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Entry Rules

The SOS Beauty Awards is a constant work in progress and we reserve the right to update the rules on an annual basis to reflect lessons learned from previous years and also changes in the industry.

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SOS Beauty Application Process Notes

(PLEASE READ BEFORE COMPLETING YOUR NOMINATIONS)

 

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Please read the following instructions carefully:​​

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2026 FORMAT: REGIONAL + NATIONAL FINALS

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  • This year introduces a new two-stage format: Regional Finals (Online) and National Finals (Live).

  • There will be no 'Top 10 Finalist' list released in February as in previous years.

  • Instead, an Online Regional Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 2nd March 2026, where the 1st and 2nd place winners in each category per region will be announced live.

  • Only 1st place regional winners will be invited to compete at the Live National Finals in Manchester on Saturday 27th June 2026.

  • At the National Finals, the national 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be announced on the live stage

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TICKETS, TROPHIES & ATTENDANCE TERMS

  • To ensure fairness and cover event costs, the following terms apply:

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REGIONAL FINALS (ONLINE)

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  • Tickets cost £35. This covers your attendance at the online awards ceremony.

  • If you win 1st place and do not attend the event live, you must pay the cost of one ticket to receive your trophy.

  • If you have a valid ticket in your name and attend, your trophy is included at no additional cost.

  • 1st place regional winners progress to the National Finals.

  • To secure their place at the National Final regional winners must have either purchased their ticket in full or be actively on an approved payment plan by 15th May 2026. This is not the deadline to start a plan — payment arrangements must already be in place and underway.

  • If this requirement is not met, the 1st place winner will forfeit their spot, and the 2nd place winner will be invited to take their place at the live finals.

  • 2nd place winners should be prepared to act as a standby finalist. If they are unable to attend when offered the place, that region and category will go unrepresented at the National Finals. No additional finalists will be moved up.

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**Please ensure you are fully aware of this process before entering the awards — we do not offer refunds, and our structure is fixed and not open to change.

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NATIONAL FINALS (IN-PERSON)

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  • Takes place Saturday 27th June 2026 at Hilton Deansgate, Manchester.

  • Only confirmed 1st place regional winners (or confirmed runners-up where applicable) may attend as national finalist. Friends, colleagues, industry professionals are welcome to attend as guests to show their support.

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  • Ticket options for National Finals:

  • £175 – Awards Ceremony only (6:30pm–late)

  • £190 – Expo + Awards (Expo 10am–3pm)

  • £250 – Thought Leaders Dinner (Friday 26th June, 7pm–10pm) + Expo + Awards

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All entry fees and ticket purchases are non-refundable under any circumstances.

  • This includes illness, changes in personal plans, or travel issues. Please be sure before making any payments.

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NEW FOR 2026: SOS Beauty ‘Winners’ Magazine

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We’re excited to introduce the SOS Beauty Winners Magazine, launching in summer 2026 to spotlight the incredible talent recognised in this year’s awards.

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  • The Top 3 National Finalists in each category will receive dedicated editorial coverage:

    • 1st Place – Full-page editorial

    • 2nd Place – Half-page editorial

    • 3rd Place – Quarter-page editorial

 

The magazine will be available in both digital and printed formats, with physical copies available to purchase — perfect for displaying in your salon, treatment room or training academy to showcase your achievement.

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APPLICATION SUBMISSION RULES

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  • You may enter multiple categories, each requiring a separate paid application form.

  • All entries must be submitted by midnight on 31st January 2026.

  • Your entry must include:

  • Up to 5 images (non-photoshopped, you can create a collage of before and after pics for the same client and this will count as one picture). You cannot add collages of multiple clients to one picture, this will result in marking down.

  • Maximum 2 client reviews – combining multiple reviews into one screenshot will be penalised.

  • 1 video (max 1 minute) – submissions exceeding this will be marked down.

  • We are looking for genuine, thoughtful, and well-articulated entries that reflect you — your passion, your standards, your journey.

  • Applications that rely on AI-generated or generic responses (e.g., from ChatGPT) without personalisation are unlikely to score highly. Our judges want to understand the real people behind the businesses, and that comes through in honest, detailed answers.

  • Occasionally, we hear from entrants who feel disappointed not to have placed — often comparing their social media presence to others. However, as we’ve made clear, judging is based solely on your application form, not your online following.

  • Your submission is assessed in direct comparison with others in your category, so the more care, context and personality you bring to your application, the better your chances of standing out.

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JUDGING PROCESS

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  • Judging is based solely on what you submit in your application. Social media will not be used as part of the evaluation process.

  • Our judges care about your work, values, and clarity — not your follower count.

  • Judging is carried out by a panel of anonymous industry professionals from hair, beauty, aesthetics, and holistic therapies.

  • Sponsors are no longer involved in the judging process, a change we’ve made to enhance fairness and impartiality.

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All judging decisions are final. We appreciate the time and passion that goes into every entry, but once winners are announced, the results will not be changed under any circumstances. Challenging or arguing with our team after the awards will not alter the outcome and places unnecessary strain on our staff — causing delays to certificate preparation, trophy dispatch, and post-event communications, ultimately affecting everyone involved in the awards process.

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SOCIAL MEDIA STAR AWARD

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  • This is the only award category decided by public vote.

  • There is no application form for this award.

  • Entrants will receive a voting link on 1st February 2026 to share with followers.

  • Votes must be collected during the window provided. Winners will be announced at the Regional Online Awards.

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COMMUNICATION, CONDUCT & CONTACT POLICY

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  • We are committed to running this process professionally, efficiently, and respectfully.

  • Abuse, rudeness or harassment towards our team will not be tolerated. Anyone who behaves inappropriately will be removed from the process without refund.

  • Our admin hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

  • Please allow up to 48 hours for a response to your query.
    Sending repeated emails will delay admin response times for everyone.

  • We know many of you are connected to founder Faye Finaro via personal social media. However, as the awards have grown far beyond what one person can manage and as new partners come onboard with the business, Faye will no longer be responding to award-related queries personally.
    Please direct all communication to awards@sosbeauty.co.uk going forward.

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REMINDERS

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  • If you’re entering someone else, confirm they can attend the relevant awards dates before proceeding.

  • Do not message team members about results — they will not have access to them prior to announcement at the online and live awards.

  • As stated above all decisions are final. If you're not selected this year, we welcome your return next year.

  • We look forward to receiving your entries and celebrating the talent and dedication that powers the UK’s beauty industry.

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📧 Send entries to: awards@sosbeauty.co.uk by 31st January 2026

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Let’s raise the standard — together.

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