KEY POINTS:
Diana Moar beat more than 200 stylists to be named the country's top hairdresser.
But she couldn't drive off in her Porsche Boxster prize - she has only a provisional licence.
The 25-year-old is the youngest recipient of the Schwarzkopf Professional Hairdresser of the Year, winning a total of four awards.
She picked up the top placing on Saturday night, as well as winning the Northern Hairdresser of the Year award.
Another two wins were shared - with Steph Lai (for best makeup) and Hannah Richards (best photography).
Miss Moar's prize as top hairdresser includes a trip to Salon International in London with $2000 spending money and the use of a Porsche Boxster for three months courtesy of sponsor Porsche.
But she has only a restricted driver's licence, so her priority is to have her full licence by summer when she can best enjoy the convertible.
Her winning entries included a black bob, a blond coiffure and a "big, organised afro".
"They were all very different," she said.
Steve Hogan, global technical director Schwarzkopf Professional, said Miss Moar's entry stood out as fresh and exciting.
Mr Hogan said the hair, models, styling, makeup and photography all worked together seamlessly.
"Superbly executed, Diana's work shows real progression, texture and movement. While unusual for one person to win in so many categories, in Diana's case this is testament to the quality of her work."
Miss Moar's success helped get the salon where she works, D&M Ponsonby, come out with five awards after being open for only a year.
More than 300 hairdressers attended the gala dinner and awards night at the Auckland Town Hall.
The judging is conducted anonymously by a panel of international judges in Germany. The winners are chosen from 18 finalists from more than 200 entries. The awards have been held biennially for 20 years.
Other winners were:
* Catwalk Hairdresser of the Year - Chuny-Yang Su of Buoy, Wellington
* Salon Team of the Year - D&M in Ponsonby
* Newcomer of the Year - Jennifer Thorpe of Servilles, Newmarket.
* Central Hairdresser of the Year - Michael Beel of Buoy, Wellington
* Southern Hairdresser of the Year- Alison Officer of DNA, Ashburton.
