Awards finalists show beauty business booming in North

The shortlist for the upcoming inaugural Northern Ireland Beauty Excellence Awards has been revealed.

Over 80 of Northern Ireland’s hair and beauty salons, aesthetics clinics, spas, products, and individuals have been named as finalists for the event, which takes place later this month.

The shortlist, whittled down from hundreds of entries, shows that business is booming in Northern Ireland, with the Salon/Clinic to Watch category proving the most popular.

“We were really impressed with the standard of entries coming through from new clinics and salons opening across the country,” said Dr Mervyn Patterson, medical director at Woodford Medical, who sat on the independent judging panel.

“There are dynamic new treatments and products that are coming through the industry that have been embraced locally, and it’s fantastic to see such innovation here.”

Other bumper categories include Aesthetics Clinic of the Year, with companies spanning from Newry to Derry, while Northern Ireland’s array of beauty entrepreneurs have had their self-tan, skincare, lashes and fragrances honoured in the Beauty Product of the Year category.

“I have been working in the industry for over 20 years, and it is so interesting to see traditional practices mixed with newer products and treatments, it’s a very exciting time and the Northern Ireland Beauty Excellence Awards are the perfect platform from which to share the innovation of the industry that is booming in Northern Ireland, ” added Dr Patterson.

The awards take place on Sunday, 23 June at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast and will be hosted by Pamela Ballantine.