Sydney’s Jayne Wild announced as 2011 Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year - first female to win the award three times

Jayne Wild of Wild Life Hair in Sydney was last night named the 2011 Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year, making her the first female to have won the award three times in their 26-year history.

As part of the Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards, held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wild beat five other top Australian hairdressers to take out the prestigious title. Having previously won the award in 2008 and 2004, Wild is a true inspiration to the Australian hairdressing industry and one of only two females to have won the top award twice or more.

Wild received the trophy at a spectacular gala ceremony in Darling Harbour, hosted by Luke Jacobz. Her team at Wild Life hair also won Salon Team of the Year and her breathtaking new salon in Milson’s Point won Best New Salon Design. Wild Life apprentice, Kim Jones, also won Apprentice of the Year, meaning the Wild Life Team took home an amazing four of the fourteen awards up for grabs.

Of her win, Wild said: “The first time I won I was so surprised – I was relaxing with a glass of wine with my shoes off under the table, thinking it couldn’t possibly be me! Then to win a second and now third time, I’m completely blown away. I’m so pleased for my team, especially Kim, who’s such an amazingly talented girl. It’s a huge honour for us all!”

Celebrating their 26th anniversary this year, the annual Hairdressing Awards at Hair Expo are the longest running and most respected awards in the Australian and New Zealand hairdressing industry. They set the industry standard across both countries and represent the pinnacle of hairdressing excellence in the southern hemisphere.

Winners across all categories included fellow Sydney-siders Lisa Muscat of éSALON, Wahroonga for both New Creative Force and Best Photographic Collection, Sarah Laidlaw of DLM Management for Session Hair Stylist of they Year (for the second year running) and Sharon Blain of The Art of Hair salons for Educator of the Year (for the third year running). Details of every winner and their salon are listed below.

The awards gala was preceded by a spectacular show from Schwarzkopf Professional and wraps up another year of Hair Expo Australia. Over 10,000 visitors flocked to Darling Harbour to see more than 10,000 square metres of world-class exhibitors, education and more than 2,000 models in shows from international and local hairdressing stars, showcasing the latest and greatest the industry has to offer.

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Notes to editors: 

• Australian Hairdresser of the Year is the highest accolade in the Aussie hairdressing industry and is judged by a panel of independent industry experts.
• The decision takes into consideration all aspects of the entrant’s hairdressing career, from their photographic collection to prior recognition and involvement in the industry.
• For interviews with winners in the Hair Expo Awards, photographic collections and information on Hair Expo, please contact: Maxted Thomas PR
  Matt Horsburgh (02) 9358 5689 / matt@maxtedthomas.com.au
  Ian Thomas (02) 9358 5689 / ian@maxtedthomas.com.au