FEATURED: Australian Hair Industry Awards (Business) Name 2022 Finalists

The Australian Hair Industry Awards, commonly known as the AHIAs, recognise achievement across the business, education, salon and professional product sectors of the Australian hair industry.

The 2022 awards brought together salon owners, educators, emerging businesses, established professional brands and industry leaders from across the country.

Yovanka Loria Extensions was selected as a finalist in the Best Business Performance of the Year category, sponsored by Sustainable Salons.

The category recognised professional businesses demonstrating strong performance, considered growth and a meaningful contribution to the hair industry.

Yovanka Loria Extensions was named alongside Emmerging Salons, EVY Professional, Katkit Road and Total Coaching Academy.

Being included among such a diverse group of industry businesses was an honour and reflected the continued development of the YL brand across professional hair extensions, salon services and stylist education.

The recognition was particularly meaningful given the beginnings of the YL journey.

What began as a home-based Adelaide salon grew into an Australian professional extension brand, an education platform and a community of trained stylists.

The growth of YL was shaped by Yovanka's experience behind the chair, her understanding of the challenges stylists face and her desire to create a more considered approach to extension hair and education.

Every stage of the business was developed around a connection between quality products, professional knowledge and ongoing stylist support.

Education has always been an important part of the YL business model.

The goal was not simply to supply extension hair, but to help stylists understand how to consult, customise, install and maintain extensions with confidence.

YL education also extended into areas such as client experience, pricing, product knowledge, marketing and building a profitable extension service.

This wider approach allowed stylists to develop both their technical ability and the business skills needed to introduce a premium extension service into their salons.

While the finalist recognition celebrated the performance of the business, it also represented the wider YL community.

The brand's growth would not have been possible without the stylists, salons, educators, clients and team members who supported the vision and continued to grow alongside it.

Each trained stylist who introduced YL extensions into their salon became part of a broader professional network built around shared standards, education and ongoing development.

The finalist announcement was therefore a proud moment not only for the business, but for everyone who had contributed to the journey.

The 2022 Australian Hair Industry Awards recognised finalists across categories including business ownership, salon management, education, marketing, customer care, salon training and professional products.

The awards provided an opportunity to celebrate the creativity, resilience and business leadership found throughout the Australian hair industry.

The 2022 gala was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9 October 2022, bringing the industry together to recognise the year's finalists and winners.