NAHA | FAQs

GENERAL RULES & REQUIREMENTS





ENTRY & QUALIFICATIONS

How to Enter

  1. Read the rules & select your category
    Review general rules, requirements what’s new, and details on categories.
  2. Get creative & build your collection
    Be sure to follow competition rules, requirements, category rules, and image specifications noted for your chosen category.
  3. Submit your collection, release forms & entry fees
    Entry opens on June 6, 2022. All entries must be submitted by November 9, 2022, by 9PM EST/6PM PST. PBA Preferred and Business Members save on NAHA entry fees!  
  4. Tell Everyone You Entered NAHA 2023!
    Download graphics to let everyone know you entered NAHA! Be sure to tag us with #naha2023 and @probeautyassoc

You can find the rules and requirements for each category here >

Who Can Enter:

  • Entrants must be licensed cosmetologists/barbers*.
  • Makeup Artist of the Year entrants do not have to be accertified makeup artist or have attended a makeup artistry school.
  • Entrants must reside in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
  • NAHA entry collections CAN be published prior to entry and CAN be submitted to other regional, national or international competitions.
  • Those recommended to apply for Educator of the Year and Inspiring Salon of the Year categories must complete their entries and submit by the deadline to be included. Inspiring Salon of the Year entries must be submitted by the salon owner or an approved representative.
  • You can apply to enter the invitation-only Master Hairstylist of the Year category here >

*Exceptions are for Student Hairstylist of the Year, Makeup Artist of the Year, and Inspiring Salon of the Year.

For all categories, we strongly encourage entrants to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion by working with team members and models who represent varied backgrounds, races, ethnicity, gender, identity, age, religion, and sizes.

Entry Fees

Regular Pricing

  • $115 per submission
  • $60 Student Hairstylist of the Year submission
  • No entry fee for the Inspiring Salon of the Year or Educator of the Year
PBA Member Pricing
  • $85 per submission
  • $45 Student Hairstylist of the Year submission

MULTIPLE ENTRIES

Entrants may enter the same collection of images into as many categories as they would like in the same year only with the following exceptions:

  • Images entered in Editorial/Session Stylist of the Year, Hairstylist of the Year, Master Hairstylist of the Year, Student Hairstylist of the Year, and Team of the Year cannot be entered into any other category
  • Images entered in the Texture category may not be utilized in the Styling and Finishing or Avan Garde categories and vice versa.
Entrants can submit up to three collections per category.

Disqualification

  • All work is accepted in good faith. Instant disqualification will apply to any entrants found abusing this. 
  • Entry fees will not refunded if your work is disqualified. Judging decisions are final. 

You can find the rules and requirements for each category here >

Photos & Images

Photo Editing & Image Guidelines

  • Photo editing cannot be used to create, enhance, or manipulate styled hair that was not present in the unedited images.
  • All work on the hair should be done with your tools onsite at the photo shoot and NOT in post-production.
  • The use of photo editing software is allowed for refining (to remove fly-away hairs, etc.)
  • “Cloning” or copying hair either in part or in its entirety and adding it somewhere else such that the shape of the hair has been noticeably changed for the final image is cause for disqualification.
  • Cutting large parts of the hair such that the shape of the hair has been noticeably changed for the final image is cause for disqualification.
  • Any perceptible change to the hair in the final images that alters the style and shape of the hair in the final image is grounds for disqualification.
  • Be cautious with color balancing and the like such that alterations in post-production do not noticeably change the color tone of the hair in the final image as this is grounds for disqualification.

Image Specifications

  • All image files must be in JPEG (.jpg) format (.tiff, Bitmaps, PDFs, etc. will not be accepted)
  • Images must be 8x10 inches with a resolution of 300DPI (CMPI not accepted)
NOTE: Entries that do not comply with these requirements will not be processed

Un-retouched Images

  • All submissions must include un-retouched photos for each of the final images in your collection. These images must come directly from your photographer, but with no retouching, editing or manipulations.
  • Un-retouched images are used for judging purposes only and will not be released. They are used to provide context for the judges if they feel there has been over manipulation.

Before Images

  • Some categories are required to include before photos of your model (and/or wig if using)
  • Before images are used for judging purposes only and will not be released in any way.

Release Forms

  • A release form is required for each 2023 NAHA entry. This form MUST be signed by the entrant, photographer, models and all other parties involved. Incomplete entries and release forms will be disqualified, and entry fee will not refunded. No other release forms will be accepted.
  • Releases grant NAHA and the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and those authorized by PBA the right and license to use names and images, and to publicly display, distribute, edit, transmit, reproduce and create derivative works using the images, in whole or in part, in any media or format, as part of the NAHA competition or for any NAHA or PBA purpose, including publicizing and promoting NAHA or PBA. 
  • NAHA and PBA will include a photo credit, including the entrant’s name, with any photo used for publicity or promotional purposes, if feasible. 
  • Entrants, photographer, models and all other parties involved retain all other rights to these images.

Judging Process

NAHA judges are a select panel of internationally renowned stylists, photographers and top beauty editors from consumer and trade magazines. All collections are judged anonymously and independently – judges are unable to see the name or salon name of the entrants.

Judges are not eligible to enter NAHA. 
Judges are not permitted to judge any category with a conflict of interest- employees, friends, or any one they have advised or worked with.

First Round Judging

  • Unretouched images are compared to the final images to look for any excessive photo editing or photo editing that breaks specific category rules.
  • Judges are not allowed to discuss any entries before, during or after the judging with each signing a non-disclosure agreement.
  • The whole process is supervised and strictly controlled.

Second Round Judging

  • Each judge is assigned specific categories to critique based on their qualifications. Each entry is given a score and the top five within the category are notified as finalists.

Third Round Judging

  • Each judge is assigned specific categories to critique based on their qualifications. Each entry is given a score to help determine the winners.

Collections are Judged On:

Technical Categories

  • Technical Skill 50%
  • Creativity 30%
  • Cohesiveness of Collection 20%

Educator of the Year

  • Overall impact on the lives of beauty professionals – 50%
  • Demonstrated contributions to the beauty industry through education – 25%
  • Commitment to innovation and excellence in education – 25%

Inspiring Salon of the Year 

  • Overall impact on the salon, employees and/or community – 100%
  • How has the initiative helped enhance the culture within the salon or project?
  • How has the initiative delivered business benefits?
  • How has it improved engagement within the salon and throughout the community?
  • Is it sustainable? Will it leave a legacy?