Golden Flame Award:

Platform to showcase hair and beauty talent

by Anuradha Kodagoda

The local hair and beauty industry is at a turning point. It is time to mould the next generation of talent. With this in mind, the Golden Flame Awards is designed with to initiate a competitive spirit to create development in the industry. It will create a platform for talent that can compete internationally and will motivate hair and beauty training providers to be world class trainers by grooming winners,” said Hasini Gunasekara, event consultant of the Golden Flame Awards 2013.

“The Golden Flame Award will be a platform to gather experience to envision, design and accomplish new creations not just only in hair and make-up, but also a total look. As an industry it will identify talent and provide job opportunities in salons, act as brand ambassadors and product promoters and ultimately harmonises the industry to work towards a world class hair and beauty industry and bring honour to Sri Lanka,” she said.

The Golden Flame Award is powered by Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologist Association (APHCA) comprising 20 countries, a leading community of renowned, skilled and talented Hair and Beauty professionals. Member countries are Philippines, Thailand, Hongkong, Taiwan, Cambodia, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Australia, China, Japan, Bangladesh, Mongolia and few other South Asia countries.

The salon industry is a high income earning source and is growing at a phenomenal rate around the world. Pursuing continuous updates is a means to increasing opportunities and advancing their careers.

APHCA started the movement 16 years ago. Professionals from around the world worked together to implement common polices and standards and introduced new quality services.

International competitions have been popular to exhibit talent and to share new ideas.

APHCA has contributed a great deal to empower local and International competitions. So far APHCA has organised several international competitions including, APHCA Hair Olympics in Malaysia 2013, APHCA Hair Olympics in Indonesia 2012, IBU Korea supported by APHCA Korea 2012, APHCA Hair Olympics in China Macau 2011, APHCA Hair Olympics in Korea 2010, APHCA Hair Olympics in China 2009,APHCA Hair Olympics in Thailand 2008, APHCA Hair Olympics in Japan 2007, APHCA Hair Olympics in Mongolia 2006, Essential Shades makeup Artist Award International Competition in Sri Lanka, APHCA Hair Olympics in Australia 2005 and APHCA Hair Olympics in Sri Lanka 2004.

This is a rare opportunity that the Sri Lankan competitors are exposed and this is a first for Sri Lanka.

Local talent will have the opportunity to compete and be judged by an international panel of hair and beauty specialists.

The panel of judges will be, Pornnipa Damnoi Aoy from Thailand - Champion Hairdresser, Thailand, Hair Dressing Trainer for Thailand (World Skills Competition) Sylvia De Rijke from Netherlands - Global Educator (American Industries), Ez Flow international master educator, IBD Elite Educator, Super nail super star educator, Gasper Karnicar from Slovenia - Hairdresser (Schwarzkopf & Henkel ), Ricky Reyes from Philippines - Senior Hairdresser Philippines, philanthropist. He is the owner of Ricky Reyes chain of salons and host of television program “Gandang Ricky Reyes” and Sheila Baxter Institute – Australia - Baxter Institute is a government -- accredited, registered training organisation, located in the heart of Melbourne.

“There are five competition categories namely -

Category 1: Ladies/Gents Hair cut and colour,
Category 2: Evening Hair Style,
Category 3: Bridal Make-up,
Category 4: Fantasy Make-up and

Category 5: Nail Art. Any local competitor can participate under these five categories and all of them are judged by an international judging panel as I have mentioned above,” Hasini said.

The Golden Flame Award is registered under Trademark and Intellectual property Act. This award is designed to build a credible and highly recognised awarding system to truly talented hair and beauty professionals. Five titles will be given to the winners of each category.

The panel of judges comprises five international veterans representing five countries.

“This competition will be a platform for students to build their confidence to compete, to create and share their inspirational ideas to uplift the industry and to appoint a member to the regulatory board: as a member of the regulatory board the appointed representative will assist in conducting the competition in a fair manner.

All industry professionals will come together by being a educational partners and direct their students and staff to excel in their creations, namely, the Vocational Training Authority, Sri Lanka Youth, Hasini Gunasekera - International Academy of Beauticians, Premsri Hewawasam –Premsri Kulagedera, Thilaq Desilva – LeCoffeur Thillaque, Shehana Perera – Salon Shehana, Lanka Kumari – Luck Ru Beauty Salon & Institute, Priyanka Wickramarathne - Creative Academy Chamali Kaldera, Ramani Fernando – Sunsilk Hair Academy, Bernie Balasooriya – Bernie Salon and Academy and Anusha Herbal,” Hasini Said.