Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

And the Bridal Challenge '09 Winner is...

Modern editor Laurel Smoke's big day finally arrived on November 14th, and with it, everyone's hair questions were answered! Our 2009 Bridal Challenge, where we visited six salons in the Chicago area to let them have their way with Laurel's hair, was a a big success. We had an overwhelming number of votes from stylists and owners on their favorite wedding 'do.

Alison Alhamed
Alison AlhamedEditor in Chief, MODERN SALON
Read Alison's Posts
July 11, 2011
And the Bridal Challenge '09 Winner is...

 

2 min to read


Modern editor Laurel Smoke's big day finally arrived on November 14th, and with it, everyone's hair questions were answered! Our 2009 Bridal Challenge, with visits to six salons in the Chicago area to let them have their way with Laurel's hair, was a a big success. We had an overwhelming number of votes from stylists and owners on their favorite wedding 'do. And now it's time to reveal the winning stylist and their salon, plus a couple of photos from Laurel's big day and the style she ended up choosing.


The winner is...
Shyla Samel-Kurnick and Avalon Salon and Day Spa!
Shyla created an ornate, avant garde updo with colorful accents that got the greatest number of votes from readers.

Here's how she did it.











Ad Loading...


Second place...
Coming in as a close runner-up was the detailed, precise style from Toni Scott and the Ruby Room! This style was popular not only with stylists and owners, but also with Laurel's sister and maid-of-honor, Amber Smoke, who had a version of the style done with her hair for the wedding.

Here's how she did it.








We also want to thank all the other salons who hosted us and participated in the challenge. If you missed any of the styles, be sure to click through to see what they did and how they did it.

Michael Anthony Salon
Prink
Salon 1800
Salon Coccole

And finally, here a couple of snaps of Laurel on her wedding day. Laurel chose Rachel Glenn of Prink to do her hair on the big day. The hair came down to the wire, becoming a last minute decision, but in the end, she and Rachel borrowed elements from several of the styles to create this perfect look!


































More In The Know

Ad Loading...
colorful geometric patterns and text that reads 'Salon Today 2026 Technology Guide'
In The Know|Articles|Sep 2, 2026

Salon Today 2026 Technology Guide

As technology evolves at an accelerated rate, you want to make sure you have the best in your business toolkit to help you grow sales, motivate your team, communicate with your current and future clientele, and streamline your managerial tasks. The 2026 SALON TODAY Technology Solutions Guide is designed to help you navigate today's growing landscape of salon and spa technology. In this guide, you'll find a curated look at more than 50 of the latest software platforms, digital solutions, and innovative features to help you compare options and identify the best fit for your business.

Ad Loading...
A man cuts a man's hair
In The Know|Articles|Aug 6, 2026

In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai

Ad Loading...