A year’s plan starts in spring. At the beginning of the new year, AHMA founder Ms. Linda Yip met with core committee members to exchange New Year greetings on February 7 and 10, while also engaging in discussions with the Hong Kong salon industry. Based on the insights shared by friends in the salon industry, in-depth discussions were held regarding the current challenges faced by the industry, and the 2025 AHMA work plan was discussed.
The main issues discussed in this meeting included:
Introducing new AHMA members and discussing the future development outline and activity plan for 2025.
The trend of Hong Kong residents consuming in mainland China and its impact on Hong Kong hair salons.
The influence of introducing foreign labor for hairdressing assistants on the staffing of Hong Kong salons.
Suggestions for establishing salon certification to enhance operational standards and adapt to social development over the next 20 years for sustainable industry growth.
Sharing the interactions between AHMA and the 9+2 Beauty Associations in the Greater Bay Area in 2024, while looking forward to strengthening interactions with the beauty industry in the Greater Bay Area in 2025.
The meeting received positive responses from all AHMA committee members, who expressed their views and provided constructive suggestions for the future development of AHMA. It is believed that AHMA will share more information and suggestions with the industry in the future, and we also call on friends who are enthusiastic about the development of the hairdressing industry to join us in unity and interaction.
The founder of AHMA, Ms. Linda Yip, attended the Five Associations’ reunion – “Spirit Snake Brings Good Fortune to Welcome the New Year.”
Looking forward to strengthened cooperation among the associations in 2025 to jointly promote industry development and enhance the international influence of Hong Kong’s beauty industry.
On January 15, 2025, Ms. Gao, President of the Shenzhen Hairdressing Beauty and Cosmetic Industry Association, Ms. Shelly Luk , President of the International CICA Association of Esthetics, Ms. Linda Yip, Founder of AHMA Hair Council, and other representatives, including Pan Xu, Zheng Shaobin, Yuan Taiyang, and Xu Yan, visited the Guangzhou Beauty Hairdressing and Makeup Industry Association and the Dongguan Beauty Hairdressing and Cosmetics Industry Association to deepen industry exchanges.
The representatives from the Shenzhen Beauty Association and Hong Kong beauty industry first visited the Guangzhou Beauty.Hair and Make-up Association, meeting with President Yang Yulian, Executive Vice President Qiu Shi, Vice President Zhang Yong, and other association representatives. They engaged in in-depth discussions on operational experience of industry associations, how to better serve as a bridge and link, and how to continuously enhance industry service levels. Through on-site visits, they experienced the vitality and innovative atmosphere of Guangzhou’s beauty industry.
As an important force that gathers resources and leads the development of the beauty industry in Guangzhou, the Guangzhou Beauty Association has made positive explorations and practices in various aspects in recent years, providing references for the beauty industries in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
This exchange visit will play an important role in strengthening the close cooperation between beauty associations in the Greater Bay Area, promoting collaborative development of the beauty industry, and jointly enhancing the overall level of the industry. It is beneficial for creating a social organization that satisfies the public and is recognized by the industry, continuously promoting the vigorous development of the beauty industry.
The delegation from the Shenzhen and Hong Kong beauty associations, along with Zhang Yong, Vice President of the Guangzhou Beauty Association, also visited Guo Huiying, President of the Dongguan Beauty Hairdressing and Cosmetics Industry Association, and other key representatives. Through President Guo’s introduction, they gained a deeper understanding of Dongguan Beauty Association’s organizational structure, membership framework, and daily operations. Particularly inspiring were the innovative practices in member services and enhancing industry image.
In the rapidly developing market environment, continuously innovating models and improving service levels are key to meeting member needs and promoting sustainable and healthy industry development. This exchange has facilitated mutual learning among various beauty associations, broadened perspectives and ideas, and contributed to the formation of new models and pathways that integrate practical realities and enhance service levels.
The “Gathering Beauty – Greater Bay Area Beauty Association Exchange Tour” organized by the Shenzhen Hairdressing, Beauty, and Makeup Industry Association successfully concluded, promoting deep dialogue among various beauty associations in the Greater Bay Area and advancing the process of collaborative development.
The Shenzhen Hairdressing, Beauty, and Makeup Industry Association will continue to uphold the concepts of open cooperation and innovative development, working closely with sister associations in the Greater Bay Area to explore new opportunities for the beauty industry and address challenges. Through ongoing resource sharing and collaborative exchanges, they aim to provide the public with higher quality and professional beauty, hairdressing, and makeup services, allowing the beauty industry to shine brilliantly.
Recently, AHMA Hair Council member and Honorary Fellow of VTC, Ms. Linda Yip, was exclusively interviewed by the “Hong Kong Commercial Daily.” She discussed her development journey in the hairdressing industry and shared her profound insights on industry heritage and the future.
In the interview, Ms. Yip expressed her original intention: “The development of the hair industry must progress with innovation while preserving our roots. The industry needs the younger generation to inherit our skills and passion to face future challenges.”
From Glory to Challenges: New Issues in the Industry
The hairdressing industry experienced a golden era in the 1980s, becoming a high-income and high-status career choice. However, in recent years, young people’s interest in the industry has waned, leading to a talent shortage and promotion bottlenecks that hinder industry development. In response, Ms. Yip urged, “We must improve the training system and create more promotion opportunities to instill hope in the younger generation.”
Education Reform: Cultivating New Talent
As an active proponent of hairdressing education reform, Ms. Yip collaborates with the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to provide systematic hairdressing training and career planning for young people, encouraging them to continuously refine their skills and enhance industry competitiveness.
Collaborative Progress in the Greater Bay Area
This year, under Ms. Yip’s leadership, the “Greater Bay Area Cup (Hong Kong) Hair and Image Design Competition 2024” was organized, providing a platform for young hairdressing talents to showcase and exchange ideas. She hopes that through this competition, the vision of “one family in the Greater Bay Area beauty industry” can be realized, injecting new vitality into beauty culture.
Global Perspective: Pushing onto the International Stage
As a specially invited vice president of the China Hairdressing and Beauty Association, Ms. Yip continues to promote the industry’s integration with international standards. Through multinational exchanges, standardization efforts, and the promotion of eco-friendly technologies, she is committed to bringing the Chinese hairdressing industry to the global stage, making “Chinese beauty” a recognized benchmark worldwide.
“The future of the hairdressing industry lies in innovation, but even more so in heritage.” — Linda Yip
On November 28, 2024, VTC Honorary Fellow and AHMA Founder Linda Yip visited Youth College (Tuen Mun) to inquire about the students’ performance in the recently concluded The Cup of GBA(HONG KONG)Hair & Image Design Competition 2024
During this visit, Ms. Linda Yip engaged in in-depth discussions with the students, sharing her valuable experiences and insights from the industry. She encouraged them to continually refine their skills and bravely face challenges. She emphasized that young people should try more and participate in competitions to grow and improve through practice. This interaction not only boosted the students’ confidence but also allowed them to feel the genuine support and encouragement from industry veterans.
In addition, the award-winning students shared their competition experiences, discussing the challenges and gains they encountered during the process. These insights highlighted the importance of effort and perseverance. We look forward to the exciting competition in 2025!
The ” THE CUP of GBA (HONG KONG) HAIR & IMAGE DESIGN COMPETiTiON 2024″ held on November 13-14, 2024, was initiated by VTC Honorary Fellow Linda Yip. It was organized by the AHMA Hair council, with guidance from the Hairdressing Education Professional Committee of the China Beauty and Hairdressing Association. The event was co-hosted by the Hong Kong Design Institute, the Youth College, the Hong Kong Youth Cultural and Arts Development Association, Guangdong Lingnan Modern Technicians College, and the Greater Bay Area Beauty Industry Cultural Exchange Association, with strong support from numerous renowned organizations.
The event featured professional students from various institutions in the Greater Bay Area studying hairdressing and image design. Competitions took place in the stylish multifunctional auditorium of the Hong Kong Design Institute, providing a vibrant setting for the participants to showcase their skills.
The competition featured three categories: the Women’s Hairstyle Cutting, Dyeing, and Styling Group (using mannequin heads), the Men’s Hairstyle Design Group (also using mannequin heads), and the Women’s Overall Image Design Group (which included both mannequin heads and body models). Approximately 100 contestants competed passionately, creating a lively atmosphere. Participants showcased their skills and creativity in pursuit of various awards, and the audience was greatly engaged, with the tension in the air palpable at times.
At the event, sponsor and VTC Honorary Fellow Linda Yip delivered an opening speech, expressing gratitude to the supporting organizations and guests. She highlighted the main theme of the competition: “Passing on the Torch.” Ms. Yip praised the dedication of the faculty from the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Youth College, as well as industry mentors, for their significant support in training and preparing the student contestants for the competition. She expressed hope that this valuable spirit of mentorship could be inherited in the hairdressing industry, contributing to a sustainable culture of beauty and hairdressing under the motto “Roots and Renewal.”
The competition also received guidance and support from the Hairdressing Education Professional Committee of the China Beauty and Hairdressing Association. Various beauty industry associations from the Greater Bay Area showed great interest in the event. Notably, Ms. Gao Ying, President of the Shenzhen Hairdressing and Beauty Association, and Mr. Zhang Yong, Vice President of the Guangzhou Beauty, Hairdressing, and Makeup Association, attended to lend their support and deliver important speeches. They encouraged the contestants to showcase their true abilities and expressed hope that participants from different regions would build friendships throughout the competition.
Master Hairstyle Show and Award Ceremony
On November 14, “THE CUP of GBA (HONG KONG) HAIR & IMAGE DESIGN COMPETITION 2024” hosted a grand Master Hairstyle Show and Award Ceremony.
VTC Honorary Fellow and AHMA founder Linda Yip emphasized the spirit of “Passing on the Torch” in the hairdressing industry through the competition. As the initiator of the event, she delivered an opening speech expressing gratitude to all supporting organizations and guests. Ms. Yip pointed out that the main theme of the event is “Passing on the Torch.” She highly praised and thanked the faculty from the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Youth College, as well as industry mentors, for their significant support in diligently assisting student contestants with pre-competition training and preparation. She hopes that this precious spirit can be inherited in the hairdressing industry under the motto “Roots and Renewal,” becoming part of a sustainable culture in the beauty sector.
The competition focuses on promoting communication and collaboration within the beauty industry. Ms. Yip encourages everyone to work together to advance the development of the beauty sector in the Greater Bay Area and hopes to achieve a sense of unity among the beauty industry across the region, bringing people closer together and inspiring young individuals to engage in this promising field.
Legislative Council member (Wholesale and Retail Sector) Mr. Siu Ka-fai expressed gratitude for the hard work of the contestants and the judges, noting that winners had emerged from the competition held yesterday. He emphasized that the integration and development of the Greater Bay Area requires the joint efforts of the 9+2 cities to promote the flow of people, goods, and industries, highlighting the necessity for the industry to collaborate closely.
Mr. Siu stressed that advancing new productivity and innovation is a crucial task at present, necessitating cooperation and creativity from all sectors to enhance industry performance. He mentioned that innovation is also needed in hairstyling, encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate, as the significance of the competition is profound. In conclusion, he urged industry stakeholders to seize opportunities and strive to excel in their work.
To extend the BARBER culture, AHMA invited the EAGES BARBERSHOP team to present an exciting BARBER performance. Additionally, the mentoring team from AAMA COSMETOLOGY ACADEMY, including Michael Mesiti from Australia, An Yang from Beijing, and Hong Kong representative Zen Yip (葉柏祺), collaborated with students from the Image Design Department of the Hong Kong Design Institute to create a stage performance that received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The award ceremony for “THE CUP of GBA (HONG KONG) HAIR & IMAGE DESIGN COMPETITION 2024” was unveiled in the presence of numerous distinguished guests. A total of 32 heavyweight professional judges from the Greater Bay Area, Taiwan, and the UK evaluated the entries fairly and impartially, selecting the winners for various awards one by one.
Women’s Hairstyling, Cutting, Coloring, and Styling Group (Training Head)
Champion: Tse Cheuk Wing (謝卓穎) from the Youth College (Kwai Fong)
Runner-up: Yam Cheuk Chi (任卓知) from the Youth College (Tuen Mun)
Third Place: Lee Ka Hung (李家鴻) from the Youth College (Yau Tze Man)
Men’s Hairstyling Design Group (Training Head)
Champion: Li Minghui from Guangdong Provincial Hairdressing and Beauty Training School
Runner-up: Liu Tsz Ching Abbie (廖芷晴) from the Youth College (Tuen Mun)
Third Place: Yeung King Hei (楊璥熙) from the Hong Kong Design Institute
Ying Brand Best Haircut Technique Award: Fong Shun Yin (方舜彥) from the Youth College (Yau Tze Man)
Women’s Overall Image Design Group (Teaching Head and Body Mold)
Champion: Chong Yan Sin (莊欣倩) from the Youth College (Yau Tze Man)
Runner-up: Hon Wing Ki (韓泳琪) from the Youth College (Tin Shui Wai)
Third Place: Lee Wing Yin (李詠妍) from the Hong Kong Design Institute
Fourth Place: Yeung Sin Ping (楊倩平) from the Hong Kong Design Institute
Fifth Place: Or Wan Cheng (柯尹程) from the Youth College (Yau Tze Man)
The award ceremony concluded amidst enthusiastic applause. It is hoped, as Linda Yip has always said, that “this event can become a sustainable and regular competition in Hong Kong,” continuously encouraging newcomers in the beauty industry and seasoned professionals to pass on the spirit of the hairdressing industry under the ethos of “passing the torch.”
In THE CUP of GBA (HONG KONG) HAIR & IMAGE DESIGN COMPETITION 2024, we feel honored to receive strong support from various organizations! This support not only makes the competition more exciting but also injects powerful momentum into the development of the industry and the cultivation of outstanding talent.
Here, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the following supporting organizations (in no particular order):
Organizer:
AHMA Hair council
Guiding Unit:
China Hairdressing and Beauty Association Hairdressing Education Professional Committee
Co-organizers:
Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI)
Youth College
Hong Kong Youth Cultural and Arts Development Association
Guangdong Lingnan Modern Technician College
Greater Bay Area Beauty Industry Cultural Exchange Association
Supporting Organizations:
QF Qualification Framework
LBG Beauty Group
Main Sponsors:
COSMOPROF Asia Pacific Beauty Expo
Linda Yip Charity Foundation
AAMA Cosmetology Academy
Supporting Associations:
Hong Kong Commercial Professional Assessment Centre
Hong Kong Cosmetics Industry Association
International St. Jay Beauty Association
Hong Kong Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Chamber
President of the Hong Kong Hair Association
Hair and Makeup Overall Image Designers Association
Hong Kong Image Designers Alliance
International Professional Cosmetology Association
Special Supporting Associations:
Shenzhen Hairdressing, Beauty, and Makeup Industry Association
Guangzhou Beauty, Hairdressing, and Makeup Industry Association
Sponsors:
PS GROUP
JRL Hairdressing Tools
framesi
BOF Media Platform
L’Oréal Hong Kong
TSUBAME Scissors
Kérastase Paris
Sim SENSITIVE Hair Products
Supporting Member Units:
EAGLES BARBERSHOP
Redhill Hair Salon
Supporting Media:
ESTETICA Magazine
Cloud Aesthetics Online Platform
