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Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted And It List Grand Final Didn’t Miss A Beat

Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted And It List Grand Final Didn’t Miss A Beat

Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted And It List Grand Final Didn’t Miss A Beat

Last night’s event at Drumsheds was epic!

by CATHERINE | CONNECT

Take an old IKEA in Tottenham (all 6,485m sq of it). Send 550 impeccably dressed hairdressers up the famous travelator into the vast industrial space that used to be the superstore’s flatpack warehouse, now fitted out with panoramic screens, high-quality sound systems and immersive light displays. Serve delicious drinks and a sustainably sourced dinner at spotlit tables dressed with linen tablecloths and elegant lamps. And announce the winners of the 2025 Most Wanted and It List awards.  

That, dear friends, is what Creative HEAD did last night. And boy, was it spectacular! 

The 2025 Grand Final at world-leading music venue Drumsheds in north London brought to a close an epic year for our two competitions, as we marked Most Wanted’s 25th birthday and 15 years of ghd’s support of the It List. It had to be special, and it was. 

Assisted by fellow compere, the comedian Lou Sanders, Creative HEAD’s editorial director Amanda Nottage announced 19 trophies – the six new talents taking their place on the 2025 It List (our first all-female It List in the competition’s history), the winners of our 12 brand-new Most Wanted categories, and the crowning of Grace Dalgleish as a Most Wanted Legend. 

And afterward, at the Olaplex x MWIT25 After-Party, guests hit the dancefloor to the tunes of rising DJ star, Phoenix Brown (daughter of Spice Girl “Mel B”, no less), fuelled by an array of potent cocktails (and mocktails) served in cute retro glitterballs on a bar laden with stunning red florals. The immersive photo-booth was an inspired installation, capturing glamorous guests dressed in eveningwear that had to be seen to be believed. With so much fun to be had, it’s no surprise that party was still heaving when Drumsheds finally called time at 1.30am… 

This was a brilliant night for British and Irish hairdressing – one that celebrated the courage of all the finalists and their commitment to their clients, teams, communities and fellow creatives. By doing things differently, as they have done over the past 12 months, by doing things better, they are reimagining how hairdressing looks, feels and operates. And it’s so exciting to watch.  

A quick reminder, however, that this year’s Most Wanted awards so nearly didn’t happen. The fact that it did was down to an exceptional group of brands – BaByliss PRO, Electric, HairCon, Kérastase, L’Oréal Professionnel, Moroccanoil, Olaplex, Phorest, Redken and Wella Professionals – to decide that an industry without Most Wanted was an unthinkable outcome and to come up with the support that was needed. Our thanks go to all of them for ensuring this important night for the industry went ahead. 

© The Assembly Media Group Limited, 2025

Most Wanted: So, Who Took Home The Trophies?

Most Wanted: So, Who Took Home The Trophies?

Most Wanted: So, Who Took Home The Trophies?

It’s time to meet our 12 incredible Most Wanted winners

by JOANNA | CONNECT

It was Creative HEAD’s biggest night of the year last night as Most Wanted celebrated its 25th birthday with a spectacular Grand Final ceremony at the epic Drumsheds venue in London.  

With Lou Sanders as host and Phoenix Brown on the decks, the entertainment was certainly A-List. But the biggest names on the night were our 12 Most Wanted winners, whose commitment to clients, teams, collaborations and community were rewarded with trophies and standing ovations from the audience. 

This had been a record year of entries for Most Wanted, but the winners who edged it had brought their A-game. 

Creative boundaries had been pushed. Fears in business faced. Professionalism taken to new heights.  

And. So. Much. More.   

Intrigued? Let us introduce you to the names who are leading our industry into an exciting future. 

The Most Wanted stars of 2025 

The Most Wanted award for COLLABORATION: Samantha Cusick
The Most Wanted award for COMMUNITY: Craig Henderson
The Most Wanted award for CREATIVITY: Tariq Howes
The Most Wanted award for EDUCATION: Rachael Lomax
The Most Wanted award for ENGAGEMENT: Sarah-Louise Keane 
The Most Wanted award for EXPERIENCE: Buller and Rice 
The Most Wanted award for IMAGE: Casey Coleman 
The Most Wanted award for LEADERSHIP: Samantha Cusick 
The Most Wanted award for NEW SPACE: Williams & Hirst  
The Most Wanted award for PURPOSE: Anna Cofone
The Most Wanted award for SESSION: Lauren Bell 
The Most Wanted award for INFLUENCE: Ali Pirzadeh

Find out more about this year’s winners >

They’re Here! Our It List Winners!

They’re Here! Our It List Winners!

They’re Here! Our It List Winners!

The It List of 2025 has been announced. Who’s on It?

by JOANNA | CONNECT

Last night, Creative HEAD and the It List’s exclusive sponsor, ghd, announced the Rising Star, Salon Stylist, Editorial Stylist, Business Builder, Visionary and One To Watch of 2025 – and for the first time in the competition’s history, we have an all-female It List!

These formidable young women epitomise the energy, ambition and innovation percolating within British and Irish hairdressing right now, challenging ways of operating, both as creatives and in business. 

We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce them to you now… Remember their names, because you’re going to feel a lot more of their Girl Power in the months to come!

The It List of 2025 

The Rising Star: Amelia Krasinksi 
The Business Builder: Chlöe Swift 
The Editorial Stylist: Emma Vickery 
The Salon Stylist: Elle Forman 
The Visionary: Emy Roccabella 
The One to Watch: Elle Forman 

Read more about our 2025 stars >

The Biggest Night Of Our Year

The Biggest Night Of Our Year

The Biggest Night Of Our Year

Are you coming?

by CATHERINE | INFORM

Want to be first to know who are the new names leading our industry into the future? The trailblazers who are doing things differently and better – sometimes in ways you might not expect? Then you need to book your place now – and certainly no later than 5pm on Wednesday 1 October, because that’s the cut-off point!

It’s fair to say we’re pulling out all the stops for this year’s Most Wanted and It List Grand Final, which is taking place from 7pm on Monday 13 October.

Firstly, we’re taking you to Drumsheds – the first hairdressing event to do so – the INCREDIBLE and, frankly, ENORMOUS music and culture venue in north London.

Even if you’ve never been there before (Drumsheds club nights are legendary), it might feel strangely familiar when you walk in.

That’s because the Tottenham warehouse used to house IKEA’s flagship store, except now those aisles and showrooms have been replaced by high-quality sound systems and immersive light displays and £1 million-worth of panoramic screens that we are going to make good use of, trust us!

It’s our biggest-ever stage for Creative HEAD’s biggest night of the year, and we could not be more excited.

Oh, hang on. Perhaps we could. Because we’re also thrilled to announce that comedian Lou Sanders will be hosting proceedings, bringing her surreal stand-up routine in an exclusive routine just for our guests, as well as helping us crown the winners of our two brilliant competitions.

Lou has been all over TV recently, starring in Amazon’s Last One Laughing, appearing on QI and Would I Lie To You and even a competitor on Dancing On Ice Series 16 (she made it to Week 5 with pro partner Brendyn Hatfield).

But what we love about Lou most of all is that she’s famous for a bit of mischief-making, which sounds right up our street. We do love making a bit of mischief at MWIT!

And to top it all off, Phoenix Brown, daughter of Spice Girl Melanie “Mel B” Brown, will be leading us onto the dancefloor at the Most Wanted and It List after-party.

A rising star on the DJ scene (not to mention up-and-coming model – she recently made her LFW catwalk debut for Sprayground), Phoenix has played at trendy clubs, private events and brand parties in London and Los Angeles, including the 2024 BAFTAs.

But on Monday 13 October she’ll be playing just for us, with a rousing set that blends Afrobeats with dancehall, R&B, and global club rhythms. 

Let’s get it poppinnnnn, Phoenix!

Got your Most Wanted and It List Grand Final ticket? You’d better hope so, because at the time of writing they are very nearly all gone.

That’s because this anyone who’s been to one of our Grand Finals before will know that not only is this an event where hairdressers get together to celebrate the innovators, ground-breakers and trailblazers of our industry, with six places on the It List and 12 brand-new purpose-driven Most Wanted trophies to dish out, it’s a night where, sartorially speaking, ANYTHING GOES.

And it always does.

Buy your ticket now. Get that outfit sorted. The Most Wanted and It List Grand Final will be here before you know it – and we really wouldn’t want you to miss out.

London Fashion Week SS26

London Fashion Week SS26

London Fashion Week SS26

A quick peek at the hair to share

by AMANDA | EXPLORE

Photography: Mattero Valle

Dreaming Eli

Danilo Giangreco for Revlon Professional

Titled “My Name is Amore”, the show was a love letter to women everywhere, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Gothic-style St. Cyprian’s Church in Marylebone. Hair was styled to echo the theme of romance; ethereal, soft, and polished yet with an undone edge. Danilo created the ‘love-me-knot’, a look that suggested the intimacy of love itself, intentional, passionate, and touched with the tenderness of the morning after. Hair was knotted and braided into a halo-like shape, then twisted into a delicate bun with loose pieces left to fall, evoking both softness and sensuality. A perfect match for a show bursting with feminine softness and strength all rolled into one!

Photography: Thomas Morgan for Authentic Beauty Concept

Erdem

Anna Cofone for Authentic Beauty Concept

It was back to British Museum for Erdem – it’s become his unofficial #LFW home – as names such as Beth Ditto and Ambika Mod gathered to enjoy the breathtakingly romantic pieces, inspired by the 19th Century Swiss medium Hélène Smith. Her trances “carried her across centuries, continents and planets”, and she believed herself to have lived other lives – within the French court, as an Indian princess and as a traveller in the Martian skies. Plenty for Anna to get her teeth into when it came to stories for the hair. She referenced the classic ‘70s mystery ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, alluding to the girls’ mussed-up, partied-out, next day hair. The hair looks embodied girls caught in fleeting moments – hair tousled and lived-in, with abstract waves and kinks.

Emilia Wickstead

Soichi Inagaki for Bumble and bumble

This collection drew on the radical sensuality and striking contrasts of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe – beauty and brutality, softness and severity, art and desire.

To mirror Wickstead’s meditation on contrast and quiet sensuality, lead hairstylist Soichi Inagaki using Bumble and bumble created hair that felt refined yet effortless, with soft movement as each model’s natural texture was accentuated. The result channelled the collection’s themes of duality, with hair that felt lived-in and intimate, yet carried the sculptural elegance and quiet power of a Mapplethorpe portrait.

Photography: Joss Wild for Authentic Beauty Concept

Susan Fang

Anna Cofone for Authentic Beauty Concept
The hair direction was inspired by the symbiotic relationship between nature and human design. Models wore a blend of natural, lived-in textures contrasted with sculptural, almost futuristic shapes; a vision of beauty set thousands of years ahead. Floating loops, sweeping side partings and weightless textures captured Susan Fang’s creative theme perfectly. Overall, an effortless, lived-in feel with a touch of the poetic.

Vin + Omi

Karoliina Saunders for R+Co

Dishevelled, worn, messy beehives and explosive hair that looked shattered reflected the show’s concept of dysphoria, with tools to hand from Cloud Nine. Both styles were crafted using donated synthetic wigs, underscoring the show’s powerful message of sustainability. Backcombing magic starts with R+Co Sky Line Dry Shampoo; its powdered texture delivers that perfect, runway-ready volume. She kept the product line up minimal, using R+Co Vicious for hold and Rockaway Sea Salt Spray on the ends to achieve a worn-in finish, enhanced with razoring for those edgy, shattered details. She also razored the ends to achieve the same effect.

AKOK

Richard Phillipart for Authentic Beauty Concept

On the top floor of Hamleys, tucked between plushie Pokémons and toy planes, designer Anamika Khanna unveiled her debut LFW collection for AKOK. Reinventing traditional Indian garments with a contemporary edge, the show was complemented by hair direction from Richard Phillipart, tailoring looks to each model’s individuality. Some styles carried a smoother, more refined texture, while others embraced a grungier, undone finish. Across the board, there was a carefree essence running through, enhanced by subtle braids threaded beneath the hair.

Karina Bond

Efi Davies for TONI&GUY

Efi led the TONI&GUY Session Team in crafting a 3D silhouette within the hair, extending the back of the head shape to create a squared, top-heavy effect. Elements of Karina’s 3D printing technique were seen using studs in the hair, adding a futuristic edge. With ‘The Midnight Sun’, the label presented a contrast to the rise of illusory AI fashion, with pioneering innovation and craftsmanship that feel otherworldly yet exist in the physical realm.

Richard Quinn

Sam McKnight for Hair by Sam McKnight

An haute couture updo, the look was an ode to glamour and elegance, with a sleek French twist and volume. With Naomi Campbell opening the show, what followed was a showcase of silhouettes, from caped column gowns to ‘50s tulle skirts.

Edeline Lee

Philipp Haug for Schwarzkopf Professional

SS26 The theatrical elements of the clothes were contrasted with modern, sleek hair with strong partings in a ponytail or neatly tucked into the statement collars. A clean approach was taken to keep the focus on the clothes, styling hair away from the face and incorporating different hair length models. Minimalist ponytails and high-collar clothing were paired with strong side partings to evoke a sense of strength.

Roksanda

Anna Cofone for Authentic Beauty Concept

A fantastic show blending sculptural beauty and high-gloss style to honour Roksanda’s 20 years of visionary design. Backstage, Anna shaped hair like modern art to carve fluid, high-shine shapes. With wide-tooth combs, sculptural lines and curves were etched into both short and long styles with sides kept sleek and square, crowns pushed back into graphic forms. Diffused drying sealed the structure, creating looks that were fluid yet bold, mirroring Roksanda’s dynamic silhouettes.

Rory Docherty

Richard Phillipart for Authentic Beauty Concept

A lived-in, summer-fresh look by Richard and his team, inspired by the prints and designs on the clothes, hand drawn by Rory and featuring sea anemones, pebbles, stones and the movement of water. They wanted to evoke that same fresh crisp summer feeling in the hair. Starting with Authentic Beauty Concept Glow Spray Serum, he layered on Nymph Salt Spray for that effortless, air-dried texture. Solid Pomade up front and the Strong hold spray kept every raked strand perfectly in place

Cos Sakkas for TONI&GUY

Cos led the TONI&GUY Session Team in capturing the allure of movie icon Sharon Tate, evoking the spirit of late ’60s California glamour. The look features a voluminous beehive silhouette paired with soft, face-framing strands, a modern interpretation that pays homage to her signature elegance and the bouffant styles of 1967. Retro yet contemporary, the hair complemented Paul Costelloe’s Boulevard of Dreams collection, a vibrant ode to femininity, freedom and effortless glamour.

Harri

Danilo Giangreco for Revlon Professional and American Crew

Danilo worked with American Crew and Revlon Professional to embrace the models’ own style, making them feel like their true selves on the runway, celebrating natural curls, all textures, mullets and extra-long hair, embracing individuality and what made each of the models unique. The concept for the show was creatives walking to work and the line-up featured a mix of models and working people. The hair looks played into the ongoing, genderless hair trend of balancing softness with edge working across masculine and feminine aesthetics. For men’s hair, full fringes and curtain bangs remain a strong hair trend in 2026 adding character and personal expression to layered cuts. 

Oscar Ouyang with NEWGEN

Kim Rance

The NEWGEN space was buzzing, and backstage carried the same energy; lively yet calm, organised chaos with a playful edge, and yes… feathers everywhere! These feathers, sourced as by-products from chickens and turkeys, were woven into both the outfits and the hair, giving the show a slightly feral, eccentric “public school boy” vibe. Former It List winner, Kim Rance, was on hand, curling, brushing and artfully tucking in feathers to create the look of a mischievous pillow fight aftermath.

Left: Patrick Wilson (photography by Matteo Valle) Right: Issac Poleon (photography by Alexis White)

SPOTTED!

Hairstylists hit the runway at Harri, with session stylists Patrick Wilson and Issac Poleon walking rather than doing hair (Danilo Giangreco for Revlon Professional had that job!)