Gemma’s Story
Gemma Crossan, originally from Collooney, Co. Sligo, took the brave move in 2009 to open Hot Head Hair Salon (now rebranded as Gemma Crossan Hair Salon) at the age of 23 in the nearby village of Riverstown. Gemma calls Riverstown home, has a loyal base of clients, highly-trained staff and has made a name for herself in international hairdressing circles. Hairdressing since the age of 16 and growing up seeing the family business Crossan Hair and Beauty Cosmetics thrive since 1976, Gemma always had ambitions to be her own boss.
Award Winning Hair Salon
Gemma and her team decided to showcase their style and talent at the Irish Hairdressing Federation awards in 2012 and this began a host of decorations and awards for Gemma and her Salon, culminating in Gemma achieving the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Champion in Belfast this April, a fantastic accolade for Gemma and her growing Salon. 2012 was an extremely busy year for the Salon. Gemma became a finalist in the Visionary Awards, two categories in the Irish Hairdressing Photographic Awards and achieved 7th place in Ireland in the Revlon Style Masters Awards. Eimear, a senior stylist, achieved a 5th, 6th, 8th placement in Belfast in April and a top six placement at the Irish Hairdressing Federation Awards in Dublin in 2012 and 2013. Gemma has achieved 3rd and 6th place in the Irish Hairdressing Federation Awards in 2012 and 2013. Gemma’s fantastic achievement, gaining the title of All Ireland Senior Ladies Champion, was achieved after combining her results/points from three categories – 1st place in Creative Day Style, 3rd place in Goldwell Colour Trophy and 4th place in Bridal Style. Gemma was also delighted with a top four placement in Creative Fantasy at the awards. Gemma was delighted to be selected for the Irish Team for 2012 and 2013 for the world championship. She has continued to enter competitions and has won the following accolades:
- 2017 Connacht hairdresser of the year
- 2017 Irish hairdresser of the year
- 2017 1st place senior upstyle at the Irish hairdressing federation championships
- 2016 Connacht hairdresser of the year
- 2016 1st place senior upstyle at the Irish hairdressing championships
- 2015 1st place in bridal and upstyle at the Northern Ireland hairdressing championships
- 2015 2nd place upstyle Irish hairdressing championships
- 2014 Winner of Sligo’s No 1 bridal stylist
- 2014 Team medal for team Ireland
- 2013 Irish hairdresser of the year Niha
Gemma is a qualified hairdressing lecturer with City and Guilds and runs courses through Skillnet. The classes are fully booked on each occasion and it is now becoming one of the leading hands-on training centres in the North West.
Gemma successfully operates two salons in County Sligo, in Ballisodare and Ballymote.
