L’Oréal Professionnel US Color & Style Trophy 2020
You know we love a good competition! Fun fact, the concept of The Hair Nerds was born at a competition. So when we heard the L’Oréal Professionnel US Color & Style Trophy was going to be held on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at The Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey, CA … we began plotting how to weasel our way in.
A couple of things to know about this competition:
There were 126 entries for 5 categories.
Finalists were required to recreate their entry on their model LIVE.
A panel of judges examined the models before they presented on stage to determine the winners in each category.
First place winners received a $500 L’Oréal Professionnel Academy Class voucher, their winning look featured on both the Color & Style Trophy website and the L’Oréal Professionnel website and recognition on social media.
Color & Style Trophy is the longest running hair competition in the world and now in its 65th year. The International competition will be held in Milan, Italy on March 31, 2020 where the overall winner will represent the United States.
Like all great award shows, the night opened with a creative presentation after the finalists took the stage. The US L’Oréal Professionnel Artistic team with stylists Matthew Collins, Jennifer MacDougall and Drew Schaefering, and Colorists Nancy Braun, Jo Blackwell-Preston and Min Kim supported by Jessica Gonsalves, Sebasatian Langman-Kirtley and Jessica Todd, displayed- Frenchness Interpreted.
As soon as the models walked on stage you could feel magic in the air. Every once in a while, we attend an event that takes us back to that very first night of The Hair Nerds. The kind of night that gives you goosebumps and consumes your every sense.
Brooks and Brooks featuring Sally Brooks, Jamie Brooks and Grace Dalgeish brought down the house with Emotive Feelings. These renowned hairdressers from the UK have been honored as British Hairdresser twice, as well as London hairdresser of the year, three times.
They created an immersive experience that transported you to another world… Hair Nerd Heaven.
Things were getting serious and it was time to announce the winners. Arrojo Salon from New York City, NY with team members: Madison Dittman, Hissa Igarashi and Tene Lee took the stage as the second ever Overall Winner of L’Oréal Professionnel US Color & Style Trophy.
And the winners are…
EDITORIAL AWARD Winner: EL SALON, Denver, CO. Team Members: Ron Lopez, Joel Pelanek and Katelyn Simkins
Runner-up: MATTHEW MORRIS SALON AND SKINCARE, Denver, CO. Team Members: Julia Taffet and Alexia Lienhard
TEXTURE AWARD Winner: SLOANE STEVENS SALON, Homer Glen, IL. Team Members: Sara Beth Murphy and Lindsay Olson
Runner-up: MARZIA SALON San Francisco, CA. Team Members: Christina Choi, Mary Jane Smith, Scott Smith, and Kingmond Young
FUTURE TREND AWARD Winner: STUDIO BRANCA SALON AND SPAS, St. Louis, MO, Team Members: Anna Andrews, Callie Andrews, Carrie Auchly, Maggie Haberberger, Alis Mergenthaler.
Runner-up: THE LEMON LAB COLOR STUDIO, Atlantic Beach, FL. Team Member: Sophia Ance
CUTTING AWARD Winner: LUXE LAB, Santa Monica, CA. Team Members: Luisana Luna, Meoldy Rochelle Russ and Lauren Sill
Runner-up: DOP DOP SALON, New York, NY. Team Member: Yuki Yasui
NEW TALENT AWARD Winner: ARROJO, New York, NY Team Members: Madison Dittman, Hissa Igarashi, and Tene Lee
Runner-up: STUDIO BRANCA SALON AND SPAS, St. Louis, MO. Team Members: Callie Andrews, Sarah Blackburn, Madison Coffman, Desiree Drury, and Jessica Peanick
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare, Denver, CO with team members: Shea Petersen and Summer Verrett. (Their entry was voted by the public on colorstyletrophy.com between October and December 2019.)
At the end of the evening, our little Hair Nerd hearts were full again. We had been in desperate need of something pure and wonderful. A competition judged on merit and not affiliation… This will forever be an event that sticks out to us. Do yourself a favor an enter or attend next year.