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SEARCHMichelle Forst’s first salon job as an assistant turned into a life-changing opportunity. There she met her current employer, celebrity hairdresser George Gonzalez, who was impressed with her cutting and styling skills and hired her for the opening of his George the Salon in Chicago.
Michelle Forst’s first salon job as an assistant turned into a life-changing opportunity. There she met her current employer, celebrity hairdresser George Gonzalez, who was impressed with her cutting and styling skills and hired her for the opening of his George the Salon in Chicago. The best part? She got to split her time between the salon and Oprah Winfrey’s HARPO Productions where she is now Rosie O’Donnell’s stylist for The Rosie Show.
ABOUT ME
BORN AND RAISED: Elmhurst, Illinois
MY STYLE NOW: Anything black.
MY FAVORITE TREND EVER: The high ballerina bun.
THE BEST SONGS ON MY IPOD: The new Rihanna song, Cheers.
MY BEST VACATION: St. John’s, it was amazing to share a beautiful place with family—and fun to be an “adult” having pina coladas with my parents. OMG wish I was there now!
MY PERFECT DAY: A good night’s rest, a hot, hot cup of coffee, 90210, a long run and workout, and a beach.
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB: The clients I get to see every day. They have watched me and grown with me, and have taught me so much.
THE TOUGHEST PART OF MY JOB: My feet tingling at the end of each day—but it feels good knowing I have worked hard!
IF I HADN’T BECOME A HAIRDRESSER: I would have been a doctor or in some sort of medical sales—maybe a nurse because you still get one-on-one interaction.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN: I am a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
I BECAME A HAIRDRESSER: Because nothing else made sense. I just love hair.
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.
A live education series explores the ideas, collaboration, creative decisions and processes behind the winning work.
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
The Good Patch is a leading wearable wellness patch brand, offering wellness and skincare patches that support everyday needs including energy, sleep, relaxation and more.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Ulta Beauty has announced its partnership with Black Beauty Roster to launch the pilot of All Textures Certification (ATC). The new program is aimed at addressing gaps in education within the beauty industry and raising the level of skills and guest satisfaction for all.
Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Salon owner, tech founder, and educator Universe Walker will bring her signature workshop, The Art of Dry Cutting, to Brooklyn on July 20, offering stylists a chance to deepen their understanding of shape, movement, texture, and dry cutting.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing resources that help beauty professionals stay informed, we thought it was worth introducing our audience to The Chatter and the unique perspective it brings to industry conversations.
Celebrating 60 years in haircare, Dippity-Do is honoring its styling heritage with its Girls with Curls collection, a reimagined Light Hold Gelée inspired by the brand's original 1965 styling gel.
Covet & Mane has expanded its Pro Color System with the launch of Color Boost Drops, completing what the company says is the first professional color system engineered specifically for hair extensions.
