10 Questions With Director of UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2025

Interview with UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2025

After facing unfair practices as a salon owner, Sophie launched The UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2025 to create a transparent, inclusive space where talent—not ticket sales—takes centre stage. What began as a stand against inequality has grown into the UK’s leading beauty awards and a thriving community known as the HBA Family.

In this 10 questions with interview, Sophie shares the inspiration behind the movement, her vision for the future of the industry, and the personal journey that’s made her a powerful voice for change.

1. What inspired you to launch The UK Hair and Beauty Awards, and how has it evolved since the beginning?

My journey began as a salon owner who experienced firsthand the frustration many in our industry face with unfair awards practices. I was approached to enter an awards programme with my team, but after paying £700 in hidden ‘next stage’ fees, I couldn’t afford the additional cost to attend the actual event. The final blow came when I received a phone call, essentially stating that attendance was required to win. I felt devastated – not just for myself, but for my talented team who deserved recognition regardless of our financial circumstances.

This experience opened my eyes to a significant gap in our industry. When I searched for fair, transparent awards where merit mattered more than attendance or financial circumstances, I discovered none existed. That’s when I knew I had to create the change I wanted to see.

We launched The UK Hair and Beauty Awards with a revolutionary approach – complete transparency. We were the first awards programme to introduce a small, upfront entry fee instead of relying on hidden costs and surprise charges. Our core principle was simple: every entrant deserves an equal chance of winning, whether they attend our event or not.

Since our inception, we’ve evolved into much more than an awards programme. We’ve built what we proudly call the ‘HBA Family’ – a thriving community of hair and beauty professionals. We’ve established ourselves as the UK’s leading industry awards, featuring celebrity attendees and a prestigious red carpet event that celebrates excellence across over 30 categories.

But we’re not stopping there. In 2026, we’re launching ‘HBA Approved’ – a groundbreaking regulatory platform that will transform how clients choose their beauty providers. This innovative system allows the public to verify that salons and service providers meet professional standards before booking, backed by our £1,000 service guarantee.

What started as a personal frustration has become a mission to elevate industry standards, celebrate genuine talent, and protect both professionals and clients. We’ve proven that when you lead with integrity and put the community first, you don’t just build a business – you build a movement.

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2. What does “luxury” mean to you in the context of hair and beauty, and how is that reflected in the awards?

For me, luxury isn’t about exclusivity or price tags – it’s about all the fine things in life that make us feel truly alive and valued. There are different kinds of luxuries: there’s the luxury of exquisite food that delights your senses, the luxury of entertainment that lifts your spirits, but most importantly, there’s the luxury of being surrounded by the people you love – your friends, your team, your chosen family.

I believe anyone should be able to experience luxury, no matter who they are or where they come from, because luxury is fundamentally a feeling you get, not something expensive you can buy. It’s that moment when you feel celebrated, appreciated, and part of something special.

We’ve developed what we call the ‘HBA Family’ because we understand that the greatest luxury in life is connection, memories, and belonging. Whether you’re celebrating with your entire salon team or attending alone and cheering on a stranger from across the room, you’re experiencing the luxury of community and love.

The most luxurious moment of the whole Hair and Beauty Awards year isn’t the red carpet or the gourmet meal – it’s celebrating something special whilst being surrounded by the people who matter most, whether in attendance or watching from home in their pyjamas on our FREE live stream. I believe that’s priceless luxury, and it’s what we’re really in the business of creating.

3. What beauty trends have you noticed consistently impressing the judges year after year?

What consistently impresses our judges isn’t actually about following trends – it’s about mastering the fundamentals with exceptional skill and genuine client care. Year after year, we see winners who demonstrate technical excellence, whether that’s perfect color matching, flawless nail art, or seamless lash application.

The professionals who stand out are those who combine technical mastery with authentic client relationships. Our judges consistently recognise those who can adapt any trend to suit their individual clients rather than following cookie-cutter approaches.

Interestingly, the most successful entrants showcase their unique style and personality in their work. They’re not chasing every viral technique – they’re perfecting their craft and building genuine connections with their clients. That authenticity and skill combination never goes out of style, and it’s what many of our judges value most.

4. What are some of the most exciting or innovative treatments or brands you’ve discovered through the awards?

We do uncover incredible innovation happening in salons everywhere. We’ve seen professionals develop signature methods that reduce treatment time while improving results, and others who’ve identified gaps in their local markets and created brilliant solutions. The rave at the minute that everyone’s jumping on really is the hair-spa’s I would say though!

The real magic is that we’re not just celebrating established names – we’re discovering future industry leaders & underdogs. Many of our past winners have gone on to launch product lines, open multiple locations, or become educators, all starting with that initial Hair and Beauty Awards recognition.

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5. Can you share any insider tips for women looking to elevate their beauty routine without a total overhaul?

I think everyone’s beauty routine needs to be able to suit them really, as everyone’s lifestyle is different. For example, I am a single mum, have 2 children and work 40 hours a week minimum. So my beauty routine – whilst extremely important to me – has to be time efficient.
I can’t afford to spend an hour getting ready in the morning and then again before bed because I just don’t have that luxury of free time right now.

After having my second child last year I’ve literally had to ditch all high-maintenance treatments, including lashes & nails as it’s essential for me to have minimal effort/low maintenance while maximum impact so I can look good for the school run in 5 minutes.

What I tend to do now (and my advice for readers) is make sure I have a really good skincare routine, as I think as long as my skin looks good, everything else is a bonus. I would suggest that anyone get in touch with a local skincare specialist as there is no one-size-fits-all all and they will be able to advise you on what products and routine is best – it’s well worth the investment!

I also apply Dove gradual tan moisturiser twice a week (5 mins application time) so I don’t have to wear any foundation and opt for the Dior Dior show Iconic Overcurl Mascara. A 4-weekly brow appointment and I’m good to go in the mornings!
I definitely take the natural approach, but it’s not by choice haha!
 

6. For readers who love supporting independent and up-and-coming brands, who should we have on our radar this year?

Hmm, this is a tough one, as we do support all independent brands or anyone trying to make it in the industry. We have been working closely with some amazing up-and-coming independent brands recently though and there’s a specific workwear brand that we’ve got involved with recently called House of Zana Workwear and they provide workwear for the hair and beauty industry that’s absolutely stunning – they seem to be growing at a huge pace too so definitely one to watch closely! 

7. What qualities do you believe set award-winning beauty professionals apart in such a competitive industry?

I think the main thing that sets people apart is resilience. There can only be one winner for each category every year – and if you don’t win one year – don’t just quit, come back harder and stronger and fight to claim the title of Best in UK.

Because many other awards in the past have been easy to win as people have just been able to pay for them – I think we do get a very small minority of people who expect to win because they have bought tickets to the event, or bought all the merchandise. And no matter how many times we say it’s all down to the fair results – people do think there is a way around it, and then are shocked when there isn’t.

I would say submit your application the best you can, join us as we celebrate each other and the industry, and if you win it’s a huge bonus.

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8. What advice would you give to someone considering entering the beauty industry in 2025?

My honest advice would be to go to college, and make sure you’re adequately qualified. It’s too easy to just ‘enter the beauty industry’ these days – and you need to cover yourself and make sure your qualifications are sustainable if the government do decide to bring in educational industry regulations.

9. Self-confidence and beauty go hand in hand—what has working in this industry taught you about personal empowerment?

I’ll be completely honest – I’ve always struggled with self-confidence and personal empowerment. As someone who’s naturally introverted and deals with anxiety, I’ve traditionally kept myself behind the scenes rather than putting my face to the Hair and Beauty Awards brand.

But working in this industry has taught me something: true beauty and empowerment come from authenticity, not perfection. Through the thousands of applications I’ve read and the incredible professionals I’ve met, I’ve learned that our industry’s greatest strength lies in lifting each other up, celebrating vulnerability alongside success, and creating spaces where people can be genuinely themselves.

What’s transformed me personally is witnessing how our Hair and Beauty Awards community embraces everyone – not just as business owners or professionals, but as real people with real stories. The hair and beauty industry has this unique ability to make people feel seen and valued, and over time, I’ve felt that warmth and acceptance myself.

That’s actually why I’ve decided to do this interview – my very first one. The community we’ve built around Hair and Beauty Awards has given me the confidence to express my voice and opinion as someone who genuinely believes in what we’re creating together.

I’ve learned that personal empowerment isn’t about overcoming all your fears or suddenly becoming extroverted. It’s about finding your purpose, surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, and taking small, brave steps forward. The HBA family has taught me that there’s incredible strength in being authentically yourself – anxiety, introversion, and all.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up as you are, and that’s exactly what our industry celebrates every day.

10. What’s your current go-to beauty product or ritual that you swear by? (We love a good recommendation!)

My go-to product is definitely Aveeno’s gel moisturiser. I’ve used all different brands from all different price brackets and never found anything to suit my skin until this was recommended to me by a skin expert and I’ve never looked back! Paired with a Dermalogica’s special cleansing gel that is – and no they’re not a sponsor haha!

To learn more about Sophie, visit the UK Hair and Beauty Awards or follow along on social media @hairandbeautyawardsuk for the latest updates and inspiring content.