It’s time to find out who made the cut and is one step closer to being named a finalist at the 36th annual Canadian Hairstylist of the Year (Contessa) Awards.
A big thank-you to everyone who entered! Your unbelievable creativity and immense talent will never cease to amaze us and continues to make the judges’ jobs more difficult year after year.
Mark your calendars for our special Contessa Awards finalist announcement, which will be unveiled on Instagram Live on October 7th. Stay tuned for more details!
Plus, have your say in the finalists and winner of the Contessa Freestyle category! From October 1st to 15th, you can cast your vote on our website for your favourite entry and be entered for a chance to win two tickets to the Contessa Awards gala.
The 2025 Contessa Awards gala will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. Early bird tickets will be available for purchase beginning on September 25th. Reminder: All finalists will receive one complimentary, non-transferable ticket.
Congratulations and good luck to all semi-finalists!
Canadian Hairstylist
James Abu-Ulba, Method Education, Langley, B.C.
Elena Bogdanets, Figaro Hair & Beauty Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Frank Cini, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Robin LaChance, Tinted Love Hair Studio, Barrie, Ont.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Suzanne Maurice, Changing of the Garnet, Orillia, Ont.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Tony Ricci, Ricci Hair Co., Edmonton, Alta.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Chelsea Sutherland, Chelsea Laine Salon and Colour Bar, New Glasgow, N.S.
Josie Vilay, Hairology Studio, Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian Colourist
Karine Bélanger, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal, Que.
Elena Bogdanets, Figaro Hair & Beauty Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Madeline Brandt, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Jenna Engel, Plush Salon & Spa, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Morgan Hillier, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Robin LaChance, Tinted Love Hair Studio, Barrie, Ont.
Sharon LeClair, Shades of Color, Bedford, N.S.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Suzanne Maurice, Changing of the Garnet, Orillia, Ont.
Denise Meikle, Salon Origins, Vancouver, B.C.
Jag Moussa, JagHed Couture, Victoria, B.C.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Jessica Purmal, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Julio Rodriguez, Valentini Hair Design, Guelph, Ont.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Chelsea Sutherland, Chelsea Laine Salon and Colour Bar, New Glasgow, N.S.
Josie Vilay, Hairology Studio, Winnipeg, Man.
Jerica Wentzell, Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury, Ont.
Canadian Salon Team
Alchemy on Lorne Inc., Sudbury, Ont.
Beau Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Changing of the Garnet, Orillia, Ont.
Industry Hair and Esthetics, St. Catharines, Ont.
Mëdz Salon, Verdun, Que.
Monokrome Salon, Montreal, Que.
Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Plush Salon & Spa, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Renaissance Salon & Estetica, St. Catharines, Ont.
Sixhaut Salon, Montreal, Que.
Valentini Hair Design, Guelph, Ont.
Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Xtophers Salons, Vancouver, B.C.
Zoom Hair Studio, New Westminster, B.C.
Elite Master Hairstylist
James Abu-Ulba, Method Education, Langley, B.C.
Frank Cini, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Robin LaChance, Tinted Love Hair Studio, Barrie, Ont.
Josée Renaud, Josée Renaud Coiffure, Québec, Que.
Tony Ricci, Ricci Hair Co., Edmonton, Alta.
Lisa Schoor, InStages Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Lisa Smith, Mint Hair Lounge, Port Moody, B.C.
Master Colourist
Rémi Cardin, Rémi Cardin, Trois-Rivières, Que.
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica, St. Catharines, Ont.
Melissa Duguay, The Savvy Shop, Dieppe, N.B.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Alma Head, Alma’s Family Hair Salon, Sydney, N.S.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Julio Rodriguez, Valentini Hair Design, Guelph, Ont.
Chelsea Sutherland, Chelsea Laine Salon and Colour Bar, New Glasgow, N.S.
David Vendittelli, Industry Hair and Esthetics, St. Catharines, Ont.
Jerica Wentzell, Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury, Ont.
International Hairstylist
Antoinette Beenders, Aveda, Long Lake, Minn.
Stephanie Bellairs, Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs, Mandurah, Australia
Rafael Bueno, Rafael Bueno Peluqueros, Málaga, Spain
Sam James, SJ Establishment, Adelaide, Australia
Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson, Mansfield, U.K.
Manuel Mon, Manuel Mon Estilistas, Oviedo, Spain
Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design, Auckland, New Zealand
Rick Roberts, Rick Roberts Salon, Beverley, U.K.
Allen Ruiz, Ruiz Salon, Austin, Tex.
Mark van Westerop, Pro Solo, Alkmaar, Netherlands
Avant Garde Hairstylist
Renee Africa, Renee Africa Hairdressing, Squamish, B.C.
Grit Becker, Sin 7 Salon, White Rock, B.C.
Karine Bélanger, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal, Que.
Nilab Fazli, Versai Salon and Spa, Woodbridge, Ont.
Jelena Frolov, Chatters Hair Salon, Edmonton, Alta.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Yves Houde, Atelier Méga Coiffure, Québec, Que.
Jag Moussa, JagHed Couture, Victoria, B.C.
Lisa Schoor, InStages Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Stéphane Scotto Di Cesare, Travailleur Autonome, Montreal, Que.
Collaboration
Fred Bessette, Melanie Foster & Martin Menard
Tara-Lynn Fournier & Myles Laphen
Johanna Libbey & Jeffrey Klassen
Denise Meikle & Sonia Resendes
Paul Pereira & Erinn De Luca
Christina Sgro & Natalia Farahmand
Dana Simnovec, Martin Menard & Kyle Rea
Jerica Wentzell & Lukas Press
Emerging Hairstylist
Miranda Furtado, Love’s in the Hair Extension Studio Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Ivana Gentile, Coiffure Blunt, Montreal, Que.
Emyn Hayden, Entity Salon Inc./Hair.e Styles, St. John’s, N.L.
Shohreh Kavari Boushehri, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Noure Manchakian, Sixhaut Salon, Montreal, Que.
Melfinna Tjugito, Beau Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Hana Woldeyes, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Emerging Colourist
Abby Bruneel, Renaissance Salon & Estetica, St. Catharines, Ont.
Emyn Hayden, Entity Salon Inc./Hair.e Styles, St. John’s, N.L.
Noure Manchakian, Sixhaut Salon, Montreal, Que.
Mai Nguyen, Suki’s Salons, Vancouver, B.C.
Jessica Purmal, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Men’s Hairstylist
Ben Barkworth, JustB Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Natacha Berger-Benoit, Chez Pasquale Barbier, Montreal, Que.
Sabrina Byrnes, Alchemy on Lorne Inc., Sudbury, Ont.
Cherish Erhardt, Hair Ink Salon, Oakbank, Man.
Paul Pereira, Solo Bace, Toronto, Ont.
Hana Woldeyes, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Multicultural Hairstylist
Aran Beattie, Vanity House, London, Ont.
Karine Bélanger, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal, Que.
Adrian Carew, Hair91 Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Miranda Furtado, Love’s in the Hair Extension Studio Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Martin Menard, Salon La Loge, Québec, Que.
Lukas Press, Lukas Press Hair Studio, Toronto, Ont.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Derrick Rutherford, Valentini Hair Design, Guelph, Ont.
Hana Woldeyes, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Session Hairstylist
Ben Barkworth, JustB Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Grit Becker, Sin 7 Salon, White Rock, B.C.
Karine Bélanger, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal, Que.
Melissa Duguay, The Savvy Shop, Dieppe, N.B.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Lukas Press, Lukas Press Hair Studio, Toronto, Ont.
Josée Renaud, Josée Renaud Coiffure, Québec, Que.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Christina Sgro, Independent, Thornhill, Ont.
Lina Shamoun, Artline Salon, Kitchener, Ont.
Texture Hairstylist
Adrian Carew, Hair91 Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Miranda Furtado, Love’s in the Hair Extension Studio Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Lukas Press, Lukas Press Hair Studio, Toronto, Ont.
Amelie Rainville, Les Muses Maitres Coiffeurs, Beloeil, Que.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Derrick Rutherford, Valentini Hair Design, Guelph, Ont.
Lina Shamoun, Artline Salon, Kitchener, Ont.
Hana Woldeyes, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
British Columbia Hairstylist
Olivia Berttall, Sin 7 Salon, White Rock
Edwin Johnston, Cutting Room Creative, Nanaimo
Chantelle Leeder, Sin 7 Salon, White Rock
Johanna Libbey, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver
Denise Meikle, Salon Origins, Vancouver
Jag Moussa, JagHed Couture, Victoria
Jessica Purmal, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria
Lisa Smith, Mint Hair Lounge, Port Moody
Alberta Hairstylist
Jenna Engel, Plush Salon & Spa, Medicine Hat
Jelena Frolov, Chatters Hair Salon, Edmonton
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary
Caela Selene, Classic Shears Hair Studio, Lacombe
Saskatchewan/Manitoba Hairstylist
Grace Brykaliuk, Prestige Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Johanna Costantini, City Looks by Visage, Winnipeg, Man.
Ashley Ruecker, Salon Haze, Regina, Sask.
Lisa Schoor, InStages Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Ontario Hairstylist
Ben Barkworth, JustB Salon, Toronto
Aran Beattie, Vanity House, London
Elena Bogdanets, Figaro Hair & Beauty Salon, Toronto
Adrian Carew, Hair91 Inc., Toronto
Donna Dolphy, Donna Dolphy Hair, Toronto
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London
Suzanne Maurice, Changing of the Garnet, Orillia
Lukas Press, Lukas Press Hair Studio, Toronto
Derrick Rutherford, Valentini Hair Design, Guelph
Lina Shamoun, Artline Salon, Kitchener
Quebec Hairstylist
Karine Bélanger, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal
Jordan Dock, Sixhaut Salon, Montreal
Yves Houde, Atelier Méga Coiffure, Québec
Martin Menard, Salon La Loge, Québec
Amelie Rainville, Les Muses Maitres Coiffeurs, Beloeil
Josée Renaud, Josée Renaud Coiffure, Québec
Atlantic Hairstylist
Melissa Duguay, The Savvy Shop, Dieppe, N.B.
Erin Gillespie, Rebel Rebel, Kensington, P.E.I.
Emyn Hayden, Entity Salon Inc./Hair.e Styles, St. John’s, N.L.
Alma Head, Alma’s Family Hair Salon, Sydney, N.S.
Sharon LeClair, Shades of Color, Bedford, N.S.
Canadian Nail Artist
Nghia Nguyen, Henry Pro Nails, Thornhill, Ont.
Shayna Osazuwa, Shayna O Esthetics, Regina, Sask.
Cathy Torres, Amici’s Salon, Kelowna, B.C.
Makeup Artist
Pénélope Bélanger-Thibault, Karine Styliste Salon, Montreal, Que.
Samina Chaudhry, Samina’s Hair and Makeup Studio, Kitchener, Ont.
Natalia Farahmand, Desiderio Beauty, Penetanguishene, Ont.
Gaëlle Le Cunff, Gaëlle Le Cunff, Montreal, Que.
Renee Rampersad, Makeup By Renee, Edmonton, Alta.
Salon Interior Design
Artemys, Montreal, Que.
Beau Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Hair By Reema, Mississauga, Ont.
Love’s in the Hair Extension Studio Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Pure Hair Studio, Kitchener, Ont.
Studio So Lara, Kitchener, Ont.
Freestyle
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica, St. Catharines, Ont.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Tash Gagnon, Pretty Young Thing Studios, Saskatoon, Sask.
Daniel Grieco, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, Ont.
Dana Lyseng, Supernova Salon, North Vancouver, B.C.
Suzanne Maurice, Changing of the Garnet, Orillia, Ont.
Joan Novak, JoNo Hair, Whistler, B.C.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Alley Ross, Chelsea Laine Salon and Colour Bar, New Glasgow, N.S.
Chelsea Sutherland, Chelsea Laine Salon and Colour Bar, New Glasgow, N.S.
Sustainability Achievement
Adara Hair & Body Studio, Edmonton, Alta.
Bob and Page, Winnipeg, Man.
Chatters Hair Salon, Mississauga, Ont.
Nook Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Refinery House, Chilliwack, B.C.
Salon Freyja, Montreal, Que.
Sin 7 Salon, White Rock, B.C.
Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Xtophers Salons, Vancouver, B.C.
Zazou Salon & Academy, North Vancouver, B.C.
The John Steinberg Award for Community Service recipient will be announced at the Contessa Awards gala.
Photo: Hair: Contessa 2025 Semi-Finalist, British Columbia Hairstylist, Lisa Smith, Port Moody, Makeup: Timothy Hung, Wardrobe Styling: Lisa Smith, Photo: Joan Novak
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