Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011: Organic by John Patrick

Spring 2011 fashion week is off and running here in New York City! First stop: the Organic by John Patrick presentation, shown at the fashionable Ace Hotel. Designer John Patrick was inspired by the fluidity and texture of water, and the beach-wavy hair look, created by lead stylist Jenn Chiminiello for Aveda, followed suit. “It’s meant to look like the girl had her hair done the day before and slept in it,” she told me. Chiminiello got the look by prepping the hair with Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother and parting it on the side, lightly curling it with a large-barrel iron and raking the curls with her hands before finishing the look with Air Control Hair Spray.

Lead makeup artist for Aveda Jannell Geason completed the look with 70s-themed makeup. The look featured a soft smoky eye achieved with taupe and brown shades and a drop of All Sensitive Body Formula oil on the lid, defined lashes and brows, lips stained with Nourish Mint Sheer Mineral Lip Color in Sheer Roseleaf or Nourish Mint Smoothing Mineral Lip Color in Hot Pepper and dewy complexion.

Sedu Announces Banish Boring Hair Contest

Professional styling tool brand Sedu has just announced its Banish Boring Hair Contest, which launches this month. The contest encourages stylists to be creative and daring with their entries—a photo of an innovative look created with a flat iron, along with simple instructions. Sedu will accept entries by standard mail or submitted through the website from September 1 through October 15, and Sedu experts will choose three finalists based on originality, use of flat iron and educational value of instructions. One winner, announced October 29, will receive the grand prize: $1,000, a Sedu styling tool kit valued at $450 and their winning look featured in a major trade magazine.

How Does Your Salon Prepare for the Holiday Season?

Salon owners and managers, we want to hear from you! How do you help your clients get through the busy holiday season? Offer special promotions or retail items to boost retail sales and help clients take care of last minute gift giving? Offer relaxing holiday-themed treatments? Extend your hours for blow-outs to get clients ready for the party season? We want to hear your ideas–you could be featured in the October issue of American Salon. Please e-mail  labrams@questex.com. Don’t forget your name, salon name and location. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Check Out Hair Battle Spectacular August 10!

Tune in to Oxygen this coming Tuesday, Aug. 10, for Hair Battle Spectacular, a new TV series that pits 10 outrageous stylists against each other to see who can create the most spectacular fantasy hair designs and win the $100,000 prize. Hosted by actress Brooke Burns and featuring judges Derek J (also seen on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and the movie Good Hair), celebrity stylist Lindsay Albanese and a rotating guest judge, the show features a salon area fully outfitted with Pibbs Salon Equipment, including Turbo Power styling tools.

Vote Now for American Salon’s Professional’s Choice Awards!

Time is running out! Vote now for the 2010 American Salon Professional’s Choice Awards! Vote on all of your favorite professional beauty products—from haircolor and blow-dryers to shampoos and hair extensions. You could win Apple’s new iPad! Voting ends on July 10, 2010, and the Professional’s Choice Awards winners will be announced in our September 2010 issue.

Matrix Announces May Mannequin Mania Semifinalists

Matrix has just announced the May semifinalists for its Matrix Mannequin Mania contest. (Visit matrixmannequinmania.com for the complete list.) In its second month, the contest has generated more than 4,100 entries from across the country. Each semifinalist was awarded $1,000 and their entries are automatically entered into to the finals. A panel of judges, including American Salon Executive Editor Lotus Abrams, will then select the finalists, in each category, and then the voting will open up to stylists around the country to choose the ultimate Matrix Mannequin Masters. The winners of the grand prize will take home $25,000 and get to experience a day with stylist icon and Matrix Mannequin Mania celebrity judge, Tabatha Coffey. Stylists whose entries were not selected as semifinalists in May, still have another chance to be selected, as entries automatically roll over into the following month. Each month for the remainder of the entry portion of the contest, which ends July, 31, new semifinalists will be chosen. Visit mannequinmania.com to check out all of the entries, get inspired and enter.

A few of the May semifinalists’ mannequin heads:

Don’t Forget to Enter the Matrix Mannequin Mania Contest!

Visit the Matrix Mannequin Mania website to check out the latest round of semifinalists picked for the contest. Take a look at the amazing entries submitted so far and get inspired to enter. You could win $25,000 and spend the day with Tabatha Coffey!

Here are just a few of the creative entries so far!

Vote for Your Favorite Products–Win an iPad!

We’re officially kicking off the 2010 American Salon Professional’s Choice Awards today! Vote on all of your favorite professional beauty products— from haircolor and blow-dryers to shampoos and hair extensions. You could win Apple’s new iPad! The voting ends on July 10, 2010, and the Professional’s Choice Awards winners will be announced in our September 2010 issue. Vote now!

Redken Giveaway Today and Tomorrow

Act fast! Redken is giving away free copies of the Stylist’s Guide to Fashion Week as well as a Redken product featured inside the issue to all stylists who stop by The Gallerie on 5th Avenue during store hours today and tomorrow. Two very lucky winners will receive a free class at The Exchange–each class is a $900 value! This contest is for stylists exclusively so bring your license, business card or license number. Come to the Redken Gallerie at 565 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to snag your copy between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. today and tomorrow!

Experiencing Plantogen’s New Manuka Honey Mask

I recently had the opportunity to try out Plantogen’s new Manuka Honey
Mask, which was used in my amazing facial at Ohm Spa in Manhattan. What makes it so special? Plantogen uses “active” honey produced by bees that gather pollen from manuka bushes found in Australia and New Zealand. According to Dr. Peter Molan, a professor at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, active manuka honey contains a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), which means that it is a natural antioxidant that supplies cells with a wide range of vitamins, amino acids and minerals while also fighting bacteria. In addition, active manuka honey has been shown to improve cellular regeneration and promote collagen production. Who knew? All I can tell you is that my skin definitely feels smooth and luminous now!