
Wella Announces the Finalists of Wella Trend Vision Awards
This year’s awards centered around the Monochromatic trend, which is rooted in minimalism and intentional by design.
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.

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.

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!



This year’s awards centered around the Monochromatic trend, which is rooted in minimalism and intentional by design.
Haircare brand The Doux has launched “My Salon Empire,” a free-to-play salon management game on Roblox, helping the next generation celebrate the diversity of textured hair and explore salon entrepreneurship.

The show reported 30% attendance growth. It felt that way. This event for the southwest professional beauty community had heart, spice, and something for everyone.

Wella artists presented the Monochromatic trend movement, introduced new Pure Perfection color and Sebastian styling innovations, while the Wella team created interactive fun throughout Wella Studio in Los Angeles.

Dominique LyVar, an influential educator and artist, is remembered by those who loved him for his significant impact on the industry and contributions to the community.

Known for his buttery blondes and a technique for highlighting hair with more precision that he called chunking, Brad Johns died on August 27. His friend and fellow colorist, David Stanko, shares thoughts on his talented colleague and close friend.

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.

The Davines Edit reflects the brand’s passion for people and planet.

RÜTE Wash introduces a shower cap designed specifically for crown washing, helping clients with hair extensions cleanse the scalp while protecting the lengths from water.

Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.

One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.

According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.

Hairstylists and barbers can showcase their creative and technical vision in two global categories with cash prizes and a chance to represent in Portugal.

The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.

The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.

This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.

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