Criteria & Eligibility

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SALONS

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Best Spa

The spas nominated in this category should provide clients with a world-class spa facility, which boasts a unique spa experience, a broad and innovative treatment menu, and partners up with first-rate spa and skincare brands. The spa’s therapists should execute treatments to the highest standard, demonstrating superior skill and client rapport. Consistently excellent customer service from all spa staff is crucial to the nomination.

 

Best Beauty Salon

Here’s where the magic happens… Ireland’s best beauty salon should offer spectacular services, professionally performed in a great atmosphere and setting. The winning salon will offer the perfect combination of great team, excellent know-how and results clients return for again and again. Salons can be nominated in specific specialist areas (i.e., waxing, brows and lashes, holistic therapies) but in all cases, nominated salons continually innovate with product and treatment trends, as well as knowing what really works is key. Comfort, ambience, appointment management and feel-good factor are equally essential.

 

Best Aesthetic Clinic 

In order for an aesthetic clinic to be nominated, it must offer a wide variety of both tried and trusted skin treatments that safely harness the latest technological developments in dermatology. Staff with a medical background and training is a must, and the administering of treatments must be done in the safest environment that adhere to the highest hygiene protocols. Results derived from treatments must be aesthetically pleasing and the clinic’s good reputation should precede them.

 

Best Nail Salon

The nail salons nominated in this category must deliver on all levels of this grooming indulgence. The hand and feet treatments offered must be exceptional and their finish perfect. Longevity of the manicure or pedicure is also taken into account, as are the salon facilities and the enjoyment factor of a visit. A variety of nail treatments and finishes (including on-point nail art) must also be on offer.

 

Best Hair Salon

The hair salons nominated in this category should boast a team of dynamic stylists and expert colourists who collectively offer clients the highest standard of service. These salons must push the boundaries when it comes to defining new trends and cultivating young talent, while simultaneously respecting their clients’ needs and lifestyles. They must offer an above par salon experience, appointment bookings and management, and maximum client comfort.

 

INDIVIDUALS

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Best Nail Technician

The nail technicians in this category must offer above par hand and feet treatments, and achieve a durable, perfect finish. They must boast a loyal clientele and be experts in all types of nail finishes and styling. Staying on top of catwalk-inspired nail trends and success in international competitions is also considered.

 

Best Make-up Artist

The make-up artists nominated must firstly be available for regular appointments in a store, salon, studio; or manage a full-time on-call business. They must boast an innate ability for creating flawless make-up looks that work for all occasions, from fashion-forward to red carpet, corporate to bridal. They must be up on current catwalk trends if not part of the teams that create them, yet be able to translate new trends in a way that flatter their clients’ contours and colouring, and in a manner that works with their lifestyle demands too.

 

Best Beauty Therapist

While standards of beauty therapy are high in Ireland, there are those gifted with a magic touch. Our winning therapist will be someone who can diagnose skin and/or other systemic issues, along with a client’s holistic needs, and then perform a bespoke treatment using their professional experience and training, human empathy and product knowledge.

 

Best Facialist (New for 2022)

Bringing expertise, experience and diagnostic skills to the fore, nominees for Best Facialist must understand skin and the face’s muscular-skeletal composition, and how to treat it for best results. Facialists in this category should be familiar with massage and the key tools – from holistic to high-tech – which can be effectively incorporated into a treatment. Nominees should be experts on skincare, and able to create bespoke client protocols.

 

Best Advanced Aesthetician (New for 2022)

As the variety of cosmetic procedures and treatments grows, our outstanding aestheticians in this category should be fully familiar with the latest innovations, with superior qualifications, experience and client rapport. Nominees will take a gentle and long-term approach to aesthetics, bringing the client through suitable options that are fully appropriate, effective and value for money, conducted in medical-grade surroundings.

 

Best Brow Artist

The brow artists nominated here must have an ability to understand how to sculpt the best brow shape to flatter both the client’s eye shape and facial contours. They must have a loyal clientele and be well practised in various brow-grooming techniques.

 

Best Eyelash Artist

Nobody wants uneven lashes. These eyelash artists must be the most sought-after technicians. Offering everything from tinting to extensions, curling to lifts, they are the go-to in the industry. They must have excellent visual spatial ability and be able to judge the perfect length and volume for each of their clients. 

Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year

Winning in the hair and beauty industry takes more than good looks! The IMAGE Entrepreneur of 2022 will have had an amazing year forging ahead with innovation, business smarts and a hungry desire for success.

 

Best Beauty Influencer

Who do you look to for beauty product knowledge and expertise? Whose opinion do you rate? Our winning influencer will combine strong content with their unique personality posted regularly across key social channels that we can’t wait to see. Their collaborations and sponsored content should be creative, appropriate and authentic, and their style should be highly engaging and entertaining.

 

Best Hairstylist

This category requires a stylist who can wield a scissors with both dexterity and flair to craft cuts that work for both clients’ everyday needs and also for when something more glam is required. They must have a knack for creative styling inspired by catwalk trends, which they can adapt for formal and casual events as needed. Nominees should have a body of published editorial or commercial work, and be regarded as Irish industry leaders.

 

Best Hair Colourist

To be considered for this category, the hairdresser must have a proven track record and adequate experience as a colourist. They must boast a loyal clientele, and have strong relationship-building skills. They should challenge themselves to evolve and develop by using their skills outside the salon for creative projects, and success at global hair competitions is also taken into account.

 

Most Creative Talent in Hair 

The winner of the Most Creative Talent in Hair award will have shown precision, outstanding creativity and flair in hairdressing. He or she will have a reputation as one of Ireland’s most in-demand hair heroes and versed in a variety of tools and techniques – from extensions to updos. 

 

Best Bloody Brilliant Blow-dry

Everyone knows the transformative effects a great blow-dry can bring, and a bloody brilliant blow-drier is the most essential number in your little black beauty book. The winner of this category will be the hairstylist who can add bounce, remove static and tame curls for happy hair and a delighted client. In short, a life-changer.

 

Best Men’s Hair Specialist

Whether a barber or a salon stylist, nominees in this category should have extensive experience and have gathered a considerable reputation in men’s hairdressing. Precision cutting is key, as is authority on scalp and hair care. Nominees in this category should have a busy client list, with additional experience in education, competition and editorial/commercial work considered a bonus.

 

Hall of Fame (New for 2022)

Spanning all areas of the beauty, aesthetics and hair business, the IMAGE Business of Beauty Hall of Fame Award will be presented to an individual who has made an impact on the industry that extends beyond their business or appointment book. Bringing innovation, creativity, personality and impact to the Irish scene, nominees in this category deserve recognition for their (possibly ongoing) contribution amongst their peers, now and for future generations to come.

 

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