Lossiemouth salon owner announced as Scottish Hairdresser of the Year finalist and Aveda UK and Ireland artistic team member

A LOSSIEMOUTH salon owner has been announced as a finalist for the Scottish Hairdresser of the Year at this year's British Hairdressing Awards.

Karen Thomson, who owns KAM Hair and Body Spa on Lossie's Queen Street is one of six Scottish hairdressers to be nominated for the prestigious award.

To enter, Karen had to create a portfolio of four professionally shot images showcasing her hairdressing skill and expertise.

After being judged by a panel of industry experts, the Lossiemouth based stylist then had to submit a further four images, which the judges will look at before naming the winner at the British Hairdressing Awards awards ceremony on Monday, November 27 at JW Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Alongside being announced as one of the finalists for the award, Karen has also recently become part of global haircare brand Aveda’s first UK and Ireland Artistic Team.

Karen was selected as one of the six talented and creative stylists within the team following a tough judging process, held at the Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa in London, where she and other candidates showcased models in front of a panel of judges including world-renowned and award-winning stylist Antoinette Beenders, Aveda’s Vice President Global Creative Director.

As part of the Artistic Team, Karen will take part in a two-year mentoring programme, led by Antoniette, and will be given the chance to further enhance her skills and create inspirational assets designed to inspire the network and represent the Aveda brand live on stage at large-scale events. Karen will do this alongside working at and managing her salon, KAM Hair and Body Spa in Lossie.

Discussing her recent successes, Karen Thomson, said, "I am so happy to be a finalist for the Scottish Hairdresser of the Year category in this year’s British Hairdressing Awards and I’m so excited for the final in November! I love the collection of imagery I put together this year and I’m so happy the judges did too.

"I’m also so grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of the first Aveda UK and Ireland Artistic Team and to be working alongside five extremely talented artists – Davide Spinelli, Domenico Sansone, Judith Rennie, Sam Bell and Krysia West and I am so excited to be mentored by Antoinette Beenders. I remember watching Antoinette on stage at industry event, Salon International, years ago and being in complete awe of her work. She is so inspiring and to be able to be part of her team for the next two years is such a privilege.

"A huge thank you to Aveda and the panel of judges for believing in me and to Kim for being my fantastic model, I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us all."

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