THE 2025 SHADES EQ GLOSS BOSS AWARDS
THE 2025 SHADES EQ GLOSS AWARDS
To any interested in this contest, please read this page in its entirety for the full rules.
WHAT IS IT?
The Shades EQ Gloss Awards is a contest open to United States based licensed professional hairstylists and cosmetology students currently enrolled in cosmetology school to share their favorite SHADES EQ blonde, brunette, or red looks that they have created for a chance to win.
The 2025 contest will have 3 categories: Best Blondes, Best Brunettes, and Best Reds. All entries must be posted on Instagram with the contest hashtag #Redken_Contest PLUS the correct hashtag per category: #GlossAwardsBlondes, #GlossAwardsBrunettes, or #GlossAwardsReds. Eligible cosmetology students are welcome to enter by adding #GlossAwardsStudents to their post as well.
WHO WILL WIN?
There will be up to 3 winners chosen per category.
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
Winners will receive a Gloss Awards trophy and have their winning entry spotlighted by Redken on social media and in the 2026 Shades EQ Lookbook.
WHEN CAN I ENTER?
Post your entry to Instagram with the appropriate hashtags from 4/1/2025 12:00:00 AM through 6/30/2025 11:59:59 PM to participate.
HOW TO ENTER?
STEP 1: Create a blonde, brunette, or red look using Redken Shades EQ and take a back of head photo of the look.
STEP 2:Upload the photo to your public Instagram profile and make sure to include the contest hashtag, #Redken_Contest along with the appropriate category hashtag, #GlossAwardsBlondes, #GlossAwardsBrunettes, or #GlossAwardsReds in the post’s caption.
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You can also enter the contest by tagging an existing look that you’ve posted to Instagram previously with the correct contest hashtags as long as the photo aligns with the contest criteria.
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Students willing to participate should also include #GlossAwardsStudents to their entries as well.
STEP 3: Make sure you’re following @redkenpro on Instagram.
STEP 4: Wait to hear if you’ve won!
Please refer to Section 3 in the official rules below for full details on how to enter.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I’VE WON?
Winners will be announced on Redken National Hair Gloss Day, August 3rd. Stay tuned for more details!
Please refer to Section 6 in the official rules below for full details on how winners will be notified.
ELIGIBILITY
- All participating stylists MUST BE licensed.
- The following exception applies for students: students may participate in this contest, but they MUST BE enrolled in cosmetology school at the time of their entry.
- Entries must exclusively use Redken Shades EQ.
- The photo must only show the back of head, no faces are allowed.
Please refer to Section 2, 3, and 4 in the official rules below for full details on eligibility.
CONTEST TIMELINE:
- APRIL-JUNE: Submit your entries from April 1st, 2025 12:00:00 AM through June 30th, 2024 11:59:59 PM.
- JULY: Judging period.
- AUGUST 3rd: Winners announced!
For complete details, restrictions, and legal disclaimers, please carefully review the full Official Rules below.
These Official Rules include important information regarding eligibility, entry requirements, judging criteria, prize details, liability limitations, data usage, and dispute resolution. Entering the contest constitutes your agreement to abide by these rules.
GLOSS AWARDS CONTEST
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
- PROMOTION: The Gloss Awards Contest (the “Contest”) starts on April 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on June 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET (“Contest Period”). Sponsor’s computer shall be the official timekeeper for all matters related to this Contest.
- ELIGIBILITY: Contest open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or the age of majority in their state, whichever is older at the time of entry (the “Entrant”) who are licensed salon professionals or individuals who are currently enrolled in an accredited cosmetology school.Void where prohibited. Employees and the immediate families (parent, child, spouse, or sibling and their respective spouses) regardless of where they reside and those living in their same households, whether or not related, of Redken (“Sponsor”), Philip Foresto, Adrienne Dara, Sara Botsford, Leysa Carrillo, Jamal Edmonds, Rachel Redd (collectively “Redken Brand Ambassadors”), Sean Godard (“Redken Global Director of Artistic Development for Color”) and its respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and promotional agencies are not eligible to enter or win. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are binding and final on matters relating to this Contest. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
- HOW TO ENTER: There are two methods of entry:
Entry Method #1:
During the Contest Period, 1) go to Instagram and follow @redkenpro if you do not do so already; 2) on your own Instagram account, post a new photo showcasing your favorite blonde, red, or brunette hair look that you created that uses Redken Shades EQ and include #Redken_Contest, along with the respective category hashtag, #GlossAwardsReds, #GlossAwardsBlondes, or #GlossAwardsBrunettes. Eligible cosmetology students are welcome to enter by adding #GlossAwardsStudents to their post as well.
Entry Method #2:
During the Contest Period, if you have a pre-existing post on your own Instagram account that is your favorite blonde, red or brunette hair look that you created that uses Redken Shades EQ and comment #Redken_Contest, along with the respective category hashtag, #GlossAwardsReds, #GlossAwardsBlondes, or #GlossAwardsBrunettes. on that post and follow @redkenpro to submit your pre-existing post as an entry. Eligible cosmetology students are welcome to enter by adding #GlossAwardsStudents to their comment as well.
All entries must only feature the back of head and cannot contain the face of any individual. All entries must only use Redken Shades EQ hair color and cannot be combined with any other hair color products or treatments. By submitting an entry, entrant hereby represents and warrants that the photo was not retouched or enhanced in any way, and that the photo accurately depicts the truthful result of exclusively using Redken Shades EQ. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM ET on June 30, 2025 to be eligible. Limit one (1) entry per Instagram account, per person for the duration of the Contest Period. Entries received above the stated limit from any person or Instagram account will be void. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or means which subvert the entry process will be void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.
Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the entry, any and all necessary releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the entry by Sponsor in the manner set forth in these Official Rules, including, without limitation, name and likeness permissions from any person who appears in or is identifiable in the entry.
To participate in the Contest, you must have a non-private Instagram (“Platform”) account. If you do not have an Instagram account, download the application to your mobile device or go to www.instagram.com and create an account according to the instructions. Creating an account is free and you may be asked to agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of the Platform. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed to Sponsor, not Instagram. If you choose to enter using your mobile device, standard data fees may apply. See your wireless provider for pricing plan details. Entry must meet Platform’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. - REQUIREMENTS OF ENTRIES: Entry may not contain, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, any content that::
- contains copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, music, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media), without permission;
- contains materials embodying the names, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying any person, including, without limitation, celebrities and/or other public or private figures, living or dead, without permission;
- contains any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
- contains trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) owned by others, without permission;
- is sexually explicit or suggestive; unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic; contains nudity;
- promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing);
- promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message;
- is obscene or offensive; endorses any form of hate or hate group;
- appears to duplicate any other submitted Entries;
- defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people or companies;
- communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which we wish to associate;
- and/or violates any law.
Entry must be the original work of the entrant, may not have been previously published (except by entrant as set forth in entry method #2), may not have won previous awards, and must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity. If the entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant, and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the entry by Sponsor in the manner set forth in these Official Rules, including, without limitation, name and likeness permissions from any person who appears in or is identifiable in the entry. Sponsor reserves the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to Sponsor from any entrant at any time. Failure to provide such proof may, if requested, render entry null and void. By submitting an entry, entrant warrants and represents that he/she and any persons appearing or who are identifiable in the entry consent to the submission and use of the entry in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein.
By submitting an entry, entrant hereby grants permission for the entry to be posted on Redken branded websites or social platforms. Entrant agrees that Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for any unauthorized use of entries by third parties. Released Parties do not guarantee the posting of any entry. Entrants agree that they will not use the entry for any other purpose, including, without limitation, posting the entry to any online social networks, without the express consent of Sponsor in each instance. - JUDGING: All eligible entries received by Sponsor will be judged by a panel of qualified judges based on the following criteria: Creativity 50%, Fit to theme 30%, Uniqueness 20%. The nine (9) entries with the highest scores will be deemed Potential Winners. In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in Creativity will be deemed a Potential Winner. Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries. Prize awards are subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.
- WINNER NOTIFICATION: Potential Winners will be notified via Instagram on @redkenpro during the Awards Show on or about August 3, 2025. Entrants will receive notification of Award Show details prior to streaming. If user has enabled direct messaging on their Instagram account, Potential Winners will be notified via direct message on their Instagram account from Sponsor. If Potential Winner does not have direct messaging enabled, the Potential Winner will receive prize notification via a comment on their submitted Instagram photo from Sponsor. Judges’ and Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to this Contest. Potential Winners may be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release (unless prohibited by law) and any other documents required by Sponsor, which must be returned within seven (7) days of date appearing on prize notification. Return of prize or prize notification as undeliverable, failure to sign and return requested documentation within the specified time period, the inability of Sponsor to contact a Potential Winner within a reasonable time period or noncompliance with these Official Rules by any Potential Winner will result in disqualification and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, the prize may be awarded to a runner-up.
- PRIZES: Nine (9) Potential Winners will each receive a Redken Trophy, Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) $100.00. Total ARV of all prizes: $900.00. Winner may not substitute, assign or transfer prize or redeem prize for cash, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value. Sponsor reserves the right to not award prize to Potential Winner if Potential Winner engages in activities that do not, or have the potential not to, align with Sponsor’s values, or if Potential Winner acts in a disruptive manner, or with the effect to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person or in any other objectionable behavior, any and all in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries.
- GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating, each entrant agrees: (a) to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to this Contest; (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor, Instagram, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives of the forgoing (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any awarded prize and (c) to the use of his/her name, voice, performance, photograph/video, image and/or likeness for programming, advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide and on the Internet, and in perpetuity by Sponsor and its designees, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so. By participating, entrant also agrees not to release any publicity or other materials on their own or through someone else regarding their participation in the Contest without the prior consent of the Sponsor, which it may withhold in its sole discretion.
- USE OF ENTRIES: By submitting an entry, you hereby grant the Sponsor, its affiliates and its Administrators the irrevocable, perpetual, royalty free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, edit, market, store, adapt, assign, distribute, have distributed, publicly and privately display, communicate, create derivative works based upon, and promote the entry or excerpts of the entry (as such may be edited and modified by the Sponsor in its discretion) in perpetuity, for editorial, commercial, promotional and all other purposes (including posting on Sponsor-affiliated websites, other Sponsor-selected media, publishing in print media, on merchandise, and on third party retail sites featuring Redken).
- MISCELLANEOUS: Released Parties are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, illegible, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered, postage-due or garbled Entries or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of entries the announcement of the prizes, the incorrect uploading of the photo or in any Contest-related materials. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to any person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading materials from or use of the website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Contest or website, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated Entries will be void. Should any portion of the Contest be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of Entries, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the Potential Winners from all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to action taken using the judging procedure outlined above. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
- ARBITRATION: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Promotion, participant agrees that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Promotion, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of event action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest the participant; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in this Promotion), and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
- USE OF DATA: Sponsor will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy and Notice of Financial Incentives. Please review the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy at https://www.redkenpro.com/privacy-policy and Notice of Financial Incentives at https://mcqg7tb-yjgl2414mz73fvhqnjg1.pub.sfmc-content.com/f1hi0yqv3yg. By participating in the Sweepstakes, entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.
- Request for Winners’ List: For the names of the winners (available after August 17, 2025 send a self-addressed, stamped, envelope by November 17, 2025 to: Gloss Awards Contest Winners, c/o Redken, 10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
- SPONSOR: Redken, 10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
