Hair Extensions Brand of the Year

To protect the integrity of the awards, all judges are required to declare any professional, commercial or personal relationships with entrants prior to scoring. Any judge with a declared conflict of interest will not be permitted to review, discuss or score the relevant entry or category.

Winning this award positions your brand among the extension businesses professionals trust most within the salon environment, reinforcing credibility, quality and long-term professional value. It provides a powerful platform to strengthen visibility, support growth and highlight the role your products play in helping stylists deliver consistent, high-quality extension services clients return for. Winners will also be invited to join the judging panel for The Indies - Salon & Stylist Awards UK.

• A written submission outlining the brand’s positioning, professional relevance and approach to quality and performance.

• Evidence of professional usage, salon adoption, stylist engagement or client results.

• Supporting materials including campaigns, education, extension work or product activity relevant to the eligibility period. Future direction and plans for continued innovation or product development may also be included.

• All activity must relate to the period 1 May 2025 – 30 April 2026.

How This Category Will Be Judged

Entries will first be reviewed based on the written submission, supporting evidence and overall professional relevance within the extensions industry. Judges will consider quality, consistency, innovation, hair health, professional trust and the overall experience the brand delivers for both stylists and clients.

Shortlisted brands may then move into professional product testing and evaluation carried out by selected industry professionals. Judges may assess hair quality, longevity, application experience, versatility, colour consistency and overall performance within real salon extension services.

To keep the process fair and independent, written entries and practical testing stages may be reviewed by different judges. Product testing requirements and judging formats will be discussed directly with shortlisted entrants depending on the range entered and the most suitable way to assess the products professionally.

Product Submission Requirements

Shortlisted entrants may be required to submit selected extension products from their range for professional testing and evaluation. Requested product quantities, testing requirements and judging formats will be confirmed directly with shortlisted entrants once judging allocations have been finalised.

This category may be tested during one of our in-salon judging days with active extension specialists from our judging panel. Products may be assessed through professional salon use, hair quality, application performance and overall client experience within real working salon environments. Products submitted for judging will not be returned unless agreed otherwise in writing.

This category is not open to conglomerate-owned or publicly listed companies. Venture-backed brands are permitted, provided the brand operates independently within the professional market. Products without active professional salon relevance or suitability for professional extension services will not be considered.

To protect the integrity of the awards, all judges are required to declare any professional, commercial or personal relationships with entrants prior to scoring. Any judge with a declared conflict of interest will not be permitted to review, discuss or score the relevant entry or category.

Entry Recommendations

Strong entries should clearly demonstrate the quality, consistency and overall performance of the extension range within real salon environments. Judges are looking for brands professionals genuinely trust for hair quality, reliability, colour consistency, longevity and the overall experience delivered to both stylists and clients.

Supporting imagery, before and after results, salon usage examples, educational content, testimonials and evidence of professional industry support are strongly encouraged.

Entry Deadline

Final entry deadline for this category is 6 September 2026.

Shortlisted entrants may be contacted directly regarding additional judging stages, product submission requirements or further supporting information where applicable.