News

Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2023 now open for entries

The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2023 are open for entries, with the gala ceremony taking place in the InterContinental Dublin on 12 November.

Launched last year, the awards celebrate talent and success in the industry in Ireland.

Organised by the same teams behind HJ's British Hairdressing Awards and the Professional Beauty UK Awards, they recognise the individuals, teams and businesses who make a real difference to the sector, acknowledging excellence of care, service and standards.

The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards are judged independently by a panel of industry experts, who are selected for their knowledge and skills, ensuring only the very best win.

With 14 categories in total, honouring everyone from hair colour technicians and business directors, to make-up artists, therapists, and beauty salon and spa teams, this year's awards also include the new Educator of the Year category.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 28 July. For more information, and to enter, visit professionalbeauty.ie/awards.

Clarins opens new spa in Dublin

Clarins has opened a new boutique and spa on Wicklow Street in Dublin, following a €1m investment.

The first of its kind across Ireland and the UK, it is offering customised treatments for the face and body, as well as an enhanced Clarins range.

“We intend this to be a landmark concept and destination in Dublin city centre, where you can enjoy the full Clarins experience with our trained experts,” said Clarins managing director Dr Olivier Courtin, who opened the boutique and spa. Dr Courtin is the son of Jacques Courtin-Clarins, who originally founded the Parisian brand in 1954.

“The brand has confidence and has invested in a bricks and mortar service-led boutique and spa, which will complement our nationwide partner network and will be a destination for Clarins customers.

“The pandemic affected our ability to offer our customers the full brand experience, but people want contact again. They want to elevate their experience and enjoy services for women and men that they can’t find anywhere else.”

The spa's menu includes flash expert services on specific areas that take from five to 15 minutes, and longer treatments that range from 30 minutes to an hour. Full treatments are offered in one of the spa's two custombuilt cabins.

In keeping with Clarins’ carbonneutral status, the new space was fitted out by Donegal firm Ashley Martin, using sustainable materials throughout, with an emphasis on wood and recycled plastics.

IN BRIEF

■ Dermalogica has launched a new course for beaut y professionals on how to treat melanin-rich skin. According to the skincare brand, melaninrich skin tones, specifically those categorised as Fitzpatrick levels IV-VI, are vastly under-represented in the professional skincare industry ’s training curricula. Comprised of three self-led modules, the free Treating Melanin-Rich Skin course is designed for skin therapists and future industry professionals, and aims to help to strengthen their foundational knowledge of understanding and treating this skin type.

■ A new entitlement to employer-paid sick leave has come into effect for all employees in Ireland. Workers are now entitled to up to three days of employer-paid sick leave in a yea r, which is paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110 per day. Where an employee has an extended period of illness, the scheme will operate seamlessly with the existing illness benefit system, which kicks in on day four of an absence.

■ NAK Hair UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Amanda Flory as brand ambassador. An award-winning salon owner, creative director and educator, Flor y began working as a hairdressing apprent ice when she was 13, and started her career at Trevor Sorbie in London. At the age of 20, she joined Metropolis Hairdressing, where she was mentored by Rober t Masciave. She went on to launch her own salon in Weybr idge in the UK, initially as a partnership, before she went solo in 2018. “I am super excited to be working with NAK Hair UK & Ireland, which fits with us culturally and env ironmenta lly,” she said. “I can’t wait to work with such an innovative brand and bring my skills on board to showcase in the UK and Ireland.”