Contessa Canadian Hairstylist Awards Recap: A Celebration and Recognition of Canadian Talent
The 34th annual Contessa Awards returned to Toronto on November 20, 2022, after being held virtually for the past two years. The show opened with a bang and included humorous moments and heartwarming speeches from the winners.
With the main goal of recognizing, highlighting, and promoting Canada’s premier professional beauty talent, the Contessa Awards is a uniting force in the industry from coast to coast–presenting an opportunity for acclaimed beauty professionals to share their inspiration and expertise for their profession among their colleagues and the community alike. The independent judges evaluate the quality of entries, including originality, creativity, technical execution, and on-trend appeal. The quality of the photography, makeup, and wardrobe are also taken into account.
Touted as the largest professional beauty competition in Canada, the Contessa Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards have returned for its live awards ceremony after two years of salon lockdowns on November 20, 2022. This is a celebration of the creativity and strength of the Canadian salon and beauty industry returning to in-person after the last two years of adversity for the industry. Check out the Contessa Canadian Hairstylist Awards recap below.
Red Carpet & Cocktails
Attendees had a chance to walk the red carpet followed by a cocktail reception where they were treated to a delicious 3-course dinner and gift bag. The awards show was hosted by Canadian hairstylist and TV personality Bill Rowley, and the gala included show-stopping stage presentations from two of the industry’s leading brands, Matrix and Wella Company, as well as the spectacular show-opener Kinetic, presented by Toronto-based hairstylist and multi-Contessa winner, Norm Wright. The official 2023 Contessa after-party, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, was held on-site at the Westin Harbour Castle where nominees and winners danced the night away.
The Finalists
The prestigious event featured 24 awards categories such as Avant Garde Hairstylist, Canadian Nail Artist, Makeup Artist, International Hairstylist, Canadian Colourist, Canadian Hairstylist, and Collaboration.
Contessa Award Winners
The top awards were Canadian Hair Stylist of the Year & Canadian Salon of the Year. Check out some of the Contessa Award winners below.
Tony Ricci, Canadian hairstylist of the year: Adding two more awards under his notch this year, Tony is considered to be among the most decorated winners of the Contessa Awards to date.
Michelle Oliver Swept up 4 awards including Canadian Colourist, Texture Hair Stylist, Multicultural Hair Stylist, and Collaboration with Quinn Enright. The duo came onto the scene with their jaw-dropping collection that showcased their creative cuts and spectacular colour placements.
Salon Espace K, Canadian Salon Team: Known for pushing creative boundaries, Salon Espace took home their second Contessa Award. From eye-catching shapes and textures to bold cuts, Salon Espace is continuing to make waves across the industry.
A huge congratulations are in order for all of the incredible artists nominees and winners. Click here to view all winning collections.
The Contessa Awards are produced by Salon Magazine, the authority in Canadian professional beauty and publisher of two standalone English and French print editions and digital platform, SalonMagazine.ca.
