Hair specialist takes home national award
A hair specialist has been named Professional Hair Influencer of the Year at a national awards ceremony.
Rob Wood, founder and creative director of Novo Cabelo, in Murton, received the national title at the Pro Hair Awards in London earlier this month.
The award recognised Rob’s pioneering use of social media to transform perceptions of hair loss and modern hair replacement.
His transformation videos have reached millions of people around the world, helping those experiencing hair loss discover the options available to them.
Rob said: “To bring this award home to Murton is an incredibly proud moment for me and the whole Novo Cabelo team.
“Our social media has never just been about creating views. It is about telling real people’s stories, helping those experiencing hair loss feel less alone and showing them that there are solutions available.
“When we started talking openly about hair systems, they were still widely seen as something secretive or embarrassing. We have worked hard from here in County Durham to change that perception – not only across the UK but internationally.”
The win comes as Rob celebrates three further finalist places at Creative HEAD’s prestigious Most Wanted Awards, which recognises the most accomplished, progressive and influential talents in British and Irish hairdressing.
Rob and Novo Cabelo were named finalists in collaboration, engagement and innovation, with the awards taking place in October.
Rob said: “To be named the best in the country for our social media work and then shortlisted three times at the Most Wanted Awards is difficult to put into words.
"It shows how far modern hair replacement has come and proves that a business based in Murton can have a genuine global impact.”
Novo Cabelo was founded in 2020 with a mission to modernise hair replacement, remove the stigma surrounding hair systems and improve the support available to clients and professionals.
The Murton business has since developed a growing network of more than 200 trained hair professionals and has also developed its own hair systems, scalp care, adhesives and specialist aftercare products.
Rob added: “We are incredibly proud of our County Durham roots.
"Novo Cabelo has grown from a local business into an internationally recognised company, but Murton remains our home.”