L’Oréal Professionnel congregated the hair industry on Sunday, August 6 at Sydney’s The Star venue for a night of celebration and hair art. Announcing the 2023 Style and Colour Trophy finalists for the all-new Australia and New Zealand hub, attendees were inspired by artistic hair shows and indulged in a gala event to honour these worthy contenders.

Notable for its long history of global competition and longstanding accolades, L’Oréal Professionnel Style and Colour Trophy is a renowned international competition that elevates business, creativity and the hair industry at large. Throughout the gala event, attendees heard from a range of brand speakers about the significance of the competition format, and learned about L’Oréal Professionnel’s new mental health initiative that showcases their commitment to the professional hair sphere, as well as other innovations. Amongst the speakers, the last three global winners, Wendy Gunn, Massimo Tirimacco and Claudia Cataldo, who currently hold a historic international hat-trick for Australia in the international competition, discussed the power of what the title has done for their business and careers.

With those results as fitting motivation, category winners and main title finalists were named throughout the night. Congratulations to the winners in the dynamic new categories, iNOA colour winner Kate Clark of Ink for Hair in Queensland, and Newcomer Chenel Beck from Koko Blacq Hair, WA, who was honoured in her first time as an entrant.

Beyond these awards, the state marie claire People’s Choice winners were named. Kate won for QLD and Chanel won for WA, while Crystal Wood of Wood & Wills won for NSW, Fiona Fazzalari of Hair Machine Glenelg won for SA/TAS, Prue Taylor of Lady and the Hair won for VIC and Mathias Te Moananui of Buoy Salon and Spa won in New Zealand.

In the grand finale event of the night, the eight finalists were chosen from the talented semi-final pool, and this group will fly to Melbourne for the national grand final event to recreate their looks and choose a final victor. Congratulations again to Kate, Fiona and Chanel who were named as finalists, alongside Amy Gaudie of Urban Chic in Queensland, Alicia Perruzza of Circles of Hair in WA, Rebecca Brent of Willis York in New Zealand,  Rose Cain of Head Studio, WA and Terrina Brown of Zedz Hair, WA, all of whom round out the finalist pool.

Beyond the winner announcement and important speeches, the evening showcased true hair art in the form of four hair shows, which translated the Metamorphosis competition theme in a seasonal lens. Created by the L’Oréal Professionnel ANZ Artistic Team and competition judges, a series of runway shows displayed bold, architectural hair looks pertaining to the seasons, from bright, vivid summer sunrise hues to foliage, trees and evocative shrubbery resembling the woodlands in Autumn, to florals and pastels, often woven into the hair looks, for Spring, and finishing with dark, brooding ice queens in Winter.

Congratulations to all the artists who created the shows, including Scott Sloan, Jordan Hone, Brodie Lee Tsiknaris, Robert Bava, Bex Brent, Sky Srisukpolluck, Peter Thomsen, Mathias Te Moananui, Tiffany Decaux, Melissa Gesualdo, Karen Bava, Damien Rinaldo, Masssimo Tirimacco, Danielle Solier, Jamie Furlan, Adriana Marmino, Sarah Laidlaw, Daren Borthwick, Matt Clements, Joe Cotroneo, Karlie Roberts, Kelly Manu, Claudia Cataldo and Amy Connolly.

The night included a red carpet entrance where guests mingled and the semi-finalists were interviewed in front of the media wall, as well as an after party to celebrate the wins of the evening. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal and final performance from musical legend Marcia Hines who ushered in the dancing and frivolities worthy of this sensational night.

Bridging beyond brand to the spirit of the broader hair community, while showcasing why L’Oréal Professionnel and the brand’s Style and Colour Trophy are industry leaders in every facet, this semi-final event showcased the possibilities in hair in competition, creativity and more.

Congratulations and good luck to the finalists!

For more information visit www.lorealprofessionnel.com.au

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