Regional Brand of the Year (UK, Europe, USA, APAC)

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 businesses helping shape the professional hair industry within your region, reinforcing credibility, visibility and professional trust. It provides a powerful platform to strengthen regional recognition, support future growth and highlight the impact your brand is making across salons and professionals within your market. 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, growth and professional impact within the selected region.

• Evidence of salon engagement, distribution, professional partnerships or market presence.

• Supporting materials including campaigns, education, events or brand activity relevant to the eligibility period. Future direction and plans for continued growth or regional expansion 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 market impact within the professional hair industry. Judges will consider brand identity, professional trust, innovation, salon engagement and the overall influence the brand has within its selected region.

As this is a regional award, entries will be judged against others within their selected market across the UK, Europe, USA or APAC, with an individual winner recognised within each region.

Judges may also consider education, distribution growth, community connection, industry visibility and the way the brand supports salons and professionals within its market.

To keep the process fair and independent, entries may be reviewed across multiple judging stages by different members of the judging panel.

Product Submission Requirements

Shortlisted entrants may be required to submit selected products from their range for professional review and evaluation. Product requirements, quantities and judging formats will be discussed directly with shortlisted entrants depending on the range entered and the most suitable way to assess the brand professionally.

Products may be reviewed through professional salon use, product evaluation and overall brand presentation where appropriate to the category. 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. Brands without active professional presence within the selected region 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 distributor’s impact within their selected region and the way they support both brands and salon professionals day to day. Judges are looking for distributors building strong industry relationships, helping brands grow within the professional market and creating real value for the professional hair community within their region.

Supporting brand partnerships, educational activity, campaigns, events, salon support, digital engagement and evidence of professional industry impact are strongly encouraged.

Entry Deadline

Final entry deadline for this category is 6 September 2026.

As this is a regional award, entries will be judged within their selected market across the UK, Europe, USA or APAC. Shortlisted entrants may be contacted directly regarding additional judging stages or further supporting information where applicable.