Paddy McDougall of Glasgow’s largest salon group, Rainbow Room International has been named winner of the Creative Talent category at the premier awards event for the professional hairdressing industry, Most Wanted. The Creative Talent trophy is awarded to a hair professional with exceptional artistic skill and commercial expertise.
Presented by leading industry magazine Creative HEAD, Most Wanted showcases the most exciting, progressive and game-changing talents in UK and Irish hairdressing. These hair professionals are not only global creative influencers and wellness experts, they are also breathing life into local high streets and the wider economy with brilliant displays of commercial innovation.
A former joiner from a normal background, Paddy admits he can find it a little surreal to find himself painting hair for Louis Vuitton in Seoul or working in the Icelandic tundra for Saint Laurent, but his creative vision is what sets him apart – and sees him in such demand among fashion’s biggest brands. When he’s not on the road as a core member of session stylist Duffy’s team, Paddy dedicates himself to his salon clients at the George Square salon in Glasgow City Centre, though he also boasts a burgeoning private client list, which sees him travelling to the likes of New York, Monaco and Dubai for everything from root touch-ups to dramatic transformations.
Over 50 independent judges deliberated over this year’s record-breaking number of entries, including journalists from leading publications, directors of photography and film, established entrepreneurs and, of course, renowned hair artists alongside the names behind the UK and Ireland’s most outstanding salon businesses. On the panels this year were the beauty director at Telegraph Group, Sonia Haria; the editor of 10 Magazine, Claudia Croft; Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Southampton, Denise Baden; award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Dr Ateh Jewel; and pioneering hair professionals such as Nick Irwin, Errol Douglas MBE and Luke Hersheson.
Paddy was announced as a winner at the prestigious Creative HEAD Most Wanted Grand Final that had an audience of 600 A-Listers from the hair, fashion and media industries who gathered to see the 13 Most Wanted trophies presented.
Winning doesn’t just bring a prestigious Most Wanted trophy for Paddy. He will also receive a prize from category sponsor L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, publicity in Creative HEAD for the duration of his winning year and the opportunity to appear at Creative HEAD events. The career impact is far-reaching, with past winners going on to collaborate with leading brands, get signed by top talent agencies, casted for global campaigns and open or expand their own businesses, as a result.
Says Catherine Handcock, Publisher, Creative HEAD: “Paddy is a true artist and innovator. He takes classic or traditional colours, styles, shapes and references and evolves them into something different, meaning he’s brilliant to watch and always moving things forward.”
While Amanda Nottage, Editor, Creative HEAD commented: “Paddy’s career has gone from strength to strength, impressing everyone from big name labels to his devoted clientele in Glasgow. A combination of self-belief, exceptional talent and street-style savvy makes him a creative champion – and I don’t doubt that more is still to come.”
Paddy McDougall, Art Director at Rainbow Room International’s George Square salon commented: “Winning Most Wanted Creative Talent means a lot, it’s amazing to be recognised at this kind of level. I can only thank Creative Head and my peers for this recognition, I’m extremely grateful. I think it’s also so important to recognise I wouldn’t be in this position without a lot of help from a lot people, without the support of the likes of Nick Irwin, Duffy and my family I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. So for me, this award goes a little way towards showing that faith and trust wasn’t misguided.”
For further information on Paddy McDougall and Rainbow Room International, please email Alex at alex@ajc93.com.
