The industry’s most prestigious night honored the artists and collections shaping the future of professional beauty during PBA NAHA 2026
The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) announced the winners of the 37th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), presented by JCPenney, recognizing the artists, teams, and collections redefining excellence across the industry.
For 37 years, PBA NAHA has represented the pinnacle of artistic achievement in the industry, honoring the work that pushes beauty forward across hair, barbering, makeup, texture, editorial, and education. More than a competition, PBA NAHA is a career-defining recognition of creativity, technical mastery, vision, and influence.
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. From avant-garde transformation to precision cutting, bold texture work, and editorial storytelling, the night honored artists whose work continues to shape the creative direction of professional beauty.
This year also marked the debut of International Collection of the Year, 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.”
Across 15 competitive categories, this year’s winners represented some of the industry’s most visionary artists, educators, salon teams, and creative leaders.
Avant Garde: Michael Polsinelli (@michael.polsinelli)
Barber of the Year: Carlos Pagan (@drasticartbarbering)
Editorial Stylist of the Year: Maggie Semaan (@maggiesemaan)
Educator of the Year: Nina Tulio (@ninatulio)
Haircolor: Brooke LeMasters (@brookelemastershair)
Haircutting: Marylle Koken (@kokentheharlot)
Hairstylist of the Year: Brayden Pelletier (@justbhair)
Inspiring Salon of the Year: Genesis Salon and Spa (@genesis_salonandspa)
International Collection of the Year: Tom Yek, Malaysia (@tomyek_decrypt)
Makeup Artist of the Year: Patricia Bailes (@pbailesmua)
Master Hairstylist of the Year: David Barron (@barronslondonsalon)
Student Hairstylist of the Year: Derek Robinson
Styling and Finishing: Galyna Poczciwinski (@ufirami)
Team of the Year: The Upper Hand, featuring Hannah Waters, Soleil Rocha, Jordan Dudley, and Zoe O’Day (@theupperhandriveroaks)
Texture: Chrystofer Benson (@cbensonhair)
This year’s winners included several returning PBA NAHA winners and multi-time honorees. Chrystofer Benson earned his seventh career PBA NAHA title with his Texture victory, further cementing his legacy as one of the industry’s most recognized artists. 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 title. 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 title this year.
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.