Yesterday the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London was definitely the place to be as the best of best; weave, chemical straightening, natural and locs, colour, braids, cut and style and mobile hair professionals were all in the one place.
Alex and Leillah founded No Scrunchie which they describe as the Trip Advisor of Afro Hair Salons, after Leillah repeatedly found herself encountering bad technical and customer service in Afro Salons. Have a look at the site here. Convinced that were good salons out there, but that she just did not know where to find them, Alex and Leillah decided to give the power back to consumer by creating a salon review website. Salons from across the globe are listed on the site and 90% of the reviews are positive.
Twelve months of hard work almost to the day culminated in an elegant award ceremony, with MC extraordinaire Nat Clue at the helm.
The wine was flowing…
and the decorations were elegant…
and the goody bags were heavy!
THE AWARD CEREMONY
There were twenty four nominees for eight awards.
Best Chemical Straightener
The award was presented by Selina Davis CEO of www.freelancetheworkspace.com
The winner was Ziuzo Hair, Beauty and Fitness pictured here with Leillah from No Scrunchie.com
Best Braid/Plait/Twist
The award was presented by Penny McDonald, journalist
The winner was Natural Glow, Marlene from the salon came to the ceremony with her 12 week old bundle of joy who was very cute and very well behaved.
Best Cut and Style
The award was presented by Rose Sterling from MizanI who looks after London and South East (seen here in the leopard print dress with Charmaine from Mizani (Orange dress) and Leillah (No Scrunchie)
And the winner was Hiikus Hair Salon in Camberwell
Best Colour Professional
The award was presented by Jenny Steele from the Lioness Network whose hair is a gorgeous plum colour.
Ziu Zo hair and fitness received their second award of the night. (Lewisham Massive!)
Best Weave Technician
The award was presented by Dionne Smith hair guru
and a second trophy to Hiikus hair which Chris dedicated to his wife.
Best Natural Hair/Loc Professional
Presneted by natural hair vlogger Wunmi from www.womaninthejungle.com
The winner was Mahogany Hair Spa, who were not able to attend so No Scrunchie Co-Founder Alex collected the award on their behalf.
Best Mobile / Freelance Hairstylist
The award was presented by Trina Emmanuel from www.manediva.com to Supreme Touch who were not able to attend the ceremony
Best Customer Service
This award is arguably the most important of the night, was presented by Leillah from No Scrunchie
To the Tip Top Hair Salon in Hanwell
CURLFORMERS DEMONSTRATION
Dionne Smith is the UK brand ambassador for Curlformers and gave a demonstration of what they are and how they can work on all textures of hair including natural, chemically straightened hair and locs.
The Curlformer hook is used to thread the hair through the Curlformer demonstrated on model Daisy
A completed head of curlformers
Removal is easy and pain free
The final look on natural hair modelled by the gorgeous Nelo
THE NETWORKING
Leillah with Curlformer models Daisy and Nelo
Jenny, Chris, Leillah and Trina
Double award winning team Hiikus
Hair Guru Errol Douglas with double award winner Chris from Hiikus
Alex, Ronke, Segun, Wunmi and friend and Natalie
Team No Scrunchie share a joke
Selina Davis and Errol Douglas
Daisy Penny and Leillah
Tip Top Salon who created Leillah’s hair and lashes for the event
Very proud winners
Double Award winning Ziu Zo Hair, Beauty and Fitness
Jenny networking
Dionne being prepped for her live demo
Chris and Trina
Segun and Ronke
Wunmi and friend
Purely Natural and No Scrunchie
Strike a pose!