The International Hairdressing Awards® announce the Jury for IHA 2025

The International Hairdressing Awards® announce the Jury for IHA 2025

The International Hairdressing Awards proudly reveal the five extraordinary professionals who will form the jury for the IHA 2025 competition. These industry legends embody creativity, innovation, and global excellence: Sharon Blain (Australia), Sam Villa (USA), Felicitas Ordás (Spain), Nicky Clarke (UK) and Ilham Mestour (Netherlands). These five trailblazers represent the pinnacle of global hairdressing, bringing their expertise and passion to judge the most prestigious competition in the industry.

The 2025 International Hairdressing Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 21st, during the HairCon event at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. This highly anticipated celebration promises to be an unforgettable evening of glamour, talent, and recognition, bringing together the world’s top stylists and industry leaders for a dazzling night of inspiration and awards.

Meet the IHA 2025 Jury Panel:

Sharon Blain (Australia)

IHAs International Hair Legend of the Year Sharon Blain is a globally acclaimed hairdresser and educator with over five decades of experience. Renowned for her expertise in long hair styling, she has trained thousands worldwide through her Boot Camps, online platforms, and workshops. A five-time Hair Expo Educator of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, she continues to innovate hair education. Honored with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022, Sharon’s legacy inspires future generations of stylists through cutting-edge training programs.

Sam Villa (USA)

IHAs 2020 International Hair Influencer of the Year, hair icon Sam Villa continues to transform the industry one stylist at a time. As a visionary educator, he challenges, inspires, and motivates change—whether on stage, in salons, or through social media. A 2021 NAHA Educator of the Year and 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Sam is renowned for his innovative cutting and finishing techniques. As the co-founder of Sam Villa®️, he believes in sharing knowledge to elevate the industry. “Sharing is the greatest gift,” says Sam, empowering stylists to grow and succeed.

Felicitas Ordás (Spain)

Felicitas Ordás is a renowned figure in the world of hairdressing, both nationally and internationally. Felicitas is the President of the prestigious Club Fígaro in Spain, while she leads the creation of innovative hair fashion collections from her own salon, Felicitas Hair, in Mataró, Barcelona—blending art, fashion, and technique. In addition, she teaches courses worldwide, sharing her knowledge and expertise with fellow professionals. Her excellence and distinguished career in the industry have been recognized with numerous awards.

Nicky Clarke (UK)

Hair icon Nicky Clarke OBE is a highly acclaimed British hairstylist known for his exceptional talent and innovative vision. Starting as an apprentice at the House of Leonard at 16, Nicky quickly rose to prominence, working with John Frieda for over a decade. His career took off with magazine shoots for British Vogue and styling for celebrities like Brooke Shields, Diana Ross, and Duran Duran. In the early 90s, Nicky, alongside his then-wife Lesley, launched the Nicky Clarke brand, opening a prestigious Mayfair salon that attracted high-profile clients such as Princess Diana, David Bowie, Brad Pitt, and Naomi Campbell, among many others. Recognized with numerous industry awards, including an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, Nicky Clarke remains a true icon, inspiring future generations with his passion and influence in the beauty world.

Ilham Mestour (Netherlands)

Ilham Mestour is a Moroccan-born, Netherlands-based hairstylist. With her technical skills and creative input, she transforms styling hair into an art form. After spending over a decade as the Artistic Director for Keune Hair Cosmetics, Mestour is now the Artistic Director of Balmain Hair Couture. Mestour’s work has appeared in top fashion publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Harper’s Bazaar, and she has collaborated on advertising campaigns for fashion houses and brands including Iris van Herpen, Bulgari, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein. Her celebrity clients include Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Doutzen Kroes, Imaan Hammam, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

The International Hairdressing Awards are an independent company, powered by hairdressers, founded and directed by the well-known Spanish hairdresser Mikel Luzea. The International Hairdressing Awards are supported by HirCon as main sponsor, Estetica Magazine as global media partner, Artero as category partner, and Salón Look Madrid, Artero and The Hair MBA as sponsors.

For more information about the International Hairdressing Awards, visit www.ihawards.com