It's that wonderful time of year again - Contessa Awards #Contessa2018 !

Toronto is gearing up for the 29th Annual Contessa Awards coming to town Sunday, November 12th, 2017 when the best hairstylists, makeup artists and nail technicians throughout Canada recognized at the award ceremony which is something like the Oscars, but for hair.

As well, this year the Contessas are partnering with the Movember Foundation, who is developing a curriculum for barbers to become "Movember Certified", so they can spot signs of mental health distress in their male clients.

Not only do the biggest names in hair show up but all the major haircare brands are on hand as well - this of course makes me think of haircare products and which new products are going to be must haves for my hair this winter - this is my top 3:

Moroccanoil Mending Infusion - 75ml - $37 - with a vitamin-fueled, quinoa protein-packed formula that nourishes, conditions, strengthens and helps seal split ends for a silky, fresh-cut appearance. The ultra-lightweight argan oil formula reduces visible signs of damaged hair - such as frayed ends, dryness and color damage - as well as taming frizz and preventing further damage; whil a blend of argan oil and baobab extracts, packed with antioxidants and amino acids, transforms ends from dry and brittle to silky and touchable.

Available at select salons across Canada - check out moroccanoil.com to find one near you or to purchase online.

Wella Oil Reflections Light Luminous Reflective Oil - 100ml - $34.99 - a lightweight version of the original that offers luminosity without weighing the hair down with a formulation of camellia oil and white tea extract and is especially great for fine to normal hair types and won't leave a greasy residue while leaving hair up to 86% shinier.

Available at select salons across Canada - check out wella.com to find one near you.

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo - 56g - $39 - great for all hair types, it revives hair with naturally derived powders that absorb excess oil and impurities. Of course my favourite thing about Aveda products is the aroma with 25 pure flower and plant essences including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang ylang.

Available at Aveda salons and stores across Canada - check out aveda.ca to find one near you or to purchase online.

- Lisamarie -

Celebrating our crowning glory at the Contessa 27 Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards!

Things were hip and happening at the Westin Harbour Castle last weekend as the best and brightest in the beauty industry gathered for the Contessa Awards. Presented by Salon Magazine and founded in 1988, the Contessas, The Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards, are Canada’s longest-running and most prestigious awards honouring excellence and creativity in salon professionals. The best way to describe it really is as the Oscars of the beauty world!

The mandate of the Contessa Awards is to highlight, promote and recognize Canada’s premier professional beauty talent. The event unites the industry from coast to coast and presents an opportunity for beauty professionals to share their knowledge, inspiration and passion for their profession with their colleagues.

With so many qualified and imaginative entries it must have been hard to pick the winners - here are a few of the photos I especially loved:

Canadian Colourist - Ann-Marie Goupil - Salon Espace C, Brossard, QC
Makeup Artist: Jacinthe Benoit - Photographer: Brian Ypperciel, www.brianypperciel.com 

Canadian Hairstylist of the Year - Mandy MacFadden - Salon Decorum, Newmarket, ON
Makeup Artist: Sherlyn Torres - Photographer: Allysandra Cervantes, www.allysandracervantes.com 

New Hairstylist - David Vendittelli - Valvano Salon, St. Catharines, ON
Makeup Artist: Meaghan Bell - Photographer: Kale Friesen, www.kalejf.com

Makeup Artist - Virginie T. Simard - Guylaine Martel Artistes Coiffeurs, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC
Photographer: Alain Comtois

Canadian Nail Artist - Naomi Misu - Tips Nail Bar, Toronto, ON
Photographer: Joseph Saraceno, www.josephsaraceno.com

And although he didn't win, Canadian Colourist finalist, Norm Wright had some words of advice about the importance of a good colourist: 

"Determining how far to go with each individual’s new look should be determined during the consultation: analyze skin tone, eye colour, face shape and bone structure. Hair colour can make a face look longer, it can bring out eye colour, and it can accentuate a hair layer that might not have been visible. The intensity of the application is dictated by the individual’s personality, profession, and lifestyle.

Each person deserves to know their full potential and we as professionals aren't doing our jobs if we don't discuss every option.

I think the biggest mistake a hairstylist can make is underestimating the person in their chair.

We are very lucky in this country to live through four seasons and with each new season, fashion and trends change. I recommend slight nuance changes seasonally.

I've been doing hair for 30 years; each change makes each person look at themselves from a different perspective. Hair design reflects how you feel, and in the eyes of others, projects who you are. If you buy new clothes seasonally, your hair should reflect those changes.

And finally, maintaining your hair colour with the right products is just as important as the tones you choose.

The pH scale measures acidity and alkalinity, human hair's pH is acidic and if you’re cleansing, conditioning, and using styling products that are too high in alkalinity, the hair's cuticle opens and all the goodness falls out. Ironically you will save money on products, but your hair visits increase three fold."

I'm inspired to go get something done with my hair now - see you at the Contessas next year!

- Lisamarie -

Good times, great hair at the Contessa 26 Awards Gala!

If you had a hair emergency this past Sunday night you might have been in trouble as many of the great hairdressers from across Canada were otherwise occupied that evening as an audience of seriously well coiffed hair and beauty professionals experienced the Elements this past Sunday in Toronto at the 26th Annual Contessa Awards.

Thanks to a pre-show makeup touch-up from Mirabella and hair transformation from Revlon Professional, I didn't feel quite as out of place but it's hard to hold your own in this crowd - there were some crazy hair and outfits going on!

Hosted by the Food Network's Noah Cappe who was mostly amusing (although he did have his douchey moments) kept the show going, the highlight of which for me was the presentations, playing off of the show's theme - Elemental - a celebration of natural wonders - with interpretations of wind, water and fire from Schwarzkopf Professional, Collega for Aveda and Revlon Professional.

Really, the winning styles speak for themselves, there were so many amazing styles that it was hard to choose which ones to post but here are a few that caught my eye...

Canadian Hairstylist
Tony Ricci of Ricci Hair Co. in Edmonton, AB

Master Hairstylist

Alain Pereque of Salon Saco/Drummond in Montréal, QC

Master Colourist

Rossa Jurenas of Studio Rossa in Tillsonburg, Ont.

Avant Garde

Tarran Chesney of Taz Hair Co. in London, Ont.

New Hairstylist

Ricardo Perdigao of Blunt Salon Inc. in Edmonton, AB

Alberta Hairsylist

Michelle Oliver of Kick Hair & Body in Edmonton, AB

- Lisamarie -