Hairdustry’s fifth Presley Poe and Friends event is fast approaching. Set for April 26-27, 2025 in Frederick, Maryland at Paul Mitchell’s The Temple Academy, this year’s show theme “Tech Behind the Chair” will showcase the latest innovations driving the future of hairstyling. If you want to get hands-on at this year’s show, now’s your chance! Brought to you by Bounce Curl, Hairdustry is again running its Shadow Presley Poe Contest throughout February. If you win, you will receive roundtrip airfare, an Airbnb stay, entry to the show with Olaplex VIP access and the opportunity to shadow Presley Poe during show prep and performance.
“Honestly, it’s my favorite thing we get to do every year at Presley Poe and Friends,” Hairdustry's Corey Gray shares. “I love presenting the opportunity to a hairstylist every year. The greatest compliment is that most of the shadows come back year after year on their own dime because of the impact of the experience.”
How to Enter
- Post on Instagram a picture of hair that may not be your “best” work, but is the one you’re most proud of. Be specific: Why does this picture mean so much to you?
- Share what winning the Shadow Presley Poe contest would mean to you.
- Follow and tag in the caption @bouncecurl, @hairdustry and @presleypoe.
- Use the hashtags #shadowpresleypoe25 and #presleypoeandfriends.
Former Winners Reflect on Their Experience
To learn more about the Shadow Presley Poe contest, we reached out to former winners Lauren Giles (@creationsbylauren_), Kristen Benstog (@kristenbenstoghair) and Marissa Risien (@iammj______), who reflected on their experience and how it shaped their career as a hair pro.
After entering three years in a row, Lauren was finally chosen as a winner of the Shadow Presley Poe contest last year. During the event, she had the opportunity to collaborate with Presley on a model's hair color.
"Shadowing Presley was a dream," she says. "I learned color techniques I could only learn from them. Plus, the networking and connections I made were so impactful. The event was mind blowing."
Marissa won the contest in 2022, sharing that Presley was one of the first big artists she started following while in cosmetology school.
"I always felt pulled towards their energy, personality and teaching style. I always felt that Presley had such an authentic presence through social media," she says. "When I won the opportunity to meet Presley and their team in-person, I was met with exactly that: pure authenticity, and their team was a direct reflection of that as well."
Risien is now a Master of Balayage hair extension educator and branding educator who travels to different salons, schools and conventions to teach and make an impact on others the way Presley made an impact on her.
"My favorite memory from my first year at PP&F was when Presley pulled me on stage and allowed me to tell my story," she recalls. "My biggest dream in my career was to become an educator to teach on stage in front of others, sharing my testimony and hopefully making a positive impact on those around me. Presley had allowed me to do that as a 21-year-old baby hair stylist."
When Kristen won the contest in 2023, she shadowed Rebecca Taylor, having lunch with her during the event and coloring hair on a model together.
"I had no idea what’s to expect, walking onto a plane, flying to a city I knew nothing about and hanging with these big names in the industry," she reflects. "I honestly felt like I was an imposter, but the second I met Corey, Presley and Rebecca, it was like I found my people! They welcomed me with open arms and helped me make the most of the weekend!"
Since the event, Kristen has found joy in teaching classes for short cuts and collaborating with other artists.
"Rebecca, Hairdustry and Presley granted me so many permissions to truly be me — my goofy, awkward self — and to pursue the things I wanted because I wanted to and not because it’s what I felt like I SHOULD do," she says. "I’ve just learned a lot about my self worth, which has helped me resonate with other hairstylists and clients!"
Former Winners Share Their Advice for New Entrants
Feeling inspired to enter this year’s contest but unsure where to begin? You’re in luck! We reached out to Lauren, Kristen and Marissa for their advice to guide this year’s participants, and they shared some invaluable insights with us:
"Always approach opportunities with a YES behavior," Lauren recommends. "Put your all into your entry — your heart and vision of what you're most proud of. Authenticity is so special! Let yours shine in your entry."
"Just start! You owe it to yourself! We all work so hard to congratulate and hype up the people around us that we forget about the wins we have in our own life! Of course, the big prizes are nice, but nothing beats acknowledging how important you are," Kristen shares.
"At the end of the day, the post isn’t about your best work behind the chair. The post is about sharing your passion, your authentic experience as a hairstylist and what inspires you to continue pursuing your craft. This opportunity is about sharing your heart and experiences," Marissa says. "Good luck to you all. This was such a divine experience for me, and I know it will be for you too."
