Photo by Vybe Media for PBA, Derek Robinson
Earlier this week, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) announced the winners of the 37th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), presented by JCPenney, during Premiere Orlando.
For 37 years, PBA NAHA has recognized the artists, teams, and collections redefining excellence across the industry. Inspired by this year’s theme, Tapestry of Beauty, and presented in partnership with JCPenney, the evening celebrated the individuality, artistry, and perspectives woven throughout the professional beauty community.
This year also marked the debut of International Collection of the Year category, expanding PBA NAHA’s global reach and recognizing exceptional creative work from the international professional beauty community for the first time.
“PBA NAHA recognizes artists whose work leaves a lasting impact on the industry,” said Leslie Perry, CEO of the Professional Beauty Association. “These collections represent countless hours of discipline, creative risk, technical precision, and vision. To be recognized on this stage by your peers is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we’re proud to celebrate the artists continuing to elevate professional beauty.”
PBA NAHA finalists and winners are selected through a rigorous three-round blind judging process led by a panel of industry experts, making it one of the most comprehensive judging processes in professional beauty. Entries are evaluated on technical skill, creativity, and overall presentation, reinforcing PBA NAHA’s position as the industry benchmark for artistic excellence.
Read on for this year’s winners by category.
The 2026 PBA NAHA Winners
Avant Garde
Barber of the Year
Editorial Stylist of the Year
Educator of the Year
Haircolor
Haircutting
Hairstylist of the Year
Inspiring Salon of the Year
International Collection of the Year
Makeup Artist of the Year
Master Hairstylist of the Year
Student Hairstylist of the Year
Ahead of his win, The Tease was able to interview Robinson on the PBA NAHA red carpet. Watch below.
Styling and Finishing
Team of the Year
The Upper Hand, featuring Hannah Waters, Soleil Rocha, Jordan Dudley, and Zoe O’Day
Texture
This year’s winners included several returning PBA NAHA winners and, excitingly, a number of multi-time honorees. For example, Chrystofer Benson earned his seventh career PBA NAHA title with his Texture win. Maggie Semaan secured her second consecutive PBA NAHA Editorial Stylist of the Year title, while David Barron followed his 2025 PBA NAHA Hairstylist of the Year recognition with a 2026 PBA NAHA Master Hairstylist of the Year win. Brayden Pelletier returned after earning PBA NAHA Master Hairstylist of the Year in 2024, and Brooke LeMasters followed her 2025 #NAHAMoment victory with a Haircolor win his year.
