ONSTAGE: INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION

AUSTRALIA’S OWN MASSIMO TIRIMACCO WON THE L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL INTERNATIONAL STYLE & COLOUR TROPHY, MARKING A MAJOR NEW VICTORY FOR OUR NATIONAL HAIR COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS MASSIMO!

Announced early hours Australia time on December 14 2021, the international L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy Awards took place and Australia’s very own Massimo Tirimacco did the Nation extremely proud by taking home the global title!

Presented in Paris as part of the highly anticipated Run Le Hair Show, the result was streamed live. Massimo, his team and supporters waited for the announcement and then celebrated at his Zohair Salon in South Australia. The competition continues to propel global talent and identify its leaders and innovators, with Massimo clearly at the forefront.

2021 saw the Style & Colour Trophy platform go truly online with a fan vote component. Massimo was awarded the gold medal in the overall awards, while second place went to Kyle Lambert from Canada and third to Erica Keelan from United States of America. The audience award was given to Irina Bykovskaya from Russia. In this historic awards event, which began in 1954 and is the longest-running hair competition in the world, Australia’s accolades speak for themselves. Massimo joins 2019 global winner, Wendy Gunn from Ink for Hair in Brisbane, in the winners circle, meaning Australia now has the last two consecutive global titles under our belts.

The 2021 iteration of the competition was centred on the aesthetic theme of French Balayage. Massimo competed with eight other national finalists selected from 29 countries of national victors, with the final round also seeing representatives from Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States.

L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy represents true hair stardom, putting hair artistry under a global microscope and heralding the winners on the international stage. Massimo winning is a huge achievement for himself, his salon and the Australian hair industry at large.

We spoke to Massimo about what the win means to him.

INSTYLE: How did it feel to win L’Oréal Professionnel International Style & Colour Trophy?

MASSIMO TIRIMACCO: It is such an honour to win the L’Oréal Professionnel International Style & Colour Trophy! This is such a prestigious accolade, the longest running hairdressing competition in the world and to be named champion is just phenomenal. This had been a goal of mine since I started hairdressing, to be honoured twice within Australia and now the International award - I am so grateful. The support I have received from the industry and, more closely, my L’Oréal Professionnel family has been amazing.

IN: What does it mean for your career?

MT: I feel propelled by this opportunity - I feel so elevated, it has given me a new pathway - given me the confidence that I have never had before to educate, speak and share these experiences. I feel like I have grown the most I ever have in such a small amount of time, not only as an artist, but as a business owner. To see my staff are encouraged and inspired by this to start their own journey and enter Style & Colour Trophy has been such a rewarding aspect. I cannot wait to be educating, sharing my passion and inspiring artists to push their own Style & Colour Trophy journey.

IN: What inspired your look?

MT: This look is inspired by warm, neutral tones for colour - I wanted this to emulate gorgeous, natural, lived in hair. I wanted to create a look that makes women feel confident to wear short hair with a beautiful colour. A major inspiration for this was Australian icon, Lara Wothington (Bingle) - she is the ultimate muse for effortless luxury style and this haircut suits her face perfectly. This is what I wanted to recreate and translate into the salon - luxury lived in hair! This look is so fashionable and matches perfectly with an oversized blazer, even on your most casual days with trackies. This hair paired with a boxy blazer makes everything look and feel ‘effortless Parisian chic’ - I love it!

IN: Why should others enter the Competition in the future?

MT: If you want to step out of your salon and comfort zone to elevate your career, L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy is the way to go! I have been competing since I was 17 and every time I compete, it has continued to help me grow. To be immersed working with so many creatives within the industry, the opportunities are endless. The exposure to the salon and your own work is far beyond what you can imagine. My method has been to have a clear vision, find an amazing model that suits your vision, create the vision, find the right team. Create the trend, not follow one!

IN: What’s next for you?

MT: 2022 for me is working on my AHFA collection and hopefully be involved in judging and mentoring for the next generation of L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy artists! I would love to educate, encourage and inspire artists to enter the competition. Another major part will be working with my L’Oréal Professionnel family as the Australian Steampod 3.0 Ambassador! I am so excited to create beautiful content with this amazing game changing tool and share how much it has changed the way I style my clients - making the hair feel extraordinary and totally different from any other tool!