The finalists have been announced for the third Australian Modern Barber Awards (AMBAs), representing the very best barbers and barbershop owners that the country has to offer. Australia’s premium awards program for the male grooming industry, the AMBAs, were launched in 2021 to provide men’s hairdressing and barbering trailblazers with a much needed and often requested benchmark of excellence and platform to showcase their creative and business skills.
Created by esteemed trade visionaries Mocha Group, owners of the Australian Hair Industry Awards and Australian Beauty Industry Awards, these are just the latest initiatives revolutionising the way our
local visionaries engage with consumers and show off their creative and business talents.
This year’s awards consist of an increased 17 categories including the AMBA Australian Modern Barber of the Year, AMBA Australian Modern Barber Business of the Year and the AMBA International Modern Barber of the Year.
Each submission was deliberated on by an independent panel of judges including media, PR and business specialists, international barbering icons and specialists in the barbering industry. With men’s grooming an ever-increasing player in the global beauty market this is a timely marker of the industry’s importance and an exciting sign of things to come.
The 2023 gala event will see hundreds of the best of the best gathering in Melbourne on Sunday 5 November at the Plaza Ballroom with an exciting night filled with entertainment and surprises. The AMBAs are proudly sponsored by Heiniger, American Barber, Babyliss Pro, American Crew, Andis, Depot, JRL, Shortcuts, Excellent Edges, Timely, Comfortel and Wahl.
You can check out the full list of AMBA finalists below…
Best Men’s Styling Product of the Year
Sponsored by Barbershop Magazine
- Cloud Matte Styling Formula by Motion Lab
- Putty Pomade by Captain Fawcett
- Scheme Cream by Hanz De Fuko
- Styling Cream by Justice
- Smash It
- Whip by American Crew
Best Men’s Collection – Junior
Sponsored by Depot
- Bec Steindl, Barber By Design
- Corina Catanzaro, HMB Barbers Townsville
- Gianni Sollazzo, Esq. Male Grooming
- Ian Yuen, Jimmy Rods
- Jacob Bonanni, Jimmy Rods
- Jarrod Prosper, The Barber Academy
- Karl Fono, HMB Barbers Townsville
- Reid Jaroudi, Boy Barbershop
- Samuel Reid, Have Heart Barbershop
- Steve Robinson, HMB Barbers Townsville
Best Men’s Collection – Freestyle
Sponsored by Andis
- Benny Hogan, HMB Barbers Townsville
- Clint Wallace, Barbers By Design
- Costa Zacharia, Unoit Barber
- Mary-Jane Sonio, HMB Barbers Townsville
- Matt Clarke, Esq. Male Grooming
- Nicole Fallshaw, St Martins Barber Shop
- Robin Tredrea, Barber Boys & Co. – Newton
- Tom Wynn, Attaboy Hair
Best Business Director/Owner of the Year
Sponsored by JRL
- Aaron Chan, Kings Domain Barber Shop
- Bill Galanis, The BarberBar
- Cameron and Bayli Mcfadyen, The Blacksmith Barbers
- Don De Sanctis, Barber Boys
- Gareth Philpott, The Barber Academy
- Jacob Martin, Tate & Lyle
- Joshua Vas, KJ Barbers
- Robby Lippett, Attaboy
Best Customer Care
Sponsored by Shortcuts
- Kings Domain Barber Shop – Richmond
- New York Barbers
- Platform1 Barbershop
- Tate & Lyle
- The BarberBar – Broadbeach
- The Studio X
- Unoit Barber
Best Men’s Collection – Classic
Sponsored by Babyliss Pro, Dateline Imports
- Aaron Chan, Kings Domain Barber Shop
- Abbie Cramp, HMB Barbers
- Chris Thoedoulou, The BarberBar
- Crisna Pheng, Haveachat Barbershop
- Jake Hart, Have Heart Barbershop
- Jared Sengstock, HMB Barbers
- Robby Lippett, Attaboy
- Ryan Poole, Esq. Male Grooming
- Sean Hayes, Mayday Barber Studio
- Thomas Spee, Reed Studio
Best Men’s Educator of the Year Organisation
Sponsored by Excellent Edges
- Barbery the Craft of a Barber Academy
- Kings Domain Academy
- The Barber Academy
- The Blacksmith Barber Academy
Best Barbershop Design
Sponsored by Comfortel
- Kings Domain Barber Shop – Rialto
- The BarberBar – Broadbeach
Best Team Collection
Sponsored by American Crew
- Attaboy
- Boy Barbershop
- Esq. Male Grooming
- Havachat Barbershop
- Have Heart Barbershop
- Kings Domain Barber Shop – Prahran
- Reed Studio
- Tate & Lyle
- The Barber Academy
- Zak Grooming For Men
International Modern Barber of the Year
Sponsored by Sponsored by Timely
- Florian Zizkovsky, Austria
- George Smith, UK
- Rino Riccio, UK
BTS Crew
Sponsored by mocha group
- Clint Wallace For Best Collection Freestyle
- Dylan Marks For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
- Kings Domain Barber Shop For Best Collection Classic
- Matt Clarke For Best Collection Freestyle
- Matt Clarke For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
- Ryan Poole For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
- Ryan Poole For Best Collection Classic
- Suzi O’Brien For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
- Tate & Lyle For Best Team Collection
- The Barber Academy For Best Team Collection
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by WAHL Professional
To be announced on the night
Hall of Fame
Sponsored by mocha group
To be announced on the night
Australian Modern Barber Business of the Year
Sponsored by American Barber, M&U Imports
- Ampersand Barber Co.
- Kings Domain Barber Shop – South Yarra
- KJ Barbers
- New York Barbers
- The BarberBar – Broadbeach
Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Sponsored by Heiniger
- Dylan Marks, Boy Barbershop/Barber Academy
- Harrison Philpott, Harrison & Co. Barbers
- Matt Clarke, Esq. Male Grooming
- Ryan Poole, Esq. Male Grooming
- Simon Doyle, Area Studio
- Suzi O’Brien, The Studio X
While you’re here, why not check out the finalists for the Modern Barber Awards 2023?