Live Fashion Hair Americas 2026 Draws 300+ to Brooklyn's Davines Group House

More than 300 professionals, nominees and VIP guests filled the Davines Group House in Brooklyn on September 20 for Live Fashion Hair Americas 2026, a one-day event combining masterclasses, an awards ceremony and fashion shows with Booksy as main partner and Davines as host.

The American edition drew finalists, brands and guests from multiple countries, reinforcing the project's international reach across hairdressing, barbering and beauty. For working salons, the format matters: a single day packed education, competition recognition and networking into one venue, with winners gaining visibility that translates directly into client-facing credentials.

Who taught the masterclasses?

Four artists opened the programme with the Live Fashion Hair Masterclasses:

• Byrd Mena, a leading figure in contemporary barbering focused on community building and brand development
• Simone Petinatti, an internationally recognised colour specialist in lightening techniques, associated with the Brazilian Free Hands movement
• Joel Torres, an international hairstylist and educator connecting cutting, styling, editorial imagery and photography
• Michael Polsinelli, who closed the educational programme sharing his expertise with Davines

The sessions turned the first half of the day into a knowledge-sharing space for attending professionals — a low-cost training touchpoint for stylists and barbers benchmarking techniques against international standards.

Who won the Live Fashion Hair Awards Americas 2026?

The afternoon ceremony recognised creative talent across eight categories:

• Men's Hairdresser of the Year: Alaina Kathleen Hair
• Commercial Female Hairdresser of the Year: Anna Pacitto
• Creative Colorist of the Year: Brooke LeMasters
• Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year: Hiram Hernandez
• Editorial Hairdresser of the Year: Chrystofer Benson
• Educator of the Year: Peter Gosling
• Hairdresser of the Year: Michael Polsinelli
• Ambassador of the Year: Giuseppe Stelitano

Polsinelli's double appearance — masterclass educator by morning, Hairdresser of the Year by evening — made him the edition's standout name.

What did the Booksy Live Fashion Awards add?

Developed in collaboration with Booksy, these awards broadened the traditional scope with categories covering barbering, hair, nails and professional development:

• Best Fade: @barberlogicc
• Best Free Style: @kbarber_
• Best Color Design: @zelenskaya.kate
• Best Hair Styling: @lidistylz
• Best Classic Manicure: @brunabenedetti_beauticutian (brunabenedetti_beautician)
• Best Creative Manicure: @maryjane3011
• The Salon Impact Award: @xostylistxo

The social-handle categories signal where the industry's recognition economy is moving: Instagram-native barbering and nail talent now shares a stage with editorial hairdressing, and the Salon Impact Award rewards professionals building careers and communities — the visibility a booking-platform partner like Booksy is positioned to amplify.

How did Tenerife reach Brooklyn?

The event doubled as an international showcase for the Canary Islands. Designer José Acosta, supported by Comercio de Tenerife, presented his collection in Brooklyn with hair direction by international artist Peter Gray. Comercio de La Laguna completed the islands' representation, with Giuseppe Stelitano — the same stylist named Ambassador of the Year — overseeing hairstyling. The initiatives connected local Canarian talent and the Cabildo de Tenerife with a New York creative audience.

Makeup direction for the whole edition came from Yely Rodríguez, Makeup Director of Live Fashion Hair, working with Alberto Dugarte and Vanessa Contreras on the visual concepts behind the fashion shows and content productions.

What comes next?

Live Fashion Hair now turns its attention to Europe. Live Fashion Hair Global 2026 takes place on October 18, 2026 in La Laguna, Tenerife, once again combining education, awards, fashion and international guests — the next data point for salons tracking which artists and categories will shape the coming awards cycle.