Redken Symposium 2015

THE EVENT: Redken Symposium 2015, the bi-annual three day extravaganza designed to educate and inspire the beauty community, strengthen techniques and build skills with the goal to “Learn better, Earn better and Live Better.”

THE DETAILS: 10,000 salon professionals came to the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, to stop in at any of the 25 classes to learn more from top educators in every area necessary to succeed including color, shape, design, business, retail, tools, equipment, outreach and more. Pureology was there with classes and a dedicated Gallerie, as was essie with its own nail lounge. StyleSeat, the “solution” designed to help salons book, engage and sell to clients, was eagerly shared with attendees. There were hands-on opportunities, extra credit classes and countless celebrity salon pro sightings (Guy Tang, Rodney Cutler, Jo Blackwell, Rebecca Taylor, Sam Villa, Ann Mincey and so many more.) There was non stop education and sneak peeks of the newest products, technologies and innovations available. “Legendary Designs” hosted by Sam Villa and Chris Baran, along with the Color Panel (featuring celebrity colorists Tracey Cunningham and David Stanko) and “The Worldwide Color Movement”, hosted by Redken Education Artistic Director Kris Sorbie, were worth the trip alone. Highlights were bountiful and included the Symposium Bash featuring the hotter than hot band Neon Trees.

HONORING PAULA: The Grand Opening kicked off with a tribute to Redken founder Paula Kent Meehan, who was continually honored throughout the weekend with posters and a lifetime timeline in the Redken Gallerie. Sheri Doss, VP Education, Redken Worldwide adds, “In June, the industry lost one of its greatest pioneers, Redken co-founder Paula Kent Meehan. Our hope as we celebrate our 36th year of Symposium is to reflect upon how far the salon industry has come since the days of Paula’s Amino Pon Shampoo and, together, prepare for where we are headed.”

PROGRESS: MODERN followed the progress of various attendees and saw this Symposium through the eyes first timers Donna Weidow, Bittersweet Salon, Hamilton, Montana and Kylie Pritts, Viva Bella Salon, State College PA. All were impressed with the quality, amount and variety of information as much as the peer to peer inspiration. Adds Pritts “Symposium was a good investment for my future. I will be back in 2017.”

THE LAST WORD: Jessica Sutton, a first timer from The Salon Professional Academy, Colorado Springs, Co. says “The experience as a whole was one of the most rewarding, meaningful experiences I've had in my life. The educators were there to share without attitudes, no condescending remarks, no entitlements or ornery attitudes. Just humble people who love people well and have a constant desire to always be growing and learning.” Adds Dana Sears of Beauty Brands, Kansas City, KS, attending her 5^th Symposium, says “This is the place for career designers. This is the place for people who are serious about their jobs. It’s magical and amazing.”