The first ever CURATE Awards, an apprentice based awards platform created by Brisbane based hairdressing leader and reigning AHIA Creative Australian Hairdresser of the Year 2023 Justin Pace, have announced their inaugural finalists. The digital competition spotlights urban and regional talent from all over Australia.
“I’m so thrilled to have seen this exciting talent give themselves the chance to excel on the national stage,” Justin said. “Our aim is to see Apprentices from salons from every corner of the country giving it a go and I’m excited to see this competition become an integral part of every hairdresser’s career journey.”
Entrants were tasked with creating a two-minute video to showcase their cutting, colouring and styling skills, and were judged on criteria including delivery of the hair creation, the finished result and video editing skills. Finalists were chosen in four categories – Regional Colour & Style, Regional Cut & Colour, U rban Colour & Style and Urban Cut & Colour.
The judging panel consisted of Chris Moody, Chris Baran, Belinda Mills, Benni Tognini, Brodie-Lee Tsiknaris, Clive Allwright, Damien Rinaldo, Danni Solier, Jarred Stedman, Jo Smith, Jules Tognini, Julia Homard, Kerrie DiMattia, Kiralee Honor, Kristy Hodgson, Leeanne Pearce, Lyndal Salmon, Michael Kelly, Richard Kavanagh, Sandy Chong, Sheridan Rose Shaw and Stevie English.
Category winners will be announced on May 27, with winners earning a full-day photo shoot workshop mentored by Justin in Sydney, over the weekend of Hair Festival and the AHIA Creative Awards Gala. Other prizes include a VIP Excellent Edges experience including personalised scissor kits, a selection of electrical tools from Gamma +, a L’Oréal Access education package, a Sustainable Salons goodie bag, coverage in HAIRBIZ magazine and across Mocha Hair digital platforms and a professional biography created in conjunction with Lily Blue Communications.
Congratulations to the finalists.
Regional Colour & Style
Jati Sukha, Sfumato Hair
Kiki Verdel, Tokunai Hair
Laura Mansfield, Little Salon Co. Mooloolaba
Maiya Rice, Jarah’s Hair
Morgan Humphries, Roca Verde
Regional Cut & Colour
Charlie Carruthers, WoW Hair Wickham
Jasmin McLean, Roca Verde
Kasey Pearcey, Sfumato Hair
Kayla Rossiter, Parlour O
Maiya Rice, Jarah’s Hair
Sophie Green, Khayaam
Urban Colour & Style
Molly Davis, Elite Hair Extensions Gold Coast
Paulo Mota, Stevie English Hair
Ruby Chapman, Co and Pace Salons
Shannon Westwood, The Factory Yarraville
Sienna Botto, Cambridge Hair Collective
Tori Yardley, TONI&GUY Mosman
Urban Cut & Colour
Byron Davey, Cobelle Creative
Cam Day, Co and Pace Salons
Joey Goodman, Stevie English Hair
Paige Peters, Toni & Guy Broadbeach
Roni Bunoza, Little Salon Co. Mosman
Stella Wrigley, Togninis
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