It’s taken two years of a pandemic, but Australians are only now slowly inching themselves away from the at-home hair dyes and closer to salon doors.
So, it’s high time that we celebrate the talent behind the capes, scissors and craftsmanship brought to our hair each and every time we sit in front of a hairdresser’s mirror.
Whether they focus on hair colouring or styling, a hair professional should always be celebrated. And it’s for this reason that L’Oréal Professionnel’s Style & Colour Trophy competition has becoming such an important avenue to commemorate those who are talented, determined and have a vision unlike any other. Thankfully, this year, they’re getting ready to kick off the celebrations again.
The longest-running hair competition in the world, marie claire Australia has proudly partnered with the competition to select a winner from eight national finalists, before they compete worldwide to secure the global title for Australia, hopefully for the third time in a row.
While the competition might seem like simply that that, the Style & Colour Trophy is ultimately the chance for hairdressers to demonstrate their talent for the world to see, but it’s he judging panel who can help them get there. This year, the panel came together in Sydney to brief on the 2022 theme ‘French Edito’, which asks entrants to create a premium cover image to celebrate the latest colour and style trends.
Massimo Tirimacco, owner and artistic director of Zohair and former winner, has been especially intrigued about being a part of the judging panel and getting to witness Australian talent on the rise.
“The biggest highlight of my career was winning the global L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy in 2021. I can’t wait to see what talent this year’s competition reveals,” he said.
Who else has earned themselves a spot on the L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy judging panel? Meet the entire line-up of established and renowned industry members below.
Nicky Briger
One of marie claire Australia’s most experienced editors, Nicky Briger has served as a judge for the L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy for the past six years. Of course, working at the helm of Australia’s number one fashion magazine means that Briger has an impeccable eye for style, innovation and confidence through both stories and imagery.
Massimo Tirimacco
Massimo Tirimacco is the Artistic director of Zohair Salon in Adelaide, South Australia. Alongside his collection of awards, Massimo is also the winner of the global and Australian L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy for two years, between 2019 and 2020. His ethos is simply to create looks that make you feel amazing and this has cemented his reputation as one of the industry’s most talented artistic directors.
Damien Rinaldo and Adriana Marmino
Damien Rinaldo is a three-time winner of AHFA’s Australian Hairdresser of the Year and is the owner of the award-winning salon, Boris the Cuttery, in Adelaide, Australia. Rinaldo’s work has been shown in leading international magazines and fashion shows, and he has used his L’Oréal Professionnel Australian ambassadorship to help educate hair professionals around the globe over the last 15 years.
Adriana Marmino is a L’Oréal Professionnel Australia artist and the style director at Boris the Cuttery. She is also one of the nation’s leading hair colourists and has a plethora of creative insights to share from her wealth of artistic experience.
Daren Borthwick
Daren Borthwick is a three-time Hair Expo Session Stylist of the Year winner. He is also renowned for his international and local fashion show work and is highly sought-after for editorial and celebrity work.
Sarah Laidlaw
Sarah Laidlaw is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected hair and makeup artists. She is also a six-time winner of the Australian Session Stylist of the Year, which recognised her talent and sustained excellence, and has also been named Makeup Artist of the Year three times. Sarah is currently the Makeup and Hair Director of Priceline.
Sally Hunwick
Sally Hunwick is marie claire Australia’s Beauty Director and an award-winning journalist with a long-running career in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She is passionate about all things hair and beauty, and loves to bring her audience the latest news, trends and products.
Matt Clements
Matt Clements is a L’Oréal Professional Australia artist and one of the country’s leading colour specialists, who focuses on creativity, originality and innovation. A four-time winner of Australian Colourist of the Year, Matt brings world-class expertise to all things colour.
Interested to find out more about this year’s L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour trophy? Take a look at the theme and countdown to the national finale here.
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