Best of the Windy City: ABS 2011 (Part 2)

Texture! panel: This presentation, hosted by MODERN’S Editor-in-Chief Laurel Nelson and Michelle Breyer, founder of NaturallyCurly.com, was packed with all kinds of curly-haired information from a panel of texture experts including: John Benedetto, director of education for GK Hair; Shari Harbinger, director of education for Deva Concepts and color director for Devachan Salon and Departure Lounge; Ouidad, salon owner and product developer; Anthony Dickey, founder of Hair Rules hair care line; Veronique Morrison, director of education for Mizani; American Crew’s International All-Star Erica Grabczyk; and Artistic Director and Educator for Ouidad, Ana Daniel.

The panel discussed keratin treatments, dry cutting vs. wet cutting curly hair, transitioning clients to their natural texture and how to understand/build and market to curly-haired clients. After the panel discussion, curly-hair demonstrations were conducted throughout the room on models where attendees could get up close to watch the techniques.

“The Texture live panel was just what all of us curly hair professionals needed!” said attendee Melanie Day from You’ve Got Curls Salon in Lexigton, Kentucky.

NaturallyCurly.com founder Michelle Breyer said, “It is not often that you get some of the top experts in texture in one room. This was a unique opportunity to see and learn about a variety of philosophies for working with waves, curls and kinks. Many stylists said it was the single most valuable event they attended because of the real-world techniques they learned.”

Student assembly & AACS bringing beauty to life: This presentation on the ABS Runway featured testimonials from seasoned salon professionals on how beauty changed their lives for the better. There were presentations from American Association of Cosmetology School’s Beauty Changes Lives Ambassador Ted Gibson, FIRST CHAIR Editor Alison Shipley, Shear Genius 3 winner Brig Van Osten, Aquage’s Luis Alvarez and words of wisdom from International Artistic Director for Pivot Point International Yolly ten Koppel, among others. Dedicated to students, this assembly provided inspiration, advice and tips to those who are just entering the beauty industry. “It was such a powerful event! I wish I could have attended when I was still a student,” said Van Osten.

On the runway: The Runway at ABS showcased superstars including the Sassoon Academy Creative Team, Toni & Guy, Nick Arrojo, Matrix artists Brian and Sandra Smith, and many more. And this year, the Runway also hosted the CND Shellac and Fashion Fusion event.

This nail event showcased the brand’s 2011 spring nail trends and how-to Shellac demonstrations with the 12 new Shellac colors on a big screen. Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold talked about each of the new trends, which include: Flesh- Forward—chick, fl oral bohemian fabrics accentuated by clean, modern nails; Effervescent Effect—graphic brights, intricate beading and vibrant colors in lightweight gossamer fabrics for nails with multidimensional effects; and Diplomatic Darks—tonal shades of blue, oxblood, red and berry pairing with global prints, ’70s inspired silhouettes or textured evening gowns.

Last word: “Why did we choose McCormick Place as the venue for America’s Beauty Show? It allows for 800,000 gross square-feet of space, the main stage and all exhibitors are on one level, and it allows for better technology capability and traffic patterns,” said Paul Dykstra, CEO of America’s Beauty Show. “When we polled attendees, three out of four say they love ABS at McCormick Place!”


Related:
Best of the Windy City: ABS 2011 (Part 1)
Best of the Windy City: ABS 2011 (Part 2)