Local salons a cut above the rest at hair and beauty awards

IT’S official ‒ Carlow has some of the best hair salons in Leinster.

Salons in Carlow town and in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow cleaned up at this year’s Irish Hair and Beauty Awards that took place last week in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin. Lavish Studio on Kennedy Avenue, Carlow was named as Local Salon of the Year, while Olivia’s Hair Studio in Baltinglass scooped Hair Salon of the Year.

“We’re absolutely delighted. It was such an honour to be nominated, so to win was incredible. We’re a small, hardworking team, so to be recognised for that is great. We had a fabulous night at the awards – it was fantastic to meet all the other hairdressers there. It was great,” said Kelly Hogan, manager of Lavish Studio.

Having secured salon of the year and local salon of the year accolades, plenty more awards were won by talented local hairstylists, with Hair by Áine, also in Baltinglass, winning Colour Technician of the Year.

Rebecca Long in the Beauty Boutique, Rathwood, Tullow was highly commended in the Stylist of the Year category and in the Hair Extensions category, Hair by Linda Cummins in Carlow was also highly commended. Darque studio in Carlow town was highly commended in the Team of the Year category.

The awards were sponsored by Creative Oceanic and focused exclusively on Leinster. Three more awards ceremonies will be held place, taking in the rest of the country.

Now in its seventh year, the awards aim to showcase the best hair salons, stylists, barbershops, extensions specialists and bridal experts, among others, in Ireland that exhibit excellence and professionalism in their craft.