Contest Description and Timing
The Contest Period begins on June 30, 2025 at 12:00:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on September 30, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM ET. All entries must be received within this period to be eligible. Following the conclusion of the Contest Period, entries will be evaluated as described below. Finalists will be notified on or about the end of October 2025, and the final Winners will be announced on or about the first week of November 2025. Specific announcement dates will be communicated by Sponsor. Any entries submitted before or after the Contest Period are void.
Eligibility
This Contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old (or the age of majority in their state of residence) as of the date of entry. Void outside the U.S. and where prohibited by law. Individuals who are employees, officers, directors, agents, or representatives of Sponsor, Sponsor’s parent or affiliated companies, advertising and promotion agencies, or any other party involved in the design, administration, or judging of the Contest (collectively, the “Contest Entities”), and the immediate family and household members of such individuals, are not eligible to enter or win. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and to disqualify any entrant who does not meet the eligibility requirements in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
Judging Criteria and Winner Selection
This Contest is a talent-based competition. All eligible entries will be judged by a panel of qualified judges appointed by Sponsor. Entries will be evaluated based on the following judging criteria (each scored on a 0-100 scale or as otherwise weighted by Sponsor):
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Creativity and Originality (25%): How inventive, creative, and original is the entry? Does it showcase unique talent or perspective?
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Skill and Execution (25%): The level of skill, quality, and effort demonstrated in the entry.
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Relevance to Contest Theme (25%): How well the entry adheres to the theme or challenge outlined by Sponsor and the overall Contest requirements.
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Overall Impact (25%): The overall impression of the entry, including its ability to engage, inspire, or impress the judges and audience.
After the Contest Period, judges will review all submissions and score them using the criteria above. Based on these scores, the judges will select a group of top entries as Finalists (anticipated to be twelve (12) finalists). Finalists will be notified on or around late October 2025 and may be required to provide additional information or confirmation of eligibility.
People’s Choice Voting: Sponsor may conduct a public voting period (e.g., through social media or an online poll) among the finalists to determine a “People’s Choice” winner. Details of any public voting (such as voting period and how to vote) will be announced by Sponsor when finalists are revealed. Each person is limited to one (1) vote per platform or per day (as applicable), and any use of automated voting or encouragement of fraudulent votes is prohibited. The finalist entry receiving the highest number of valid public votes by the end of the voting period will be deemed the People’s Choice Winner.
Winner Selection: A total of ten (10) winners will be selected in this Contest, plus two (2) Honorable Mentions, for twelve (12) total recognized entrants. The winners will consist of those finalists who achieve the highest evaluations:
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One of the ten winners will be the People’s Choice Winner determined by public vote (as described above).
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The remaining winners (including a First Place winner and other ranked or category winners as determined by the judges) will be chosen by the judging panel based on the judging criteria. Judges will designate one First Place (Judges’ Top Pick) and may designate additional placements or categories (e.g., Second Place, Third Place, etc.) up to the tenth winner.
The judges’ decisions are final and binding in all matters. In the event of a tie in the judging scores that would affect the selection of finalists or winners, the tied entries will be re-evaluated by the judges or a tie-breaking judge using the same criteria, or the tie may be broken based on the highest score in a specific criterion (e.g., Creativity), at Sponsor’s discretion. In the event of a tie in the public voting for People’s Choice, Sponsor may choose the winner among the tied entries based on the judging scores or extend the voting period, at Sponsor’s discretion.
Honorable Mentions: The judges may also name two (2) Honorable Mention finalists who are not awarded a prize but will be acknowledged for their outstanding entries. Honorable Mentions are considered finalists but not winners.
Limit one prize per person: If the same entrant is selected to win more than one prize category (for example, if an entrant’s submission is awarded a judged prize and also receives the most public votes), that entrant will receive the higher-value prize (or at Sponsor’s discretion, the prize category that the entrant prefers, if the values are equivalent) and will be ineligible for the additional prize. In such case, the other prize may be awarded to the next highest-ranked entry or next highest vote-getter, as applicable, so that ten distinct winners are awarded. This is to ensure ten unique winners in total.
Prizes
Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these rules, the prizes are as follows:
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First Place: People’s Choice Prize: One (1) People’s Choice Winner will receive a prize of $1,500 (awarded in the form of a check or electronic payment). This prize is awarded to the entry that wins the public vote.
Winner Notification and Requirements
Each potential winner (including finalists selected as potential winners) will be contacted by Sponsor (The Doux) via the method appropriate to the entry. For example, if entry was via social media post, Sponsor may send a direct message or comment to the potential winner’s account; if entry was via an online form, Sponsor may reach out via the email or phone number provided at entry. It is each entrant’s responsibility to check their messages and emails for notification from Sponsor around the winner announcement time.
If a potential winner is contacted via social media, he/she may be required to respond to Sponsor’s message or comment within 48 hours to confirm eligibility and acceptance of the prize. If contacted via email/phone, the potential winner must respond according to the instructions within 48 hours of the notification being sent. Failure to respond in time or as instructed may result in disqualification of the potential winner, and an alternate winner may be selected in their place (time permitting and at Sponsor’s discretion).
Before being declared an official winner and receiving a prize, each potential winner will be required to complete and return certain documents provided by Sponsor. These documents may include an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and where lawful, a Publicity Release, as well as any required tax forms (collectively, “Winner Documents”). The potential winner must sign and return these documents within seven (7) days of Sponsor sending them (or by the deadline specified in the Winner Documents). If a potential winner fails to sign and return the required documents by the deadline, or if any notification or prize is returned as undeliverable, that winner may be disqualified and an alternate may be selected.
In the event a potential winner is disqualified or forfeits the prize for any reason, Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, award the prize to an alternate finalist (for example, the next highest scoring entry or next in line from public voting). There will be up to one alternate drawn or appointed per prize; if after a reasonable number of attempts a prize remains unclaimed, Sponsor may cancel that prize or donate it, at Sponsor’s discretion. Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding on all matters related to winner selection, notification, and verification.
Winners will be officially announced by Sponsor during the first week of November 2025 (exact date to be determined by Sponsor). Sponsor may choose to publicly announce winners via social media, its website, and/or a live or virtual event. By entering, finalists and winners agree that Sponsor may publicly use their name, likeness, and entry for promotional purposes (see Publicity section below).
Publicity & License Grant
By entering the Contest, you understand and agree that Sponsor and its designees may use your entry content for advertising and promotional purposes. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes each finalist’s and winner’s consent to Sponsor’s use of his/her name, username/handle, photograph, likeness, biographical information, prize information, personal testimonials, and/or statements about the Contest, as well as the content of the entry (including any photo, video, or written material), for any promotional, advertising, or other purposes in any and all media, now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity, without further compensation, notice, or permission.
Intellectual Property Rights: You retain ownership of the original content you submit in your entry. However, by submitting an entry, you hereby grant to Sponsor and its affiliates and agents a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display and perform your entry (including the video, image, or other material and any associated text or descriptions) in connection with the promotion of this Contest or Sponsor’s products and services. This license will remain in effect for the duration of the Contest and a reasonable time thereafter for promotional purposes. Sponsor will not be obligated to make any use of the rights granted in this section.
General Conditions
By entering, participants agree to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor and the Contest judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of the Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike, fraudulent, or disruptive manner. ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS; SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest (including canceling any method of entry or public voting) if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Contest is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including but not limited to fraud, technical failures, virus, bug, tampering, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such event, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either (a) cancel the Contest entirely, or (b) suspend and/or resume the Contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules. If the Contest is terminated early, Sponsor reserves the right to determine the winners from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received up to the time of cancellation, using the judging procedure outlined above, or in a fair and appropriate manner as determined by Sponsor.
Release of Liability: By participating in the Contest, to the maximum extent permitted by law, entrants agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Sponsor, the Contest Entities, any social media platforms used for entry (including but not limited to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter), and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize. This release includes, but is not limited to, any claims of damage to or loss of property, personal injury or death, rights of publicity or privacy, or defamation, and any claims based on copyright infringement, trademark infringement, or other intellectual property rights arising from the entry or Sponsor’s use of the entry. Entrants assume all liability for an injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Contest or the acceptance or use of any prize.
The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind (including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines, internet connectivity, or network hardware or software); (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries or votes; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize. If for any reason an entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Contest (if feasible and if the Contest has not ended) or a fair opportunity to participate further, at Sponsor’s discretion.
Entrant agrees that any materials (including the entry content) that he/she uploads or provides in connection with the Contest are provided on a non-confidential basis and that Sponsor has no obligation to return any materials. Sponsor’s decisions on all matters relating to the Contest are final and binding.
Disputes and Governing Law
To the fullest extent permitted by law, by entering the Contest, you (the entrant) agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by binding arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in or near Atlanta, Georgia (or another location mutually agreeable to the parties) before a single arbitrator, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO SUE IN COURT (except for matters that may be brought in small claims court) and WAIVING ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. You also waive any right to bring or participate in a class action, consolidated, or representative proceeding against the Released Parties.
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of Georgia or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Georgia. If any portion of this Disputes provision is found to be unenforceable or unlawful, the remainder of the provision shall remain in effect and the unenforceable portion shall be severed and removed to the extent permitted by law.
Sponsor
Sponsor of this Contest is The Doux, a brand of hair care products. Sponsor’s address: The Doux LLC, 62 Oak Farm Ct.Loganville, GA 30052. All correspondence regarding the Contest (such as requests for winners list) should be directed to this address.
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform. Entrants understand that they are providing information to Sponsor and not to any social platform. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed to Sponsor, not to any social media company.
Winners List and Official Rules Requests
After the conclusion of the Contest, a list of winners (first name and last initial, and state of residence) will be available upon request. To request a Winners List or a copy of these Official Rules, you may send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The Doux Contest – Winners List/Rules (please specify which), c/o [The Doux, 680 Murphy Ave SW St. #4220 Atlanta, GA 30310]. Requests must be received within 60 days of the end of the Contest. The Winners List will be sent once all winners have been verified and prizes have been awarded.