Sarah on the national stage: Savvy Hair
Award-winning Christchurch hairstylist Sarah McGuigan was named in the top eight hairdressers nationwide at the prestigious Australian Hair Industry Awards in June.
Cashmere’s Savvy Hair salon is no stranger to award-winning skill, and founder Sarah levelled up last year’s South Island Hairdresser of the Year title when she became one of eight finalists for the national award, New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year, with her 2026 entry. The collection, ‘Control Paradox’ proved her place among the best hairdressers in the country – but it wasn’t without coming face to face with imposter syndrome.
“I was completely torn about whether to put my work forward at this level,” Sarah says. “Self-doubt has a way of making us question whether we’re ready, whether we’re good enough, or whether we belong in the room. But I’ve learned that growth often happens when we step outside our comfort zone and take a chance on ourselves.”
It’s a career-defining moment for Sarah, who has dedicated everything since her early 20s to perfecting her craft. “To be recognised alongside the industry’s most talented artists, all of whom I have admired, followed, and looked up to throughout my career is something I never imagined,” she says.
Visit Sarah and her talented team at Savvy Hair, 5 Colombo Street, Cashmere, or call 03 942 4179.
Hero image: The collection called Control Paradox, explores the tension between procession and instinct. “Each look is built with structure, then manipulated through movement, texture, and colour,” Sarah says. Portfolio model Anastassia Photographed by Dave Richards.
