Kylie Hayes, of Moha Morrison Hayes Hairdressing, won the Young Talent Gold award at the competition in Auckland on Monday night.
Jaimee Smith and Anna King, both of Zaibatsu Hair Art, won the Silver Colour award and the Bronze Young Talent award, respectively.
Mrs Hayes will travel to Paris in November to represent New Zealand at the International Trend Vision Award where she will pit her skills against hairdressers from 50 other countries.
Her winning cut, a sharp geometric style, sculpted using one of her favourite tools - clippers - and coloured with teal, blue and magenta, was praised by Australian hairdresser of the year, and judge, Joey Scandizzo.
"It's spot on the trend and I believe it could possibly even win the international award," he said.
Mrs Hayes was influenced by Alexandra McQueen and Lady Gaga, who favoured strong, structural pieces.
The team she worked with also helped, because her model, Carey Scott, had been a client for years so she understood her hair.
Her husband, Nelson Morrison, was her assistant for the competition.
The win was "exceptionally exciting" and topped off a stellar year for Mrs Hayes, who won several awards, including top senior cutting, top senior styling and overall senior champion, at the Otago Fashion Hair Design Awards and the Oceanic Masters Awards in July.
"My year to date has been really rewarding. It would just be nice to top it off with an international award," she said.
