For more than 20 years, the Great Clips® Cut and Style Competition has celebrated the passion, skill, and art of professional hairstyling. It invites select stylists from Great Clips salons to showcase their creativity and speed as they complete a cut and style on a mannequin in front of a live audience. 

“We love shining a light on the talent of stylists from Great Clips salons,” said Director of Industry Relations Kim Schottler. “It gives competitors a great platform to show off their incredible expertise and be recognized for their mastery.” 

Empowering the stylists who work at Great Clips salons to grow their skills and advance their careers is central to the Great Clips salon experience. The Cut and Style Competition is just one part of that mission. “Creating opportunities to recognize and reward stylists for their hard work is key to the Great Clips brand,” said Kim. “This competition is an exciting, highly visible way to do that.”  

How the competition works 

The stylists who want a chance to compete register online. Hundreds of stylists from Great Clips franchised salons across the U.S. and Canada enter their names for each competition, and out of that pool, 30-50 are randomly selected to participate.  

On competition day, each stylist must complete a cut and style of their choice on a Pivot Point mannequin. To ensure a level playing field, all competitors are given the same tools and product.  

“You can feel the energy, nerves, and excitement throughout the competition,” Kim said. “The music is pumping, and crowds love watching the styles take shape. There’s a lot of passion packed into the competition space!” 

A highly regarded panel of industry experts judge the competition. The 2024 lineup featured Vogue Beauty College President Joe Nash, Bling Entertainment CEO Nancy Lease, NACCAS Commissioner Sal Pappacoda, Pivot Point Chairman Robert Passage, Artistic Schools CEO Robert Rosenberg, former AACS Chairman and Empire executive Tony Fragomeni, and Great Clips Vice President of Learning and Development Michelle Sack.  

At the end of each competition, awards are presented to the top three contestants, chosen for their techniques and talent. “This event gives stylists the spotlight they deserve,” Kim said. “And when you’ve got people at all stages of their careers – from those just starting off in cosmetology to senior leadership at Great Clips, Inc. – all cheering together for the competitors, you experience this very real sense of support and camaraderie. While each of the nearly 4,500 Great Clips franchised salons in the U.S. and Canada are independently owned and operated by local salon owners, together, we are one brand. That’s pretty great.”  

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.