A hairdresser has reached the national final of a major UK competition.
Izzie Adams from Idlewild Hairdressing in Oxford will compete in the L'Oréal Colour Trophy 2026 UK Grand Final at The O2 after impressing judges at the Western semi-final held at Bristol’s Harbour Hotel.
Ms Adams earned her place in the national final, even though she never expected to make it so far.
She said: "I never expected to get through the first round, let alone make it to The O2, so it means the world.
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"It means a lot for the salon too. I’m the first stylist there in a long time to really push myself out of the box, and I hope it shows people what we’re all about.
"I was nervous about the unknown, but once the timer started, the nerves disappeared, and it became about doing what you do every day, just under pressure.
"I probably over-planned because I wanted everything perfect, but it paid off."
Now in its 70th year, the L'Oréal Colour Trophy remains one of the hair industry’s most prestigious competitions, celebrating boundary-pushing colourists who raise the profile of their salons and communities.
Judged by a panel of industry leaders, including Marlon Hawkins of Brooks & Brooks and Jason Miller of Charlie Miller, the Western semi-final highlighted standout colourists from across the region.
Ms Adams was named a finalist in the L'Oréal Colour Trophy Star Award category, alongside Chloe Woodward from The Beauty Barn in Gloucestershire.
Eboni Snook and Troy Boyd of Anthony John Salons in Lichfield, and Zoe Hodgkiss of Zoe Hodgkiss – Hair Artistry in Holsworthy, also secured spots in the L'Oréal Colour Trophy Award category.
Jason Miller said: "It’s my 44th year in this industry, and I don’t think I’ve missed many L’Oréal Colour Trophy finals in that time.
"It never fails to amaze me just how much passion, creativity and dedication people bring to the competition.
"As we celebrate the 70th year of L’Oréal Colour Trophy, the standard remains as high as ever, and what always stands out are those who bring every element together to create an unforgettable look from head to toe."
The semi-final also featured a live artistic showcase led by Robert Eaton of Russell Eaton Hair and a team of emerging L’Oréal Professionnel artists from the ProEDIT programme, who demonstrated the latest techniques and trends in hair colour and styling.
The UK Grand Final will take place at The O2 in London on July 6, bringing together the top colourists from across the country to compete for the overall title.
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