New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year Finalists

New Zealand might be as isolated as can be from the international fashion hubs, but the stylists from this enchanted land have their fingers right on the pulse of trends and even plant the seeds for new ones to come.

The finalists for New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year present a collection of hairstyles as diverse and spectacular as the unforgettable landscapes of their home in the far south of the Pacific Ocean.

Curls, straight styles, textures, and linear geometrical cuts gleam in colors inspired by the intense, wild, and pure forms of nature. Blondes, reds, and blacks dominate, rarely mixed. The cuts are strong enough to stand alone without much color play.

Cut around the Ear

Finalist: Mana Dave
Salon: Blaze, Auckland

This short hairstyle is sculpted like a precious piece of jewelry. The haircut is as distinct and precise as the cut of a diamond. It follows the line of the face, curves precisely around the ear, and eases to a rounded point in the back.

The side and back hair is styled close to accentuate the roundness of the head. On top, the artistry comes in with the longer crown hair moved gently towards the front, with a few strands directed against the flow.

Platinum Blonde Bob

Finalist: Mana Dave
Salon: Blaze, Auckland

Cleopatra gives us a wink with this formidable look. The blunt-cut platinum blonde bob showcases an almost supernatural straight line that enhances the volume of the already thick hair. Refined styling techniques bring lift to the roots, especially at the crown, and add roundness to the eyelash-long fringe.

The normally cool hue is gently accented with a more golden, transparent blonde to illuminate festive nights and days.

Short Coppery Hair

Sleek and shiny short hairstyle to make a statement

Finalist: Michael Beel
Salon: Buoy Hairdressing, Wellington

Making a statement is easy with a hairstyle as distinct as this short look. To call it sassy is an understatement. It is bold, intense, and full of energy, manifested in the sharp angles, balancing roundness, and a radiant, rusty red color of deep copper.

Centered high on the crown, the hair revolves around the head with sleek shine, and has attractive highlights in the sharp corners on the sides and a long, pointed neckline.

Alluring Locks

Finalist: Michael Beel
Salon: Buoy Hairdressing, Wellington

Powerful curls cascade around the shoulders in high definition. A dramatic appearance is guaranteed with this long curly hairstyle due to its sheer volume, sophisticated texture, and bright, alluring color. This style is romantic but also full of strength and determination.

For a special effect and to keep the hair away from the face, a narrow strand is almost invisibly pinned right above the ear.

Short but not Sweet

Feminine haircut with short clipped sides

Finalist: Wayne Hartley
Salon: Shape Hair Design, Wellington

Androgynous can be extremely feminine with the right makeup. The bold eyes, however, do not totally distract from the fine texture and velvety flow of the short crop.

Blonde like the morning sun, this look supports the roundness of the head with short clipped sides and a slightly longer crown, both connected through the most fluid transition. This style shows off a beautiful face and exceptional cutting skills.

Feisty Eye-Long Fringe

Short platinum white hair with an eye-long fringe

Finalist: Wayne Hartley
Salon: Shape Hair Design, Wellington

Another look that works with the magic of roundness. This endearing short style uses feathery textured ends to enhance the lines of the head and face. The eye-long fringe reaches all the way to the ears on both sides, drawing attention to a soft neckline.

Platinum white is perhaps the purest color of all. It speaks the language of sophisticated elegance but also of daring creative freedom.

Raven Points

Finalist: Wayne Hartley
Salon: Shape Hair Design, Wellington

Among all the trendy styles with short sides and a longer top, this look stands out by showing just the opposite. The top is textured and styled for movement, while the sides are sleeked along the face all the way to the jaw.

Leaving a triangular opening for the ear, the hair lengthens again in the back, where it forms a rounded but pointed line to enhance the slender neck. Like a little black dress, this hairstyle delights with its understated elegance, fitting for all situations and occasions.

Tapered Pixie Cut with Spikes

Blonde pixie cut with tapering along the face

Finalist: Wayne Hartley
Salon: Shape Hair Design, Wellington

A layered cut with textured tips and graduated lengths—the shortest on the crown—is a versatile basis for innumerable styling options. The hair is tapered along the face and gently touches the jaw before lengthening just a little more to shape a beautiful back.

The top section is styled with products to achieve a textured, spiky quiff that curves upward in the front.

Curly Redhead

Finalist: Adrian Barclay
Salon: Venom, Invercargill

The curls of this spicy redhead flow towards and around the face like the ripples of a wild mountain stream. Their energy is as archaic and powerful as the jewelry of this New Zealand sorceress.

The length gently increases from the top down and from back to front, culminating in a full, frothy fringe. The heat of the coppery hue raises the temperature even in arctic regions.

Fantasy Fringe

Layered chin-length brunette haircut with blonde streaks

Finalist: Adrian Barclay
Salon: Venom, Invercargill

This princess of the Southern Seas casts her spells with mysterious eyes behind a veil of a two-toned fringe. The key element of this rounded, textured, and layered chin-length hairstyle is a blunt, straight-cut underbody in the dark mocha base color.

A series of long white-blonde strands extend to almost twice the length and add an elfish, stylish appeal.

Photo Source: Hair Expo Australia