Limited Registrations — Only 300–400 Slots Available. Round 1 is Open Now. Submit Your Portfolio Today.

India's Premier Hair Colour Competition

Colour Awards

Q: What are the basic requirements to apply?

You must be 18+ years old, based in India, and have a public Instagram account. Employees and immediate family members of Velvetree are not eligible to participate.

By Velvetree

A national stage for India's finest hair colour artists. Compete across three rounds, showcase your craft to expert judges, and win life-changing prizes — all starting from a free portfolio submission.

₹1.5 Lakh

Top Prize

300+

Artists Competing

Delhi

Grand Finale

3

Rounds

Round 1 Registration

Register Free Today

Complete all fields carefully. All registrations are reviewed within 48 hours. Shortlisted artists are contacted directly by phone and email.

Velvetree Colour Awards 2026 — Round 1

Free Entry

Your Details

Full Name

Contact Number

City & State

Instagram Handle

Salon Name

Years of Experience

Current Role

Portfolio Submission

Upload 3–5 images of your best hair colour work

Images must be original, clear, well-lit, and unedited. Clearly showcase your hair colour technique.

Video / Reel Link (Optional — Instagram or YouTube link)

Not mandatory. Share a reel or video if you'd like to show your technique in action.

About Your Work

Your Colour Specialisation

Describe Your Submitted Work

Help the judges understand your creative process and intent. This is your chance to make your submission stand out.

Have You Competed Before?

How Did You Hear About This?

Consent & Declaration

I confirm all submitted images and content are 100% my original work — not created, assisted by, or sourced from any other person or AI tool.

I confirm my Instagram account is currently public and will remain public throughout the competition period.

I grant Velvetree a licence to use my submitted work, name, and Instagram handle for marketing, social media, and promotional purposes.

I have read and fully agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy of the Velvetree Colour Awards 2026.

I declare my intent to participate in all rounds if shortlisted, and understand that the judging panel's decisions are final and binding.

Why Participate

4 Reasons to Register Today

This isn't just a competition. It's the single most impactful thing you can do for your career as a hair artist this year.

Win ₹2,00,000+ in Prizes

First prize is ₹1,50,000 cash — plus a Velvetree hamper and trophy. Even placing 4th to 30th earns you a goodie bag worth ₹25,000 and a Certificate of Recognition. Everyone who makes it to the finale wins something significant.

National Recognition for Your Craft

All 30 finalists are featured across Velvetree's social media platforms — reaching thousands of professionals, clients, and industry insiders. Top 10 artists receive a professional photoshoot, giving you powerful portfolio content.

Step Into the Grand Finale Experience

Top 30 finalists receive accommodation, three meals a day, all required products and tools, and a professional model — all provided by Velvetree. You just need to show up, create, and perform. The Grand Finale is an experience unlike any other in Indian hair artistry.

Zero Risk — It's Completely Free

Round 1 costs nothing to enter. No registration fee, no entry fee, no catch. All you need is your portfolio, a public Instagram account, and the ambition to be seen by India's top hair judges on a national stage.

Round 1

Portfolio Submission

This is where your journey begins. Submit your best hair colour work for evaluation by Velvetree's review team. No live element, no pressure — just your artistry, speaking for itself.

What You Need to Submit

Everything you need, in one place

3 to 5 high-quality images of your original hair colour work
Images must be clear, well-lit, and unedited — no heavy filters
Work must clearly showcase your hair colour technique
One optional video or Instagram reel link (not mandatory)
A public Instagram account (we verify this during review)
All standard registration details (name, contact, city, role)

Round 1 Judging Criteria

Reel Requirements

Your reel must include all of the following

Before → During → Final look sequence — all three stages must be visible
Clear, visible use of Velvetree products on screen during the process
Final styled look shown clearly from multiple angles
Face and hair of the client/model must be clearly visible
Editing allowed — but must not artificially alter or distort colour results
Posted on Instagram with #VelvetreeColourAwards #Velvetree and @velvetreeofficial tagged
Link to the reel + before/after images submitted in the form

Round 2 Judging Criteria

Round 2

Reel Creation

100 shortlisted artists from Round 1 receive a live brief. You must create a brand-new hair colour look — exclusively with Velvetree products — and document it as a reel. This is where your product knowledge meets your creative vision.

Round 3

Live on Stage · Delhi

The Grand Finale is the pinnacle of the Velvetree Colour Awards. Top 30 finalists are invited to Delhi to compete live on stage under the theme "Creative Colour" — bold, editorial, runway-inspired colour placement that stops the room.

Theme: Creative Colour

Bold, high-fashion colour placement inspired by editorial and runway trends

Plagiarism or copying results in immediate disqualification
All artists present their model on the ramp at the finale
Only Velvetree hair colour products (provided at venue) may be used
Looks must be created live on stage — no prior preparation of the model
Complete your look within the allotted time — strictly enforced

Prizes & Rewards

What You Win

Over ₹1,75,000 in cash and prizes. Every single finalist receives something — this is not a winner-takes-all competition.

₹1,50,000

₹60,000

₹50,000

4th–30th

Every Finalist Wins

Goodie bag worth ₹25,000 · Certificate of Recognition · Featured on all Velvetree social media platforms. All 30 finalists also receive full hospitality in Delhi — stay, meals, products, tools, and a model — at no cost.

Competition Rules

Rules You Must Know

Read these carefully before registering. Violations at any stage result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any prizes earned.

Original Work Only
All submitted images, reels, and competition looks must be entirely your own work. No assisted, copied, or AI-generated content permitted at any stage.
Velvetree Products Only (R2 & R3)
In Rounds 2 and 3, only Velvetree hair colour products may be used. Proof of usage may be requested at any time. Using other brands results in disqualification.
3–5 Images for Round 1
A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 portfolio images are required. Fewer or more than this range will be rejected without review.
Public Instagram Required
Your Instagram profile must be set to public throughout the entire competition period. We verify this at every stage.
One Registration Per Person
Multiple entries from the same individual are strictly prohibited and will result in all entries being disqualified.

Round 2 Must Be New Work
The look submitted in Round 2 must be created specifically for this round. Reusing old work or re-editing previous content is strictly prohibited.
No Heavy Filters or Editing
Portfolio images must be clear, well-lit, and unedited. Heavy filters, colour corrections, or Photoshop adjustments that alter the hair result are not allowed.
No Late Entries
Entries submitted after the stated deadline for any round will not be accepted under any circumstances, including technical issues.
Content Usage Consent
By submitting, you consent to Velvetree using your submitted work, name, and Instagram handle for marketing purposes across all channels.
Judges' Decisions Are Final
All decisions by the judging panel are final, binding, and non-negotiable. No appeals, score reviews, or reconsiderations will be entertained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions, Answered

Everything you need to know before you register. If your question isn't here, contact us on Instagram @velvetreeofficial.

Who can participate?

Any hair professional based in India who is 18 years or older — freelancers, salon artists, educators, and students are all welcome. You must have a public Instagram account. Velvetree employees and their immediate family cannot participate.

Can I submit old work for Round 1?

Yes. Round 1 is a portfolio round and accepts your existing best work — there’s no restriction on when the work was done. However, the work must be entirely your own original creation. Rounds 2 and 3 require freshly created looks.

What Velvetree products must I use in Round 2?

In Round 2, only Velvetree hair colour products are permitted — no other brands. You must demonstrate their use in your reel. Velvetree may request proof of product usage (receipts, packaging visible on screen, etc.) at any time. Failure to comply results in disqualification.

When will I know if I'm shortlisted?

Our team reviews all Round 1 entries and responds within 48 hours of submission via the email and phone number you provide. Shortlisted artists will receive a direct confirmation. Please ensure your contact details are accurate when registering.

Can I enter if I'm a student with limited experience?

Absolutely. Students are explicitly welcome. Experience level is not a primary judging criterion — creativity, technical skill, and the quality of your colour work are. Many competitions of this nature have been won by relatively newer artists who bring fresh vision.

What are the basic requirements to apply?

You must be 18+ years old, based in India, and have a public Instagram account. Employees and immediate family members of Velvetree are not eligible to participate.

Is there an entry fee for Round 1?

No, Round 1 registration is completely free. There is no entry fee at any stage of the competition. You only need to provide your portfolio images and personal details.

What kind of images should I submit?

Submit 3–5 clear, well-lit photographs of your best hair colour work. The images must be unedited (no heavy filters or colour corrections that change the actual hair result). Each image should clearly showcase a hair colour technique — balayage, highlights, creative colour, global colour, etc.

Will Velvetree cover my travel expenses to Delhi?

No, travel to and from Delhi is the participant’s responsibility unless otherwise communicated by the Velvetree team.

What is the Creative Colour theme in Round 3?

The Creative Colour theme focuses on bold, high-fashion colour placement — think colour blocking (not full-head colour), editorial and runway-inspired looks. Specific directions include face-framing blocks, hidden panels, geometric sections, contrast ends, and split colour. It is not about full-head global colour.

Can I update my portfolio after submission?

No. Once submitted, entries cannot be edited or changed. Please review your selected images carefully before hitting submit. Only one registration per person is allowed — a second registration attempt will disqualify both entries.

Who is eligible to participate?

The Velvetree Colour Awards is open to anyone in India working with hair colour professionally, including freelancers, salon professionals, educators, trainers, and students. All experience levels are welcome.