2015 Winner’s Words: Louise Alway Hairstylist
|Vital Statistics
Who: Louise Alway Bridal Hairstylist
What: Best Wedding Hair Stylist
Where: Online www.louisealway.com | On Facebook | On Twitter
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I first got into weddings whilst working in a salon. I found that helping brides create their perfect style for their wedding day was the part of hairdressing that I absolutely loved! I threw caution to the wind and made the decision to go freelance…4 years later and it’s the best decision I have ever made, I enjoy every minute of my job! For me it’s a real privilege to be a part of someone’s special day and to make them feel their best.
Why did you enter TWIA 2015?
I’ve always followed The Wedding Industry Awards and dreamed of being a part of it one day but was always wary about putting myself forward for such a prestigious award knowing the level of talent there is in my category. It wasn’t until two of my brides nominated me and emailed me with the loveliest words of encouragement and praise that I stepped back and thought ‘perhaps now is my time’. I cannot thank them enough for giving me the confidence to go for it!
How confident did you feel about winning?
It gave me a huge confidence boost to win the Regional Award but I wasn’t expecting to win the National for one minute! The National event was a brilliant night: fantastic venue, lovely food, brilliant presentation of the awards and a chance to meet fellow suppliers. There were so many other talented hairstylists in the category I honestly didn’t expect to win, so I was completely overwhelmed to hear my name announced!
It meant a huge deal to me to win the award, I really felt like all my hard work had paid off and the fact that it was voted for by all my lovely brides made me feel absolutely fantastic.
How has winning an award affected your business?
Since winning the award I have had a definite rise in enquiries and it’s made a real impact on my social media presence. Having the badges for my website is invaluable as it gives a great first impression for those brides visiting my site.
Being recognised in my field has been the most valuable part of the awards, it has really motivated me to push forward into 2015 and be the best I can be!
What was your favourite feedback from your voter comments?
“Having Louise there was like having a good friend there on the morning.”
This was one of my favourite comments, as not only was the bride pleased with her hair, but I also had a positive impact on her morning which is lovely to hear!
Final thoughts?
I will definitely be entering the 2016 awards, but for new entrants I would advise collecting together a selection of your finest images to really showcase your work at its best.