Meet the Winners of the 2023 Texture Style Awards

This past Sunday, the hair industry’s best and brightest came together at the Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute in New York City to celebrate the 2023 Texture Style Awards. Founded by celebrity hairstylist and educator Monae Everett, this groundbreaking hair competition is the first of its kind to celebrate the beauty and diversity of all four hair textures as well as honor stylists who have mastered styling them.

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For those who don’t know, being named a Texture Style Award winner is not only an incredible honor, but could be potentially life-changing for a stylist. The winner from each of the 10 different categories will receive a one-hour one-on-one mentorship with a sponsorship ambassador, a submission featured right here on The Tease as well as on other media platforms, and a gift bag full of tools and products valued at $750. The second and third place winners will also walk away with gift bags and media exposure too.

A Night to Remember

For this year’s event, attendees were treated to an eventful evening full of glamour, networking, and celebration. The night began with a stylist cocktail party where guests were able to mix and mingle with industry stars as well as strut their stuff on the red carpet. Soon after came the awards ceremony which served as the main event of the evening. During this portion of the evening, an array of winners were recognized across various categories and a handful of well-deserved honorees were also recognized for their contributions including Cesar DeLeon Ramirez, Jessica Cruel, Greg Gilmore, and Jawara. Not to mention, fellow celebrity hairstylists and industry leaders such as Sarah Protempa, Michelle O’Connor, Oliver B. Adams, and Vernon Francois were also in attendance to present awards to the winners.

Throughout the ceremony, attendees were kept entertained and inspired thanks to live entertainment from the talented Elevate Hair Jam and an empowering motivational speech from international hair educator and salon owner Gina Bianca. The evening closed with a rooftop after party where attendees could dance the night away while enjoying the incredible city views.

Attendees were able to bring some of the Texture Style Awards home with them thanks to the incredible, jam-packed swag bags which featured some of the latest and best products from some of the event’s sponsors. Beauty by Imagination (BBI), the company behind CURLS, Ouidad, WetBrush, and Bio Ionic, served as Gold Crown Sponsors. Myavana served as a Silver Sponsor and both Moroccannoil and ULTA Beauty were Bronze Sponsors. Not to mention, Social Art House, Wella Education, and Biolage were all Honoree Sponsors. Plus, The Evoke Agency and, yours truly, The Tease, were also competition sponsors.

Championing Diversity

Speaking on how she hopes the award show impacts the industry, Everett shared, “The impact I need the Texture Style Awards to leave on the industry is the importance of diversity and the importance of celebrating all textures of hair, and making sure that artists know how to style all textures of hair. It is super important that when students graduate cosmetology school, they know how to style it.”

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With the Texture Style Awards now making its mark in the hair world, Everett expressed her hopes that real change will happen in the industry with regards to diversity. “I hope that my children [will one day] look at this event and say, ‘Oh my God, Mom! You had to have an event about diversity?’ I hope it is a foreign thought to them,” she said. I love the way little Black children go out now and decide whether or not they want relaxers. So that makes me believe that change is possible. I want them to be shocked that in 2023 we live in a world where you had to convince people that diversity is important.”

Now, without further ado, meet the 2023 winners of the Texture Style Awards.