Ms Gibson won eight trophies at the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Northern Region hairdressing awards held in Port Macquarie.

The awards included first place in bridal for the northern region, first place in senior women’s cutting, first place in open high fashion women’s colour and first place in the ocean masters conversion, as well as four second-place trophies.

Ms Gibson said she was thrilled about the win and thanked her colleagues and the community for their support.

“It’s exciting that all that hard work pays off,” she said.

“There is a lot of training involved.

“The staff are all excited and supportive and I think it has increased the level of motivation in the salon.”

The salon has had a successful year after also placing third in bridal at the NSW HIS State hairdressing awards.

Ms Gibson has been a hairdresser for nine years and has owned the salon for four years but said this was the first time she had competed.

“This is my first year competing and I think it’s because I’ve never really had the push.”

“It’s overwhelming.”