Little Birdie Hair: Wynnum salon wins prestigious AHIA award
Chemical poisoning during pregnancies drove this hairdresser to found her own eco-friendly, chemical-free venture which has just won her Brisbane business an Australian Hair Industry Award.
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A Brisbane bayside salon has been named the Best Eco Salon in Australia in this year’s prestigious Australian Hair Industry Awards.
Wynnum’s Little Birdie Hair Co’s Paige Tanks said the salon was “beyond excited” to have secured the coveted prize.
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“At Little Birdie, sustainability is not just a fad, it’s a way of life,” she said.
“Our staff and clients are at the core of why we do what we do; it’s not just about doing what is right, but the health of everyone who enters our salon.
“This ethos was the catalyst for the humble beginnings of Little Birdie (in 2017), so to be recognised on a national scale is beyond rewarding for our team.”
Ms Tanks said the idea for Little Birdie had its origins in a pair of horrible experiences endured by salon owner Tenille Lawrance, who got chemical poisoning during both of her pregnancies due to her exposure to harsh hair products.
According to the criteria, the award for Best Eco Salon “is given to the hair salon that shows the highest excellence in overall sustainability and can demonstrate environmental responsibility through areas such as recycling, the harnessing of renewable energy sources and the use of ‘clean’, green products with a view to the future.”
Ms Tanks said “every detail” of the salon is geared towards satisfying these imperatives and the award judges agreed.
“From the way the towels are washed, the hair is recycled, the fit-out was created, the materials used day to day, right through to the way their staff and clients are educated around sustainability,” they said.
“With staff who are genuinely passionate about playing their part, eco-awareness is a way of life for this salon.
“The impact can be seen in the 55L bags of hair which are donated to their local community garden each month, their compostable single-use items, the plants used in the space, reduced energy lighting, zero plastic policy, vegan food and drink options, no aerosols and much loved Sustainable Sunday community events.
“But above all, they also create some of the best hair in Queensland using their eco-friendly products.”
The AHIAs were founded by Mocha Publishing in 2012.