THE WORLD OF BEAUTY IS WATCHING.

The international hairdressing contest known as 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. Back by popular demand, this year’s competition offers participants from across the globe the opportunity to enter their fiercest hair collections and storytelling.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ABS GLOBAL IMAGE AWARDS CELEBRATION EVENT

We honored the work of the ABS Global Image Awards Finalists and Winners. The celebration began with the ABS Global Image Award & President’s Party, then continued on to The Runway at ABS to be entertained with an artistic presentation of THE NEXT trend release and to present which talented artists went home with a trophy!
Hosted by America's Beauty Show with media sponsors, Modern Salon & Estetica, the ABS Global Image Awards Celebration was complimentary to all America's Beauty Show ticket holders, with Premium and VIP packages available for an additional fee.

Award Ceremony Saturday, April 15 (during Show)

VIEW PAST YEARS ENTRIES & WINNERS

America's Beauty Show 2023 was located at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center:

THE CATEGORIES

Total Transformation

In a world of change, create your story. Transformation is a start to finish process by which one is converted into another that while the same is expressed completely differently. Focus on the features of your model from the neck up, to create a stunning makeover and total transformation of a look. Judges will review the variation and transformation of hair and makeup. Before-and-after images are required. Judging will be on the modifications, variation and evolution of the transformation. 

Barbering

Compete among the best of the barbering best! An appreciation of a culture that strives for perfection, artistry, individualism, and technique are the focus of the Barbering category. The Barber category celebrates all the disciplines in barbering, including cutting, clippers, dressing, grooming, trimming, styling and more. Collections will be judged on mastery of technique using clippers, shears, razors and other techniques. 

Haircutting

Haircutting is the hallmark of our industry and puts technical merit in the spotlight. Images should be relevant, showcase the trends and themes of the times.  Entries should demonstrate professional haircutting and finishing skill

Team Collaboration

Cooperation, alliance, participation plus the fellowship of working with a team to create something is 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. Competing in the Collaboration category will be a treasured experience for you and your team. 

**Manufacturer sponsored teams may not compete in this category**

Creative Color

Being an international Creative Color competition winner is huge prestige! Calling all colorists who want to push your color boundaries and celebrate the art of color! Show us your bolds, prisms, rainbows, pastels, vivids, and everything in-between. Entries will be judged on the application, manipulation and placement of hair color techniques and complimentary finishing. The sky is the limit in the Creative Color category.

**Wigs and hair extensions are not allowed**

Nail Design

The level of nail artistry is at an unbelievable high and who doesn’t love a competition among the most skilled! Show us your most creative nail designs! Competitors must showcase a combination of nail art media. These can include airbrushing, embellishments (rhinestones, striping tape etc.), L&P acrylic, gel, hand painting and one stroke to create a sculpted and perfected design. This category will recognize excellence, talent, hard work and creativity.

**No stickers, decals or stamps allowed**

Texture Expert

Demonstrate the possibilities with texture from wavy to curly to kinky. Texture patterns may be natural or created. Judging will focus on the cutting and styling of curly, textured, interwoven and/or multicultural hair. Techniques can include innovative perming, straightening, texturizing and heat styling. Braids are allowed. Must include a before shot which can be done on day of shoot. 

**Wigs and hair extensions are not allowed**

Makeup - Avant Garde

Avant Garde is known for being dramatic and artistic. The polar opposite of a natural look, Avant Garde is all about creativity and expression. Participants will use their imagination and creativity to create an Avant Garde makeup application. Artists will be judged on their interpretation of this year’s ABS Global Image Awards theme including artistry, lighting, color balance and the overall mood. This category honors the best in makeup artistry in the industry.

Full Concept

Fashion is in the forefront of every major city and street around the world and it impacts trends around the globe. Let your imagination run wild with the freedom to create a head-to-toe look. Be inspired and think ahead to what’s next in fashion and beauty around the world. Images to be judged on the total look including hair, makeup, nails, clothing, and accessories

HOW WE CELEBRATE BEAUTY

GET SOCIAL!

MEET TikTok Influencers,

Artists, Other Salon Owners

GET INSPIRED!

World-class Runway Shows,

Top Educators and More

GET DECKED OUT!

Celebrate Saturday Night,

The ABS Global Image Awards

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE CELEBRATION

THE GRAND PRIZE

LEO PASSAGE TROPHY

In addition to winners in each separate 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 professional with entries in two or more of the ABS Global Image Award categories. The scores earned in each entry will be combined to determine the overall Gold Trophy winner.

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

One winner in each of the Professional categories receives:

The ABS Global Image Award trophy from Cosmetologists Chicago

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

Images featured on americasbeautyshow.com

Media support through Cosmetologists Chicago public relations

The Student category winner receives:

The ABS Global Image Award Student trophy from Cosmetologists Chicago

Swag bag for the winner

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

Images featured on americasbeautyshow.com

Media support through Cosmetologists Chicago public relations

RULES FOR ENTRY

  • The ABS Global Image Awards is open to all licensed beauty and wellness professionals. In addition, there is a category specifically for cosmetology students and young professionals. All entrees included up to three models with three different styles per category entry. Limit 3 collections per entrant. Collections produced between January 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023.

    FEE
    $49 - $99

    PRIZES
    ABS tickets, ABS GIA Award, Press Coverage in Estetica and Modern Salon  

    MEDIUMS TO ENTER
    JPG Images & Video summary of behind the scenes posted on TikTok or Reels

ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED

Finalist Announcement: February 24

Award Ceremony Saturday, April 15 (during Show)

THE JUDGING

A select group of highly esteemed salon industry leaders, influencers and masters will judge this year’s 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
  • Stylist Entrant’s creativity
  • Art direction and photo composition

All winners and finalists may request feedback from the judges on their individual entries.

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.
 
All ABS attendees and the public were invited to the Cosmetologists Chicago Presidents reception and cocktail party, which led into the ABS Global Image Awards.
 
The Saturday Night Celebration featured: The finalists and winners of the 2023 ABS Global Image Awards, and a high-fashion presentation celebrating the 100th America’s Beauty Show, presented by the Ulta Beauty Pro Team. The night also featured live music by Too Hype Crew, where we partied to anthems of the 80’s, 90’s and early 00s, with an all live six-piece band, MC’s and “Fly Girl” dancers. The night was the signature ABS What’s Next 100th anniversary celebration to come as you are, see and be seen.