Kao USA Salon Division has announced the 2019 Goldwell Color Zoom Challenge U.S. Semi-Finalists.

For the competition, leading hair stylists and colorists from across the country submitted their entries for one of three Categories – Creative Artist, New Talent Artist and Partner Artist. Stylists were challenged to use the brand’s latest hair collection, RƎMIX - a mix of bold colors, sharp contours and strong contrasts inspired by Pop art and graphic minimalism to create an optical pop effect - for their inspiration and interpretation of their own style and look.

This month, applicants were narrowed down to 15 semi-finalists (five in each category), by a panel of industry experts including Modern Salon Beauty and Fashion Director, Maggie Mulhern, Hairbrained.me Co-Founder, Randy Taylor, Founder of The Salon Project, Joel Warren, Celebrity Colorist and Co-Founder of STARRING by Ted Gibson Salon, Jason Backe and Director, Education, Kao Salon Division, Americas Region, Sandra Humphries.

Following the semi-finals, a 2019 Color Zoom Challenge U.S. gold, silver and bronze winner in each of the three categories will be named by the Goldwell Hair Color Global judges’ panel in July. The gold winners from each category will be invited to participate in the Color Zoom 2019 International Competition at Global Zoom. This  live competition will take place in Vienna, Austria, in September, allowing finalists from around the world to showcase their talent. Judges then decide which colorists will earn the bronze, silver and gold medals in the Global Creative Artist, Global New Talent Artist and Global Partner Artist categories.

Creative Semi-Finalists

• Michael Layne, Belleza Salon, (Knoxville, TN)

• Sharon Majano, Trademark Salon, (Houston, TX)

• Sarajane Maples, Studio Stage, (Jacksonville Beach, FL)

• Alex Tant, The Upper Hand, (Houston, TX)

• Nancy Greer Weber, Lumine Salon, (Kansas City, MO)

New Talent Semi-Finalists

• Natalie Crow, Trademark Salon, (Houston, TX)

• Kassi Kapuga, Tricho Salon and Spa, (Ann Arbor, MI)

• Cecilia Kerr, The Upper Hand Salon- River Oaks, (Houston, TX)

• Crystal Martinez, Salon Matos, (Spring, TX)

• Alicia Perez, The Hair Company, (Nashua, NH)

Partner Semi-Finalists

• Carlos Alvarez, Trademark Salon, (Houston, TX)

• Rob Burgio, Tesoro Salon, (Pendleton, NY)

• Kylie Bussing, The Hair Company, (Nashua, NH)

• Linda Cabrera, Hair By Scott, (Delray Beach, FL)

• David Peacemaker, David Ross Salon, (Charlotte, NC)