2026 Winners
The 2027 theme will be announced at the 2026 AACS Annual Conference, October 22-24 in Las Vegas.
The 2026 AACS & L’Oreal Professional Products Student Stylist of the Year contest invited students at AACS Member Schools to showcase their skills in cut, color, and finish with an avant-garde aesthetic. Participants compete for titles like Student Stylist of the Year or Best in Texture, Color, or Finishing.
This year’s theme, “Avant-Garde After Dark,” challenged students to blend high-fashion artistry with mystery, creating formal, runway-worthy looks for events like gallery openings or artistic galas. The competition encouraged bold creativity, pushing stylists to explore dramatic silhouettes, daring textures, and luminous contrasts—where the night becomes a canvas for visionary style.
Four exceptional students were named the 2026 winners:
Jessena Fields, from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture – Evansville, was awarded Best Overall.
Kayelyn Weaver, representing The Salon Professional Academy, earned Best in Color.
Kadijah Smalls, of Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology, was awarded Best in Texture.
Tristan Leger, from Ogle School of Hair, Skin & Nails, was honored with Best in Finishing.
The 2027 theme will be announced at the 2026 AACS Annual Conference, October 22-24 in Las Vegas.
