FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2025
AACS & L’Oréal Professional Products Division Announce the Launch of the 2025 Student Stylist of the Year Contest
The Ultimate Competition to Discover the Next Generation of Beauty Talent
Washington, D.C. – The American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) and L’Oréal are excited to announce the launch of the inaugural AACS & L’Oréal PPD Student Stylist of the Year Contest, a groundbreaking competition designed to discover and celebrate the next generation of talented beauty professionals. Open to students at AACS member schools across the country, the contest will offer exposure, industry recognition, and an array of exciting prizes for emerging talent in hair artistry.
The theme for this year’s contest is The Rich Texture of America which highlights the importance of textured hair initiatives in today’s beauty, barber, and wellness education sector. Participants will be challenged to showcase their skills on a textured hair mannequin, with one applicant to win the Grand Prize and be named “Student Stylist of the Year” at the 2025 Career Educators Alliance (CEA) Conference, scheduled for August 2-4 in Orlando, Florida. Entries deemed Best in Cut, Best in Color, Best in Styling, along with an additional 9 finalists, will also receive prizes.
Key Competition Highlights:
- Eligibility: Open to all students enrolled in AACS member schools as of April 15, 2025.
- Categories: Participants can win Overall (Grand Prize), Best Cut, Best Color, and Best Styling.
- Judging Panel: A panel of leading beauty education professionals from L’Oréal will evaluate contestants on creativity, technique, and overall presentation.
- Prizes: The Grand Prize winner will win a prize package valued at over $4,000, including a two-day class at Redken Exchange (NY) or ProLab (LA), flights and hotel stay, Sam Villa tool packages, Mizani Shears, and much more.
“The future of beauty is in the hands of today’s students, and with this competition, we aim to recognize and reward their hard work, innovation, and passion,” said Executive Director of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. “Partnering with L’Oréal PPD, a global leader in beauty, is a perfect fit to elevate the experience for our member schools’ students and provide them with the opportunity to make a name for themselves in the industry.”
Full contest rules and entry guidelines will be released soon on myaacs.org. An informational webinar will be held on February 12 at 1:00 pm EST for those interested in learning more about the contest. Click here to register for the webinar.
About AACS
AACS is the nation’s only membership organization representing the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector. AACS represents over 670 beauty, barber, and wellness education schools in the United States and Canada, and over 80 national and international companies serving the sector. AACS is the leader in advocacy, education, and networking in the beauty, barber, and wellness sector, hosting two national conferences annually and offering online education and networking for its members.
About L’Oreal Professional Products Division
The Professional Products Division found its roots within L’Oréal 115 years ago. Since then, our mission has always been to bring professional beauty to all, by leveraging the expertise and creativity of hairstylists.
This spirit of innovation and deep-rooted collaboration with hairstylists has always defined our DNA. We all have a clear mission: to bring professional beauty to all. This mission drives everything we do, ensuring that our products and services empower hairstylists to create exceptional and tailor-made beauty experiences.
