The Everyday Excellence category highlights the wearable, in-demand styles that clients couldn’t stop requesting this year. This category invites artists to showcase artists to showcase their take on one of the industry’s top trending styles to interpret and elevate through technical skill and artistry. The goal? Create a salon-perfect look that nails the trend but makes it your own.

Submission Rules

·      Look must reflect the selected trend while remaining wearable and commercially viable.

·      No editorial, avant-garde, or costume styling.

·      Include a short explanation (max 100 words) of how your look embodies the selected trend.

·      Open to individual artists only.

Qualifications for Entry / Who Can Enter

• Open to all licensed salon professionals, nail technicians, and barbers, or the business equivalent, where licensure is not required.

Image Submission

• Professional Categories: Must include three (3) separate images of three (3) separate models.

Image Specifications

• Orientation & Resolution: All images must be in portrait orientation and high-resolution (300dpi).

• File Format: Submit ONLY electronic files saved as jpg or png; sized at 8 x 10” in portrait orientation.

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

Competition Rules

• Gender Neutral Categories: All category models are open to all genders.

• Global Participation: Entries are welcomed and encouraged from around the world.

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

• Category-Specific Requirements: Review each category description for specific image requirements.

• Entry Forms: Must be fully completed. A brief artist statement is encouraged but not required.

• Headshot Submission: A high-resolution photo (300dpi) of the artist(s) must accompany every entry.

• Model Release Forms: Required for each model photographed, along with the photographer and team. Failure to submit will result in disqualification.

• Team Collaboration: Only 2 or more people can enter the Team Collaboration Category. Collaboration submissions cannot be entered in any individual categories.

• Name Listing: Entries with two (2) or more names not in the Team Collaboration category will only list the first entrant’s name.