2025 Victorian Hairdresser of the Year - St Kilda Hairstylist Dani Blakeley

In front of the leading hairdressers of Australia and New Zealand at Star Sydney, Yoshiko Hair's Dani Blakeley was crowned the AHIA Victorian/Tasmanian Hairdresser of the Year 2025.

Dani's Jigsaw Collection was inspired by the breaking down of hairstyles and textures, to recreate them into new shapes. "I wanted the collection to have a disconnected and distorted feel to it. Like working with mosaics I wanted to break everything and re-create it in a different form. I endeavoured to make the models look like wind up dolls with the look that they have been put together like a jigsaw to create a individual and stylised feel.

I chose to create a robotic, dramatic collection that borders on dark and dramatic.", noted Yoshiko Artistic Director Dani

Behind the Scenes withSt Kilda’s Yoshiko Hair team for our winning Victorian Hairdresser of the Year 2025 collection. Plus finalist collections nominated a record seven times.

Dani created collection that married punk ideals with a classical twist.

Strong hair cuts alongside textured untamed hair as well as working with hair pieces and wefts to give variety and balance. Shaved undercuts with strong precession cutting alongside adding wefts and hair peices like putting together a jigsaw puzzle to create unique and individual looks.

Dani and the Yoshiko Hair Team were up for a record.Seven Australia/New Zealand hair awards.

Finalist: Master Cutter of the Year 2025

Finalist: Master Colourist of the Year 2025

Finalist: BTS Dream Team of the Year 2025 (Twice)

Finalist: Hair Shot of the Year 2025

Winner: Vic/Tas Hairdresser of the Year 2025

Salon/Hairdresser: Yoshiko Hair

Photorapher: Anniss and Barton

MUA: Shev Kelly

Stylist: Dani Blakeley

Colourist: Dani Blakeley

Assistants: Yoshiko Hair Team