Krystle Tokunai owner of Tokunai Hair wins Qld Hairdresser of the Year 2024

A Cairns hairdresser has proven she is a cut above the rest after winning a prestigious Queensland award, but is she your favourite stylist in Far North Queensland? Vote for your favourite here.

Tokunai Hair founder and owner Krystle Tokunai has been awarded the Queensland Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Far North hairdresser has proven she is a cut above the rest after she was named Queensland state hairdresser of the year at an awards ceremony in Sydney.

Cairns-based hairdresser and founder of Tokunai Hair, Krystle Tokunai, said she was shocked to have won the coveted award.

“I was a little bit shocked because it was the first time I entered,” Ms Tokunai said.
“I was just doing it to show my team how you can get involved in photo shoots, competitions and that side of the industry because sometimes we get a bit lost up here, so it was just exposing them to that side of things.”

Tokunai Hair founder and owner Krystle Tokunai has been awarded the Queensland Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Tokunai and her team were also named finalists in the Australian Master Colourist of the Year, 2024 and Australian Salon Team of the Year, 2024 categories.

“We were just doing this to grow and see how we go with it,” she said.

Ms Tokunai, who has been in the industry for 23 years, said one of the most rewarding parts of the job was being able to connect with people from all walks of life.

“Just the connection to people and having an impact on their lives whether it’s through their hair or through the conversation or just making them feel great,” she said.

Sharing her top tips for maintaining luscious locks, Ms Tokunai said caring for your scalp was key.

Tokunai Hair founder and owner Krystle Tokunai has been awarded the Queensland Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I say it on my socials all the time, you’ve got to treat your scalp and hair like skin, so exfoliate, cleanse and moisturise,” she said.
“As long as you’re exfoliating, cleansing and moisturising both your hair and your skin, you’re on the right track.”

Setting her sights on the future, Ms Tokunai, an Australian and New Zealand Schwarzkopf Educator, said she wanted to bring the industry closer due to a shortage of hairdressing apprentices.

“We’ve got a bit of a gap between qualified hairdressers and apprentices, and there’s this whole change with freelance hairdressers coming through, which is why the industry is struggling with apprentices,” she said.

“So education is a big passion of mine to keep people coming through and doing apprenticeships and becoming qualified.”

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Originally published as Krystle Tokunai owner of Tokunai Hair wins Qld Hairdresser of the Year 2024