Not a stranger to recognition and awards, Ballymena hairdresser Simon Houston was once again in the spotlight at the weekend when he was crowned Irish Hairdresser of the Year.
The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2024 welcomed the glamour and talent of Ireland's beauty, hair, and spa professionals to the prestigious gala ceremony that took place in the InterContinental Dublin on Sunday night, November 10th.
Hosted by Brendan Courtney, the event drew nearly 300 attendees from across the industry, all gathered to honour the crème de la crème of their fields.
The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards, now in its third year, continue to grow in prestige, recognising the highest standards of service, innovation, and expertise in the beauty sector. This year's awards were particularly competitive, with a panel of esteemed industry experts rigorously evaluating entries to ensure only the best were crowned champions across 14 diverse categories.
Among the night's highlights was the announcement of Houston Hair's triumph. Simon Houston, the recipient of the coveted Irish Hairdresser of the Year award, expressed his joy and gratitude. Simon commented:
“I’m honestly over the moon to have won Irish Hairdresser of the Year, and I couldn’t have done it without the incredible people around me. First, a huge thank you to my amazing team at Houston Hair—you’re the heartbeat of everything we do. And to our wonderful clients, your trust and loyalty make every day worthwhile.”
Simon also highlighted the pivotal role of his long-time colleague Lisa, who has been integral to Houston Hair's success for 23 years.
”I especially want to mention Lisa, who has been by my side for 23 years,” he said. “She started as my assistant and is now one of our managers, and she’s been through every high and low of this journey with me. Lisa, you’re the reason I could even dream of entering, let alone winning, this title”
Simon affectionately quipped: “You’re daft as a brush, but your belief in me and your unwavering support have allowed me to do what I love.”
Simon also extended his thanks to the creative team behind their award-winning shoot, including photographer Jack Eames, stylist Claire Frith, and makeup artist Maddie Austin. "Your creativity, passion, and hard work brought our vision to life—I couldn’t have done it without each of you!" he added, underlining the collaborative spirit that defines the industry.
Simon finished by saying:
“Thank you to all our friends for the love you’ve shown, and to my husband, Clayton, and our three incredible kids—Chloe, James, and O—who are my constant inspiration. This win belongs to all of you!”
As the evening concluded, the atmosphere was one of celebration and camaraderie, with winners and attendees alike looking forward to another year of setting benchmarks in beauty, hair, and spa services across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Congratulations Simon!