Oh what a night! This year’s Alternative Hair Show in pictures

The Alternative Hair Show lived up to its name again this year as 20 international hairdressing teams unleashed spectacular avant-garde presentations to a sold-out Royal Albert Hall.

Each creative team had its own take on this year’s Equilibrium theme, with highlights including a modern perception of timeless beauty from Hungary’s Hajas, balding ballerinas on crutches (yes, really!) by Paul Mitchell and Sassoon’s blue dance troupe whose hair and clothing changed colour on the event’s large screens.

But perhaps the most hotly anticipated part of the evening was the climax of the 2014 Alternative Hair International Visionary Awards, which was presented by founder Tony Rizzo and president Anthony Mascolo. Each of the 32 finalists showcased their looks on stage with Rossa Danagher from Ireland triumphing in the Cut and Colour category and Pawel Babicz from Poland in Avant Garde.

The evening also included the AIPP finale presentation with winners five categories presented with trophies by AIPP president Roberto Pissimiglia and guest of honour Annie Humphreys.

This year’s Alternative Hair Show drew to a dramatic and emotional close with the presentation of a cheque for £214,000, which brings the total amount raised since its inception in 1983 to more than £9.5 million.