Featuring groundbreaking creativity and unparalleled artistry, the 36th Annual NAHA finalists represent the highest level of excellence in the industry.
February 23, 2025 (Scottsdale, AZ) – The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is thrilled to announce the 36th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) finalists. NAHA is the most prestigious professional beauty competition in North America and honors the salon industry’s top artists who push the boundaries of skill and creativity.
The 2025 NAHA finalists represent the best of the best in the beauty industry, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication to their craft. These artists have defied expectations, creating collections that captivate and inspire.
To win a coveted NAHA award, artists submit their collections in fourteen categories, including hair, makeup, and educational excellence. Development of these collections often takes months of envisioning, planning, and shooting.
Collections are judged anonymously by a panel of esteemed experts in hairdressing and makeup artistry. The submissions are scored based on technical skill, cohesiveness, and creativity.
The NAHA 2025 Finalists are:
- Rusty Phillips @rustyphillips13 – nominated for 2 categories
- Chrystofer Benson @cbensonhair – nominated for 2 categories
- Julia Clayton @jujuwiththegoodhair
- Jaimee Harris Smith @Hairbyjsmith – nominated for 2 categories
- Ruth Roche @ruthroche – nominated for 3 categories
- Joel Tenser @JoelThair
- Carlos Estrella @Los_cut_it
- A-Rod @arod23pr
- Nieves Almaraz @howtofadehair
- Jamie DiGrazia @jamiedigrazia
Editorial Stylist of the Year:
- Maggie Semaan @maggiesemaan
- Lukas Press @Lukaspress_ – nominated for 2 categories
- Rusty Phillips @rustyphillips13 – nominated for 2 categories
- Vernon Francois @vernonfrancois – nominated for 3 categories
- Ruth Roche @ruthroche – nominated for 3 categories
- Nina Tulio @ninatulio
- Adrienne Dara @adriennedara
- Chrystofer Benson @cbensonhair – nominated for 2 categories
- Candy Shaw @thebalaylama
- Bryant Murphy @dezignedbyb
- Tina Casciato @tinacasciato
- Janelle Eyre @jeyre.hair
- Sean Godard @seangodard
- Breanne Gershon @glam.breanne – nominated for 2 categories
- Danielle Waterman @daniwatermanhair – nominated for 2 categories
- Gilad Goldstein @myguiltycrown
- Austin Eric Lopez @AustinEricLopez
- Evie Johnson @contactevie
- Daniel Benoit @benoit4955
- Manda Ziegelman @mandaziegelman
- Dana Lyseng @danalysenghair
- James Abu-Ulba @method_education
- Nicole Pede @nmpede
- Allen Ruiz @allenruizstyle – nominated for 2 categories
- David Barron @barronslondonsalon – nominated for 2 categories
- Freddie Dean @carousel.tattoo.barber
- Leah Tressler @salonboutiqueacademy
- Amber & Chet Pope @salon27az
- Martino Cartier @martinocartier @martinocartiersalon @wigsandwishes
- Vee Vargas @beherewithvee
- Erin Hensley @erinhensleycolor
- Angela Balbon @mzbartistry
- Natalia Farahmand @desideriobeauty
- Nohemi Capetillo @noamyphotographer
- Ericka Brannon @erickabrannon
Master Hairstylist of the Year:
- Allen Ruiz @allenruizstyle – nominated for 2 categories
- Cassie Carey @cassiecarey.hair
- David Barron @barronslondonsalon – nominated for 2 categories
- Anna Pacitto @Anna_pacitto_pure
- Matthew Morris @matthewmorriscode
Student Hairstylist of the Year:
- Abby Bruneel @hair_byabbyy
- Zion Schwartz @zschwartz.artistry
- Dexter @cauldron_of_color
- Genevieve Holdeman @turquoisetouch_
- Imelda Mercer @maneimelda
- Galyna Poczciwinski @ufirami
- Danielle Waterman @daniwatermanhair – nominated for 2 categories
- Vernon Francois@vernonfrancois – nominated for 3 categories
- Breanne Gershon @glam.breanne – nominated for 2 categories
- Veronika Shurunova @shurveronika
- Cult Salon @cult.salon.co – Vanessa Whitmarsh, Lindsey Hutchings, Gia Segundo, Cheri Cooke
- Valentinis @derrick_rutherford @juliocolor – Derrick Rutherford & Julio Rodriguez
- Eunoia Collective – Danielle Keasling, Pekela Riley, Anthony Negron, Bianca Donahue, Gilad Goldstein, Justin Tove s-Vincilione, Reva Haga
- JCPenney Salon @hairbyjsmith @beautiesbybee – Jaimee Harris Smith*, Brittany Brown, Charly Williams
* nominated for 2 categories - PHOTON @ruthroche – Ruth Roche*, Jill Leitz, Erica Wright, Wendy Belanger, Jackie Litscher
*nominated for 3 categories
- Lukas Press @Lukaspress_ – nominated for 2 categories
- Eric Fisher @ericfisherhair
- Pekela Riley @pekelariley
- Vernon Francois @vernonfrancois – nominated for 3 categories
- Carlos Alvarez @carlos_alvarez_hair
The 36th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) winners will be unveiled during a glamorous awards ceremony on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Premiere Orlando. This highly anticipated event will unite industry professionals, influencers, and beauty enthusiasts to celebrate the exceptional talent and groundbreaking work of these standout artists.
“The Professional Beauty Association is thrilled to honor the 2025 NAHA finalists, who represent the pinnacle of creativity and skill within the beauty industry,” shares Leslie Perry, PBA Executive Director. “These artists showcase extraordinary vision, passion, and innovation that inspire their peers and elevate the industry.”
The winners for each category will be announced during Premiere Orlando on June 1, 2025.
You can purchase tickets to be part of the excitement by visiting probeauty.org/naha.
To access the NAHA press kit with hi-res imagery, visit https://www.probeauty.org/naha-press-portal.
