AACS & L’Oréal Professional Products Division Announce Winners of the 2025 Student Stylist of the Year Contest
AACS & L’Oréal Honor Outstanding Student Work in Inclusive Hair Education
Washington, D.C. – August 4, 2025 — The American Association of Career Schools (AACS) and L’Oréal Professional Products Division are proud to announce the winners of the 2025 AACS & L’Oréal Student Stylist of the Year competition, an esteemed national contest celebrating excellence in cosmetology education and student talent.
After rigorous judging of more than 300 submissions from across the country, and a second round of judging of the 12 standout finalists, four exceptional students have been named winners in key categories:
- Emily Futrell, from The Salon Professional Academy – Evansville, has been awarded Best Overall, demonstrating outstanding mastery across cut, color, and finishing.
- Akia Dale, representing L’esprit Institute – Southfield, earned Best in Cut for exceptional technical precision and creativity in haircutting.
- Kasandra Olivera‑Carlotta, of Empire Beauty School – Central Tuscon, was awarded Best in Color by showcasing imaginative and expert coloring techniques.
- Adrian Unruh, from Eric Fisher Academy, was honored with Best in Finishing for superior styling complete with impeccable final touches.
This year’s contest theme, “The Rich Texture of America,” focused on the beauty, diversity, and complexity of textured hair. Students were challenged to create a fully realized look on a textured mannequin, showcasing their skills in cutting, coloring, and finishing techniques tailored to curly, coily, and wavy hair types.
The theme reflects a growing industry-wide shift: textured hair education is no longer optional—it’s essential. Beauty schools, product manufacturers, and licensing boards across the country are increasingly recognizing the importance of preparing future professionals to confidently and competently serve clients of all hair textures and backgrounds. The competition not only provided a creative platform for students, but also reinforced the importance of inclusive training standards in cosmetology programs nationwide.
“In a field that celebrates creativity and individuality, it’s vital that our industry’s education standards reflect the full spectrum of hair types,” said Executive Director of AACS. “This year’s theme gave students an opportunity to honor textured hair and to demonstrate their readiness to lead in a more inclusive, equitable industry.”
Winners were honored during the 2025 AACS Career Educators Alliance (CEA) Conference in Orlando, where their work was featured as part of a national celebration of excellence in beauty education. In addition to industry recognition, each winner received prize packages and professional exposure, including a coveted trip for the Best Overall winner to attend a L’Oreal education session of their choice in either New York or Los Angeles.
About the AACS & L’Oréal Student Stylist of the Year Award
The AACS & L’Oréal Professional Products Division Student Stylist of the Year competition is a premier platform for aspiring cosmetologists to showcase their talent, gain recognition, and launch their careers. Open to students enrolled at AACS member schools, the contest promotes technical mastery, creativity, and inclusive practices that reflect the modern beauty industry.
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.
