Salon Today
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Winning Hair Competitions: Tips From Lisa Shepherd

Lisa Shepherd offers suggestions on how to win live hair competitions.

Maggie Mulhern
Maggie MulhernBeauty and Fashion Director, MODERN SALON
Read Maggie's Posts
October 19, 2012
2 min to read


"Learn to step away from the hair," says Lisa Shepherd, the recently named
British Hairdresser of the Year (the first time ever a color expert has earned the title). Lisa adds that title to so many others, including the British Haircolorist of the Year for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

I met with Lisa at Goldwell's most recent COLOR ZOOM in London where we were both honored to be among the 8 international salon professionals invited to judge the competition. What makes COLOR ZOOM unique is that competitors make it to the live competition after submitting photographs. The finalists are asked to recreate their work....based on the photo...in a three hour live competition. Lisa served as a technical judge and I served as an editorial judge.

Ad Loading...

All of the judges were shocked at how few competitors were able to recreate the images seen in the photographs...which prompted Lisa to say to me, again, the competitors must "Learn to step away from the hair. That's one of the hardest things," she says. "You just want to keep getting in there and fixing, but before long, it's ruined."

For me, that happened in two of the categories. One of my favorite looks in the New Talent category was ruined simply because the dress was changed. The new colors were disrupting and took away from the hair. In the Creative category, one of my top earners was truly disappointing when live. The hair had been over sprayed and came off looking like a weapon.

On a more positive note...some turned out to be true winners in the live part of the competition. A few entries that didn't even place in the photo division earned high marks in the live segment. Because we were able to look at all sides of the head, we were able to see true talent and technique...some areas that could be hidden in a photograph.

Lisa agreed to share her thoughts and offer some tips to all competitors. In this video, she gives some great ideas for entering live competitions. Also included, the models, in each category, as they looked live to the judges.

More In The Know

Models on stage for the Alternative Hair Show
In The Know|News|Aug 20, 2026

The Alternative Hair Show Arrives in Spain for the First Time with LOOK Madrid

The most iconic show in international hairdressing will celebrate its 43rd edition on November 14th at LOOK Madrid, IFEMA MADRID, in a historic night that will bring together some of its legendary teams and will also host the final of the International Visionary Award across its three categories: Cut & Colour, Men’s and Avant-Garde. LOOK Madrid celebrates its next edition from November 13-15th at IFREMA MADRID.

Ad Loading...
Headshot of Thom Dennis
In The Know|News|Aug 11, 2026

Expert Shares Fundamentally Different Approach to Leadership

AI, relentless change, employee burnout, economic insecurity. Individually, each presents a challenge, but together, they create what global leadership strategies Thom Dennis calls "the perfect storm." His new book, Rewilding the Corporate Mind, offers business leaders a radically different approach to leading people through today's uncertainty and division.

A man cuts a man's hair
In The Know|Articles|Aug 6, 2026

In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai

Volunteers at HairToStay Does the Bay
In The Know|Articles|Jul 30, 2026

Take the Plunge with HairToSay Does the Bay

In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.

Ad Loading...