Finalists for the 2018 L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy have been announced!

The world’s longest running live hairdressing competition is back for 2018!

Designed to ‘promote, grow, develop and showcase’ the industry’s talent, the L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy, partnered with The Journal Magazine and Marie Claire, promotes Australia’s best hairdressing talents to the entire country.

We attended the South Australia & Tasmania Semi-Finals last Sunday where, after a gruelling day preparing their looks, sixteen semi-finalists showcased their best work on the runway.

The panel of judges included Frank Apostolopoulos (five-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year, the reigning champion of L’Oreal Colour Trophy, and Creative Director of Wella Professional Australia & New Zealand and BIBA Salons), Matt Clements (three-time Australian Colourist of the Year, International Colour Ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional, and Director of Assembly Hair), Justin Pace (Australian Colourist of the Year, International Colour Ambassador for Redken Fifth Avenue New York, and Artistic Director of Papas + Pace Brisbane), Sally Hunwick (Beauty Director for Marie Claire), and Damien Rinaldo (2003 L’Oreal Colour Trophy winner, two-time Australian Hair Fashion Awards Hairdresser of the Year, and International Ambassador for L’Oreal Professionnel).

L’Oreal Professionnel Products Division Artistic Director, Mark Thompson, hosted the evening’s proceedings and introduced the talent to the excited audience.

To break up the runway shows, Damien Rinaldo showcased some of his looks from the L’Oreal Professionnel Business Forum in Seville, Spain – including one recreated live on stage!

Before the announcement of the finalists, L’Oreal Professionnel General Manager Olga Zanetti congratulated winner of the South Australian Rising Star Award – Nathan Smith from Parlour.

After one more runway show, of all the semi-finalists at the end of the night, Olga Zanetti officially announced and congratulated the three finalists: Joe Cotroneo from Zink The Element Of Hair, Lisa Nguyen and Diana Carnevale from Zink The Element Of Hair, and Massimo Tirimacco from Zohair.

The National L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy 2018 Grand Finale will be held in Melbourne on 4th February 2018, where the finalists will recreate their looks to be judged by a panel of both national and international judges. The lucky winner of L’Oreal Colour Trophy Australia will travel to the next international L’Oreal Business Forum to compete on the worldwide stage. Good luck to all the finalists!

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