Hair stylists from around Ireland chosen for new IHF Star Team

The Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) has revealed the line-up of stylists who are now its new Star Team.

They are Saoirse McDermott, Ritz Hair, Galway; Eddie Power, Pink Sugar Hair, Waterford; Dina Clarke, Cut Social, Dublin; Meaghan O'Daly, Rustiq, Kilkenny; and Leah Carroll Byrne, Vanilla Hair Design, Carlow.

The IHF Star Team competition celebrates the next generation of superstars in the hairdressing industry in Ireland. In February the search began to find passionate and  motivated individuals who will make an impact on the future of the sector.According to the IHF, candidates put their hopes and dreams into their applications, before it invited them back to take part in interviews, whittling down the competitors from almost 200 to just 56.

Semi-finals were held over two days, when all competitors showcased a colour and cut model, followed by an interview with guest judges. The final took place with 22 competitors, who were asked to complete both an upstyle and a blow-dry on their models, followed by one last interview.

The Star Team will now benefit from a range of experiences, including education and training days with established names in the industry.

The IHF congratulated everyone who applied and said that regardless of the outcome, any stylist putting themselves forward for new opportunities and challenges will always get their their own rewards. It encouraged those who didn’t make the final line-up this year to apply again next year.