Editor's Note: Trending

The MODERN editorial team just got back from spending a long weekend with the professional beauty industry in Las Vegas. We were busy covering and participating in Cosmoprof North America, the City of Hope “Spirit of Life” reception, the North American Hairstyling Awards and the Beacon program for future professionals.

Some of us stayed through the week or are traveling back to the desert for Wella’s CONNECT and Trend Vision events, and the Cosmetology Educators Association’s annual conference. Others just feel like we’re still in Vegas (except for the humidity), as we relive, recap and rebroadcast the highlights. Check out modernsalon.com/NAHA for exclusive awards coverage and watch modernsalon.com and next month’s issue for expanded coverage of PBA Beauty Week. In the meantime, a few hot points:

NAHA: new names, fave icons. Great new talent plus inspiring wins from industry faves. Allen Ruiz took top honors; Sue Pemberton earned her second win. MODERN cover artist Matthew Morris claimed the fi rst-ever Men’s Hairstylist of the Year NAHA and we expect to see more from Student Hairstylist of the Year Stormie Roberts.

Curls, curls, curls. Creating and caring and complementing curl continues as the latest, greatest twist in texture. (We overheard one of the most powerful execs in distribution call the new wave of curl-creating wands the most important thing to happen since, well, fl atirons.)

Nails are still a bright spot. This break-out beauty category keeps bringing the bling and new layers of performance and innovation.

Lashing out is in. No longer a fringe category, eyelash extensions, treatments and accessories commanded attention and more fl oor space. Brows are booming, too.

Kera-buzz. Keratin as an ingredient—and “kera” as a prefi x—still drives new launches, reformulations and line extensions.

Anti-aging. The boomer boom in personal care isn’t going away any time soon. From head to toe, keeping hair, skin, nails in optimum condition and minimizing the effect of aging is the formula for success. And the beauty industry keeps getting more sophisticated and innovative.

It really is a small world. From Guam to Siberia (seriously), we saw new international brands courting the U.S. market of salon professionals.

Focusing on the future. Beauty Changes Lives announced new scholarships; Michael Baker of Neill Corp. launched a Second-Hand Scissors mentor/matchmaking campaign. Learn more at beautychangeslives.org and secondhandscissorproject.org.

Hope is still in style. The City of Hope “Spirit of Life” gala honoring Wella CEO Reuben Carranza got things revved up, but the campaign to raise awareness and funds to fi ght “career killer” diabetes goes through November. Visit cityofhope.org/hopeisinstyle to get involved, and stay tuned for other initiatives to support and promote the “healthy hairdresser.”