CELEBRITY hair expert Sam McKnight, who has styled Keira Knightley, Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, has joined the judging panel for the inaugural Look Awards.

The event is the newest hair, beauty and aesthetics awards ceremony to hit Scotland and will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at The Radisson Blu Hotel, in Glasgow.

An expert panel of judges, including McKnight, Adam Sloan, CEO of Men's Hairdressing Federation and Victoria Dobbie, medical director of Face and Body, will be judging the entries across 20 different categories. Also on the panel is make-up artist Ainslie Currie, whose clients include singer Emeli Sande and Amy Macdonald. The training expert on the panel is Lynn Milligan, curriculum head of beauty at City of Glasgow College.

Categories are split into different industry sectors to recognise experts across the health and beauty, nail, hair, dentist and aesthetics businesses. The judges will be looking for the businesses that are demonstrating innovative practice and impressive results.

Mr Sloan said: "It's an absolute honour to come back to my home town to judge these prestigious awards and I am looking forward to judging Scotland's finest."

For the salons leading the way in the industry there is the Best Salon category for hair and beauty salons, sponsored by Defacto Salons.

Marcus Macleod, director, said: "DefactoSalons.com recognises and promotes the best salons in across the UK. Exemplary client service and excellent quality of hairdressing should be commended and acknowledged which is why we are delighted to sponsor this category."

Other categories in the health and beauty section include Expert Make-up Artist of the Year, Nail Salon of the Year, and Spa of the Year.

For cosmetic dentists and doctors, the aesthetics section includes the Best Cosmetic Dentist category and Medical Aesthetician of the Year and Cosmetic Clinic of The Year. Other categories include Hair Stylist of the Year, Hair Extension Specialist and Best Barbers.

For businesses who are online savvy and making waves with their digital marketing campaigns, the business section includes Marketing Campaign of the Year, Training Institution of the Year and Best Start up, sponsored by City of Glasgow College.

Aileen Vint, senior lecturer at City of Glasgow College, said: "We are delighted to recognise this achievement of starting up your own enterprise. These are our employers of the future."

Entries are now open. For full information and to enter please visit www.heraldlookawards.co.uk or contact Lynn Kelly on 0141 302 7410 or lynn.kelly@heraldandtimes.co.uk for more details.

It is free to enter any number of categories and the entry deadline is Thursday, April 16, 2015.