Colinton stylist named best hairdresser in Scotland

Scotland’s best hairdresser has revealed the secrets to his success after winning an ‘Oscar’ of the hair world at Hairdressing Journal’s British Hairdressing Awards.

Jason Hall from Jason Hall Hairdressing on Colinton Road was crowned Scottish Hairdresser of the Year at a glitzy ceremony on London’s Park Lane.

Mr Hall, who has been nominated five times in the last five years said he ‘really wasn’t expecting’ to win the prestigious award.

“I had just got used to not winning,” he said.

“You have to go on stage if you win to give a speech, but I didn’t have anything prepared, I was just lost for words.”

Mr Hall, who received the award on his 50th birthday, said it could not have been a better birthday gift.

“It’s a very big, very glitzy ceremony,” he said.

“In the hairdressing world it’s like our Oscars.”

Mr Hall was judged by a panel of hairdressing experts including members of the beauty press and former multiple-time winners of the award.

Several rounds of judging assessed the technical skill of a total of eight photographs of Mr Hall’s work, taken by London-based photographer Desmond Murray.

Mr Hall credits his success to ‘perseverance and experience’.

“The more you do these awards the more you realise it’s about showing how good you are at your craft, it’s not about trying to be clever,” he said.

Since his win Mr Hall has been ‘inundated’ with congratulatory emails and texts from customers.

“We’re quite a local salon, we know most of our customers well, and they know how hard we’ve worked for this and how much it means,” he said.

Mr Hall, who has been a hairdresser for 35 years, said the most important thing he has learned in that time is to ‘care about everyone’.

“The haircut is 50% of what goes on in the salon,” he said.

“The rest is about relaxing and having a chat. People who come in to the salon just want to be looked after, and they want us to be nice to them.”

Jayne Lewis-Orr, Executive Director of HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards said: “The calibre of entrants in this national category is always extremely high, but Jason’s recognition is truly

deserved because his hair work made us stop and take notice.

“British hairdressing is known the world over, and Jason continues to show that excellence and creativity are still at the heart of UK styling.

“Warmest congratulations to him for demonstrating fantastic technical dexterity, and for being such a great ambassador for our industry.”

Mr Hall received the award at Grosvenor House, a J W Marriott Hotel on Park Lane, in front of a 1,750-strong crowd.

He was one of 18 trophy winners on the night.