There’s no denying the power hair can have in transforming how we look—and how we feel.
Whether it’s a daring new cut or a bold new colour, our hair is one of the biggest extensions of our personalities, and one of the most powerful ways to share our unique point of view with the world.
This year, the longest running professional hair competition in the world, L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy, is celebrating the limitless potential of hair, with the 2023 theme “Meta-morphosis”.
READ NOW: Meet the hair professionals tasked with choosing this year’s L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy winner.
Professionals from across Australia and New Zealand were encouraged to let their imaginations run wild and embrace the endless opportunities for self-expression and creativity to design hair that’s truly of the future.
With the best, boldest and most transformative looks, the top eight finalists have been announced. We dive deep into the inspiration behind their looks before they battle it out at the national finale.
(And don’t forget to vote now for your favourite look as part of the National Audience Award.)
Alicia Perruzza—Circles of Hair, WA
Of her finalist status, colourist and stylist Alicia Perruzza of Perth’s Circles Of Hair says it still “doesn’t feel real”, adding that she is “still processing it all”.
“[For this look], I drew inspiration from editorials, so I was inspired by fashion and focused directly on looking through different campaigns and saving my favourite looks,” she says.
When it comes to preparing for the Grand Final, Alicia says she is both “nervous and excited”.
“I’m most excited to challenge myself,” she says.
Amy Gaudie – Urban Chic, QLD
Urban Chic Salon’s Amy Gaudie describes making the Colour Trophy national finals as “a bit of a shell shock”.
“I just didn’t anticipate it, but I’m super honoured and privileged to be in the top eight…it’s amazing!”
The look that got her there was inspired by an “iconic and visionary female who had strength and editorial power” and who was “really fashion-forward”.
“The possibility of having my look being seen on the global stage really pushes me to think outside of the box a bit more,” she says of preparing for the Grand Final.
“Honestly, bring it on!”
Chanel Beck – Koko Blaq Coiffeur, WA
Koko Blaq Coiffeur owner Chanel Beck says the L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy competition brought her back some of her “creative flair”.
“I needed this…this competition brought back old school hairdressing. This competition and event was the missing piece that I needed,” she says.
Inspired by a butterfly, Chanel says she had “creative insomnia” while dreaming up her look.
“[I was] picturing shapes in my sleep. My focus was creating an ‘S’ bend in the cocoon and delicate features to represent wings.”
Fiona Fazzalari – Hair Machine Glenelg, SA
“I loved the Meta-morphosis concept, as it showcases a more artistic side to us,” says Hair Machine’s Fiona Fazzalari.
“My look had this colour combination going through it, which was almost like the bands of time.
“For me, I looked at everything that’s happened in the past as what’s helping to pave way for the future. We can’t do one without the other…the pieces of our past create our future and that was really where my inspiration came from,” she says.
“It was really trying to say that you learn from the ride along the way, not from the actual destination.”
As for the final in two weeks’ time? Fiona says she’ll be leaving a lot to “gut-speak”.
“My mind, my sight and my gut will tell me where to go,” she says.
Kate Clark – Ink For Hair, QLD
Winner of the iNOA award, the marie claire People’s Choice Award and a National Finalist, Kate Clark of Ink For Hair in Queensland says the 2023 L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy has been a “humbling” experience.
“It’s a competition that I’ve participated in on and for the last 15 years or more, and I’m really excited to see what I can create down in Melbourne and also get together with all the other finalists, because I think Colour Trophy becomes a bit of a community,” she says.
Of this year’s theme, Kate says it was a challenge, as it was a “different take” to themes of year’s past.
“I really looked deeper into what [Meta-morphosis] is, especially where the world is going with AI and CGI and how it translates to people in our industry and the world in general,” she says.
“When you look at high fashion and haute couture…people might not wear that, but they might be inspired by it. That’s what it was like for my look.
“I looked at shapes and textures. While someone may not be wearing such a geometric shape, by incorporating different elements into that shape, someone could come into the salon and like the colour, textures, sharpness, or softness of the final look.
“The look I created encompasses different textures and different structural lines that people can be inspired by to push and wear something that they didn’t think they would.”
Rebecca Brent—Willis York, NZ
“I feel amazing, kind of surreal actually,” says New Zealand’s Rebecca Brent of Willis York of making the national final.
Her inspiration for her look? What she herself might look like if she stepped into the “Metaverse”.
“The look was really going for girl-meets-pun- meets-the-80s,” she says.
“I wanted to create this feminine, otherworldly creature. Colour was a huge thing for me, and lilac is such a vibe.
“When I was creating the look, I wanted people to not only recognise who I was as an artist and my own style, but still also be aligned with what L’Oréal Professionnel is as a brand… elegance and professionalism.”
Rose Cain – Head Studio Perth, WA
Head Studio Perth’s Rose Cain says Style & Colour trophy “gets better” every year.
“For me creating my look, it was about the theme, but also keeping true to who I am as a hairdresser and creating beautiful hair,” she says.
“My look for Meta-morphosis was inspired to be a futuristic doll emerging to planet earth from the cyber universe.”
As for her Grand Finale look? Rose says watch this space, as she’s ready to “take it to the next level”.
Terrina Brown – Zedz, WA
Brought to you by L’Oréal Professionnel.
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