Three student stylists showcase their skills at Salon International 2026.
Published:Diva Professional Styling celebrated the next generation of hairdressing talent at Salon International 2026, with its Next Gen Student Competition giving three aspiring stylists the opportunity to showcase their creativity and technical skills in a live industry setting.
The competition invited student hairdressers to create an eye-catching look and submit their finished work via Diva Professional Styling’s Instagram. The initiative aimed to recognise emerging talent and provide students with a platform to demonstrate their styling abilities to the wider professional hairdressing community.
Following the submissions, three students were selected by the Diva Professional Styling judging panel, which included celebrity hairstylist Michael Gray. The winners were chosen for their creativity, execution and ability to create looks that captured the judges’ attention.
The winning students were Evie Hutchcraft from Melanie Richards Hair & Beauty in Peterborough, Cameron Lafferty from CJZ Hair and Beauty in North Shields, and Ella Hindley from Lauren Hill Hair in Romsey.
As part of their prize, the three winners were invited to Salon International to recreate and showcase their winning looks using Diva Professional Styling’s professional styling tools.
The experience gave the students the opportunity to put their skills into practice in a live industry environment, working beyond the familiar surroundings of a typical salon and gaining valuable exposure to the professional hairdressing scene.
Sally Sidani Wilkinson, Marketing Director of Diva Professional Styling, highlighted the importance of providing emerging stylists with opportunities to develop their confidence and gain industry experience.
“At Diva Professional Styling, we’re passionate about supporting education and championing the next generation of hairdressing talent,”
– Sally.
“Giving students a platform to showcase their work alongside established professionals can be hugely valuable in building confidence and helping them take those important next steps in their careers.”
She added that competitions such as Next Gen offer students the chance to gain experience, work under pressure and have their creativity recognised by the wider professional hairdressing community.
“We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and play a part in encouraging the talent that will shape the future of our industry,” she said.
Guest judge Michael Gray, celebrity hairstylist, also praised the standard and enthusiasm of the participants.
“It was a pleasure to judge this competition, especially with it being targeted at the next generation of hairdressers,” he said.
Gray noted the excitement shown by the students and their willingness to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge and creative flair through their entries.
He also recognised Diva Professional Styling’s continued support for emerging hairdressers, describing the competition as an excellent opportunity for younger members of the industry.
By combining creative competition with the chance to showcase work at a major industry event, Diva Professional Styling’s Next Gen initiative highlights the value of practical experience, professional recognition and education in helping develop the next generation of hairdressing talent.
For more info on professional tools, visit www.divapro.co.uk.
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