Our Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2026 winners series sees us chatting to our trophy recipients about their career and business, and what it takes to thrive in the industry.
Melissa Hayward, who owns Melissa Hayward Academy, won Educator of the Year, sponsored by AIT, and she answered our questions.
Tell us about your career journey to date?
I started out training in hair extensions at Zoo Salon in New York back in 2002 and went on to gain my cosmetology licence there in 2003. I opened my first salon in 2006 and worked with celebrity and TV clients over the years, which gave me a real grounding in delivering high standards under pressure. I was actually the first person to introduce microrings to Ireland back in 2005!
In 2021, I launched Melissa Hayward Academy because I wanted to raise the standard of hair extension education here and give stylists access to training that was flexible, practical and genuinely transformative. Since then we have trained hundreds of students across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Dubai and the US, both in person and through our online platform, which I launched in December 2024.
What have been the highlights/moments you are most proud of?
Honestly, it is always the student stories. Watching someone like Lisa, who grew up in foster care and left school early, go on to become a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year Awards, and build a waitlist of her own clients – that is the real highlight for me. Or Amy, who had not worked in hairdressing for 10 years after having children, finding her confidence again and now running her own successful business. Those moments, seeing someone go from unsure to thriving, are what make all the hard work worth it.
What do you love most about the industry?
I love that it is an industry where you can genuinely change your own life. Hair extensions, in particular, are one of the most in-demand and profitable services a stylist can offer, so for so many of my students, this is not just a new skill, it is a real turning point in their income and their confidence. I also love the community side of it; the support and connection between stylists is something really special.
Hair extensions, in particular, are one of the most in-demand and profitable services a stylist can offer, so for so many of my students, this is not just a new skill, it is a real turning point in their income and their confidence
Are there challenges in the industry and how can they be overcome do you think?
I think one of the biggest challenges is access. Not everyone can take time away from work or family to travel for training, and that can shut people out of opportunities. That is part of why I built a hybrid and online model, so theory can be done flexibly and the practical side still gets that hands-on, in-person guidance. I also think there is a lot of work still to do around inclusion in this industry – making sure people from all backgrounds and circumstances feel there is a place for them, which is something I am really passionate about both through my training and through my work with the Irish Hairdressing Council.
What traits do you think are most important in order to thrive in the industry?
Resilience, patience and a genuine willingness to keep learning. This industry moves fast, so staying curious and open to new techniques is so important. I would also say confidence matters hugely. Not arrogance, but belief in your own ability to keep improving. As someone who left school early and is autistic, I know first-hand that traditional measures of success do not tell the whole story. Some of the most talented stylists I have trained did not fit the typical mould either, and that is exactly why they thrive.
Were you surprised to win a Beauty, Hair & Spa Award, and what does winning mean to you?
I was completely overwhelmed, in the best way! Winning means so much because it is not just a reflection of my own work, it represents every student who came to me feeling unsure and left empowered, and that ripple effect is what I am most proud of. It also feels like a real validation of years of work and heart poured into building something meaningful.
What advice would you give anyone who is thinking about entering next year's Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards?
Just go for it! Do not let self-doubt talk you out of it. So many talented people in this industry underestimate their own impact. Take the time to really reflect on your journey and the difference you have made, because often we are so busy working in our business that we forget to acknowledge how far we have come. Even just filling in the application form is a great exercise.
Are you thinking about entering the Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2027? If so, you can register your interest here.
