Chrystofer Benson Takes Seventh NAHA Title at 37th Annual Awards

Chrystofer Benson captured his seventh career NAHA title on Sunday, winning Texture at the 37th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards, presented by JCPenney and hosted by the Professional Beauty Association.

Benson's seventh trophy makes him one of the most decorated artists in the competition's history. He was not the only repeat honoree on a night that rewarded familiar names alongside first-time winners across 15 competitive categories.

Maggie Semaan won Editorial Stylist of the Year for the second consecutive year. David Barron, the 2025 Hairstylist of the Year, added the 2026 Master Hairstylist of the Year title. Brayden Pelletier, Master Hairstylist of the Year in 2024, took the top Hairstylist of the Year honor this cycle. Brooke LeMasters followed her 2025 #NAHAMoment victory with the Haircolor award.

Who won what at NAHA 2026?

• Avant Garde: Michael Polsinelli
• Barber of the Year: Carlos Pagan
• Editorial Stylist of the Year: Maggie Semaan
• Educator of the Year: Nina Tulio
• Haircolor: Brooke LeMasters
• Haircutting: Marylle Koken
• Hairstylist of the Year: Brayden Pelletier
• Inspiring Salon of the Year: Genesis Salon and Spa
• International Collection of the Year: Tom Yek, Malaysia
• Makeup Artist of the Year: Patricia Bailes
• Master Hairstylist of the Year: David Barron
• Student Hairstylist of the Year: Derek Robinson
• Styling and Finishing: Galyna Poczciwinski
• Team of the Year: The Upper Hand (Hannah Waters, Soleil Rocha, Jordan Dudley, Zoe O'Day)
• Texture: Chrystofer Benson

What does the new international category mean?

This year marked the debut of International Collection of the Year, the first NAHA category open to creative work from outside North America. Tom Yek of Malaysia took the inaugural title. For salon owners and educators, the expansion signals a broader judging pool and a global benchmark that working stylists can now measure collections against — a meaningful shift for any team considering a NAHA entry in future cycles.

PBA CEO Leslie Perry framed the wins as the product of sustained craft. "PBA NAHA recognizes artists whose work leaves a lasting impact on the industry," Perry said. "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."

How are winners actually judged?

Finalists and winners emerge from a three-round blind judging process led by a panel of industry experts — one of the most comprehensive evaluation systems in professional beauty. Judges score entries on technical skill, creativity, and overall presentation. For salon teams weighing an entry, that blind format means brand recognition and follower counts carry no weight; the collection itself must stand on technique and concept.

The 2026 ceremony followed the theme "Tapestry of Beauty," honoring work spanning avant-garde transformation, precision cutting, texture, editorial storytelling, barbering, makeup, and education. Since 1989, NAHA has functioned as a career-defining credential — winners routinely convert titles into education platforms, ambassador deals, and salon brand visibility.

For salon owners, the practical takeaway is straightforward: winners in Educator of the Year (Nina Tulio) and Inspiring Salon of the Year (Genesis Salon and Spa) categories reflect the training and culture investments that salons can model internally. Student Hairstylist of the Year Derek Robinson's win is also a reminder that junior talent can be developed into award-level work within a salon's own apprenticeship pipeline.

The next data point to watch: PBA's call for NAHA 2027 entries, which typically opens in the months following the ceremony — and whether International Collection of the Year draws a deeper global field in its second year.