Lockdown 2020 hit us all hard.
For most of us it meant staying indoors, working from home where possible and keeping in touch with family and friends from a distance. Yet there were also those who couldn’t work at all.
The hair and beauty industry suffered a massive blow when the county plunged into lockdown two years ago, leaving thousands of talented stylists and artists out of work, on furlough, and doing anything possible to keep their businesses thriving throughout those dark times. And we’d all be liars if we didn’t admit to missing our hairdressers and makeup artists through those agonising months.
Last year’s awards was all about boosting morale, but this year, the SMHBA have skyrocketed, are five times more popular, and entrants are coming in from around the globe. So what do these awards mean to the industry?
Taking place in Cardiff on Saturday 26 March, the main SMHBA are an acknowledgement of exceptional work that should be rewarded and recognised. Plus, every winner will receive a stunning trophy that they can showcase in their salon.
The awards are sponsored by some big names in the industry from around the world too. From the likes of WAHL to Head Jog and Denman, these awards are clearly a big deal to sponsors and entrants alike.
What are the categories?
For the main SMHBA, there are 47 categories. This is understandable considering the industry is so diverse, and there are so many different skills to be celebrated.
Of the 47 categories, the likes of Nail Technician of the Year, Barber of the Year, Bridal Hair of the Year and Hairdresser of the Year were included for clients to vote for. However, there were a few different categories too to celebrate many other aspects of the industry. The likes of Training Academy of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Skincare Specialist of the Year were included too.
To vote, all you had to do was like your favourite picture on SMHBA’s Facebook or Instagram page, and comment with a review of the service. This is unique as a review allows those entering the awards to see just how much their work means to their clients, family and friends.
Who are the judges?
Judging these categories is an array of industry professionals who really know their stuff, and they’ve judged previous other major awards.
Aesthetics experts Shareen Bowen and Laura Dix
Choosing winners on the night will be Scratch Magazine’s managing editor, Helen Biggs, aesthetics experts Laura Dix and Shareen Bowen, hair artist Jessica Powers Paints, hairdresser Lloyd Griffiths, and Manouk de Vries, founder of henna brow product company Supercilium.
These judges are experts in their fields, so we know they’re going to be taking their job very seriously to choose the winners of the 47 categories.
Boss Box Awards
The main awards are not the only ones to look out for. Later in the year, the Boss Box Awards will be running, and it’s another opportunity for hair and makeup professionals to showcase their fabulous skills.
The categories for these awards are:
Have you got what it takes, or know someone who does? The judges will be looking for consistent, profitable growth, scalability of business, examples of building brand awareness and quality of customer engagement.
Keep your eyes peeled on the SMHBA’s website for more details.
The main awards are set to take place on Saturday 26 March in Cardiff, and we can’t wait to see who takes home the trophies. Good luck to all the nominees.
For more information on the Social Media Hair and Beauty Awards, visit SMHBA’s Facebook and Instagram pages.