Meet the North East's Top Talent: Leeds Finalists Revealed in L'Oréal Colour Trophy 2026

Think about the biggest competitions out there. The ones where people at the top of their game go head-to-head, with all the lights, the pressure, and the roar of a crowd. Now, imagine that, but for hair. That’s the kind of excitement building up as the world’s longest-running live hairdressing competition is coming to Leeds. The legendary L'Oréal Colour Trophy is celebrating its massive 70th year, and some of the North East's most creative colourists and salons have been named as semi-finalists. It's a huge deal for the local hair scene, showcasing incredible talent and putting them on a national stage.

So what’s this competition all about?

Okay, so this isn't just any old contest. The L'Oréal Colour Trophy is basically the FA Cup of hairdressing. It’s been on the go since 1954, starting out on Tottenham Court Road in London. For 70 years, it's been the place to spot the next big thing in hair colour and styling. It’s a competition that has launched careers and set trends that end up on high streets everywhere. It’s not just about who can do the best balayage; it’s about artistry, vision, and creating a total look that’s completely new and exciting. This competition celebrates the best colourists in the business, and making it through to the semi-finals is a massive achievement for any professional in the hairdressing industry. The event travels the country, with heats in places like Belfast and Glasgow, before the best of the best head to the national final.

The North East gets ready for its close-up in Leeds

The next big date for the diary is Monday, 20th April 2026. The Met Hotel in Leeds will be buzzing as it hosts the North Eastern semi-final. This isn’t a behind-closed-doors affair. The semi-finalists will have to create their masterpieces live, right in front of a panel of expert judges and a packed audience. Talk about pressure. On the night, everyone will get to see an amazing artistic showcase led by the one and only Robert Eaton from the renowned Russell Eaton salons. The models will walk, the judges will deliberate, and by the end of the evening, the names of the finalists progressing to the massive national final will be announced. For the stylists and their salons, it’s a chance to prove their talent and creativity under the brightest of spotlights. This year is extra special because it’s the first time the competition has returned to regional stages like this since 2019, making the live audience experience even more exciting.

And the semi-finalists are…

The list of contenders is packed with amazing talent from salons all across the region. These are the creative minds hoping to wow the judges and book their spot in the next round. Many of the semi-finalists are from top Leeds salons, but the competition is fierce across the North East.

The main category, the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Award, is full of established and rising stars in the hair world. Here are the colourists who’ve made the cut:

• Isabelle Hill — Allertons, Leeds

• Kymberley Holmes — Allertons, Leeds

• Samuel Bristow — Allertons, Leeds

• Aimee Hirst — CRC-Hair, Leeds

• Amanda Hall — CRC-Hair, Leeds

• Georgina Bradshaw — Hooker & Young, Newcastle upon Tyne

• Sophie Lenton — Hooker & Young, Newcastle upon Tyne

• Millie Nesbitt — Hooker & Young, Stockton-on-Tees

• Ella Lewis — House of Kennedy, Leeds

• Lucie Moisey — House of Kennedy, Leeds

• Connor McIntyre — House of Lunor, Brigg

• Nicole Linfoot — Ivy House Salon, Darlington

• Laura Eatwell — Room97 Creative Hairdressing, Leeds

• Lain Ashley Woodman — Russell Eaton, Leeds

• Morgan Hirst — Russell Eaton, Barnsley

• Blossom Veitch — Saks Hair, Redcar

• Issac Pearson — Saks Hair, Bishop Auckland

• Jessica Prudhoe — Saks Hair, Bishop Auckland

• Samantha Shillito — SAS Hair Lounge, Leeds

• Stephanie Holroyd — SAS Hair Lounge, Leeds

• Lewis Inkles — Scullion & Scot, Sheffield

• Jessica Elwell — Scullion & Scot, Sheffield

• Lucy Moore — The Styling Studio, Newcastle

• Aaliyah Toor-Keita — Tint Leeds, Leeds

• Sophie Totty — Willow Fox Hairdressing, Sheffield

• Natasha Mosely — Willow Fox Hairdressing, Sheffield

There's also the STAR Award, which is all about finding the next generation of hairdressing superstars. These are the up-and-coming stylists to watch:

• Charlie Barcoe — CRC-Hair, Leeds

• Emily Johnson — Denham Hair & Beauty Studio, Guisborough

• Olivia Rae — House Hairdressing, Rotherham

• Robert Sommerville — House Hairdressing, Rotherham

• Millie Grierson — Scullion & Scot, Sheffield

• Heidi Hughes — Tate Hair, Middlesbrough

What the judges have to say

Getting a glimpse into the minds of the judges is always interesting. These are industry legends who know what it takes to create a winning look. Judge Angie Dromgoole from Zeba Hairdressing is expecting big things:

"Lots of excitement out there, so I think we're going to see some bigger looks, something different."

It seems originality is key. Dylan Bradshaw, another judge, added:

"A lot of people were trying new things, which for me is the most exciting part."

Rob Eaton, owner of the famous Russell Eaton hair salons and a judge for the L'Oréal Colour Trophy in its 70th year, knows this competition inside and out. He said:

“The L'Oréal Colour Trophy has been celebrating the best colourists in the UK and Ireland for 70 years. It has been part of my life and career for nearly three decades, from watching as a teenager to winning, and now returning as a judge in its 70th year. It’s always been about more than just beautiful hair. It's about craft, creativity and community, and giving the next generation the chance to push the boundaries.”

And Cos Sakkas, Global Creative Director at TONI&GUY, summed up the spirit of the event perfectly:

"Judging the L'Oréal Colour Trophy is really special. You've got the young, up-and-coming stars of the industry. They're all putting their passion and inspiration on the line for industry leaders to judge."

A tour of top talent across the country

The North Eastern event in Leeds is just one stop on a huge nationwide tour. The competition is hitting eight cities in total, making it a true celebration of hairdressing talent from every corner of the UK and Northern Ireland. The tour kicked off on Monday 13th April in Belfast, followed by Wednesday 15th April in Glasgow. After the Leeds event on Monday 20th April, the competition moves to Manchester on Tuesday 21st April and then Bristol on Wednesday 22nd April. The final week sees the tour visit St Albans on Monday 27th April, Brighton on Tuesday 28th April, before a final regional showdown in London on Wednesday 29th April. From there, all eyes will be on the grand national final, where the country's absolute top colourists and finalists will compete live for the ultimate title. It’s a journey that tests skill, nerve, and creativity, and it all starts on stages like the one being set up in Leeds. What a year for hair!