Intercoiffure Mondial Awarded International Hair Legend of the Year at The International Hairdressing Awards® 2025

Manchester/Paris, June 2025. 

What an honour. Intercoiffure Mondial is proud and delighted to have been the first institution to receive the “Purple Lady” trophy in the “International Hair Legend of the Year” category at the International Hairdressing Awards® 2025. Until now, this award had only ever been presented to individuals. Intercoiffure Mondial President Peter F. Pfister travelled to the cool and creative British city to accept the award on behalf of 2,000 Intercoiffure members. More than 800 top stylists from around the world attended the award ceremony, held as part of the HairCon event.

It was a grand evening for Intercoiffure Mondial and its Global President Peter F. Pfister. “I am very happy to be here on stage in Manchester to receive this extraordinary, prestigious award. It is a special honour to hold the ‘Purple Lady’ on behalf of ALL Intercoiffure members around the world. We ALL have been awarded the ‘International Legend of the Year Award’. This powerfully shows that our members of Intercoiffure Mondial share a common heartbeat and that we make our profession and quality as ‘The World’s Leading Hairdressers’ visible around the globe. A big thank you to the organisers of the International Hairdressing Awards®, Mikel and Sergi, for this exceptional recognition. Together, we are shaping the future of our profession.”

With these words, Peter F. Pfister addressed the founder of the Awards, Mikel Luzea, and Global Ambassador Sergi Bancells. The award was presented by hairdressing legend Tony Rizzo, founder of the Alternative Hair Show and a recipient of the prize himself four years ago.

LtR: Sergi Bancells, Tony Rizzo, Susanne Stein, Peter F. Pfister and Mikel Luzea

In his acceptance speech, Pfister – accompanied by Intercoiffure Mondial’s new Managing Director, Susanne Stein – also paid tribute to the achievements of his predecessors Alexandre de Paris, Maurice Franck and Klaus Peter Ochs, honouring them with respect and gratitude. He also emphasised the strong growth of Intercoiffure Mondial, which continues to gain new members and countries, and presented the organisation’s new identity and slogan: The World’s Leading Hairdressers. The World President particularly highlighted that the United Kingdom was once among the founding nations of Intercoiffure Mondial, and noted that it would be a welcome development to see an active UK section rejoin the organisation in the future.

Mikel Luzea had already recognised Intercoiffure Mondial during the association’s 100th anniversary celebrations:

“When we created the International Hairdressing Awards, we wanted to honour the true legends of our industry – those who elevate the craft of hairdressing into something greater. For the first time, this award does not go to a single individual. It goes to a community. A family. A symbol of what our industry can achieve when we work together. For 100 years, Intercoiffure has been a global leader in professionalism, creativity, and collaboration. With over 5,000 salons in 40 countries, Intercoiffure is more than just an organisation – it’s a worldwide movement. 

Above all, this award honours a community that proves a simple truth: Together, we are stronger. Together, we go further. Congratulations, Intercoiffure Mondial.”

And Sergi Bancells, Global Ambassador of the IHA, added: “What truly makes Intercoiffure legendary is not only its history, but its vision for the future. In a world that is moving faster than ever – driven by digital transformation, evolving client needs, and global challenges – Intercoiffure remains a guiding force for our profession. It brings us back to what truly matters: people, education, and unity.”

A total of eight Purple Lady Awards were presented – including to recipients from Australia, Spain, the UK, and Germany. Among the guests were Anthony Mascolo, Sam Villa, and many other renowned figures in the industry – including Luca Pissimiglia (Estetica Network).

Intercoiffure Mondial extends its heartfelt thanks to the organisers of the International Hairdressing Awards® for this exceptional honour and congratulates all winners worldwide.