Welcome to the first round of American Salon's March Madness-inspired photo contest, BEAUTY BADNESS 2024: The Fiercest Hair on Instagram.

This competition celebrates hair artists who create amazing looks with cut, color, and style using hair as their canvas: on models for photoshoots, or on the salon clients in their chair.

From avant-garde to fashion color to precision cuts to everyday gorgeousness, all looks were invited to enter — as long as they are bold, beautiful, and BAD. (Tap the competitor's @handle to see their original post on Instagram.)

Following March Madness rules: we start with 64 entries in 32 head-to-head elimination competitions.

Round 1 of voting is open through noon ET on Sunday, March 24, with the winners announced for Round 2 on Monday, March 25. 

Have fun, good luck, and may the baddest hair slay! 

LEFT BRACKETS

Top Left 

1 - @spacecathairco vs. @amandaepsteinhair

2 - @shurveronika vs. @johnnydyes

3 - @elainecavadahair vs. @sherette.salontrendnewyork

4 - @hair.by.trianna vs. @jendidthat

5 - @hairmajessty vs. @touched_by_fatima

6 - @john.n1115, @danarosehairgirl & @touchbyaubree vs. @__mikemartinez & @elizahis at @cutlersalon

7 - @amandaepsteinhair vs. @johnnydyes

8 - @katharinefuller vs. @sallyloew

Bottom Left

9 - @bobbymackhair vs. @spacecathairco 

10 - @jendidthat vs. @hair_by_paula_s

11 - @tierras_hair_artistry vs. @johnnydyes

12 - @brentdanielbasore vs. @slickback_buttahtoast

13 - @willow_hair vs. @hair.by.trianna

14 - @dezaraekbeauty vs. @emmys_style

15 - @tierras_hair_artistry vs. @spacecathairco

16 - @john.n1115 vs. @johnnydyes

RIGHT BRACKETS

Top Right

17 - @mandaharsche vs. @brentdanielbasore

18 - @blondeandpeachy vs. @jessycurlz_citycurlstudio & @melimel_citycurlstudio

19 - @ajhhair at @cutlersalon vs. @hair.by.trianna

20 - @emmys_style vs. @hapagirl77

21 - @hairbyshyloh vs. @marethehairartist

22 - @gianniscumaci vs. @thastylist18

23 - @lennakellydoeshair vs. @shearelegance_bynicole

24 - @melimel_citycurlstudio vs. @brentdanielbasore

Bottom Right

25 - @vikiscissorhands vs. @jendidthat

26 - @john.n1115 vs. @touched_by_fatima

27 - @slickback_buttahtoast vs. @elainecavadahair

28 - @saraluxesalon & @jessi_cosmicrevival vs. @amandaepsteinhair

29 - @bobbymackhair vs. @dezaraekbeauty

30 - @marethehairartist vs. @hapagirl77

31 - @ernestomeneses vs. @thesambullen at @cutlersalon

32 - @blondeandpeachy vs. @brentdanielbasore

Thanks for voting! Check in on Monday, March 25 to vote for the competitors that moved on to Round 2.