New Zealand’s top hairdresser for 2014 has been crowned, with Wellington’s Rebecca Brent taking home the L’Oréal Colour Trophy.
Brent, who is based at Wellington’s Willis York Salon, won the major award at the 2013/14 L’Oreal Colour Trophy Awards held in Auckland on Saturday night. The event attracts more than 300 entrants across the country all vying for the NZ Hairdresser of the Year, Men’s Image, Young Colourist and Salon of the Year award.
The L’Oréal Colour Trophy is awarded by hair stylists submitting a photographic entry into an award category. The finalists were brought together in Auckland to go head-to-head in a live competition to re-create their photographic entry in front of three judges – Brad Ngata, Caterina DiBiase and Damien Rinaldo. The winners are scored on creative, fashion-forward hair styling and colour.
Head judge Ngata says, ‘‘in a competition of this nature, it’s important to see colour ... and my eye was always drawn back to the colour execution of Rebecca’s look.’’
‘‘Beauty should defy ages, and this look does,” added Adelaide-based stylist Rinaldo. It has a cool freshness to it with an edge that pushes the look further. You can really see there’s personality behind it.’
Brent will jetset off to Paris to visit the L’Oréal Professionnel headquarters and attend the L’Oréal Colour Trophy UK 2014/15.
The winners for 2014:
New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year 2013/14
Rebecca Brent - Willis York, Wellington
The Young Colourist Award (for finalists with five years or less experience)
Valeria Lenskaia – Bettjemans, Auckland
Men’s Colour Award
Sara Carswell, Blaze, Auckland
Salon of the Year Award
Blaze, Auckland
Sunday Magazine Style Award
Natasha Dawson, Rodney Wayne Botany, Auckland
Headway Magazine Award
Blaze, Auckland