BEST HAIR STYLIST

Nicole Andrews, The Gallery 2939 Montvale Drive, 787-8119 A blonde is not just a blonde. You see, there’s such a thing as a platinum blonde, a golden blonde, a caramel blonde and a strawberry blonde – not to mention hundreds of shades in between. It’s knowing the differences between those subtleties, and having a hand for updos, that makes Nicole Andrews this year’s best hair stylist. A hair designer and blonde expert at The Gallery for the past nine years, Andrews says she fell in love with hair styling as a girl, watching the professionals and sweeping up after them, and as a cheerleader doing hair on long bus rides. “I love making people feel good and making them happy,” she says. Runner-Up: Josh Oldridge, Willow & Birch

BEST BARBER

Craig Jones Unique Blendz Barbershop 2917 S. MacArthur Blvd., 528-4245 If you’ve got to put your head in the hands of a guy with some seriously sharp blades, Craig Jones is the kind of guy you’d want that to be. Professional but fun, he’s welcoming – and skilled, with the ability to tame any type of hair. “We cut everybody’s hair,” Jones says, explaining that his shop is “multicultural.” Though he can do the traditional, no frills trim and shave, Jones is also an expert design guy, able to effortlessly shave symbols, faces, words and more into a head of freshly trimmed hair. Originally located on Fourth and Carpenter, Jones and fellow barber Nate Gurnsey, who came in third in the best barber category, moved the shop to the south end of MacArthur Blvd. earlier this summer. Prior to starting his business in Springfield, Jones worked in Peoria, where he says customers weren’t quite as adventurous with their cuts. Runner-up: Dave Beggs