The list you’ve been waiting for is here! Introducing the semi-finalists for the 38th annual Canadian Hairstylist of the Year (Contessa) Awards.
A big thank-you to everyone who entered. We’re happy to share that entries have been steadily increasing year after year. On behalf of the entire Salon and Contessa team, we’re greatly appreciative of the continued support of our competition and event. Providing the largest and longest-running creative platform for beauty pros is something we don’t take lightly. A special shout-out to our Contessa sponsors for their contributions in helping make the event an ongoing success.
Mark your calendars for our 2027 Contessa Awards finalists’ announcement, which will be shared on Instagram Live on October 13. Stay tuned for more details!
Calling all Freestyle fans: Get ready to cast your votes for the Contessa Freestyle category. From October 1st to 15th, vote for your favourite entry on our website and be entered for a chance to win two tickets to the Contessa Awards on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the John W. H. Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Tickets for the 2027 Contessa Awards are available now. Click here to purchase
Reminder: All finalists will receive one complimentary, non-transferable ticket and receive access to special reserved seating for finalists and their guests.
Congratulations and good luck to all semi-finalists!
Canadian Hairstylist
Curtis Anweiler, Anweiler Hair Inc., Edmonton, Alta.
Daniel Benoit, Salon Pure, Montreal, Que.
Francis Bouchard, Sans Bon Sens, Montreal, Que.
Sara Burke, Hype Hair Studio, Vancouver, B.C.
Frank Cini, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Jenna Engel, Plush Salon & Spa, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Daniel Grieco, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, Ont.
Anica Iordache, Modmop Hairdressing, Ottawa, Ont.
Isabelle Lachance, Oblic Salon Urbain, Montreal, Que.
Jose Osorio, Saco, Montreal, Que.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Kathy Simon, Mekka Academy & Studio, Montreal, Que.
Julie Vriesinga, Salon Entrenous, London, Ont.
Canadian Salon Team
Edward Carriere Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Fabstyle Hair Design, Orillia, Ont.
Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury, Ont.
Glassbox Barbershop & Education, Toronto, Ont.
Industry Hair and Esthetics, St. Catharines, Ont.
Linea Atelier, Langley, B.C.
Oblic Salon Urbain, Montreal, Que.
Pretty & Co., St. Catharines, Ont.
Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Salon Blunt, Bowmanville, Ont.
Salon Pure, Montreal, Que.
Storm Hair Group, St. Catharines, Ont.
Suki’s Downtown, Vancouver, B.C.
Taz Hair Co., Etobicoke, Ont.
Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
The Hair Factory, St. John’s, Nfld.
Vanity House, London, Ont.
Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian Colourist
Alexandre Anctil, Brossés, Montreal, Que.
Danielle Barbey, Ricci Hair Co., Edmonton, Alta.
Lauren Bazak-Mostert, Salon Blunt, Bowmanville, Ont.
Karine Belanger, Karine Stylist Salon, Montreal, Que.
Kitty Bernes, Edward Carriere Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Madeline Brandt, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Emmy Brillant Belanger, SalonCentric, L’Assomption, Que.
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Nicole den Bok, Nicole den Bok, Winnipeg, Man.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Nicole Gray, Bubbles & Blow Beauty Bar, Burlington, Ont.
Ashley Hood, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Shohré Kavari, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Alicia Langille, Alicia Langille Hair Art, Halifax, N.S.
Mai Nguyen, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Lisa Schoor, The Hair Club, Winnipeg, Man.
Daniela Shiokawa, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Marilyn Vendittelli, Industry Hair and Esthetics, St. Catharines, Ont.
Elite Master Hairstylist
James Abu-Ulba, Linea Atelier, Langley, B.C.
Jean-Sebastien Chalut, O Salon, Montreal, Que.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Jorge Joao, Koi Hair Studio, Brampton, Ont.
Kye Pyeon, Suki’s Downtown, Vancouver, B.C.
Lisa Schoor, The Hair Club, Winnipeg, Man.
Lina Shamoun, Artline Salon, Kitchener, Ont.
Lisa Smith, Mint Hair Lounge, Port Moody, B.C.
Jeremy Tremblay, Apart Studio, Montreal, Que.
Julie Vriesinga, Salon Entrenous, London, Ont.
Master Colourist
Emily Baker, Fabstyle Hair Design, Orillia, Ont.
Danielle Barbey, Ricci Hair Co., Edmonton, Alta.
Rémi Cardin, Rémi Cardin, Trois-Rivières, Que.
Krysten-Ashley Garrod, TWO The Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Daniel Grieco, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, Ont.
Simon James, Obsidian Salon, White Rock, B.C.
Stephanie Karellas, Kroma Salon, King City, Ont.
Alicia Langille, Alicia Langille Hair Art, Halifax, N.S.
Sharon LeClair, DastousDio, Dieppe, N.B.
Jerica Wentzell, Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury, Ont.
International Hairstylist
Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, Glendale, Calif.
David Barron, Barron’s London Salon, Atlanta, Ga.
Dani Blakeley, Yoshiko Hair, Melbourne, Australia
Anakin Chan, BUBBLES Salons, Rockville, Md.
Trish Dool, Eric Fisher Salon, Wichita, Ks.
Shannon Dowd, Zibido Hair, Hamilton, New Zealand
Paula Hibbard, Paula Hibbard Education, Westleigh, Australia
Nicole Lamers, Nicole Lamers Creative, Perth, Australia
Bruno Marc Giamattei, Antoni Hair Salons, Henley-on-Thames, U.K.
Lauren McCowan, Lauren McCowan, Kangaroo Point, Australia
Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design, Auckland, New Zealand
Emma Simmons, Salon 54, Thirsk, U.K.
Andrew Smith, Andrew Smith Salons, Hampshire, U.K.
Julia Tomczek, Sakura Studio, Oakland, Calif.
Carlos Valiente, Valiente Hair Experience, Alzira, Spain
Mark Van Westerop, Pro Solo, Alkmaar, Netherlands
Vlad Vladoo, Salon Forma 2, Brașov, Romania
Jamie Wiley, Hairboss Official, Iowa City, Ia.
Jorge X, Quantum Hair, Madrid, Spain
Tom Yek Teng Siong, Decrypt Hairdressing, Selangor, Malaysia
International Colourist
Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective, Glendale, Calif.
Dani Blakeley, Yoshiko Hair, Melbourne, Australia
Sara Piera Cano, Salones CV by Carlos Valiente, Valencia, Spain
Shannon Dowd, Zibido Hair, Hamilton, New Zealand
Kristie Kesic, Cobelle Creative, Toowong, Australia
Nicole Lamers, Nicole Lamers Creative, Perth, Australia
Brooke LeMasters, Bombshell Hair Studio, Sistersville, W.Va.
Emma Simmons, Salon 54, Thirsk, U.K.
Andrew Smith, Andrew Smith Salons, Hampshire, U.K.
Julia Tomczek, Sakura Studio, Oakland, Calif.
Mark Van Westerop, Pro Solo, Alkmaar, Netherlands
Jorge X, Quantum Hair, Madrid, Spain
Avant Garde Hairstylist
Emily Baker, Fabstyle Hair Design, Orillia, Ont.
Erika Fung, Erika Fung Studio, Toronto, Ont.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Stephanie Goguen, Maison de la Couleur Oligo, Montreal, Que.
Ken Hiebert, Salon H, Winnipeg, Man.
Liza Lee, Cialengo, Toronto, Ont.
Vira Nychypurenko, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Lisa Schoor, The Hair Club, Winnipeg, Man.
Michael Shire, We Salon, Toronto, Ont.
James Valiant, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Collaboration
Tania Becker & Chad Taylor
Tara-Lynn Fournier & Myles Laphen
Jelena Frolov, Joanny Albino & Brooklyn Doerksen
Yves Houde & Kathleen Kelso
Cia Hurlburt & Angie Hunt
Christina Sgro & Natalia Farahmand
Lina Shamoun & Ken Hiebert
Emerging Hairstylist
Roselle Abella, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Kerrigan Bowey, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Abby Bruneel, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Ali Dashi, Icon Hair, Winnipeg, Man.
Paige Fitzhenry, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Rhyan Lohr, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, B.C.
Emily Lorimer, The Loft, Toronto, Ont.
Trinity Neil, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Vira Nychypurenko, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Sepideh Saba, Freelance, Vancouver, B.C.
Emerging Colourist
Roselle Abella, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Abby Bruneel, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Paige Fitzhenry, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Shohré Kavari, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Trinity Neil, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Mai Nguyen, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Anastasiia Yashchenko, Aura by Miss Victorious, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Men’s Hairstylist
Kerrigan Bowey, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Ali Dashi, Icon Hair, Winnipeg, Man.
Peter Gosling, Glassbox Barbershop & Education, Toronto, Ont.
Pete Goupil, Salon Espace C, Brossard, Que.
Arlo Grey, Bayley Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Meghan Hildebrandt, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Anica Iordache, Modmop Hairdressing, Ottawa, Ont.
Osaka Jagoda, Freelance, Calgary, Alta.
Dylan Jerrett, Hair Factory Salon and Spa, St. John’s, Nfld.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Multicultural Hairstylist
Karine Belanger, Karine Stylist Salon, Montreal, Que.
Cindy Duplantis, Chatters Hair Salon, Mississauga, Ont.
Shohré Kavari, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Elahe Motaghedi, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Jose Osorio, Saco, Montreal, Que.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Daniela Shiokawa, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Lisa Smith, Mint Hair Lounge, Port Moody, B.C.
James Valiant, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Session Hairstylist
Travis Battaglia, Style Lab Headquarters, Vancouver, B.C.
Aprille Bouchard, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.
Erika Fung, Erika Fung Studio, Toronto, Ont.
Peter Gosling, Glassbox Barbershop & Education, Toronto, Ont.
Pete Goupil, Salon Espace C, Brossard, Que.
Maggie Semaan, Haus of Rtists by Maggie Semaan, Laval, Que.
James Valiant, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Hana Woldeyes, Hair by Hana, Vancouver, B.C.
Texture Hairstylist
Aprille Bouchard, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Frank Cini, Taz Hair Co., Toronto, Ont.
Cindy Duplantis, Chatters Hair Salon, Mississauga, Ont.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Lauren Green, LgHairstyles, Aylmer, Ont.
Liza Lee, Cialengo, Toronto, Ont.
Alexandre Melancon, Oblic Salon Urbain, Montreal, Que.
Jose Osorio, Saco, Montreal, Que.
Michael Shire, We Salon, Toronto, Ont.
James Valiant, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
British Columbia Hairstylist
James Abu-Ulba, Linea Atelier, Langley
Tara-Lynn Fournier, KREÄTIV, Vancouver
Shohré Kavari, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver
Elahe Motaghedi, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver
Mai Nguyen, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver
Vira Nychypurenko, Suki’s Hair Salon, Vancouver
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria
Daniela Shiokawa, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver
Lisa Smith, Mint Hair Lounge, Port Moody
James Valiant, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver
Prairies Hairstylist
Kitty Bernes, Edward Carriere Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Johanna Costantini, City Looks by Visage, Winnipeg, Man.
Nicole den Bok, Nicole den Bok, Winnipeg, Man.
Sonal Dodiya, Chatters Hair Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Paige Fitzhenry, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Breanne Gershon, Glam Breanne, Calgary, Alta.
Ken Hiebert, Salon H, Winnipeg, Man.
Trinity Neil, Verde Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Lisa Schoor, The Hair Club, Winnipeg, Man.
Josie Vilay, Hairology Studio, Winnipeg, Man.
Ontario Hairstylist
Aprille Bouchard, Taz Hair Co., Toronto
Sabrina Byrnes, Alchemy on Lorne, Sudbury
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines
Frank Cini, Taz Hair Co., Toronto
Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London
Dee Fortier, Deeva Hair, Kitchener
Lauren Green, LgHairstyles, Aylmer
Sylvie Prud’Homme, The Loft Toronto, Toronto
Christina Sgro, Christina Sgro, Newmarket
Marilyn Vendittelli, Industry Hair and Esthetics, St. Catharines
Atlantic Hairstylist
Francine Allain, SoHo Beauty Bar-Dieppe, Moncton, N.B.
Erin Gillespie, Rebel Rebel, Sea View, P.E.I.
Alma Head, Alma’s Family Hair Salon, Sydney, N.S.
Dylan Jerrett, Hair Factory Salon and Spa, St. John’s, Nfld.
Alicia Langille, Alicia Langille Hair Art, Halifax, N.S.
Sarah Nugent, The Hair Factory, St. John’s, Nfld.
Quebec Hairstylist
Alexandre Anctil, Brossés, Montreal
Karine Belanger, Karine Stylist Salon, Montreal
Brigitte Castonguay, Brigitte Castonguay Artiste Capillaire, Longueuil
Samuel Chabot, Les Couloirs, Québec
Sandy Clark, Salon Espace C, Brossard
Stephanie Goguen, Maison de la Couleur Oligo, Montreal
Yves Houde, Atelier Mega Coiffure, Québec
Isabelle Lachance, Oblic Salon Urbain, Montreal
Jose Osorio, Saco, Montreal
Maggie Semaan, Haus of Rtists by Maggie Semaan, Laval
Barber
Kerrigan Bowey, Suki’s Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Ali Dashi, Icon Hair, Winnipeg, Man.
Abigail Davidson, Frenchies Hair, Edmonton, Alta.
Peter Gosling, Glassbox Barbershop & Education, Toronto, Ont.
Arlo Grey, Bayley Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Victoria Hazell, Aura by Miss Victorious, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Anica Iordache, Modmop Hairdressing, Ottawa, Ont.
Osaka Jagoda, Freelance, Calgary, Alta.
Mandy Rogers, Hunt & Gather Hair Company, Victoria, B.C.
Makeup Artist
Natalia Farahmand, Desiderio Beauty, Vaughan, Ont.
Eve Fortin-Soumis, Eve Fortin-Soumis, Montreal, Que.
Sajedeh Ghassemi, Fratelli’s Hair Salon, Mount Albert, Ont.
Gaëlle Le Cunff, Au Premier, Montreal, Que.
Alex MacPherson, Melo Artistry, Regina, Sask.
Zabrina Matiru, Bloody Marvellous Makeup Inc., New Westminster, B.C.
Alanna Thibault, Fabstyle Hair Design, Orillia, Ont.
Canadian Nail Artist
Osaka Jagoda, Freelance, Calgary, Alta.
Shayna Osazuwa, Shayna O Esthetics, Regina, Sask.
Sustainability Achievement
Chatters Hair Salon, Brampton, Ont.
Love’s in the Hair, Toronto, Ont.
Queen’s Shop, Toronto, Ont.
Sin 7 Salon, White Rock, B.C.
The Refinery House, Chilliwack, B.C.
Freestyle
Karine Belanger, Karine Stylist Salon, Montreal, Que.
Tina Casciato, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont.
Sonal Dodiya, Chatters Hair Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Natashia Gagnon, Pretty Young Thing Studios, Saskatoon, Sask.
Alexandria Gervais, Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury, Ont.
Angie Hunt, Chatters Hair Salon, Winnipeg, Man.
Sharon LeClair, DastousDio, Dieppe, N.B.
Nicole Pede, InStyle Salon & Spa, Aylmer, Ont.
Jet Plummer, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.
Michael Shire, We Salon, Toronto, Ont.
Photo: Hair: Contessa 38 Semi-Finalist, Emerging Colourist & Emerging Hairstylist, Abby Bruneel, Renaissance Salon & Estetica. St. Catharines, Ont., Makeup: Cyeira Carriere, Wardrobe Styling: Abby Bruneel, Photo: Natasha Gerschon
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