The race is on to win a Vogue photo shoot

Southern Hairdresser of the Year Rae Palmer and her team are celebrating after 22-year-old Senior Stylist and Colour Technician Louise Skillen landed a place in not one but two categories in the Southern and South Western Final of the prestigious L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy – beating off stiff competition from over 1200 salons with their photographic entries.

Louise, who joined the salon aged 16, is among the thirty-nine teams who will compete in the L'Oréal Professionnel Colour Trophy, the world’s longest running, most stylish hair competition. The Southern and South Western Final takes place on April 6, 2009, at Novotel Hammersmith, London at 6.30pm; competitors will have just 30 minutes to create a winning look that is inspired by the Autumn/Winter 09/10 catwalk collections.

Their work will be judged by some of the most successful names in British hairdressing, and hair, make-up, model and clothes styling must connect with razor-sharp precision to create an image that’s worthy of gracing the pages of a top fashion magazine. Globally renowned hairdresser Trevor Sorbie MBE was one of the judges that selected the Regional Finalists for this year’s event.

Meanwhile, Louise will also be one of just four young colourists from the Southern and South Western region competing for the L'Oréal Professionnel Colour Trophy – Young Colourist Award. Lou actually won the regional Young Colourist competition in 2007, making it to the Grand Final – a result she’s hoping to repeat this year…

The overall winners of the L'Oréal Professionnel Colour Trophy (announced at the glittering final in London on June 1, 2009) will pick up a once-in-a-lifetime prize which includes a photo shoot with British style bible Vogue.

“To get to this stage, it shows that the salon is forward-thinking, fashion savvy and dedicated to the highest standard of hairdressing” explains hairdressing guru Charles Worthington. Congratulations to everyone who is successful in getting this far in the 2009 competition and good luck with the rest of your journey.”