Professional Beauty India Delhi celebrates excellence across five competitive categories at the 4th edition of the Modern Barber Challenge.
The Modern Barber Challenge Awards 2026, held during Professional Beauty India Delhi, recognised India’s top barbering talent in an evening dedicated to creativity, technical excellence and innovation.
Now in its fourth edition, the awards celebrated professionals who continue to raise the standards of modern barbering through exceptional skill, artistry and dedication. The ceremony acknowledged outstanding performances across five highly competitive categories, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on precision, creativity and client experience.
Esteemed Jury Recognises Industry Excellence
The competition was evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry experts, including:
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- Jay Pawar, Chief Training Officer, Rawls Salon
- JJ Savani, Creative Director, Global Stylist Blueprint & ONE Studios UK
- Joel Kok, Senior Barber, Nomad Barber, Berlin
- Michael Kontos, Co-Founder & Creative Director, London School of Barbering
- Prathamesh Sawant, Co-Founder, Nomad Barber, Mumbai
- Sahil Jadhav, Hair Wellness Coach, Truefitt & Hill
- Uday Takke, Founder, Uday Takke Hair Care Products & SkinAmore Skin Care Products
- Vinu (The Fat Barber), Winner, Modern Barber Challenge Delhi 2025
- Wazid Ali, Chairman & Director, CLO & FLO Salon
Award Categories Celebrated
The evening recognised excellence across five disciplines of barbering:
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- Express Fade – Honouring precision, consistency and flawless fade techniques.
- Hair Tattoo – Celebrating artistic expression, originality and technical execution.
- Beard & Moustache – Recognising exceptional grooming, symmetry and attention to detail.
- Creative Scissors – Rewarding advanced scissor-cutting skills, creativity and precision.
- The Modern Barber – The highest honour of the evening, awarded to professionals demonstrating excellence in technical ability, creativity, professionalism, innovation and client experience.
Each category recognised finalists, first runner-up and winner, with awards presented by leading industry professionals and followed by celebratory group photographs.
Winners & Runners-Up
Express Fade
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- Winner: Raju Bhai
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- First Runner-Up: Sukhreet Gill
Hair Tattoo
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- Winner: Kunal Raut
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- First Runner-Up: Vijaya Shankar
Beard & Moustache
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- Winner: Jashandeep Khan
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- First Runner-Up: Rizwan
Creative Scissors
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- Winner: Sukhreet Gill
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- First Runner-Up: Imran Sheikh
The Modern Barber
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- Winner: Suresh Bhai Amaratbhan
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- First Runner-Up: Niresh Rahul
A Celebration of Modern Barbering
The Modern Barber Challenge Awards 2026 highlighted how India’s barbering industry continues to evolve, embracing advanced techniques while encouraging creativity and professional growth.
By bringing together talented competitors, respected educators and global industry leaders under one roof, the awards reinforced Professional Beauty India’s commitment to recognising excellence and inspiring the next generation of barbers.
As the competition continues to grow each year, the Modern Barber Challenge remains one of India’s leading platforms for showcasing barbering talent and celebrating the professionals shaping the future of the industry.
