The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards are back for 2026, with the gala ceremony taking place at the InterContinental Dublin on 19 April, as part of the Professional Beauty & Hair show weekend.
These awards are unique in Ireland because they are judged by the industry, for the industry. An independent panel of judges, who are chosen for their knowledge and skills, decides who is the best in the business, making the competition one of the fairest in the sector.
With entries now open across the 13 categories, we have put together some advice and suggestions to help you make the most of this first opportunity to impress the panel. These valuable tips from judges and previous winners will help you put together your own outstanding entry.
1 Tell us why you stand out. Make sure your unique selling points (USPs) and special touches come across. We want to know what makes you different from everyone else.
2 Prioritise photos. They are the first thing most judges will look at, so make sure you show the best ones. While they do not need to be taken by a professional, you need to look professional in them, so no selfies! When submitting photos of your business, show the full exterior, a good representation of the whole communal area and a treatment room.
3 Be concise. Start your answer to each question with bullet points to spell out the top five or six things you want to get across, then when you add more text, bold up key words that relate to the initial points. Judges will see these first and use them to refer back to, so the things you really want to get across will be the ones that stick in their minds. Just because there is a maximum word limit for an answer, don't feel you have to fill it. Think of it as if you’re doing a PowerPoint presentation to the judges. Don't include every tiny detail, just the real selling points.
4 Answer the whole question. While it’s important to stick to the point, it’s even more vital to make your answer match the question exactly. If you’re asked to give examples, make sure you do. If you don't give answer for a question, you’ll score zero so write something, even if you feel it is negative. For example, if you’re not proud of your marketing, be honest that you’ve not been able to give it the attention you would have liked. Then list what you have done.
5 Show your passion. Tell judges the reason you wanted to become what it is you are, and who or what inspires you in the industry. Try to get your passion for the industry across, as well as your vision for the future, and how you are making our industry better or giving something back.
6 Back up statements with evidence. Think about short-term and long-term goals, and demonstrate the steps you taking towards them. Evidence is the most important part of any entry. Judges can’t award points for claims that aren’t backed up. For example, don't just say that you have excellent customer service skills – instead, give some examples or include client testimonials to prove it.
7 Ask your team and clients for input. If you’re entering any of the team categories, ask your staff what makes you a great employer or what makes the team such a great one to work with. There may be reasons you’ve not thought of. Even if you are entering one of the other categories, input from your team and clients can make a huge difference to how you approach an answer.
8 Make an effort. If you write one-line responses because you’re in a hurry, it will be obvious to the judges. Likewise, it doesn’t work to copy and paste huge chunks of text from your website or brochure, without adapting them to answer the exact question asked. Upload photos, price lists and examples of any marketing material with your entry so judges can see your business and the range of services you offer. You don't have to spend hours crafting each answer, but by showing passion, professionalism and care, you’re already on a winning streak!
Now you that armed with the advice you may have needed, what are you waiting for? For more information, and to enter the Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2026, click here.
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