What an incredible night! Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Best of Mile High Awards. The energy in the room, the excitement, and the support for local businesses made it such a memorable evening.
It was an honor to celebrate alongside so many amazing companies, teams, sponsors, and supporters who help make the Mile High community such a great place to live, work, and explore.
🏆 The 2026 Best of Mile High winners are now live on our website.
Take a look and see which businesses earned this year’s top honors.
Thank you for being part of Best of Mile High. We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year. 🎉
Your ticket gets you a full night of celebrating, including:
• Red carpet photos • Awards presentation • Live, clean comedy • Door prizes • Dessert • On stage photo moment
If you have a VIP ticket, you’ll also enjoy:
• Unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails • Early entry and preferred seating • A fun Best of Mile High gift • Extra chances at door prizes
Who should come
This night is all about our finalists and their teams. It’s a chance to celebrate the hard work that got you here.
What should I wear
Dress up and have fun with it. This is your moment.
Most people go cocktail or formal, so think dresses, suits, or even a tux if you’re feeling it.
How long is it
About two hours. Short, fun, and packed with everything you came for.
Who’s the entertainment
We’re bringing in Tara Cannistraci, aka “The Bronx Barbie,” all the way from New York. She’s hilarious, high energy, and will be helping us celebrate and announce winners throughout the night.
Ever wonder how Best of Mile High winners are selected? The program is designed to combine community support with real customer feedback so the results reflect businesses that consistently deliver great experiences.
Here’s a simplified look at how the process works.
Community nominations
The program begins with a public nomination period where Denver area residents nominate the businesses they trust and recommend. These nominations help identify which companies the community believes deserve recognition.
Nominee selection
After nominations close, our team reviews submissions and selects the official nominees in each category. This review includes looking at Google reviews from the past 12 months to identify businesses with strong and consistent customer feedback.
Community voting
Once nominees are announced, the community has the opportunity to vote for their favorite businesses. Each person may vote once per category during the voting period.
Final scoring
After voting closes, results are compiled. Community votes are combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months to determine the overall scores.
This approach helps ensure that Best of Mile High winners are not just popular during voting, but also consistently supported by real customers throughout the year.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Best of Mile High voting stage. Your support helps spotlight the businesses that truly stand out across the Denver community.
The moment is here. Voting for the Best of Mile High Awards is officially open, and this is when the Denver community gets a say in recognizing the businesses that truly stand out.
From longtime favorites to trusted local service providers, voting is your opportunity to support the companies that consistently deliver great experiences.
Voting dates
Voting is open February 24 through March 12.
During this time, residents can visit our website and vote for their favorite businesses across multiple categories.
How voting works
Voting is simple, but meaningful:
• Each person may vote once per category • Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized • Votes are combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months
Together, these factors help identify the businesses that have earned trust, loyalty, and strong community support.
Nominees: time to spread the word
If your business is an official nominee, now is the time to let your customers know.
Helpful ways to encourage participation include:
• Sharing your nomination on social media • Using the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard • Mentioning your nomination in store or during appointments • Sending a short email or text thanking customers and inviting them to vote
Support local. Make it count.
Voting is open now. Visit our website and make your voice heard before voting closes on March 12.
We’re officially in countdown mode. In just a few days, voting for the Best of Mile High Awards will open, one of the most important stages of the entire program.
If your business is an official nominee, now is the time to prepare. If you’re a supporter of local businesses, get ready to make your voice heard.
When does voting open?
Voting runs February 24 through March 12.
During the voting stage, Denver area residents can visit our website and vote to support the businesses they believe truly stand out. Voting is combined with Google reviews from the past 12 months to help determine which nominees rise to the top.
Voting must remain fair and cannot be incentivized, but nominees are encouraged to spread the word. A little preparation now can make the voting period much more impactful.
Here are a few effective ways to prepare:
• Share a post letting customers know voting is opening soon • Download and use the complimentary voting graphics in your dashboard • Mention your nomination during customer interactions • Plan a short email or text reminder once voting opens
Voting opens soon, and this is when the Best of Mile High community really comes together. Whether you’re preparing to share your nomination or planning to vote, now is the time to get ready.
The Best of Mile High community has spoken, and our team has completed the review process. Businesses selected as official 2026 Best of Mile High nominees earned their place through a strong combination of nominations and Google reviews from the past 12 months.
Freshly Faded Barbershop is more than a place for a sharp fade—it’s the vision of two Latina entrepreneurs, Erica Hernandez and Monica Delgado, who turned years of hard work, shared values, and faith into a space of their own. As Hispanic women and working mothers in a male-dominated industry, they’ve created not just a business but a statement: representation matters, and women can lead with strength and purpose.
Their journey began in 2011 at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Westminster. Erica had already been there since 2007, while Monica was just joining the team. They met behind the chairs and quickly bonded. Both were young mothers taking early shifts to balance work with school pickups, navigating an industry where women—especially Latinas—were rarely in the spotlight. That shared experience created a natural connection, one built on hustle, resilience, and a shared desire for something more.
Over the next decade, they worked side by side. Erica, who started cutting hair in the early ’90s, and Monica, who joined the field in the early 2000s, pushed each other to keep growing. They kept up with trends, invested in continued education, and sharpened their craft. But more than that, they built trust with each other—and the early spark of entrepreneurship began to grow. They wanted greater freedom, not just to be creative, but to own their time, their work, and their future.
Leaving Floyd’s was a big step, but with strong client support, they moved on to rent chairs at a shop in Olde Town Arvada. It was a chance to work independently while still leaning on each other. For five years, they ran their own stations and built their brands, but the idea of going separate ways never felt right. Their partnership worked, and it was clear that the next move had to be one they made together.
That next move came sooner than expected. Erica had an appointment to view a potential shop space and invited Monica to join. After meeting with the leasing rep, they both felt it might be the one. Later that same day, the broker called with surprising news: another salon in the same center had just terminated its lease. It was larger, fully built out, and available immediately. They didn’t overthink it—they signed the lease and got to work.
Freshly Faded Barbershop opened soon after, entirely self-funded with no outside investors. The name came naturally, reflecting their style, professionalism, and commitment to clean, consistent service. Staying in Arvada was never up for debate. This was their community, where they built their careers and earned the trust of their clients. They brought their team with them, six talented barbers who shared their vision and wanted to be part of something bigger—including Erica’s daughter, who proudly joined them in the next chapter of their journey.
As a Latina- and women-owned barbershop, Freshly Faded brings a new perspective to an industry still dominated by men. Erica and Monica didn’t just create a business, they built a space where people feel seen, respected, and welcomed. Their leadership reflects the values they live by: hard work, community, and showing up every day with purpose.
Throughout it all, their faith in God has given them the confidence to keep moving forward. They’re deeply grateful for their journey, their growth, and every client who helped them get here.
Opening day was filled with support from friends, family, and longtime clients. One customer walked in, looked around, and said, “This place feels like a blessing.” It was a simple moment, but one that captured everything they had built.
For Erica and Monica, Freshly Faded isn’t just a shop. It’s the result of years of dedication, a reflection of who they are, and a reminder of what’s possible when women bet on themselves—and believe in something greater.
At the heart of it all is their motto: “Freshly Faded, with respect and integrity.” It’s more than a tagline—it’s how they work, how they lead, and how they treat every person who walks through their doors.
