Six Sport Clips professional stylists were announced as winners or honorable mentions in Sport Clips Haircuts“The Look” competition which took place in San Antonio, TX, recently. Finalists came from six U.S. states and British Columbia to recreate looks they submitted in advance live, before the Sport Clips' National Huddle audience of 2,700 Sport Clips team members.

Several of the hair industry’s most recognized professionals served as judges, including host and platform artist Julian Perlingiero of John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS), and judges Tommy Callahan of JPMS, Anthony Crosfield of Nioxin, Rafe Hardy of Sexy Hair and Marcy Martin of American Crew.

“Sport Clips is a terrific place to work and showcase your creative skills as a professional stylist. These contestants had the opportunity to show off their work in front of some of the industry’s most recognized and respected icons. And, they got to have fun while doing what they love – cutting and styling hair,” says Sport Clips Senior Director of Career Opportunities Julie Vargas, also a licensed stylist with more than 25 years of experience. “Sport Clips stylists are talented, well-trained and have the opportunity to advance their skills through our ongoing training and in competitions like ‘The Look.’ We mean it when we say, ‘It’s good to be a guy, and it’s good to be a stylist at Sport Clips.”

Sport Clips Haircuts “The Look” National Stylist Competition

• Winner –  Sarah Cottrell, Fort Mill, SC ($2,500, styling tools, hair products and trip to Paul Mitchell Gathering)

• 2nd place (runner up) –  Karlee Halliday, British Columbia ($1,500, styling tools and hair products)

• 3rd place – Barbara Jean Schofield, Hot Springs, AR ($1,000, styling tools and hair products)

• Honorable Mention – Gladys Castillo, McAllen TX ($500, styling tools and hair products)

• Honorable Mention – Sonja Horton, Suffolk, VA ($500, styling tools and hair products)

• Honorable Mention –  Sherry Leisle, Carlsbad, CA ($500, styling tools and hair products)

The Look winner, Sarah Cottrell, created a '30s and '40s classic style with a hard part. She was “going for the newer looks many men’s professional soccer players are sporting.” Cottrell knew when she was young, playing with Barbie dolls, that she loved doing hair.

Karlee Halliday cut a chic, in-style medium-high fade with comb-over. David Beckham was her inspiration for the style. Halliday's grandmother was a hairdresser, and that led her to the profession she says she loves.

Barbara Jean Schofield says she was inspired by Bradley Cooper’s style in creating a look with volume on top with a slight taper around the edges and blended into a full beard. Schofield's Aunt worked in a salon, and it inspired her to become a stylist.

Gladys Castillo says the look she created is a tapered fade in the back with point cut on top and hard part. She says she likes the trendsetting look of going longer, when some men tend to be going short. She says being a stylist is something she knew “she had to do,” and she loves it.

Sonja Horton fashioned a military-style high and tight with hard part and pompadour on top. She says it’s one of her favorite cuts that looks great on “anybody.” Horton has been a licensed stylist for 24 years and followed in the footsteps of her Mom.

Sherry Leisle created a style with a disconnected top she calls a Prohibition-era look. Leisle knew she wanted to be a stylist as early as the 7^th grade when she was impressed by her hairdresser, and she is still with her as a client.

"The Look: Student Edition"

Also attending the San Antonio event were winners of the second annual “The Look: Student Edition,” an opportunity for those students attending cosmetology school to compete and share their unique skillsets in men’s grooming through an online platform.

The three winners included Alejandra Martinez from Avalon Beauty Academy in Mesa, AZ; Chris Cruz from The Paul Mitchell School in Ogden, Utah; and Joanna Trevino from The Ogle School in Dallas, Texas.

A representative from each school attended with the students who each received a half-day of education with Hattori Hanzo’s Platform Artist, Elijah Mack and a pair of Hattori Hanzo Shears; American Crew Shears and a Crew t-shirt; a blowdryer from Sexy Hair; a Carving Comb and Chop Stick razor from Scott Cole; and a $25 American Express gift card from Nioxin, as well as a $250 Visa gift card; and complete travel and accommodations provided by Sport Clips.

Winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of a representative from each of the prize sponsors along with the Sport Clips Artistic Team. These winners were among 92 of the total entries from across the country.