above: This year’s winner of the Alternative Hair Visionary Award
2012 marks the 30th anniversary of Alternative Hair, during which time many of the world’s greatest hairdressers and hairdressing teams have appeared across the globe at Alternative Hair events in the UK, USA, Austria, Korea, Italy and Russia.
The 2012 Alternative Hair Show was held on Sunday 14th October, 30 years after the first Alternative Hair Show was held at London’s Camden Palace and adding funds to the £8.5 Million already raised in support of Leukemia and Lymphoma Research.
The vision of Alternative Hair is to recognize and honor creative talent as well as recognizing the future stars of tomorrow. The Visionary Award, has developed from the original concept of Alternative Hair President Anthony Mascolo, and has become an increasingly popular addition to the show. Now an international competition, this year the Visionary Award semi-finals will be held at the World Championships in Milan.
Here’s a look at the 2012 Visionary Award Winner and all the finalists. (to see images from the show’s presentation, LEGENDS, go here)
This year’s Winner Helen Reavey’s work graces the cover of the October/November 2012 issue of Irish Hairdresser Magazine :
in the London show:
The 2012 Visionary Award Finalists in alphabetical order:
Anthony Kilcoyne, (3rd place of VA Ireland):
Ceri Cushen, UK:
Cristiano Leuzzi, Italy:
Emmanuel Esteban, UK:
Evequoz Francois, Switzerland:
Deiter Ferschinger, Austria:
Freda Rossidis, Australia:
Koczka, Hungary:
Lina Shamoun, Canada:
Mauro Santurro, Italy:
Michelle McDermott, 2nd place in VA Ireland):
Misha Cadkova, Czech Republic:
Olexander Gryshko, Ukraine:
Olga Provotorova, Russia:
Pawel Babicz, Poland:
Pino Troncone, Italy:
Robert Masciave, UK:
Roger Persson, Sweden:
Ruslana Moroz, Ukraine:
Tom Connell, UK:
Tony DeLiddo, Italy:
Why Alternative Hair exists:
In 1983 Tony and Maggie Rizzo lost their small son Valentino to Leukaemia. To keep the memory of Valentino alive and try and make a change: to improve the chances of a child surviving this terrible disease, Tony organised a ‘one off’ charity show. The immediate popularity of the Show meant he just had to do a show the following year and 30 years on the following within the hairdressing industry remains strong.
Alternative Hair Show links creativity with charity and is everlastingly dedicated to the hairdressers and to supporting the life saving work of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
The Alternative Hair Shows have raised an astonishing £8.5 million thus far for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in the UK and for leukaemia charities worldwide.
This vital work continues with the establishment of The Alternative’s very own charity, The Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation.