Our milk_shake® Ambassadors Shine at the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards
Celebrating Excellence
The 2025 British Hairdressing Awards delivered a night of glamour, artistry, and for the milk_shake® family, it was a celebration we’ll be talking about all year.
Hosted by the brilliant Rylan Clark, the evening featured special live performances by Beth Ditto and Nadine Coyle, plus a surprise appearance from the iconic Davina McCall, making the awards ceremony even more electric.
But the biggest highlight for us? Watching two exceptional milk_shake® ambassadors take home major honours on one of the industry’s most prestigious stages.
✨ Celebrating Our Winners
Andrew Smith – Hall of Fame Inductee
Clinched his phenomenal third Southern Hairdresser of the Year title last year, stepped onto the 2025 stage to finally claim his hard-earned Hall of Fame trophy and celebrate his place among the industry’s true icons.
Darrel Starkey – Eastern Hairdresser of the Year
Darrel’s creativity and dedication finally earned him the title of Eastern Hairdresser of the Year 2025. After six years of appearing as a finalist at the event, he finally secured his place in the Winners category, marking an incredible milestone in his career. His emotional acceptance speech, celebrating years of commitment and growth, captivated the room and made this win all the more meaningful.
“For six years I’ve been trying to win. I sat in the back of this room in 2019 when Robert Eaton won British Hairdresser of the Year, and the confetti fell and I kept a piece in 2019, and I said one day I'll be on this stage as the confetti falls. This means the world... To my right-hand woman and make-up artist, Safy, to Olivia, Harry, Louis and everyone who supported me! My milk_shake family for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. My partner Wayne, we met six months ago, he changed my life and most of all my son. Every year when he didn't win, he'd be like, “Daddy, you'll get it”. And Taylor... Daddy got it!”
Why These Wins Matter
As milk_shake® ambassadors, Andrew and Darrel represent the very best of our brand: artistry, innovation and a commitment to beautiful hair. Their achievements stand as a testament to both their personal brilliance and the strength of the milk_shake® community.
In a powerful and heartfelt reflection, Grant Northover shared what these wins mean not only for Darrel and Andrew, but for the entire milk_shake® community:
“We are incredibly proud of Andrew and Darrel. These awards recognise not only their extraordinary talent but also the hard work and heart they bring to the industry. We are honoured to support them and excited to see what they achieve next.”
His words reflect the emotion felt across our whole network, from salon owners and stylists to educators and clients.
A Night to Remember, and a Future to Look Forward To
From star-studded performances to career-defining wins, the 2025 British Hairdressing Awards showcased the incredible talent shaping the future of our industry.
We couldn’t be prouder of Andrew and Darrel for representing milk_shake® with such passion. Their success is a testament to what can be achieved with skill and a passion for beautiful hair.
Congratulations, Darrel and Andrew, you make the milk_shake® family shine.
