The Barber Competition
Get Battle Ready
America's Beauty Show welcomes the Headquarters Barber Competition—a live showcase of precision, creativity, speed and technical skill.
Whether your strength is a flawless fade, precision shear work, creative design or a total transformation, there's a category built to showcase what you do best. Competitors may enter one or multiple categories.
are you ready to compete?
LIVE MODELS
Competitors provide their own eligible live model.
AGES 16+
Competitors and models must be at least 16 years old.
MULTIPLE CATEGORIES
Competitors may enter one or multiple categories.
ABS TICKET REQUIRED
Both competitor and model need valid ABS admission.
MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2027
10:00 AM–3:15 PM
STUDENTS: $35 PER CATEGORY
PROFESSIONALS: $65 PER CATEGORY
CHOOSE YOUR BATTLE
Six categories. Live models. Real-time competition. No second chances
FASTEST FADE
15 MINUTES
Fifteen minutes. One model. No room for error.
Create a clean, technically strong fade under serious time pressure. Speed matters—but a fast finish won't beat a better haircut.
JUDGED ON
Fade + Blend • Precision • Cleanliness • Speed • Finished Look
BEARD & FULL HAIRCUT
ANYTHING GOES
45 MINUTES
50 MINUTES
Show us the complete transformation.
No limits on creativity. One complete vision.
Execute a finished haircut and beard design that come together as one cohesive, polished look.
Push beyond the traditional haircut and create an unforgettable total look incorporating creativity, technique and presentation.
JUDGED ON
Symmetry • Haircut • Beard Work • Transitions • Difficulty • Presentation
JUDGED ON
Creativity • Originality • Technique • Balance • Cohesiveness • Visual Impact
SCISSORS HAIRCUT & STYLE
CREATE YOUR OWN MULLET
FREESTYLE DESIGN
30 MINUTES
40 MINUTES
40 MINUTES
Put down the clippers. Show us your shear work.
Forget the formula. Create your version.
Technique first. Creativity takes it from there.
Showcase precision scissor-based cutting and finishing through shape, balance and technique.
Take one of barbering's most recognizable shapes and completely reinterpret it.
Combine a technically executed haircut with original design work for a finished look that showcases both precision and imagination.
JUDGED ON
Scissor Technique • Precision • Shape • Difficulty • Styling • Finish
JUDGED ON
Creativity • Construction • Cleanliness • Technique • Execution • Presentation
JUDGED ON
Technique • Design Difficulty • Line Quality • Precision • Creativity • Finished Design
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
TIME
ON THE COMPETITION FLOOR
9:30 AM
Competitor Registration + Model Check-In
10:00 AM
FASTEST FADE
15 Minutes
10:25 AM
BEARD + FULL HAIRCUT
45 Minutes
11:20 AM
ANYTHING GOES
50 Minutes
12:20 PM
SCISSOR HAIRCUT + STYLE
30 Minutes
1:00 PM
CREATE YOUR OWN MULLET
40 Minutes
1:50 PM
FREESTYLE DESIGN
40 Minutes
2:50 PM
AWARDS CEREMONY
Schedule subject to change. Competitors must be present and competition-ready before their scheduled category.
COMPETITION INFORMATION
JUDGING & AWARDS
TECHNIQUE MATTERS. SO DOES THE FINISH.
Industry judges will evaluate competitors both during the live competition and after time is called.
Judging criteria vary by category. All judges' decisions are final.
TECHNICAL EXECUTION
PRECISION + CLEANLINESS
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
CREATIVITY + ORIGINALITY
FINISHED PRESENTATION
OVERALL VISUAL IMPACT
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
