sponsored by L’Oreal Professionnel

Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo

IHF Irish Trainee Hairdresser of the Year
Sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional

Emma Kileen, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo

Newcomer of the Year – Trainee
Sponsored by Image Skillnet

1st Casey Cahill, House of Colour, Dublin
2nd Molly Carroll, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
3rd (Joint) Kaci McEntagart, House of Colour, Dublin
3rd (Joint) Aimee Flynn, Roassanos, Donegal

Creative Colour – Trainee
Sponsored by Alfaparf Milano Professional

1st. Danielle O Sullivan, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
2nd Leah Swift, House of Colour, Dublin
3rd Leah Avloniti, House of Colour, Dublin

Trend Upstyle – Trainee

1st. Emma Kileen, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Laurna McGrath, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
3rd (Joint) Mykhailo Dmytriiev, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayp
3rd (Joint) Molly Carroll, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow

Fantasy – Trainee

1st Laurna McGrath, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
2nd Emma Killeen, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
3rd Zoe Taylor, Hair Creations, Dublin

Creative Colour – Senior
Sponsored by Wella Professionals

1st Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
3rd John Baker, Zeba Hairdressing, Dublin

Hair Up – Senior
Sponsored by ghd

1st Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
3rd Aoife O’Toole, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow

Fantasy – Senior

1st Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Aoife O’Toole, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
3rd Emily Dunne, Cyril Morgan, Limerick

Barber Technique – Specialist
Sponsored by Remi

1st Patrick Browne, Patrick Browne, Dublin
2nd Patrick Browne, Patrick Browne, Dublin
3rd Patrick Browne, Patrick Browne, Dublin

Textured – Specialist

1st Emma Killeen, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
3rd Danielle O’Sullivan, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow

Salon Social – Specialist

1st Niamh Lynch, Our Salon By Derek & Fearghal, Meath
2nd Darren Luby, Kida Hair & Co. Cork
2nd (Joint) Andy Nolan Arantes, Cyril Morgan, Limerick
3rd Molly Houlihan, Kida Hair & Co., Cork

Extensions – Specialist
Sponsored by Hairtalk

1st Amanda Ryan, Allure Hair & Beauty, Mayo
2nd Danielle O’Sullivan, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow
3rd Kerri Donnelly, Our Salon By Derek & Fearghal, Meath
3rd (Joint) Monique Carrick, Brown Sugar, Dublin

Quif Centre Stage Competition Reveals Winner

Colour brand unveils name at event in Manchester

by AMANDA | INFORM

Amelia Wilmot is the winner of the 2025 Quif Centre Stage competition.

Held at Fallowfield Social Club in Manchester, the event brought together five finalists and their models, alongside 10 hair show models presented by Quif ambassadors Brooke Evansand Georgia Bell.

Winner Amelia, based in Blackpool, is a member of Hair Socials Professional and a current Fellowship ClubStar member. Her innovative approach and stage presence set her apart on the night, impressing judges and grabbing her the title. Judges included Creative HEAD’s editorial director, Amanda Nottage.

“It represents the chance to show my creativity and passion for hair,” said Amelia of her win. “My look was all about movement. Fire is uncontrollable and wild and that’s exactly how I want to push myself in my career. Keep pushing the boundaries, never standing still and embracing the challenge of creating something new. It was a look that gave me a chance to create, and story tell with creative colour.” 

The evening also featured a lively panel discussion with Brooke Evans, Joseph Ferraro, and NHBF chief executive, Caroline Larrissey, who debated some of the most concerningissues currently affecting the hairdressing industry.

Now in its fourth year, Quif Centre Stage is a celebration of emerging hairdressing talent, offering stylists the chance to showcase their skills in a live setting while connecting with leading industry professionals. The event was supported by the Alan Howard Education Team and co-working space Host Manchester, which provided the prep area and backstage facilities for the finalists.

Photography by Adam Cinelioglu, Kroma @kroma.prd

Irish Government Unveils Business Hub

Grants, Funding And Expert Advice All Under One Virtual Roof

by AMANDA | INFORM

The government has launched the National Enterprise Hub, a new one-stop shop designed to make life easier for business owners and entrepreneurs across Ireland. Whether you’re running a busy salon, starting a new venture or simply looking to grow, the Hub can connect you directly with grants, funding, loans and expert advice.

It’s completely free to use, with a dedicated team ready to guide you through the support available for your sector. Even if you’ve never accessed government help before, this is your chance to see what’s out there. Visit neh.gov.ie for details.

NHBF launch free self-employment checklists

Online resource available for the hair and beauty sector

by AMANDA | INFORM

The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) have launched a series of free checklists designed to support self-employed professionals and businesses across the hair and beauty sector. 

Stylists and salon owners have increasingly complained of the legal grey area surrounding freelancing and setting up rent-a-chair style collectives. To provide support, the NHBF have created four free and easy-to-use checklists, intended as guidance tools rather than definitive lists:

Designed as ‘food for thought’ resources, the checklists have been developed to help identify what’s in place, what may need attention and where to find extra support. “We’re not here to judge. We’re here to support,” said Cathy Weston, NHBF director of quality and standards. “This initiative is part of our ongoing mission to raise standards, support individuals and protect the future of our sector by giving professionals the tools, knowledge and confidence to run their business the right way.” 

The checklists are free and open to everyone working in the hair, barbering, beauty and aesthetics sectors. By visiting the NHBF website, you can complete a short questionnaire at the NHBF’s website to receive a tailored summary, followed by further guidance. 

The Hair & Scalp Tips You’ve Never Heard Before

Trichologist Mark Blake shares the lesser-known facts that could help you deliver a better scalp service to your clientele.

by HAYDN | INFORM

“It’s about getting you the hair you deserve.” Those were some of the first words of Nioxin’s UK Trichologist, Mark Blake, shared ahead of a consultation and service with me. As someone who bleaches their hair and then dyes it blue, and has been doing so for 8 years, I was sure he’d have some choice words…

As a former salon owner and now a professional trichologist, he understands the problems salon stylists are seeing from their clients when it comes to their scalp and hair health… and the opportunities that they present to business. Here are the insights that can help show your guests you’re to be trusted when it comes to scalp solutions – all courtesy of Mark!

36 Metres a Day?! The Hair Facts You Won’t Believe

Hair is the second most prolific cell producer in the body, after bone marrow. To put that into perspective, your hair needs around 160 calories to grow just one gram. We each grow between 0.3 and 0.5 millimetres of hair per day, and with 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on our head, that adds up to 36 metres of growth daily if laid end to end, which is actually incredible.

What fuels all that growth? Protein. Around 85 per cent of hair is made of protein, which makes a protein-rich diet essential. Mark recommends starting the day with a protein-rich and naturally-sourced breakfast, such as two eggs and spinach, instead of relying on protein shakes packed with artificial additives. “To grow 36 metres of good hair,” he said, “you need lots of good protein.”

Are Your Clients Accidentally Ruining Their Hair? These Habits Say They Probably Are!

Mark also revealed how everyday habits impact scalp health. For instance, if you suffer from psoriasis, which I occasionally do, it’s best to steer clear of lamb, as it can make symptoms worse. And when it comes to drinks, apparently swapping your glass of Champagne or white wine for tequila could actually be kinder to your scalp. Shots anyone?!

He also shared some day-to-day lifestyle tips that could be super valuable to pass onto clients. Forget making your bed the second you get up; leaving it unmade for 20 minutes helps stop yeast and bacteria from thriving in that warm, cosy environment. And when it comes to drying your hair, the science says don’t leave it wet; hair is twice as weak when it’s damp. Instead, it’s better to use a medium heat and keep the dryer around 15cm away from your head. A small tweak, but one that makes all the difference.

What Happened When a Trichologist Sniffed My Hair 👃

Ready to sniff your client’s hair? Yup, Mark gave my hair a good huff to check for yeast and bacteria. Using a 100x zoom camera, he examined the scalp in detail, pointing out areas that needed more attention. My scalp still showed colour from a recent dye session, proving just how porous and reactive it can be.

It can be fascinating, if slightly confronting, for clients to see their scalp magnified on screen, but it’s a great way for them to realise how vital proper care is for healthy hair in the long term.

From Thinning to Thriving

After a consultation, giving your clients a clear action plan tailored to strengthen their hair and support their scalp will help build loyalty and trust in your professional expertise. I was advised to wash my hair twice a week instead of once. Nutrition also plays a huge part – ditch intermittent fasting and instead start the day with that protein-rich breakfast to give hair the fuel it needs to grow. Adding vitamin D supplements at midday should help support overall hair health, since it’s best absorbed during the day. Combined with a few scalp care techniques, such changes should feel achievable and realistic. Most importantly, they’re about building habits that nurture both scalp and hair for the long term.

If you’re looking to invest in your scalp knowledge, the formidable Mark Blake has teamed up with Wella to create ‘The Fascinating World Of Trichology With Mark Blake’. A full-day workshop where you’ll discover the truth behind common hair myths, the effects of nutrition, illness and medication, plus the root causes of thinning and hair loss. Learn about treatments like transplants, laser caps, PRP, scalp micro-pigmentation and how to spot and address clients’ underlying issues.