Product Innovation of the Year

Open to independent professional brands with products launched or significantly updated within the eligibility period. Products entered must demonstrate innovation, professional relevance and active use within the professional hair industry during the eligibility period.

Winning this award positions your product among the innovations helping shape the future of the professional hair industry, reinforcing credibility, originality and professional trust. It provides a powerful platform to support launch visibility, strengthen industry attention and highlight the value of products professionals genuinely want to work with. Winners will also be invited to join the judging panel for The Indies - Salon & Stylist Awards UK.

• A written submission outlining the product innovation, professional positioning and industry impact.

• Evidence of professional engagement, salon usage, product performance or market response.

• Supporting materials including campaigns, education, launch activity, imagery or product content 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 innovation within the professional hair industry. Judges will consider originality, problem solving, professional relevance, performance and the way the product brings something genuinely new to the salon environment.

Shortlisted brands may then move into professional product testing and evaluation carried out by selected industry professionals. Judges may assess functionality, ease of use, results, salon practicality and the overall impact the product has within real working salon environments.

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 products entered and the most suitable way to assess them professionally.

Product Submission Requirements

Shortlisted entrants may be required to submit selected products 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 professionals from our judging panel. Products may be assessed through professional salon use, innovation, functionality and overall performance 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 launched outside of the eligibility period or without active professional salon relevance 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 Overview

This category recognises outstanding innovation within the professional hair industry. Open to brands, manufacturers and product developers, Product Innovation of the Year celebrates products that demonstrate genuine originality, solve real industry challenges and deliver measurable impact for professionals or consumers.

Entries may include styling products, colour innovations, treatments, tools, technology-led solutions, formulations, sustainability advancements or entirely new concepts introduced to the market.

Judges will be looking beyond marketing claims to identify products that have genuinely moved the industry forward through creativity, functionality, performance or innovation.

What Judges Are Looking For

Strong entries should clearly demonstrate:

• What makes the product innovative or disruptive within the market
• The problem or gap the product was designed to solve
• Development process, research or technology behind the innovation
• Evidence of professional performance, results or industry adoption
• Commercial success, growth or customer response where relevant
• Sustainability, ingredient innovation or manufacturing advancements if applicable
• Why the product stands apart from competitors

Judges are particularly interested in products that combine creativity with genuine professional value and long-term industry impact.

Supporting Materials

Entrants are encouraged to include:

• Product imagery and packaging visuals
• Before and after results
• Educational or launch materials
• Professional testimonials or salon feedback
• Research, testing or performance data
• Press coverage, retailer support or campaign results
• Videos or demonstrations where relevant

Entry Deadline

Final entry deadline for this category is 6 September 2026.

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