Italian hair brand Alfaparf Milano announced Milena Rose Ghattas, Beverly Hills Colorist and Curl Care Specialist, as the 2021 Alfaparf Milano Colorist of the Year.

On October 4th, Alfaparf Milano announced the winner of its months-long search for the best colorist. The rigorous rounds of competition began with thousands of entries on Instagram where stylists submitted hair transformations they were most proud of. From those entries, the competition progressed to include skillset challenges of blonde work, color correction, grey coverage, brunette color, and red color – whittling the playing field with each round.  

In the final round of competition, eight finalists competed in a two-day in-person show of skills for a panel of esteemed judges which included Cassie Siskovic, National Artistic Director Alfaparf USA; Bianca Cox, Alfaparf USA Brand Ambassador, Custom Color Expert, and Hair Throne Salon owner; and Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers, Technical Director for Alfaparf USA. The competition culminated with Ghattas taking the title.  

Betsy Hamlett, Senior Vice President of Alfaparf Milano for US & Canada, announced the winner and paid homage to all competitors, especially the final eight.  

“At every stage of this adventure, the group got smaller and smaller as the expectations grew," Hamlett says. "Each of our contestants tested themselves and put beautiful work in front of the world. Work that people around the world have watched. The talent in this contest has amazed, inspired and awed all of us,” she said. “A year ago, when we envisioned this competition, we had no idea exactly what the criteria would be or how we would judge; we just knew that we wanted to do something to celebrate the amazing talent that exists in this industry “continued Hamlett. “One of the things I love best about this industry is that on a daily basis stylists create something from nothing and that’s magic.  You start something thinking ‘we’ve got to do this for them’ and it turns out to be a gift for us.” 

In addition to the title of 2021 Alfaparf Milano Colorist of the Year, Ghattas will receive a trip to the Alfaparf Milano Global Academy in Milan, Italy, one year of Alfaparf Milano product sponsorship, a one-year subscription to Hair Love “Workshop in Box,” and participation in the Alfaparf Milano USA 2022 Artistic Campaign Photoshoot.