Salon professionals from all over the U.S. gathered on Sunday, April 29 to celebrate the first LIVE North American Hairstyling Awards’ (NAHA) Finalist Announcement and viewing party at America’s Beauty Show (ABS) in Chicago. The competition this year features 15 categories celebrating the beauty industry’s leading talent.

At the viewing party, the NAHA judging committee announced that NAHA 2019 will be held at the International Salon and Spa Expo (ISSE) in Long Beach, California. "We are moving NAHA to the hairdressers! ISSE is a fantastic show surrounded around hairdressers and that's where NAHA needs to be, where the hairdressers are," said Michael Shaun Corby, creative director of the Global Salon Channel for Living Proof and Mia Ligouri, Co-President Creative of Scruples.

Join MODERN SALON, a proud co-founder of NAHA, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), and the beauty industry LIVE from the Red Carpet and the Awards Ceremony at NAHA 2018. The awards will be held Sunday, July 29, 2018, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. MODERN SALON will also be producing the NAHA Winner’s Portfolio in partnership with PBA, Matrix, Mizani, Redken and L’Oreal Professionnel.

All NAHA images/photos are copyright © of the North American Hairstyling Awards and the Professional Beauty Association. All rights reserved.

Click the categories below to see each of the finalists' photo submission entries.

THE FINALISTS:

Avant Garde

The Avant Garde category features visionary work that demonstrates new or experimental concepts in expressive, cutting-edge hair. Entries reflected good taste and aesthetically pleasing images. This was not a fantasy category but a display of fashion forward, unique and edgy styles.

David Barron, Barron's London Salon in Atlanta, GA

Kate Beko, Ammon Carver Studio in New York, NY

Michael Polsinelli in Thousand Oaks, CA

Silas Tsang, Blushes in Ottawa, ON

Steven Robertson, 1 Salon in Bountiful, UT

Editorial

The Editorial category shows best published cover or editorial work.

Caryann Stavrou, Hair Haven in Hooksett, NH

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective in South Weber, UT

Jag Moussa, JagHed Couture in Calgary, AB

Lucie Doughty, Sraightpinla in Venice, CA

Mandy MacFadden, Salon Decorum in Newmarket, ON

Haircolor

The Hair Color category shows an eye for the perfect palette and coloring techniques.

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective in South Weber, UT

Daniel Rubin, Paul Rehdar Salon in Chicago, IL

Lori Zabel, San Diego, CA

Luis Gonzalez, VIDA Salon in Denver, CO

Michelle Schlottman, Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas in Crystal Lake, IL

Haircutting

This category features the best in haircutting artistry and design.

Ammon Carver, Ammon Carver Studio, New York, NY

Meredith L Spiros, Salon V in Chicago, IL

Reno Prezio, Bellus Academy in Valley Center, CA

Rodrigo Araneda, Olab Coiffeurs Salon in Montreal, QC

Sandro Macri, Salon Collage in Toronto, ON

Hairstylist of the Year

The Hairstylist of the Year category is the most prestigious recognition a finalist can attain. Check out these diverse, creative and versatile hair designs capturing the excellence and artistry of the industry.

Anica Iordache, ModMop Hairdressing in Ottawa, ON

Danielle Keasling, Salon Karma in Bluffton, SC

Julie Vriesinga, Salon Entrenous in London, ON

Nick Stenson, Ulta Beauty in Chicago, IL

Tony Ricci, Ricci Hair Co. in Edmonton, AB

Makeup Artist

See these tasteful collections of work where makeup artists used their makeup skills to enhance a beautiful hairstyle collection.

Daryna Barykina, Jacksonville, FL

David Maderich, David Maderich Makeup, New York, NY

Isidro Valencia, Hair by Charles & Company, Louisville, KY

Katelyn Simkins, Denver CO

Tiaja Pierre, Tiaja Maison De Beaute, Denver, CO

Master Stylist

The Master Stylist category is designed to allow the biggest names in the industry to compete with one another. Entrants are top platform artists, educators, artistic directors and previous Hairstylists of the Year who submit five images of a collection exemplifying best work.

Allen Ruiz, Ruiz Salon in Austin, TX

Ammon Carver, Ammon Carver Studio in New York, NY

Chrystofer Benson, Chrystofer Benson Collective in South Weber, UT

Silas Tsang, Blushes in Ottawa, ON

Vivienne Mackinder, Hairdesignertv.com in Riverhead, NY

Men

Men's styling is an integral part of the professional beauty industry. Entrants for this category submitted three images displaying their best men's hair styling work.

Becca May, Chicago, IL

Dana Hodges-Caschetta, Ammon Carver Studio in Miller Place, NY

Jamie DiGrazia, Logan Parlor in Chicago, IL

Paul Pereira, Marvel in Toronto, ON

Sal Misseri, Kaizen Education/Reverie Salon in Chicago, IL

Nail Professional

This category features the best in nail artistry and design.

Cassandra Clark, Tangerine Salon in Coppell, TX

Hillary Fry, Brookfield, WI

Kimberly Harr, Rustic Varnish in Everett, PA

Paige Roy, Winnipeg, MB

Sarah Nguyen, Ammon Carver Studio in New York, NY

Newcomer Stylist

The Newcomer Stylist category features stylists with less than three years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist.

Akiko Osako, RDV par Patrick G. Nadeau in Montreal, QC

Haneen Yassin, Gary Manuel Salon in Seattle, WA

Jesse Ervin, Civello Salon in Toronto, ON

Madison Wade, Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare in Lakewood, CO

RenoPrezio, Bellus Academy in Valley Center, CA

Salon/School Design

Ambiance is critical to a successful salon. Salons and schools in this category are recognized as the most aesthetically pleasing and well-designed in North America.

Fashion Focus Academy in Sarasota, FL

Jose Luis Salon & Boutique in Austin, TX

Megan Diez Salon in Greenville, SC

Studio So Lara in Guelph, ON

Tory Brooke Salon in Wichita, KS

Student

Collections in the Student category display creativity, versatility and expertise in hair styling. Students must be enrolled in school or performing required hours in a salon and NOT be a licensed cosmetologist as of the entry deadline.

Ali Haller, Aveda Institute Denver in Highlands Ranch, CO

Allison Griessel, Aveda Institute Tucson in Green Valley, AZ

Jamie Moore, Aveda Institute Phoenix in Scottsdale, AZ

Lauren Sorensen, Aveda Institute Provo in Salt Lake City, UT

Madison Pugh, Eric Fisher Academy in Wichita, KS

Styling & Finishing

Upstyles to classic waves, the Styling & Finishing category shows off the best in styling/finishing design.

Dana Hodges-Caschetta in Miller Place, NY

Danielle Keasling, Salon Karma in Bluffton, SC

Dilek Onur Taylor, The Salon By InStyle JCP in Chicago, IL

Frank Cini, TAZ HAIR CO in Toronto, ON

Ginger Rowland, Van Michael Salons in Atlanta, GA

Salon Team

The Salon Team category showcases a team's diversity, versatility, creativity and expertise in hair styling. Salon teams must consist of at least two members and be employed at the same salon to be eligible.

Ammon Carver Studio in New York, NY

Beauty Underground in Littleton, CO

Jose Luis Salon in Austin, TX

Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare in Denver, CO

Ulta Pro Team in Chicago, IL

Texture

The texture category demonstrates texture skills with designs that complement the individuality of diverse hair textures. Hair texture may be natural or chemically treated, but entries must display wearable, cutting-edge textured hair styles.

Charlie Price, Beauty Underground in Denver, CO

Jamal Edmonds, Salon Lamaj in Capitol Heights, MD

Kali Jones, Circa Salon in Henderson, NV

Michelle O'Connor, The Salon by InStye JCP in North Miami, FL

Piero Pirri, Pirri Hair Studio in Greenwich, CT