Days Hours Minutes

Event Date:
Saturday, April 20, 2024 @ ABS

YOU'RE THE BEST AND YOU KNOW IT. SHOW IT OFF.

Competition is open to all licensed beauty professionals, students and professionals. Collections must be produced between April 16, 2023 – January 25, 2024.

Let your creativity shine! Showcase up to three different styles on three different models in each category. You are not limited to just one entry. Submit collections in up to three categories.

THEME: MAXIMALISM

Maximalist style is all about using all the space you have. Designs will use bold color palettes, layered photography, bold typography and repeating elements will grab your attention.

LOOK

  • Graphic maximalist elements mixed with line, color & font
gradients, dynamic san serif fonts mixed with imagery

  • Youthful, Bright, colorful "Y2k" inspired-aesthetic, clean.

  • Winners must be present the evening of the award show.

  • All finalists are encouraged to attend the live award show on April 20, 2024.

  • All competitors and models must be at least 16 years of age.

  • Your image description should explain your inspiration for the design.

We can't wait to see what you've got!

Photo collections must be produced between April 16, 2023 – January 25, 2024.

  • For professionals and students

  • Submit online. Awards presented in-person

  • Award show on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at ABS

Deadline for entries is Thursday, January 25, 2024 5pm CST.

            • $149 for Professionals

            • $49 for Students

BECOME INSTA-FAMOUS!

12 different awards to be given out in different categories.

Barber of the Year

The barbering award recognizes artistic merit, individualism, and technique. This award celebrates all barbering disciplines, including cutting, clippers, dressing, grooming, trimming, styling and more. Collections will be judged on technical mastery using clippers, shears, razors and other techniques.

Creative Color

Bring your bolds, prisms, rainbows, pastels, vivids, and everything in between. Color your world! Push your color boundaries! All entries will be judged based on how well they apply, manipulate, and placement of hair color techniques.

Full Concept
(Professional & Student)

Let your imagination run wild and create an entire look. Bring us a glimpse of what's to come in fashion and beauty. Create a complete look on a model of your choice then submit three photos to a panel of judges. Each image will be judged by its overall look, including hair, makeup, nails, and clothing.

Haircutting

Our industry prides itself on technical merit in haircutting. Designs should reflect modern trends and relevant themes. The entries will be judged on their ability to demonstrate professional haircutting and finishing.

Makeup - Avant-Garde

Creative expression is the essence of avant-garde. Makeup artists will use their imagination and creativity to create an avant-garde application. Each entry will be judged on its artistry, lighting, color balance, and overall mood in accordance with this year's theme.

Nail Design

Entries must incorporate a variety of nail art media, such as airbrushing, embellishments (rhinestones, striping tape), L&P acrylic, gel, hand painting and one stroke. The award recognizes talent, effort, and creativity.
No stickers, decals or stamps allowed

NEW! Student Category

Whether you’re a beginner or ready to take your exams, show off your best work in your strongest category – cutting, color, texture, or hair styling.

This category is open to students currently enrolled in a cosmetology or barber school.

Please note, you cannot be a licensed cosmetologist as of the entry deadline, November 15, 2023.

 

Team Collaboration

Cooperation, alliance, participation; the action of working with someone to create something unforgettable. Collaborate with your favorite fellow artists showcasing your united effort of style, talent and skill. United work, plus innovation and interpretation are essential for success in this category.

Manufacturer sponsored teams may not compete in this category.

Texture Expertise

Show the possibilities of texture, natural or created. Hair may be permed, straightened, texturized, or heated. Braids are permitted. Must include a before shot that can be taken on the day. The judges will look at curly, textured, or interwoven hair styles.

Wigs and hair extensions are not allowed

 

Leo Passage Gold Trophy

Presented to competitors with entries in two or more categories, this special trophy honors the late founder of Pivot Point International. Scores earned by each entry will be combined to determine the winner.

ABS GLOBAL IMAGE AWARDS

Compete for valuable prizes and the recognition of America’s beauty industry. Showcase your work in a variety of categories including haircutting, makeup, barbering, nail design, team collaboration, and more. Professionals and students welcome.

America's Beauty Show 2024 is located at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center:

5555 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018

PROFESSIONAL & STUDENT ENTRANTS

LEO PASSAGE TROPHY

Presented to the cosmetology professional with entries in two or more of the ABS Global Image Award categories.

THE GRAND PRIZE LEO PASSAGE TROPHY

In addition to winners in each category, one entrant in the ABS Global Image Awards will be presented the Leo Passage Gold Trophy, honoring the late founder of Pivot Point International. This special trophy will be presented to the cosmetology or barbering professional with the highest combined overall score of all entries.

The Leo Passage Trophy winner receives:

  • The Leo Passage Gold Trophy

  • A lifetime Cosmetologists Chicago membership

  • Recognition by their peers on Cosmetologists Chicago’s social media and blog

  • Images featured on americasbeautyshow.com

  • Media support through Cosmetologists Chicago public relations

  • Free 3-Day ticket to ABS 2025, 2026, 2027

  • Award Acceptance Video

  • Social media placement

  • Press Coverage

  • Showcased in ABS 2025 promotional materials

PROFESSIONAL ENTRANTS

One winner per category.

  • Free 3-Day ticket to ABS 2025

  • Featured article on ABS.com

  • Award Acceptance Video

  • Social media placement

  • Picture and profile highlighted on ABS.com

  • Showcased in ABS 2025 promotional materials

  • Press Coverage

STUDENT ENTRANTS

One winner in the Total Transformation category.

  • Free 3-Day ticket to ABS 2025

  • Featured article on ABS.com

  • Award Acceptance Video

  • Social media placement

  • Picture and profile highlighted on ABS.com

  • Press Coverage

  • Showcased in ABS 2025 promotional materials

 

THE COMPETITION RULES

Judges for this year's ABS Global Image Awards include highly respected salon industry leaders, influencers, and masters. While each category has specific image requirements, overall images will be judged on:

  • Technical merit, execution and suitability of the styles for each category

  • Concept, creativity and overall approach to the theme

  • Art direction and photo composition

All categories are gender neutral. Small groups can enter the Team Collaboration Category. Using software to alter your image's appearance, color, or shape will unfortunately disqualify it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many teams may enter?

There is no limit to the number of times you may enter any category, but you can only be a finalist once per category.

Does each competition have different points and rules?

Each category, and entry, is judged on the same scale utilizing the following judging criteria.

  • Technical merit, execution, and suitability of the styles for each category

  • Concept and overall approach to the theme – maximalism.

  • Entrant’s creativity

  • Art direction and photo composition

Can two people from the same school or salon compete?

Yes, the ABS Global Image Awards are an individual competition and is open to all professionals and/or students.

The Salon Team category is open to salons/schools as a group and allows multiple people to work together on a single entry. All other categories are designed for individuals. Only one person can be listed as the entrant.

VIEW PAST YEARS ENTRIES & WINNERS

COMPETITION RULES & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Technical Requirements

    • Images but take inspiration from this year’s theme – Maximalism.*

    • ABS Global Image Award categories are open to all licensed salon professionals, nail technicians, and barbers or the business equivalent where licensure is not required.

    • The Student category are open to students currently enrolled in a cosmetology school or the equivalent as of the entry deadline of January 25, 2024

    • Each category must include three (3) separate images of three (3) separate models.

    • The Student Category can utilize one (1) to three (3) models.

    • All images must be in portrait orientation and hi-resolution.

    • All categories are gender neutral.

    • World-wide entries are welcomed and encouraged.

    • You may enter a category more than once but can only be a finalist one (1) time per category

    • Review each category description for details on specific images to submit as they differ by category.

    • Entry forms must be completed in full and can include a brief artist statement for each category entered, though it is not required but highly encouraged to tell your story.

    • Each model photographed, the photographer and team must upload a model release form, or the entry will be disqualified.

    • A small group can enter the Collaboration Category only. Collaboration submissions cannot be entered in any individual categories.

    • Students may enter other categories but must pay the professional entry fee.

IMAGE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Submit ONLY electronic files, saved as jpg at 300dpi or higher and as large as 8 x 10” portrait size.

  • Photos must be either JPG or PNG and no larger than 25mb per photo.

  • Entry materials will NOT be returned and become the property of Cosmetologists Chicago®.

THE FEES - PER CATEGORY

  • Professional: $129.00

  • Student: $49.00

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Entry Window: October 2, 2023 – January 25, 2024

  • Finalist Announcement: Tuesday February 22, 2024 @ 7:30pm CST

  • Award Ceremony: Saturday, April 20, 2024

THE JUDGING

A select group of highly esteemed salon industry leaders, influencers and masters will judge the ABS Global Image Awards. In addition to the concepts outlined in “The Categories” descriptions, images will be judged on.

  • Technical merit, execution, and suitability of the styles for each category

  • Concept and overall approach to the theme – maximalism

  • Entrant’s creativity

  • Art direction and photo composition

Global Image Awards Judges

Luis Alvarez

Marlene Arce

Jason Backe

Ted Gibson

Robert Ham

Tracey Hughes

Gordon Miller

Angie Perino

Sam Villa

Angela Reich

Jalia Pettis

Candy Shaw

Nick Stenson

Mireya Villarreal

Mary Wilson


The ABS Global Image Awards celebrates the passion and artistry of professional and emerging stylists in an image and video competition that features professional and student categories.
 
This incredible international competition is driven by intense creativity and passion by hairdressers, colorists, salon teams, nail technicians, makeup artists, students, and teams.