2025 Hot Shot categories & descriptions 

• COOL BALAYAGE
  • Multi-dimensional balayage including highlight and hand painted work that is cool in color and tone. This category should have a predominant focus on cool dimensions.
• WARM BALAYAGE
  • Multi-dimensional balayage including highlight and hand painted work that is warm in color and tone. This category should have a predominant focus on warm dimensions.
• PLATINUM
  • High-lift, all-over platinum or dimensional platinum blonde. Please note, hair health and condition will be a consideration in this category due to the level(s) of blonding required. Submissions for this category should have a predominant focus on platinum.
• BLONDES
  • Warm-toned, cool-toned, all-over or dimensional blondes—show us the BEST blonde you created this year. Submissions for this category should have a predominant focus on blonde tones. Please be mindful of lived-in color, shadow roots and heavy dimension.
• BRUNETTES
  • Light, medium and dark brunette tones are all permitted. Show us your best, richest brunette creation from your camera roll. Submissions for this category should focus on brunette tones. Please be mindful of lived-in color, ombrés and dimensions.
• REDS
  • Submissions can include but are not limited to an overall or dimensional range of red tones. Coppers, auburns, bright-to-deep reds, strawberry blondes, etc. Please note accent-only trends such as peek-a-boo looks featuring red tones are not the focus of this category.
• CREATIVE COLOR
  • Imaginative combinations of multi-color groupings, blends and creative zonal placements. The primary focus of this category is color creativity and technique.
• COLOR BLOCKING
  • Clearly contrasting colors and/or defined, stark color placements. The primary focus of this category is multi-color placement.
• HAIR TATTOO
  • Creative concepting and precision design work achieved through painting, etching, and/or color placements.
• COLOR TRANSFORMATION
  • Before & after image of transformative color technique as the central focus. While transformations can include a haircut or extensions, hair color is the primary focus of this category. Note: Your entry must show forward facing before/after shots on the SAME image.

HAIRCUTTING: Each entry may only be submitted to ONE Haircutting category. Read the category descriptions carefully to determine which is best suited for your entry.

• BOB/LOB
  • Short haircuts in varying lengths from micro bobs to above-the-shoulder lobs. Any technique or specific haircut within this range is welcome for entry.
• SHAG/MULLET
  • Shag and mullet-inspired haircuts including, but not limited to, technical layering, shape and blend or lack thereof.
• PIXIE/BIXIE
  • Short hair pixies or bixies (combination of a bob and pixie cut) with lengths hovering on or above the ear. Submissions should have clear consideration of shape, creativity and balance within length range.
• NATURAL TEXTURE
  • Submissions should include a complete haircut, hair color or hair styling of natural texture including but not limited to waves, curls and coils of any and all types.
• MEN’S CUT
  • Submissions are judged on overall haircut and styling. Level of difficulty and overall creative vision are primary considerations for this category. Please note, while Fades are Men’s haircuts, the specified Fade category may be the best option for certain submissions.
• FADE
  • Entries can include but are not limited to classic fades, taper fades, bald fades, creative fades and more. Seamless transitions, length graduation and creativity are the primary considerations for this category.