Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes is proud to announce two North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) nominations for 2021. Amber Hensley, a student at Aveda Institute Tucson, has been nominated for the Student Hairstylist of the Year award, and Heggy Gonzalez, an Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes Creative Mentor, has been nominated for Hairstylist of the Year. We’re excited to congratulate these nominees on this incredible achievement and take a closer look at the professional beauty competition that’s often called the Oscars of our industry.
What Is the NAHA?
The NAHA is the most prestigious professional beauty competition on the continent. This event honors top hair artists who push the boundaries of skill and creativity, elevating their craft to the highest levels.
NAHA recognition is a true mark of a stylist’s success and mastery of hair artistry, and earning a nomination is one of the highest honors in the beauty industry. On August 29, 2021, Hensley, Gonzalez, other excited nominees, and industry professionals will gather in Las Vegas, Nevada, to discover who will earn the top honors in our field at the NAHA Ceremony.
Amber Hensley, NAHA Student Hairstylist of the Year Nominee
Amber Hensley is a top student at the Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes’ Tucson location. Hailing from Sahuarita, Arizona, she enrolled in the cosmetology program after discovering a passion for doing her friends’ hair and makeup. During her studies, she has been recognized with our Beauty Is As Beauty Does Award, which honors students who exhibit excellent professionalism and enthusiasm.
As a student at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes, Hensley is passionate about the Aveda brand and using Aveda’s vegan, sustainably sourced products to help her clients feel beautiful. Her elegant work stands apart for its ingenious use of eye-catching hues and ombré.
Heggy Gonzalez, Hairstylist of the Year Nominee
As a Creative Mentor at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes, Heggy Gonzalez supports students throughout their creative and technical development as they prepare for careers in the beauty industry. Under her guidance, students discover how to tap into their potential as stylists and artists.
Beyond her work with students, Gonzalez is a highly talented stylist in her own right. Her work makes inventive use of color, shape, and texture and has been featured in numerous print publications, at fashion events, and more. Her nomination for NAHA Hairstylist of the Year recognizes her creative talents and industry accomplishments.
The NAHA Experience at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes
Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes offers students several opportunities to experience the beauty industry first-hand during their enrollment. In addition to our annual Earth Month fashion show and participation in New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, select students compete to join our NAHA Experience.
Once accepted, this week-long program gives students a chance to shoot with an industry photographer and receive mentoring from the Inspire Greatness Artistic Team. Upon completion, they will be ready to submit a collection to NAHA for consideration for the Student Hairstylist of the Year category. Since 2012, 18 Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes students in addition to Hensley have been nominated for NAHA Student Hairstylist of the Year.
Begin Your Career in Beauty
If you’re interested in a career in beauty, join Amber Hensley, Heggy Gonzalez, and the students and Creative Mentors at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes. We offer a cutting-edge curriculum, real-world salon and spa experience with high-end Aveda products, and the opportunity to experience the beauty industry at the highest levels before graduation. To learn more about our programs, contact one of our locations in Denver, Colorado, Provo, Utah, or Phoenix or Tucson, Arizona, today.
