Industry News

The PBA Announces 2025 North American Hairstyling Awards Finalists

NAHA honors the salon industry’s top artists who push the boundaries of skill and creativity.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) has unveiled the 36th annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) finalists.

NAHA honors the salon industry’s top artists who push the boundaries of skill and creativity.

Avant Garde

Rusty Phillips – nominated for two categories
Chrystofer Benson – nominated for two categories
Julia Clayton
Jaimee Harris Smith – nominated for two categories
Ruth Roche – nominated for three categories

Barber of the Year

Joel Tenser
Carlos Estrella
A-Rod
Nieves Almaraz
Jamie DiGrazia

Editorial Stylist of the Year

Maggie Semaan
Lukas Press – nominated for two categories
Rusty Phillips – nominated for two categories
Vernon Francois – nominated for three categories
Ruth Roche @ruthroche – nominated for three categories

Educator of the Year

Nina Tulio
Adrienne Dara
Chrystofer Benson – nominated for two categories
Candy Shaw
Bryant Murphy

Hair Color

Tina Casciato
Janelle Eyre
Sean Godard
Breanne Gershon – nominated for two categories
Danielle Waterman – nominated for two categories

Haircutting

Gilad Goldstein
Austin Eric Lopez
Evie Johnson
Daniel Benoit
Manda Ziegelman

Hairstylist of the Year

Dana Lyseng
James Abu-Ulba
Nicole Pede
Allen Ruiz – nominated for two categories
David Barron – nominated for two categories

Inspiring Salon of the Year

Freddie Dean
Leah Tressler
Amber & Chet Pope
Martino Cartier
Vee Vargas

Makeup Artist of the Year

Erin Hensley
Angela Balbon
Natalia Farahmand
Nohemi Capetillo
Ericka Brannon

Master Hairstylist of the Year

Allen Ruiz – nominated for two categories
Cassie Carey
David Barron – nominated for two categories
Anna Pacitto
Matthew Morris

Student Hairstylist of the Year

Abby Bruneel
Zion Schwartz
Dexter
Genevieve Holdeman
Imelda Mercer

Styling and Finishing

Galyna Poczciwinski
Danielle Waterman – nominated for two categories
Vernon Francois – nominated for three categories
Breanne Gershon – nominated for two categories
Veronika Shurunova

Team of The Year

Cult Salon
Vanessa Whitmarsh, Lindsey Hutchings, Gia Segundo, Cheri Cooke Valentinis, Derrick Rutherford and Julio Rodriguez

Eunoia Collection

Danielle Keasling, Pekela Riley, Anthony Negron, Bianca Donahue, Gilad Goldstein, Justin Toves-Vincilione, Reva Haga

JCPenney Salon

Jaimee Harris Smith, Brittany Brown, Charly Williams

Photon

Ruth Roche (nominated for three categories), Jill Leitz, Erica Wright, Wendy Belanger, Jackie Litscher

Texture

Lukas Press – nominated for two categories
Eric Fisher
Pekela Riley
Vernon Francois – nominated for three categories
Carlos Alvarez

The 36th annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) winners will be unveiled at an awards ceremony on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Premiere Orlando. The event will unite industry professionals, influencers and beauty enthusiasts to celebrate the talent and work of these artists.

For tickets, go here.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Get the latest Happi news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Happi Newsletters