The personal archive · 1987–1988

Tony Hatty’s award history

American Salon’s 1987 Hair Stylist of the Year Award

Original award materials and magazine coverage from American Salon, 1987–1988

In 1987, professional hairstylist Tony Hatty received the American Salon Hair Stylist of the Year Award. The plaque states that the honor recognized “design excellence, creativity and outstanding achievement in the art of professional salon hair styling.”

The award was followed by formal correspondence from American Salon, a presentation connected with the International Beauty Show in New York City, and a feature in the magazine's March 1988 issue.

The Award

The original plaque reads:

AMERICAN SALON presents to TONY HATTY — The 1987 Hair Stylist of the Year Award — for design excellence, creativity and outstanding achievement in the art of professional salon hair styling.

American Salon's Letter

On January 6, 1988, American Salon wrote to Hatty to congratulate him on the award. The letter welcomed him as a member of what it called a “very elite club” and explained plans for the formal presentation and publicity surrounding the honor.

The International Beauty Show Press Breakfast

The accompanying materials scheduled the awards presentation for March 11, 1988, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, as part of the International Beauty Show Press Breakfast. The materials described invited beauty, style and fashion editors and encouraged award recipients to prepare biographies, photographs, fashion forecasts and press materials for distribution.

March 1988 American Salon Feature

The March 1988 issue of American Salon featured Hatty under the headline “TONY HATTY — hairstylist of the year.” The article covered his career, his client following, his work in the salon industry and his efforts to teach and motivate other hairstylists.

One of the central ideas associated with Hatty's career was simple: success required believing in yourself, continuing to learn and helping others grow.

International Coverage and a Pre-Internet Career

Hatty's work was also written about in publications outside the United States, including magazines from Japan and Mexico that were sent to his salon. Much of this recognition happened before the modern Internet, which is one reason relatively little of it was searchable online for many years.

Preserving the Record

Hatty preserved the original plaque, letters, magazines, photographs and numerous clippings from this period. This page brings those surviving materials together so that this chapter of his professional career can be documented online.

Original documents and photographs

From Tony Hatty’s personal archive. Tap any photograph to open the full image.

American Salon 1987 Hair Stylist of the Year plaque presented to Tony Hatty
American Salon 1987 Hair Stylist of the Year plaque presented to Tony Hatty
January 6, 1988 American Salon congratulatory letter to Tony Hatty
January 6, 1988 American Salon congratulatory letter to Tony Hatty
American Salon letter describing the International Beauty Show Press Breakfast, March 11, 1988
American Salon letter describing the International Beauty Show Press Breakfast, March 11, 1988
American Salon press materials and meeting-the-press instructions
American Salon press materials and meeting-the-press instructions
American Salon magazine feature: Tony Hatty, hairstylist of the year
American Salon magazine feature: Tony Hatty, hairstylist of the year
American Salon magazine page featuring Tony Hatty and his career
American Salon magazine page featuring Tony Hatty and his career
March 1988 American Salon magazine cover
March 1988 American Salon magazine cover

Historical materials shown on this page are from Tony Hatty's personal archive. American Salon is referenced for historical and documentary purposes.