New Zealand’s Martin Van Blerk Named L’Oréal Professionnel AUSNZ Style & Colour Trophy Finalist
Drumroll please! The national finalists in the ever-heralded L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy competition have been named, highlighting the best of the best across both regions, combined in this competition landscape as of last year. The historic platform is the longest running hair competition in the world, and this talented top eight continue that legacy.
Building on the 2024 theme of Utopia, entrants were tasked with creating innovative looks that encouraged freedom, harmony and self-expression, and these creative entries fit the brief. Entrants were assessed on their creativity, imagination, originality and the execution of these bold ideas.
Congratulations to Martin Van Blerk of Wellington’s esteemed Buoy Salon & Spa!
The Australian finalists are Natasha Monastra of Koko Blaq Coiffeur, in the WA/NT locale, Lauren Polidori of Ensemble Salon, SA/TAS, Rena Dimopoulos of Boris The Cuttery, SA/TAS, Lisa Robertson of Parlour Glenelg, SA/TAS, Rose Cain of Head Studio, WA/NT, Fiona Fazzalari of Hair Machine, SA/TAS and Ben Semple of Circles of Hair, WA/NT.
These finalists will now compete over the weekend of August 17 and 18 to re-create the looks to be judged by a live expert judging panel, before the winner is crowned on August 19 at Melbourne’s CIEL The Venue, with canapes and drinks, as well as an after party to celebrate the festivities. The winner announcement will be accompanied by creative hair shows through the evening. You can get tickets to the event here.
Last year’s ANZ Style & Colour Trophy winner, Rebecca Brent of Willis York Salon in New Zealand, took home third place in the international field. Australia’s past national winners, including Wendy Gunn, Massimo Tirimacco and Claudia Cataldo, have taken home the global award.
The competition honours the legacy of L’Oréal Professionnel, in the groundbreaking hair colour first created by founder Eugène Schuller and the competition’s beginnings in 1954. The storied platform has evolved to the moniker of Style & Colour Trophy and stays modern and current with virtual and AI components that keep the brand on the cutting edge. The company collaborated with hairdresser Charlie Le Mindu and Evan Rochette, a CGI artist, to craft four hair collections and inspire in this digital realm.
The competition continues to grow, amassing 100,000 global entries from around 40 countries in its momentous 2023 competition and accumulating 11 million views on social networks last year. The national judges consist of Rebecca Brent of Willis York, Danni Solier and Jamie Furlan of LNDN, Jo Cotroneo of Zink the Element of Hair, Brad Lepper of Blunt Edition and marie claire Beauty Editor Sally Hunwick.
“I am so proud to elevate the professional industry and disrupt hair beauty through our legendary contest! Last year more than 100,000 candidacies got submitted, meaning five times more than in 2022. Each year more and more join the competition to design limitless hair looks meeting the growing need of self-expression of the Gen Z,” said Anne Machet, International General Manager for L’Oréal Professionnel.
Congratulations and good luck to the 2024 finalists!
For more information visit https://styleandcolourtrophy.lorealprofessionnel.com/country/aus-nz