2025 NAHA Winning Artists Tools of the Trade

In the rarefied air of the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), artistry and innovation reign supreme in the professional beauty industry’s most prestigious competition. But pure genius alone doesn’t craft winning looks—behind every gravity-defying wave, every meticulously sculpted fringe, lies an intentionally chosen arsenal of tools. This isn't just about having the right comb—it's about the symbiotic relationship between master and instrument, a silent conversation where modern technology and timeless craftsmanship converge to transform vision into tangible, award-winning reality. For 2025 NAHA winners Breanne Gershon, David Barron and Carlos Estrella tools aren't just extensions of their hands, they’re extensions of their unparalleled creativity and talent.

Photography: John Rawson (@JohnRawson)

NAHA 2025 HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR winner David Barron (@barronslondonsalon), owner of Atlanta-based Barron's London Salon, crafted his Wildwood Awakening collection to celebrate the raw, untamed beauty of nature with a palette anchored by the earth’s vibrant hues of rich greens, fiery reds and warm oranges. “I wanted to create something that feels as though it was born from the woods, untouched and organic, and to remind us that beauty can be found in the unexpected, in the untamed, and in the freedom to simply be,” he says. “Each design is a reflection of the freedom and energy found in the wild, reminding us of the beauty in letting go and embracing the unexpected.”

TOOLKIT

Fromm Color Bowl
Fromm Color Brush 2.25"
Fromm 2.5" Bobby Pins
Cricket Centrix Vortex V2 650 6.5" Revolving Thumb Shear
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron

Photography: Chrystofer Benson (@cbensonhair)

NAHA 2025 BARBER OF THE YEAR winner Carlos Estrella (@los_cut_it) wanted to channel the concept of cosmic energy and artistic control into bold, high contrast designs and shapes that feel almost otherworldly, yet deeply human. The Chicago-based artist’s

Dark Matter collection represents the duality of the artist: the skill between different textures, tension between restraint and freedom. “Through sculpted textures, sharp lines, and futuristic silhouettes, I wanted to communicate that hair is more than style, it’s storytelling,” he says. “These pieces ask the viewer to slow down, look closer, and question what’s possible when art and identity collide.”

TOOLKIT

Photography: Morgan Gold

NAHA 2025 HAIRCOLOR OF THE YEAR winner Breanne Gershon (@glam.breanne) was inspired by the idea of melting paint. “I wanted the hair to flow and cascade, almost like it was dripping with movement,” she says. “As I played with the shapes, I found I was drawn to adding more volume and elevation, which gave the looks an even more sculptural feel.” The Calgary, AB-based hairstylist and makeup artist’s winning Momentum collection—rooted in her own life journey—reflects, “Over the past few years, my career has really built momentum, and this collection is a reflection of that, the feeling of continually pushing forward, pushing myself and my limits, and not standing still.”