Join Us at ABS

This weekend (March 27-29) all of us at Modern Salon will be off to America's Beauty Show. The iconic show is returning to McCormick Place in the heart of Chicago, bringing with it unparalleled opportunities to see the industry's top talents, attend workshops, classrooms and special seminars, and shop up a storm.

On Saturday, ABS will host the third annual SalonSpa Sustainability Summit, a half-day presentation and Q&A session designed to help you deliver beauty to your clients in the most responsible manner. Topics will include building a green team, giving back to your community, the importance of reading labels and energy use in your salon and spa.

Modern Salon will co-host Celebrate Texture, a seminar moderated by our Editor-in-Chief Laurel Nelson, covering a complete range of trends, techniques, tools and presentations, all focused on the needs of the textured- hair client. Expert panelists will offer a crash course in all things texture.

Growing your business never goes out of style and this year ABS is hosting its first Salon Business Success Salon Owner Management Forum.  Salon Today Editor-in-Chief Stacey Soble will lead a panel of biz pros that includes Reuben Carranza of P&G Salon Professional, Frank Gironda, salon owner and President of Cosmetologists Chicago, John Moroney of P&G Salon Professional and Frank Gambuzza, salon owner and business educator.

The ABS Student Conference will be held Monday morning before the show floor opens and is designed to show students all the excitement that they can expect from a cosmetology career.  Special guests will include Luis Alvarez, Tabatha Coffey, Kim Vo, Scott Cole, Angie Hornback and Darico Jackson, all introduced by the emcee, Modern's own Alison Shipley, senior editor and a beauty school student herself.

On Sunday stylists will find out who won the Stars Make-over Photo Contest. The winner will receive coverage in Modern Salon as well as recognition on stage by celebrity judge, American Crew Founder David Raccuglia.

The Runway will be buzzing each day with stars like Nick Arrojo, and Anthony Mascolo along with master classes from Damien Carney and Sue Pemberton, Scott Cole and Linda Yodice, Rafe Hardy and James Harris.  Hands-on workshops, classrooms and the manufacturer-sponsored America's Product Knowledge College offer comprehensive education.

Matrix's three days of ABS education will feature Nicolas French, Brian and Sandra Smith, Patrick McIvor, Daniel Roldan and Ammon Carver.

African-America Hair 2010, a program of multiethnic professional services, is sponsored by Mizani and features Mizani's Textured Trend collection along with appearances by Kim Whitehurst, Major League Barbers, James Harris and Toni love.

Nail professionals will get technical and business tips at the International Nail Technician's Association Conference (INTA) and skin care professionals can attend the annual American Association for Esthetics Conference.

Please make one more important stop at the show-visit the Modern Salon booth. We'll all be there to meet you and get your reaction to the action. We will be set up in Booth # 2600, so be sure to come over and see us. Editors Stacey Soble, Laurel Nelson and Maggie Mulhern will be there talking to some of your favorite industry stars.

We hope you can make it to ABS, but if not, the next best thing is to stay tuned to Modernsalon.com where we will keep you up to speed on the show floor, backstage, and at all the events with our crack Modern Salon TV crew. We'll also be blogging and doing our best to make sure you don't miss a thing.

For more information, visit americasbeautyshow.com

Check in at modernsalon.com/ABS from Saturday through Monday for real time ABS news.

America's Beauty Show will open Saturday March 27, 2010 at Chicago's McCormick Place. The winner of the 2010 Stars Make-over Photo Contest will be announced Sunday March 28 on the ABS Runway. Students have a blast and hear from many of their industry heroes at the ABS Student Conference. Paul Dykstra, CEO of ABS and Cosmetologists Chicago, will welcome salon and spa professionals and exhibitors to the 2010 America's Beauty Show.