Wow…how great is AMERICA'S BEAUTY SHOW? One of the best parts of my job is that I get to attend many of the professional salon industry shows held around the country. Oddly…I've never been to ABS! This year, however, with our hotter than ever website, all of our social media outlets and the launch of Modernsalontv, more editors were needed to cover the show. This was great news for me because I LOVE Chicago!

I was there for a number of fun assignments, but my total fave was conducting the "celeb" interviews on the Modern Salon stage at our booth. It was...in a word…GREAT!!!!! Hopefully you will all set aside some time to see these interviews on modernsalontv and on our website, but meanwhile…let me give you a little heads up on why each was special:

KIM VO, Celebrity Colorist, judge (Shear Genius), Salon owner, incredibly cute:

You know when some people come off nice, but behind the scenes they're really jerks? Well..Kim Vo comes off nice and genuinely IS nice. This was my first time meeting him, but he is simply the GREATEST GUY EVER!!!!!!  He shared formulas (the new chocolate brunette formula for Katherine Heigl and his formula for his own summery blonde!) He took questions and stayed afterward to rub elbows with the huge standing room crowd that gathered around our booth.

BETH MINARDI, celebrity colorist and co-founder Minardi Salon, Joico Spokesperson, aspiring ballerina, one of my best buds

Beth, possibly the best educator the salon industry has ever seen, took a break from her prep room (she was doing a three hour class the following day), to join us on our stage. We got oodles of great info from Beth including her latest color techniques and applications and favorite trends for spring. Color junkies in our audience were in awe of the opportunity to meet her so intimately!

 Beth Minardi at Conversations in Color - Master Class

NICK ARROJO, celebrity hairdresser, founder Arrojo Studio, great mentor

Want to know what you have to do to open a salon, up your profile or maximize your efforts on your ride on the "up escalator" in the professional salon industry? Nick informed the standing room only crowd that it takes a lot more than talent and passion. We all learned that we have to sacrifice and work hard to succeed.

RUTH ROCHE, founder RARE studio, platform artist, humble artist

Ruth was a star from the moment she picked up her first pair of shears. Ruth shared her journey from her years as an artist with Trevor Sorbie to her career at Redken and finally as the founder of her own studio and advanced education facility.

ANTHONY MASCOLO, TIGI International
Creative Director, Amazing talent, great host (when I visited his London Studio)

Anthony Mascolo has created some of the most
beautiful images in the professional salon industry.
As a styling star and photographer, Mascolo spoke
about some of his favorite photography moments,
locations and where he goes and what he does for
inspiration.

Maggie and Anthony Mascolo doing an interview
for Modern Salon TV

Special guest: DR. GARY SMOTRICH,
founder Lawrenceville Plastic Surgery
(Lawrenceville, New Jersey), humorist, ski buddy


My friend Dr. Smotrich was heading Chicago to attend a
plastic surgeon's convention. I bumped into
him on the plane and invited him to swing
by the show for a little interview for Modernsalontv.
Ok…I actually invited him to ATTEND the show,
but then dragged him to our stage. Poor Gary.
What was supposed to be an informative
conversation for estheticians on working with
clients who have recently had laser peels,
liposuction or other cosmetic procedures,
turned into consultations for those
gathered in the audience.  For me? Turns out I
could benefit greatly from a brow lift. Once that
college tuition monkey is off my back… I am so
GOING TO DO THAT!!!!