Categories & Scoring
The Texture Style Awards are not only about celebrating all hair textures but about recognizing the hairstylists who have mastered styling all hair textures. We want to recognize hairstylists who understand that their skills not only make clients look good, but help the world to see the beauty in all hair textures.
The Four Hair Textures
STRAIGHT
WAVY
Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase large and loose waves, often in an “S” shape. Think beachy or surfer waves.
CURLY
COILY
NOTE: Proper category submission (per entry) are determined by the final hair texture presented in the submitted image. All entrants are permitted to submit images utilizing hair accessories and hair extensions.
ENTRANT CATEGORIES: Eligible entrants may submit photographs that showcase works for the following four hairstyling categories (each a “Category” or collectively the “Categories”):
- Straight: Down Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase straight and sleek looks, with no visible curl pattern.
- Ex: Naturally curly or coily hair that has been styled to be straight would fall under this category. 66 percent of the hair must be down.
- Straight: Up Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase straight and sleek looks, with no visible curl pattern.
- Ex: Naturally wavy hair that has been styled to be straight and into un upstyle would fall under this category. 66 percent of the hair must be up.
- Wavy: Down Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase large and loose waves, often in an “S” shape.
- Ex: Beachy or surfer waves or hair that has been waved with an S waving iron. 66 percent of the hair must be down.
- Wavy: Up Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase large and loose waves, often in an “S” shape.
- Ex: Think of wavy hair pinned up into an upsweep with wavy hair tendrils. 66 percent of the hair must be up.
- Curly: Down Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase tighter curl patterns with a springy shape and defined ringlets. 66 percent of the hair must be down.
- Ex: Naturally wavy hair has been curled with a 1 inch or 3/8th inch curling iron to appear curly in it’s final style.
- Curly: Up Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase tighter curl patterns with a springy shape and defined ringlets. 66 percent of the hair must be up.
- Ex: Naturally straight hair has been set on 1 inch or 5/8th inch rollers to appear curly in it’s final upstyle.
- Coily: Down Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase coily and tightly curled hair with coils that are pencil-width or tighter or z-textured or tightly crimped styles. 66 percent of the hair must be down.
- Ex: Hair that is naturally wavy set on 3/8 inch flexi rods or curled with a tiny curling wand and styled into a down style.
- Coily: Up Style- Hairstyles with a finished look on hair that is styled to showcase coily and tightly curled hair with coils that are pencil-width or tighter or z-textured or tightly crimped styles. 66 percent of the hair must be up.
- Ex: Hair that is naturally coily styled into an upstyle.
- Student: Down Style- must be completed by an entrant in cosmetology school, working as an apprentice, or working in the cosmetology field under 2 years.
- 66 percent of the hair must be down
- Entrant may submit an image with any of the hair textures in a down style.
- Model’s final look can be displayed on the model’s natural hair texture or hair texture can be altered.
- Student: Up Style must be completed by an entrant in cosmetology school, working as an apprentice, or working in the cosmetology field under 2 years.
- 66 percent of the hair must be up style
- Entrant may submit an image with any of the hair textures in an up style.
- Model’s final look can be displayed on the model’s natural hair texture or hair texture can be altered.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Cosmetologists may submit up to three entries per each of the eight categories. Submitted photos must showcase hairstyles that accurately reflect the Submission’s Category.
Normal processing of the original file is acceptable, however, extreme hair manipulation will result in entrant disqualification. Photo retouching of the hairline, color, or shape is not allowed and will be subject to disqualification.
STUDENT ENTRAINTS: Style must be completed by an entrant in cosmetology school, working as an apprentice, or working in the cosmetology field under 2 years.
Scoring Criteria
All entrants/photos must have a final style that displays the hair texture as straight, wavy, curly, or coily. The hair must either be majority up for the Up Style categories or majority down for the Down Style categories. Entries will be scored in the first found by a team of judges in six key areas:
- Texture: The hair texture in the image submitted must be the dominant hair texture category. Image must be a great representation of that texture. For example, if submitting within the “Curly Hair Texture” category, the dominant hair texture must be curly.
- Form: Hair must be predominantly the category entered. If entering an up style category, 66 percent of the hair must be up. If entering a down style category, 66 percent of the hair must be down.
- Shape: There must be symmetry within the hairstyle, a clearly defined shape of hair.
- Hair health: Hair must appear healthy, normally displayed by shiny, voluminous, and full hair.
- Detail: No visible hair pins (non-accessories), hair extensions, hair color stains, bald spots, etc visible in the image. No flyaways or distracting pieces of hair.
- Image: Hairstyle is the main focus of the image. The background must be solid or non-distracting. No cords, other people, clothing tags, disheveled clothing, distracting patterns, etc in the background of the photo.
- Appeal: Visually appealing and attractive.
Entries with the highest cumulative points will advance to the second round for public voting.