
Pro Beauty Pulse: A Monthly View of Industry Confidence
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.
Count Chicago in on the ever-growing action with StyleSeat, an online marketplace for booking beauty and wellness services. The platform added the Midwest hub to its list of more than 15,000 cities across the U.S. who use it. "We are ...

Count Chicago in on the ever-growing action with StyleSeat, an online marketplace for booking beauty and wellness services. The platform added the Midwest hub to its list of more than 15,000 cities across the U.S. who use it.
"We are so excited to really amplify our business in Chicago," says Melody McCloskey, founder of StyleSeat. "Though we have thousands of stylists and professionals already using StyleSeat to run their business here, this is the first time we're focusing on clients. We are seeing amazing growth here, and local clients are increasingly using StyleSeat to discover, book and pay for style services online."
The platform makes for fast connections between stylist and client and also provides myriad tools for both to be successful in their beauty endeavors.
For beauty professionals, StyleSeat has tools to run, manage and grow your business. Nearly 20 percent of appointments are booked within 24 hours of the appointment time, so you don't have to bend over backward to fill holes in your book anymore. More than 260,000 stylists in the U.S. use StyleSeat, and on average, professionals using StyleSeat up their revenue 70 percent in the first year with the platform.
For clients, it's easy to search for the kind of stylist required and make an appointment quickly. In 2013, more than 5 million beauty appointments were booked through StyleSeat. Many of these appointments are being booked after business hours, which means your appointment book is open 24/7.
StyleSeat celebrated its launch in Chicago at The Belt Room inside Soho House Chicago on Nov. 5 with beauty professionals, media partners and McCloskey on hand to share all that StyleSeat has to offer.
"Whether looking for a barber, stylist, nail artist or esthetician, StyleSeat is a great way for them to find the best Chicago professional who's available when you need them," McCloskey says.

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.

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.

The 2026 Beauty Changes Lives Legacy Award has been awarded to Sam Villa for his trailblazing contribution, advocacy and mentorship that has profoundly transformed and elevated the professional beauty industry.

CND is relaunching its SHELLAC system with a new CND Visible Light Lamp, updated packaging, and an expanded shade offering.

Curl Cult founder Janine Jarman, a hairstylist, salon owner, educator, and product creator, is opening a community investment round that gives hairdressers and clients the opportunity to own a stake in the company they helped grow.

The night honored the artists and collections shaping the future of professional beauty during PBA NAHA 2026.

The ultra-lightweight, handle-free dryer is designed to reduce wrist strain while delivering powerful performance behind the chair.

Aura Salonware is proud to announce its 2026 scholarship recipients. This first-time scholarship in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association awarded three different scholarships to support beauty professionals at every point in their professional journey.