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 -