Iron Wig 2022 Final Round

1. Dye challenge: the dye has to be used, but other methods can be used to dye the wig! Core structures are allowed, just no other hair material than the Le Tigre wig. 
2. Theme: create something from Mythology! This can be a favorite legend or a mythical creature. A small written explanation will be required on what inspired the look and how it was implemented into the styling. 

Judging will be based on the following categories for a total of 50 points possible:

• Presentation (10 points)
• Cleanliness (10 points)
• Complexity of styling and dye (15 points)
• Creativity/Design of styling and dye (15 points)

Progress photos are not required, though they do help! Take photos of several angles of the finished wig. Assistance with the photography, makeup, modeling, etc. is allowed, just not the styling.

Here’s a rundown on how each category works:

OVERALL PRESENTATION (20% of your final score)
Presentation is how the wigs are showcased. Photos of each wig from different angles are required and showcasing on a person rather than a mannequin is preferred. Creating a look with makeup and/or fashion could also improve your score. You don’t need a professional photographer or model; if you make an effort to show your wig off on a real person, get photos under good lighting, and in front of a non-distracting background, you will do well in this category.
Please note: While normal lighting touch-ups are fine, overly photo-shopped images may result in a point penalty or disqualification.

OVERALL CLEANLINESS (20% of your final score)
We’ll be looking at imperfections within the techniques applied. Here are some but not all examples to consider:

• If the hair is intended to be smooth, are there gaps or bumps?
• If the hair is curled or textured, is it consistent in the applied area?
• Do cut areas look unintentionally choppy or uneven?
• Is there a distracting amount of glue visible?

If something looks out of place from the intended styling, points could be deducted.

COMPLEXITY (30% of your final score)
For this category, we look at the types of techniques used in each entry and the level of difficulty for the overall style and dye techniques to determine a score. Impress us by trying new techniques rather than relying on the same ones every round. We recommend writing up a list of techniques used if those techniques are not shown in progress images.

CREATIVITY/DESIGN (30% of your final score)
This category is all about what makes your entry unique and artistic! What was the inspiration behind it? Did you use a unique technique? Do the dye colors and effects help communicate your idea? Is the style like nothing we’ve seen before? Did you do something interesting with the fibers besides just the wig? Does it have a good silhouette, or do the elements come together to create a unified whole? This category can be tricky because we don’t know what to expect every time. The wig that has the biggest WOW factor is usually going to get the most points here, but there are other things you can do to help your score. Document your process and materials; if you’re using something that we don’t usually see, it will make it stand out! Tell us the inspiration for your work and why you made the decisions that you did. We like seeing wigs that have a meaning behind them.

There will be a panel of 3 Arda judges; scores will be added up and divided by 3 to give each contestant an average score for each category. Contestants are welcome to reach out to the Arda team for a private critique after scores have been published.

Round 3 is the last one. The winner of this round will earn a $50 gift certificate!

There will be an audience favorite poll once the results are in; the top favorite will receive a $25 gift certificate to our website!

Late entry policy: Entries submitted within 12 hours after the deadline can be accepted as a late entry. Late entries will not be qualified to enter the audience poll and will receive a 25% point deduction from their total score. This will likely result in being eliminated from the competition, but the contestant can still receive their $50 certificate.

The deadline will be: June 1st at 12:00 P.M. GMT