L'Oreal Colour Trophy 2014

2014 is now well underway and it's competition entry season again starting with L'Oreal Colour Trophy which is celebrating its 59th year. This month I have been reviewing and researching ideas as I prepared once more to enter the 'Mens Image Award' and I'm delighted to announce that I have made it through to the finals!

I have entered this before in 2011 and became a regional finalist and after 3 years out I have decided to go for round 2 entering again this year.

L'oreal colour trophy is a massive competition in any hairdressers diary as winning can propel anyone  to heights otherwise unimagined with opportunities of work with top photographers and make-up artists. This years winner will find themselves recreating their winning look for Vogue Magazine!

After two attempts at getting what I felt was a strong enough image for this years competition I finally submitted my entry and after waiting anxiously for March the 6th (5pm to be exact) to see who, out of the wealth of talented stylists, have made it through to the next round of this years 'L'oreal Mens Image Award'.

As the finalists around the country prepare for the regionals, I had a chat with last years winner, Brooks & Brooks stylist, Sophia Hilton. Sophia has won numerous awards in her career and now educates and works on shows in over 7 countries including on her own hair tutorial 'Sophia Hiltons 5 minute hair up course' at the L'Oreal Academy.  

Seeing last years colour trophy winning picture labelled the 'Mid Dye' it's easy to see why you won, but did you ever think on the day of your original shoot this is going to win?

A: No do you know what, it was literally just a case of let's have a go, let's give this a try. I've been doing the Mid Dye for a year and half and tried it on this years' model and it worked. Sometimes it looks good on but others not, the more beautiful the girl is the more the look works. To go back to your original question, I have always had a saying "..its not about the what, its about the who's and the hows". So many things can look great sometimes it can be just a panel through the fringe - but on the right person anything can work, so no i was just having a go. 

How did you prepare yourself when entering the Colour Trophy?

A: Well I can say that I actually coloured the hair 4 times before the competition, I kept moving the colour band lower, higher, lower again and on the day of the competition you can edit the colour or just style it. So on the day I actually coloured it again which is mad but I knew I wasn't and wouldn't be happy so I just had to do it.

What would you say to this years finalists, as they come to terms with getting through to the regionals?

A: Simply get the best model that you can. even though you think your friend is pretty, ask others what they think of them. Get outside opinions. I have done it before when I look at my friends and think they're pretty but really it's just because we are such good friends. I look back to some images i have used with friends over the years and now I can see that actually, they weren't the right person.

Winning the regionals last year must have been an amazing experience but how did it feel when they called your name in the Grand Final?

A: It is literally unexplainable but if I try to explain best I can, it's better than any drug you could ever have, it's all adrenaline and endorphins rushing around - it's a natural high. My body was rushing so by the time you walk to the stage I was shaking. I can say it's a very addictive feeling.

As the current L'oreal Colour Trophy winner, what opportunities have come your way in the last year?

A: Oh my, well there are so many. Im currently working on the Carmalaine range which is coming out this year, whole mid dye internationally in look books 

What has been your highlight?

A: All of it really there's so much, well I will say I have a two page spread in Vogue that I have just done which is part of the prize from L'Oreal - that was pretty cool.

I have been looking at your history as a hairdresser and you have achieved so much in your career. Where did it all begin for you?

A: I am from Blackpool with a family of 7 hairdressers and actually never wanted to be a hairdresser. I studied fashion and found that I loved make- up and hair more than clothes so I went on to hairdressing.

When did you know that you wanted to do competition work?

A: It's all i have ever done, always have and by 19 I had entered 22 competitions. I used to do all the old shows and competitions, Blackpool, Halifax, Coventry, Lancaster and anywhere that was having a competition. I think I had won 19 medals by the age of 19. I used to get in the back of the car with my Dad and friends and just go to competitions every week! 

What's next for Sophia Hilton?

A Well I do a lot of work in Europe now. Show work, I run a lot of shows but this year I'll be running more shows myself which is very exciting so I'm concentrating on that a lot. 

Where would you like to be in 10 years time?

A I'm just really happy to just keep doing what i do and see what comes up. There isn't one set way I want to go, I would be happy if in 10 years I was doing 10 different things like I am doing now. Maybe an art director one day and I would want my own salon.


When speaking to Sophia I was instantly fascinated and captivated with how driven by fashion and hair she is,  I also find it extremely fitting that in a week we celebrate International Womens Day I had the pleasure of chatting with someone so creative and passionate as her.

I will now take this opportunity to share with you all, my image that booked me my place in this years Mens Image Award Regional Finals

click the video to see the youtube video of the photo shoot

Thanks for reading
@simon_townley
@onefreechop