Rules and Regulations

Use the following guidelines through the entry process and to ensure your entries are processed without delay.

Release Form: By entering NAHA, the entrant insures that the photographer(s), make-up artist(s), models and other parties involved in the production of each entry have authorized the entry. All parties involved must sign the NAHA release form, even if the entrant enters online. Please ensure that any modeling agency you are working with has confirmed the release form and that the agent representative has signed off on the NAHA Release Form. The NAHA Release Form MUST be signed and returned. Failure to do so will disqualify your entire entry. Download Forms Here.

Requirements: Entry is limited to licensed cosmetologists and cosmetology students from the US, Canada and Mexico. Students may enter the Student Hairstylist of the Year category provided they are enrolled in cosmetology school or are performing required hours in a salon as of February 8, 2010. In all categories, models may be male or female.

Image Specifications All images must be submitted online OR on CD-ROM. DVD's will not be accepted. All image files must be in JPEG (.jpg) format. Files must be RGB or grayscale, at a minimum of 300 DPI and no smaller than 8" x 10". Photographs and slides will NOT be accepted.

Photo Usage Rules Images that have been used in other photographic hair competition programs in North America MAY NOT be entered into NAHA. You may use images from the same photo shoot, but the image must be unique. We discourage the same look and feel of images that are already being promoted by other contests. Any entries not adhering to this rule will be disqualified.

Any images used and/or published for commercial purposes (advertisements, posters, packaging, promotion, etc.) before July 18, 2010 will be disqualified. To protect the "blind" judging process, entrants must hold editorial work from publication until after the NAHA finalists have been announced (May 1, 2010) unless entering the Editorial Stylist of the Year category.

Multiple Entries Although you may enter each category up to two times, no entrant can be a finalist in the same category more than once. You may also use the same model for a different entry in the same category or in another category, but you must enter a noticeably different image of the model in a different pose. Note: Cropping, black and white or sepia tone does not constitute a noticeably different image. Entries not suitable for category entered will be disqualified. *You may only submit images with the same look and feel in two categories. Please be sure that your images fit that category.

*There is one exception to this rule: The same image submitted in a category such as Haircolor or Texture may be re-submitted in the North American Hairstylist of the Year category ONLY.

PHOTO MANIPULATION *Photo manipulation will be taken into consideration by the judges. It is neither encouraged nor discouraged (except in the Haircolor category; see below). Please use your best judgment when manipulation is considered. Remember, this is a photographic *hairstyling* competition!

*Color manipulation of images is NOT permitted in the Haircolor category.

WIGS & EXTENSIONS Please indicate on your entry form if full wigs or hair extensions have been used. There is no penalty for such use, except in the Haircolor category where full wigs are not permitted.

HAIRCOLOR BEFORE SHOTS When submitting "before" shots, please use a recent photograph of the model. Old "before" shots thrown in at the last minute to meet the criteria will affect the way your entry is judged. Please name before and after images as such: "Model 1 Before" / "Model 1 After"