Redken's Symposium in Las Vegas
Redken's Symposium in Las Vegas
Vegas didn’t know what hit it on a chilly weekend in mid January.  “Please tell me you’re a hairdresser,” said the cabby to me as I fell into his taxi.  “No,” I said.  “But I get it.  I love them too.”  That’s right, everyone around the world knows how much fun a salon pro can be!  And it was10,000 plus hair professionals having fun at the Mandalay bay Hotel where Redken held its bi-annual SYMPOSIUM, the largest and one of the most exciting educational events in our industry.

Redken's Symposium in Las Vegas
Redken's Symposium in Las VegasIt was, in a word, GREAT.  16 classes offered by renowned educators like Chris Baran, Chris Sorbie, Sam Villa, Suzanne Sturm, George Alderete, Patrick McIvor and Giovanni Giuntoli, made learning fun.  Everyone attending had a chance to learn how to color correct, do hair “backstage” at a fashion show or for print, how to develop clientele, how to formulate, how to cut, razor, transform.  Oodles of models, from “real people” to top agency guys and gals were there to show the latest and greatest.  One class had more than 50 models in its presentation!  It was two days of HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY education, presented in one of the most palatable ways…90 minute stage classes offering demonstrations, presentations and formulations.  To top it off, Redken invited the newly solo FERGIE to show up and perform on her own for the FIRST TIME EVER on the last night of the event.

All the education, entertainment, stimulation and inspiration was amazing, but one of the best moments came as the Symposium crew converged with the “Ski Convention” snowboarders and the “Cement Convention” 300 pounders in the corridor connecting the hotel to the convention floor!  Now you’re talkin’ Vegas! That was better than anything Cirque du Soleil could come up with!   Fortunately, what happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas….much to the delight of clients around the world.

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