The winners of The Brief are in.

The new editorial competition, designed to mentor and spotlight Aotearoa’s vibrant hairstyling talent, was launched by Industry NZ, an initiative founded by award-winning session stylist Sara Allsop.

Created in collaboration with leading fashion director and Ensemble contributing editor Dan Ahwa, and judged by international New Zealand hair artist Matt Benns, this year’s edition of The Brief invited hairstylists of all experience levels across the country to respond to a creative brief that celebrated the artistry of hair in an editorial context.

With briefs set by Dan, the competition was split into two categories. Established stylists with 5+ years’ experience were tasked with interpreting the theme ‘Fine Arts’, focusing on sculptural, technically ambitious hairstyles inspired by the world of fine art. Emerging stylists were challenged with ‘The Underground’, where the focus was on delivering a hairdo that tapped the spirit of rebellion, subculture and avant-garde expression.

For Matt Benns, selecting just one winner in each category was no easy task. Judging remotely from his base in New York – where he regularly works with editorial and celebrity clients including Dazed, Family Style, Re-Edition, CR Fashion Book, Kelela, Lorde and Charli xcx – the standard of entries from back home in New Zealand made the decision all the more challenging.

“Sara approached me about creating a project that would really challenge our hair artists – something they could sink their teeth into,” says Dan. “As someone who often sets editorial briefs for shoots, this was a fun one to develop.”

Dan created a brief with a strong point of view, to see whether hairstylists could really engage with the creative process – considering all the elements that make editorial work not only successful but enduring. “A stylist’s ability to collaborate on set, listen, share ideas and still deliver something that aligns with the brief, while staying true to their personal style, taste and technical ability, is what sets great artists apart,” says Dan.

“It’s been such an honour to be part of this competition, and working alongside two hair legends like Sara and Matt has been rewarding. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners for pushing creative boundaries.”

Sara Allsop says the competition was created to give hair professionals an opportunity to elevate their craft, and to consider the nuance of creating editorial imagery that offers a balance between a strong hair look supported by styling, makeup, casting, lighting and photography – all while meeting the brief.

Ensemble is proud to partner with The Brief to celebrate the inaugural winners: Christopher Huia Woods (Established) and Kim Touch (Emerging), who share the inspiration behind their standout entries.

See all the finalists for the emerging and established categories here.

Fine Arts Established WINNER: Christopher Huia Woods (Ngāti Awa/Bay of Plenty)

With decades of experience in the hair industry, Christopher worked for renowned Australian stylist Stelios Papas in Brisbane and has a master of art & design from AUT. Having owned several salons in both Australia and New Zealand, Christopher’s unwavering passion for his craft has led him to his current position with Amica Hair Salon in Grey Lynn, Auckland.

Christopher's striking image caught judge Matt's eye, from the hair to the photography. "The silhouette of the hair is a great interpretation of classic chignon style but twisted into something with modern styling."

Christopher’s entry displays a confident understanding of delivering a strong image that sticks to the brief, taking inspiration from his passion for art house films, music and hairdressing.

"The idea behind my hairstyle was to produce an image for a creative woman in charge of an art gallery,” says Chris. “I looked to the decades of the 1930s and 40s for inspiration, taking the elements of these and using this to create the silhouette of the final image. The French roll and the way the sides were pulled back behind the ears influenced the final shape.

“I wanted to create a textural quality within the silhouette so I looked to the natural world that fell within the criteria of the competition, and in doing this I looked at the beauty of corals found in the ocean.

“I started creating this by dividing the hair into sections making sure to keep the silhouette shape of the classical French roll. After that was done I plaited each section, then twisted the plaits and secured these with French pins making sure to create the external design.”

Christopher also acknowledged the power behind the hair do and the women who inspired the overall look and feel.

“When styling this look I wanted a strong and classical image in the vein of the powerful women of the 30s and 40s such as Marlene Dietrich and Veronica Lake.

“I love creating editorial work more for the journey and the way it contributes to the learning process, delving into artist and technical exploration to achieve the finished look.”

The Underground Emerging WINNER: Kim Touch

Pushing the sculptural updo to new heights, Kim’s experimental look stood out to judge Matt Benns. Based at The Black Studio salon in Mt. Eden, Kim impressed with a striking entry that feels fresh and showcases the 30-year-old’s adept hand at hair sculpture with just four and a half years’ experience.

“I’m inspired by the work of Sharon Blain – she’s a true hair icon. I love watching her work. It’s incredibly inspiring, technically precise, beautifully polished, and driven by such high passion.”

The inspiration for Kim’s unique look came from a fusion of futuristic editorial fashion and traditional braid work.

“I wanted to create a silhouette that was both powerful and fluid – something that feels almost like wearable art. The structure is built using a strong internal base for height and balance, combined with intricate braiding techniques to add shape and dimension. The exaggerated loop and upward twist give it that modern, almost avant-garde finish, while the clean, sharp lines around the face contrast with the softness of the fabric and form. It’s a celebration of strength, precision and elegance,” explains Kim.

“All black fashion was chosen to create a bold, grounded silhouette that allowed the sculptural hair and sharp makeup to take centre stage. The makeup was kept minimal yet impactful, with bold graphic liner designed to echo the structure and movement of the hair.”

The future looks bright with Kim’s sharp understanding of balance when it comes to executing an editorial look with the right elements working together.

“I love working on imagery and editorial projects like this because they push me beyond my comfort zone. It allows me to explore new creative territory and build a visual narrative that feels personal and expressive – almost like creating a modern-day lineage through hair.

“Every shoot is a chance to upskill, evolve, and hopefully inspire someone else to take creative risks too. I’m incredibly grateful to have had such a talented team to bring this vision to life.”