Hairdressers Journal International has announced the finalists for the nine regional and six specialist categories for the 2007 British Hairdressing Awards and Nick Bland, based in Haringtons 14 Great Marlborough Street, London W1 salon is among them. Nick has wowed the judges with his photographic entries to become one of the 6 best hairdressers in London. The 6 finalists in Nick's category will discover the overall winner at the end of November at the British Hairdressing Awards.

In 1985, the British Hairdressing Awards - presented by the Hairdressers Journal International and sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional - were launched to reward hairdressers who were pushing the boundaries of hairdressing forward, creating and setting the trends and excelling in this competitive industry. Today, the British Hairdressing Awards are cited as the “Oscars’ of the hairdressing world.

To enter the competition, hairdressers working in salons throughout the United Kingdom have to submit four images, which fulfill the competitions criteria. For the first round judging, a distinguished panel is made up of members of the British Hairdressing Awards Hall of Fame (hairdressers who have won their regional or specialist category three times and that includes our very own Robert Smith, having won Southern Hairdresser of the Year three times) who judge all entries independently and anonymously, with marks counted and compiled by an independent firm of auditors.

From the first round judging, six finalists are selected in each category. The finalists then have to produce a second set of four images, which is added to the first set and judged together in the second round judging. To judge the final six in each category, Hall of Fame members are joined by leading UK hairdressers and selected members of the press. Once again the judging process is independent and anonymous, with the marks collated by independent auditors.

The British Hairdressing Awards has significantly raised the profile of British hairdressing both in the UK and overseas. Winners of all the categories can enjoy the recognition from their peers along with increased media profile in their local area and nationally.

The winners will be announced at the biggest event in the hairdressing industry’s calendar, a glittering awards dinner presented by a well-known television celebrity – the British Hairdressing Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on Monday 26th November 2007. Good luck Nick.