OMC Hairworld 2025

The Magic of Paris from a Hair Stylist’s POV – OMC Hairworld

by Pivot Point Product Experience Senior Manager, Jason Russell

Paris, the City of Lights… and Hair

How does one go about spending a magical weekend in good ole Paree? Admiring the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, sipping coffee on the Champs-Élysées, or climbing to new heights at the Eiffel Tower? Maybe… 🤔

But I have a better way!

What about packing thousands of hairstylists into an arena filled with the world’s most talented hair artists and watching them fight to the death (not really) for the most prestigious awards in the hair industry at OMC Hairworld?

Sounds magical to me. 🪄

What is OMC Hairworld?

Think about the Olympics’ balance beam, shot put, and archery all combined into one—except for hair. Thousands of contestants visit OMC Hairworld annually to participate in what many call the Hair Olympics. 🏆

No, they’re not literally balancing on beams or throwing discs—but they do have a unique skill set that makes them the best in the world at their craft.

Competition categories include:

Bridal updos
Avant-garde hair
Fantasy creations
Gala styles
Classic barbering
…and more!

These “Hair Olympians” practice all year and spend thousands of dollars to execute the perfect final design. Maybe we should call it Hair Archery. 🎯

Photo courtesy of OMC Hairworld

The Competition Atmosphere

Countdown to Magic

Each day is filled with one competition after another. It’s mesmerizing to see how the most gravity-defying hairstyles are executed in just 30 minutes. ⏰

The announcer’s countdown echoes across the arena in multiple languages—dozens of countries are represented:

5, 4, 3, 2, 1… GO! 🏁

Precision & Pressure

With calculated precision, each competitor leaps into action, aiming for gold. As many as 100 people are competing at once, and you can cut the intensity with a knife.

Spectators hold their breath as the clock winds down…

Photo courtesy of Estetica

“You have 1 minute remaining.”

Sweat pours. Hands shake. The final alterations are made…

5, 4, 3, 2, 1… STOP! 🛑

And suddenly, a collective exhale fills the room.

From Hair to Haute Couture

But it’s not over yet!

For the next three minutes, competitors bring their creations to life with couture fashion:
*rhinestones, crystals, ruffles, jewels—*you name it.

It’s no longer just the Hair Olympics… it’s the Hair Met Gala. 💃

Now it’s in the hands of the judges.

Photo courtesy of American Salon

The Judging & Awards Ceremony

How do judges even begin to choose the world’s best when each design is extraordinary? From one mannequin to the next, it’s truly the crème de la crème.

And then… IT’S TIME!

The bronze goes to… 🥉
The silver goes to… 🥈
And the GOLD goes to… 🥇

The arena erupts. Chants, cheers, and flag-waving fill the air. Even those who didn’t place celebrate the artistry on display.

Photo courtesy of Racked

Unity & Camaraderie

This is more than competition—it’s community.

Teams sing in unison, wave their flags, and cheer for one another. Not everyone wins an individual medal, but everyone shares in the victory of their country’s team. 🌍

The camaraderie is touching. Each competitor knows the sacrifices behind the artistry, and the mutual respect is palpable.

Of course, one question always remains…

How are they going to get those huge trophies home? 😂

My Magical Paris Takeaway

So, did I walk the Champs-Élysées and visit the Eiffel Tower? Yes! 🇫🇷

But the most magical time in Paris was witnessing the passion of hairstylists from around the globe competing at OMC Hairworld.

Where else can you find dozens of countries, thousands of practice hours, countless dollars, and one dream—to be a champion—on full display?

There’s no other place on Earth where the passion for the beauty industry shines brighter. ✨

LEARN MORE ABOUT JASON RUSSELL

👉 Want to see more behind-the-scenes from OMC Hairworld? Follow @omchairworld for exclusive coverage.

Pivot Point: OMC Mannequins Gold Sponsor

We at Pivot Point are extremely proud to be an OMC Mannequins Gold Sponsor of OMC Hairworld. Our founder, Leo Passage, had a passion for competing, and we’re thrilled to keep his legacy alive by participating in major events around the world focused on competitions. As part of our commitment to competitions, we’ve continuously developed top-quality products to ensure that competitors have the best tools to bring their creations to life with our Premium Series, competition-approved mannequins.

Pivot Point Representation at OMC Hairworld

Pivot Point’s mannequin representation at OMC Hairworld 2025 was phenomenal. The introduction of several new Premium mannequins increased the number of competitors using our products. We’re thrilled to share that nearly 30% of competitors in the ladies’ categories competed on our new Premium mannequins, and 80% of competitors in the gents’ categories used our new Premium gents’ mannequins. In total, 57% of all mannequins featured this year were Pivot Point Premium Mannequins. We loved seeing the amazingly talented competitors showcase their artistry on our mannequins.

Witnessing each competitor receive their medal this year was pure joy. We want to thank the hundreds of team members who chose our products and congratulate every medalist! It was a thrill to see 50+ competitors take home bronze, silver, and gold—each showcasing their work on our new premium products. Our love for competition and commitment to developing the highest-quality products—combined with the competitors’ passion and dedication—is a formula for success!