THAT'S A WRAP! THANK YOU 2023

2023 has been a standout year for me and Hair by Sam McKnight. With 7 new product launches and 8 prestigious product award wins to match, I am so grateful for all the support myself and the team have received this year.

Personally, being honoured with an MBE for contributions to fashion and beauty in the King’s first honours list last January was a very special day. A cheeky appearance on the iconic chair on Celebrity Mastermind with 70s disco music as my specialist subject was also a highlight.

Seeing my work exhibited at the Louvre in Paris and London's Selfridges were true pinch-me moments. It was a thrill to continue creating hair for Balmain, Dries Van Noten, DSquared2 and many more renowned fashion designers, as well as red carpet and editorial cover shoots.

Above all, I am delighted to have shared Team McKnight’s expertise with you via TV, podcasts, magazines, store events, studio masterclasses, social media and our new tutorials web page. Our mission is to inspire you to make the most of your hair and live your best hair day every day.

Thank you for being part of our story. Here are our 2023 highlights.

Sam & Team McKnight x

Share this article

7 NEW BEST-SELLERS HIT YOUR BATHROOM SHELVES

Starting off the year strong, my two hero stylers Dressed To Kill and Perfect Mess became the ultimate contrasting duo for creating two different final looks – done and undone dos.

Before we knew it, summer was around the corner - and with the sun came my new texturiser Sundaze Sea Spray. These undone sea-spritzed waves have earned Sundaze the label "summer in a bottle" - a must-have for anyone seeking some winter sun.

My lightweight, non-aerosol, heat-protecting Volume Foam joined the Cool Girl family to help you enjoy voluminous hair with ease. Then along came my Cool Girl Volume Care trio that gives you effortless volume in the shower - a must-have for voluminous 'Dos.

And finally, for all the jet setters out there, the launch of my Mini Care Collection means you never have to leave luxury haircare at home again.

WE WERE CROWNED WINNERS ACROSS 10 PRESTIGIOUS CARE AND STYLING AWARDS

Giving your hair the best care and styling products is my number one goal - and so it’s always a thrill to be recognised as doing just that. Read on to find out more about our award-winning year.

Light Nourish Conditioner - Winner of Wardrobe Icons 2023 for Best Conditioner

Cool Girl Superlift - Winner of Red Magazine's Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Volumiser

Cool Girl Texture Mist - Winner of Cosmopolitan Summer Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Dry Volume Spray

Cool Girl Bigger Love Volumising Treatment Mask - Winner of Cosmopolitan Winter Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Hair Mask

Modern Hairspray - Winner of Stylist Best Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Hairspray

Save the Do - Winner of Woman and Home Awards 2023 for Best Luxury Heat Protectant

Sundaze Sea Spray - Winner of Who What Wear's Next In Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Styling Product

Deeper Love Intense Treatment Mask - Winner of Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2023 for Best Strengthening Hair Mask

Lazy Girl Hair Cleanse Cloths - Elle Future of Beauty Award 2023

Happy Endings Nourishing Balm - Winner of Marie Claire’s UK Hair Awards for Best Multitasker 2023; Stylist’s Editors Choice 2023

BACKSTAGE IN LONDON, PARIS AND MILAN

Backstage at fashion shows is possibly the busiest place on Earth - and this year's Fashion Week's didn't disappoint. Working hard with Balmain, Dries Van Noten, DSquared2 and Vivienne Westwood to name a few, Team McKnight created unforgettable looks this year that led to some viral moments - perfect inspiration for your New Year's Eve extravaganza. With all my products being rigorously tested backstage to make sure they earn a place in my kit bag, find out more about which products we used to create some sensational looks below.

MET GALA, BFA AND BIFA RED-CARPET BEHIND-THE-SCENES

Back in May, Team McKnight and I jetted off to New York with the ultimate Cool Girl Kate Moss, to help her get ready for two of the biggest events of the year: The Princes' Trust Global Gala and the Met Ball.

This year's Met event paid tribute to the legendary Karl Lagerfeld, who I was fortunate to work closely with for many, many years creating hair looks for his Chanel and Fendi shows, campaigns, exhibitions and films, and it was extra special to share this with Kate, who was in my chair for both red-carpet events. I love styling Kate's hair in the style that's become synonymous with our pairing – feel-good, sexy, rock-n-roll, cool girl hair. Get her effortless Cool Girl look here.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, when Team McKnight and I had two red carpets in two days, it was a joy to work with the supremely talented Jodie Comer on her BIFA look; and I loved getting together once again with Kate to make her red carpet ready for one of the glitziest events in the fashion calendar, the British Fashion Awards. Meanwhile, Team McKnight Eamonn Hughes, and my friend stylist Ken O’Rourke, worked their magic with singer Paloma Faith and Emily in Paris actress Ashley Park. Be sure to check out everyone's looks here.

NON-STOP TV AND PODCAST APPEARANCES

I've loved being ITV's This Morning hair expert, sharing my top tweaks for easy hair transformations back in summer, and more recently creating 12 Christmas Styles - perfect for some festive inspiration. Joining podcasts with Twiggy, Suzy Menkes, and Sheerluxe has been another highlight, revealing my top tips on how you can make the most of your hair. Catch up with my ITV appearances here and here, and be sure to listen to my guest podcast appearances on Spotify and Apple Music.

CAMPAIGNS AND COVERS

Editorial campaigns and covers are such a fantastic experience - I love working with a tight-knit team of creatives to produce iconic imagery that stands the test of time. This year, I worked with celebrated photographers, stylists and make-up artists on Vogue, Elle and Wonderland to name a few, shooting celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Lily-Rose Depp and of course, Kate Moss. Catch up on all the shoots below.

EXHIBITIONS ACROSS THE LOUVRE, SELFRIDGES, AND SALON INTERNATIONAL

Being asked to present a selection of hair looks at the iconic Louvre for its hair exhibition, Des Cheveux et des Poils, including my creations for the legendary Dame Vivienne Westwood’s runway shows, was a true pinch-me moment.

Exhibited alongside over 600 artworks exploring the role of hair in culture and society, this show was a step into the world of hair and extravagance at the fashion capital. With one of you lucky enough to win a trip to La Ville Lumière as part of my Win a Trip to Paris competition, this was a true 2023 highlight.

The fun didn’t stop in France, however. Selfridges in London presented a collection of my era-defining looks: The Fashion Edit, featuring some of my most memorable and unique creations, from the likes of Lady Gaga and Karlie Kloss, to the unforgettable shows of Chanel, Fendi, Vivienne Westwood and Dries Van Noten. Read more about it here.