Sally Brooks is named International Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards

The category, which was introduced to the awards this year, was part of the glitzy live event held at The Star in Sydney and live streamed across the world.

Sally, co-owner of Brooks & Brooks, London, is no stranger to winning awards – she has won British Hairdresser of the Year three times – but was shocked and delighted to win this highly-anticipated award. Sydney salon owner Clive Allwright, who has known Sally since school, picked up the award on her behalf.

“I was delighted to receive this recognition from Australian peers and judges. I was sad not to able to be there in person, but it was wonderful that Clive could pick this up for me, as he’s one in a million. It was lovely to see a live event that reminds us all in the UK what the energy of a room of hairy creatives feels like.”

There were eight British hairdressers who were finalists for the award – Cos Sakkas, TONI&GUY; Darren Ambrose, D&J Ambrose; Errol Douglas MBE, Errol Douglas Salon; Gary Hooker and Michael Young, Hooker & Young; Kerry Mather, KJM Salons; Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson Salons; Martin Crean, MODE Hair and Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks.