Since its humble beginnings in 1989, NAHA finalists and industry elite have brought this iconic photographic beauty competition to new heights year after year. NAHA continues to recognize the beauty industry’s most talented artists and advance the careers of stylists around the world. Nothing makes us happier than meeting artists we REALLY want to root for… Good people who love the industry, value education and aren’t afraid to put in the hard work.

What one word describes how you felt when you found out you were a finalist?

Shocked!!

How does competing help you as an artist?

It actually inspires me to try harder, challenge myself more and keep raising my own bar.

Beyond hair, what other creative outlets do you have?

Is shoe shopping a creative outlet? If not then I will say music & gardening

Tell us your life story in 3 sentences.

I cut 2 days of school when I was in high school to go to my very first hair show…The Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago (staring Vivian Mc Kinder & Trevor Sorbie) and it was love at first sight… I was obsessed with education. I started beauty school when I was 16 and I purchased my first salon at 22. Im a mom, an artist, a leader and forever grateful to be in such a wonderful industry.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

Interior Designer.

What was your biggest F-up with a client?

I was fading a male clients hair using a scissor over comb technique and I got way too close and gave him a big line at his temple! (worse then a clipper guard falling off!) The hardest part was telling him what I had done.

Real life advice to someone entering the world of cosmetology.

Be passionate & stay curious…surround yourself with successful people.

I knew i was a Hair Nerd when…

I realized I have over 10,000 images saved on my phone and more then 80% of the photos are of hair.

Dilek Onur-Taylor