America’s Beauty Show (ABS) by Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) has announced the winners for the first ABS Global Image Awards. The ABS Global Image Awards recognizes hairdressing talent on an international level. The photo entries represent the best of the best in original hair styling, hair coloring and haircutting, in eight different categories.

“America’s Beauty Show is ecstatic about the industry reaction to our worldwide competition,” says Paul Dykstra, CEO of America’s Beauty Show. “We achieved our goal of having The ABS Global Image Awards portray the originality and talent in the professional beauty industry, no matter what corner of the world it is practiced.”

All categories were judged by an elite group of highly esteemed salon industry leaders, influencers and masters from across the globe: Luis Alvarez, Sonya Dove, Tracey Hughes, Vivienne Mackinder and Tony Rizzo. The winners of each category were announced during the exciting Beauty Changes Lives Experience on Sunday, March 26th at The Art Institute of Chicago.

The ABS Global Image Awards Categories and Winners are:

Avant Garde: Gonzalo Zarauza, Centro Beta, San Sebastián, Spain

ColorAmerica Colorist of the Year: Chrystofer Benson, CBC Chrystofer Benson Collective, Ogden, UT

Editorial: Sal Misseri, Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

Haircutting: David Barron, Barron’s London Salon, Atlanta, GA

Men’s Cutting: Alex Azurmendi, Centro Beta, San Sebastián, Spain

Salon Team: Kaizen Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL; Hair Stylist: Kaizen Education; Haircolor: Sal Misseri, Grace Herrel; Make-Up: Jason Kelly; Photographer: John Rawson

Student / Young Professional: Gunny Hastings, Brown Aveda Institute, Cleveland, OH / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL

Texture: Michael Jacobson, Michael & Michael, Chicago, IL

ABS Global Image Awards is open to all licensed salon professionals and barbers or the business equivalent where licensure is not required. In addition, there is a category specifically for cosmetology students and young professionals. All entrees included up to three models with three different styles per category entry. In addition to each category winner, Sal Misseri of Kazien Education / Reverie Salon, Chicago, IL is to receive The Leo Passage Gold Trophy in honor of the late Pivot Point founder and Cosmetologists Chicago member, Leo Passage.