Star Barber’s Emma Dinon breaks new ground by claiming national barber award for the Territory
Tonsorially talented Emma Dinon has brought a prestigious national award home to the Territory for the first time. This is how she rose to the top of a male dominated sector.
Northern Territory
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Territory barber Emma Dinon’s sensational scissors and tonsorial talents have helped her surge to victory at a prestigious national award.
Owner of Star Barber in Darwin CBD’s Star Arcade, Emma took home the prized Australian Modern Barber of the Year gong at the annual Australian Modern Barber Awards held in Brisbane.
Modern Barber of the Year is the peak prize at the awards and Emma’s win makes her the first Territory barber to ever to take home the peak national prize.
“It’s recognition of many years of commitment and passion for the industry and it means opportunities I wouldn’t have had before to explore other avenues,” she said.
”It’s great marketing and it’s put Darwin on the map too, which I think is pretty cool, because nobody from the NT has ever won a major barbers award.”
Emma took over Star Barber four years ago from respected Darwin businesswoman Joy Arnott, and has continued to grow the business against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic and a slow-ish local economy.
With a regular client base of up to 500 customers and three staff, Star Barber is boosted by Emma’s versatility and broad understanding of the industry.
“I started hairdressing when I was 16 and I was naturally better at shorter cutting and clipper work, so at about seven years into the industry I started barbering,” she said.
“I bought Star Barber four years ago and I‘ve capitalised on having a hairdressing background which, in conjunction with strong barbering, is an unparalleled skill in this business.”
Emma defines hairdressing as styling and colouring with longer cuts, and barbering as shortcuts, clippers and shaving.
“Shaving is a bit of a lost art,” she said.
“Not all barbers can shave anymore, but we can.”
She said she believed the judges were impressed with her shaving skills, as well as the businesses’ strong client return figures.
Aside from the service, Star Barber has a tropical feel that sits easily inside the lush interiors of Star Arcade.
Originally from Queensland, client Callum Miller said he was happy he’d found a quality barber in his new home.
“I find I like the character this place has, as much as anything else,” he said.
“A lot of barber shops have a very clinical, sterile atmosphere, whereas this place is actually interesting”
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Originally published as Star Barber’s Emma Dinon breaks new ground by claiming national barber award for the Territory
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