The Contessa Awards are growing and evolving with the addition of the brand-new Contessa Connective education day, which will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.
With a full lineup of 23 Canadian and global artists and educators from industry-leading brands, Contessa Connective includes seven, 45-minute look-and-learn presentations designed to inspire, motivate and uplift hairstylists, salon owners and beauty pros.
From trending haircuts and styles to bold colour techniques and placements, this year’s presentations will include artistry, techniques and insights to educate and energize the Canadian professional beauty community like never before. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Contessa history!
To buy tickets, click here. Learn more about the Contessa Connective educators and presentation lineup below:
Contessa Connective Educators
James Abu-Ulba
Last year’s Contessa winner for Canadian Hairstylist of the Year and Davines showcase artist will be opening the day of education by demonstrating looks from his latest Contessa collection. Learn his top tips and techniques for block cutting, curly texture and more, and join him on a journey to learn how to seamlessly transition looks from every day and salon-friendly to bold, collection-worthy works of art. Get inspired to think critically about your design choices and push your creative boundaries by understanding the “why” through texture and finishing.
Leonardo Redavid, Marco Redavid & Katherine Sims
Learn from the Redavid’s co-founders, Leonardo and Marco Redavid, who will be sharing their techniques for two looks, including Leonardo’s signature long, layered cut, and artistic team lead Katherine Sims’ Hollywood-worthy blowout. Take your haircutting and styling skills to the next level while learning more about the Canadian brand.
Michelle Oliver, Robin LaChance, Nicole Pede, Mario Cicciarella & Jessica McColm
This powerhouse team of past Contessa winners and finalists, and members of Schwarzkopf Professional’s Canadian artistic team, are joining forces to showcase a diverse range of hair colour, haircutting and styling techniques. Learn how to personalize your approach to curls and texture, create custom blonding using contrast, and push your creativity. With “inspiration for every you,” the team will be spotlighting looks inspired by pop culture, with a nod to the lavish opulence of the iconic ’70s era with a modern twist, the team will motivate you to elevate your craft at any level of your career, including for those who aspire to grow their skills for on-stage or on-set work and behind the chair.
Joseph Santiago, Lorraine McAndrew, Kat Ginga & Kimberley Wallace
Debuting the renowned brand’s latest global collection, I-CONIC, the Sassoon Academy Toronto team, led by senior creative directors Joseph Santiago and Lorraine McAndrew, assistant creative director Kat Ginga and master colourist Kimberley Wallace, will be sharing haircutting and colour tips on how to modernize classic looks with signature craftsmanship.
Peter Gosling & Hugh Kingston
Following the debut of his team’s latest collection at the Contessa Awards gala, Glassbox Barbershop and Glassbox Education owner Peter Gosling and educator Hugh Kingston are sharing a breakdown of some of the key looks and daring haircutting and barbering techniques. Plus, learn how to combine hairdressing and barbering skills for all lengths and genders.
Kevin Hughes, Lisa Dinh, Jessica Scott Santo & Tania Lacoste Major
Moroccanoil’s vice president of artistry, Kevin Hughes, global colour ambassadors Lisa Dinh and Jessica Scott Santo, and artistic team member, Tania Lacoste Major, are presenting Salon to Social: A masterful pairing of accessible colour and styling techniques with a live social media breakdown to help you bring new skills back to your salon so you’ll be ready to create, capture and share with your teams and clients.
Quantum Hair: Jorge X, Norm Wright, Antonio Quintieri & Monia Grieco
Following the Canadian debut of his latest project, Quantum Hair, at the Contessa Awards gala, Jorge X of Xpresion Creativos from Madrid, Spain, will be taking the education stage with the Canadian team—Norm Wright, Antonio Quintieri and Monia Grieco—to share expert hair colour and haircutting tips while showcasing looks featuring Quantum Hair’s signature pixel colouring. This innovative presentation blurs the lines between avant garde and AI to motivate you to take your craft to the next level and unlock the endless possibilities when hair colour placement is both dimensional and convertible. Plus, learn tips on how to incorporate braiding, extensions and accessories into hairstyles that Jorge X and Quantum Hair are known for.
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