America’s Beauty Show will play host to the NaturallyCurly, CurlStylist & Modern Salon Texture! panel for the second year in a row, which will showcase the most influential curl experts in the world. We won’t lie—we almost can’t contain ourselves.
The high-power panel will include brands such as Hair Rules, Ouidad, Deva, Mizani and GK Hair. This group of experts will also be hosting a demo where they style curls for you to see. American Crew will also join the demo, showing us all how to care for our curly male clients’ curls.
This panel is comprised of the hottest names in curls, who will be speaking about how to make your business profitable in the curly niche market, the evolution of keratin treatments and smoothing systems and the latest cutting and styling techniques—just to name a few. The panelists will also be available to answer any questions you may have about your own curly business.
Make sure to check out the Texture! panel at America’s Beauty Show in Chicago on Sunday, March 14, at 1:00 p.m.
Recently, NaturallyCurly.com launched its two-month long Salute To Stylists contest, asking for your vote for your favorite stylist. Here are your picks for winning stylists!
Congratulations to Grand Prize Winner Sandy Marino of Santo Salon & Spa in Pepper Pike, OH!
Regional Winners:
Region 1 (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY):
Tracy of 7 Salon, Bellevue, WA - 2 reviews
Region 2 (CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO):
Melanie Brown of Curls Gone Wild, Gilbert, AZ - 96 reviews
Region 3 (ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, KY, IN):
Natalie of Natalie Clark Studio, St. Louis, MO - 5 reviews
Region 4 (NM, TX, OK, AR, LA):
Anna Craig of Trashy Roots Salon & Spa, Round Rock, TX - 102 reviews
Region 5 (TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC):
Stacy Hill of DyeVerCity Salon, Augusta, GA - 127 reviews
Region 6 (MI, OH, WV, VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ):
Sandy Marino of Santo Salon & Spa, Pepper Pike, OH - 155 reviews
Region 7 (NY, CT, RI, MD, ME, NH, VT):
Julie Washington of The Estuary Salon & Day Spa, South Portland, Maine - 25 reviews
Region 8 (Ontario, Canada):
Nadine Bastien of Aphrodite’s Sanctuary, Toronto, Ontario - 4 reviews
The number of reviews were calculated from 12/15/10 to 2/15/11
Business is booming for Vicki Vela-Cambruzzi at Curls On Top in Laguna Beach
If anybody had told veteran stylist Vickie Vela-Cambruzzi five years ago she would be opening a salon dedicated to curlies, she would have told them “Get out of town!”
That was before Vela-Cambruzzi, a curly herself, saw the light. Or in her case, experienced the magic of a Deva cut, a cut at the hands of “Curly Girl” author Lorraine Massey at a hair show. The cut was her best ever—changing her whole perception of her curls—and she saved her money to go to a DevaConcepts Curlaboration to learn the dry-cutting technique herself. Less than a year later, she opened Curls On Top Salon in Laguna Beach, a salon focused on the needs of curlies. Business is booming at the 1-year-old salon, where curlies travel from outside California to get a Deva cut. “It’s been incredible,” says Vela-Cambruzzi.
Many curlies grew up at a time when few stylists knew how to work with curls, and most now have numerous war stories to tell about the bad haircuts and the botched chemical services they received. When NaturallyCurly.com launched 13 years ago, a handful of stylists and salons focused on the needs of women with wavy, curly and kinky hair. Most stylists once viewed curls as something to “fix” by straightening it or shearing it short.
Vela-Cambruzzi is part of the growing legion of stylists who have made curls their focus to help girls—and guys—with curls love their natural texture. This trend has been fueled by rising demand from women who want to work with their natural texture as well as the increased availability of curl training, thanks to curl specialists like DevaConcepts and Ouidad.
During the two-month Salute to the Stylists contest, which wrapped up yesterday, more than 315 new salons were added, promoting the skills of stylists around the United States and Canada.
Ted Gibson, celebrity stylist and ambassador to Beauty Changes Lives, held a contest offering the chance to go to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. The contest was open to cosmetology students, who were required to submit a personal essay on what inspired them to pursue a career in beauty, and how they believe such a career will change their life. Originally, Gibson only wanted to select one winner, but after reading the hundreds of applications and essays, he found it impossible to do so.
“I wish I could have selected 10 winners based on their inspiring stories that reflect how careers in beauty can transform people’s lives even before they leave beauty school. I’ve lived the dream personally, and it’s so rewarding to see how similar dreams are playing out in beauty schools across the country,” Gibson said. Instead, he selected four students: Karyn Prim from PB Cosmetology Education Center in Gloucester, New Jersey, LaShay Weddington from the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, Sadie Graveen, from the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, and Alan Atkins from the Brio Academy in Northampton, Mass.
Ted Gibson will be working backstage at several Fashion Week shows, but the students will accompany Ted to the top five fashion events of the season—an honor some beauty school students only dream of. These lucky students will be introduced at the Rachel Roy show on February 15.
Executive director of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools Jim Cox said that Ted Gibson was the perfect choice for the spokesperson to its Beauty Changes Lives initiative. Beauty Changes Lives is a non-profit striving to build awareness of the many careers in beauty and wellness, as well as raise funds for beauty related causes and philanthropies.
Gibson is the perfect example of an accomplished beauty professional. “We were looking for a spokesperson who could speak to all the possibilities a career in beauty represents. Ted works as a stylist, owns successful salons, manages a product line, stars on TLC’s What Not to Wear and champions careers in the beauty industry. His career reflects the unlimited career opportunities that a cosmetology education offers,” says Cox.
“Many people think being a hairstylist is about standing behind the chair, but this career can be whatever you want it to be whether that’s fashion, entertainment, editorial or being a beauty school teacher which was how my career began to really take off,” Gibson stated.
Gibson is most famous for his celebrity clients, which are Angelina Jolie, Renee Zelwegger, Keira Knightly and Anne Hathaway. His career is an inspiration for any stylist with a dream, and his willingness to extend opportunities to students is a testament to his passion for perpetuating ambition and success.
Long Beach was the place to be the last weekend of January, as more than 40,000 beauty professionals packed the convention center at the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) Long Beach.
ISSE Long Beach 2011 featured such industry leaders as Karg + Blackwell, Kim Vō, Martin Parsons, Nick Arrojo, Joico, Clairol Professional, Repêchage, RUSK, TIGI, OPI, and Creative Nail Design, along with many other leading beauty manufacturers and cutting-edge “indie” brands.
Color and texture dominated the show. Brands such as Rusk, Clairol Professional and Wella showed off new color technologies, while keratin companies were prevalent on the show floor.
In addition to smoothing technologies, big texture was celebrated. Companies such as Farouk Systems and Tigi displayed techniques to create and define texture.
Products containing natural oils such as argan and macadamia continue to be a hot commodity at the show, with giants like Morrocan Oil as well as newer brands like One’n Only and Earthly Body Products.
The International Salon & Spa expo is the largest cash-and-carry professional beauty event on the West Coast.
Danilo working with a NaturallyCurly community member
Pantene celebrity stylist Danilo has a passion for curls. He loves them in all their forms—from loose waves to tight kinks.
Danilo is very excited about the options provided by Pantene’s new Curly Hair Series, designed especially for waves, curls and kinks. From cleansing to styling to deep conditioning, the products in this line work together to give you repaired, moisturized, frizz-free curls every time. The collection provides a wide range of products to keep curls looking their best.
During a recent video shoot in New York, Danilo provided some tips to keep ringlets looking their best. The ideal style to achieve is the wash-and-wear look that works with your natural texture.
Diffuse your curls
A diffuser is a curly girl’s best friend because it doesn’t have the rapid air movement of a blow dryer that could disrupt the curl pattern. For more volume, flip your hair upside down and diffuse.
Moisture, moisture, moisture
Curly hair has an inherent need for moisture—moisture excites the curl! The Deep Moisturizing Treatment has been a huge hit with curly girls. For maximum results, Danilo suggests working the conditioner into the hair, and then combing it through after it sets for five minutes.
Protect your hair from heat damage
Any type of iron works for curly hair, but be sure to protect hair from the heat by using a heat protection spray such as Heat Protection & Shine Spray.
Enhance your curls
If you have some curls that aren’t as tight as others, try finger-curling them. You can also enhance them by using a curling iron.
Pssst!
NaturallyCurly was on site to help with the filming of 4 Pantene videos at the Mark Garrison Salon in New York City. We got four great models - our own curly community members! - with an incredible spectrum of hair. Both stylists - Tippy Shorter and Danilo - were amazing. Danilo is one of the hottest stylists right now. He does Katy Perry and Lady Gaga’s hair as well as such stars as Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson. He’s very down to earth, and very knowledgeable about curls. He was so good on camera, and really threw in a lot of great tips.
Check out this video from Tippy Shorter using Pantene’s Curly Hair Series products:
More about celebrity stylist Danilo
In-demand stylist Danilo, longtime consultant to Gwen Stefani, has worked with A-list superstars including Lady Gaga, Madonna, Katy Perry, Anne Hathaway, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, Debbie Harry, The Dixie Chicks and Shirley Manson. His body of work includes styling for numerous music videos and America’s Top Model, hosted by Tyra Banks. Danilo has also styled such high-profile events as the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards and the Super Bowl Half Time Show featuring Shania Twain. A man of many passions, Danilo is involved in multiple charities benefiting AIDS and cancer research.
Curls aren’t just for girls. Many male celebrities—from Hollywood heartthrobs to NFL stars—are sporting textured looks these days and setting trends for the rest of the male population.
Josh Groban
With hair like singer Josh Groban’s, it’s really important to not touch it until it’s completely dry, says celebrity stylist George Papanikolas. Only use a light amount of product like Joico’s Curl Definer Crème, and run it through wet hair. Once the hair is completely dry, lightly scrunch it to eliminate any stiffness. The end result will be soft, defined waves without frizz.
The spring fashions shown during Fashion Week in September were complemented with textured styles. Experts predict we will see even more curls, waves and volume at Fashion Week in February. When Allen Ruiz, North American style director for Aveda and co-owner of Jackson Ruiz in Austin, Texas, heads out to New York for February’s Fall 2011 Fashion Week, he predicts texture will be everywhere.
“At the Spring shows, there were hints of texture,” says Ruiz, who will be doing the hair at shows such as Christian Siriano and Sophie Theallet. “At the Fall shows, we’ll be seeing even more dramatic texture. Texture is here to stay, in some form or another.”
The days of runways dominated by polished, smooth tresses may be a thing of the past, as a growing number of designers are opting for textured styles to complement their collections. Stylists want to make a statement, and make it big. And there’s no better way to do that than by playing up texture, whether it be sexy beach waves or a voluminous afro.
When a curly client sits in your chair, they are looking to you as the expert. It’s your job to educate them on how to properly care for their locks at home or on the road. Modern Salon asked its Proview Panel how they are helping their textured clients enhance/care for their natural curl. Here’s the tips and tricks they had to offer:
“I find that a diffuser and little mussing with the fingers, hands or brush are the best ways to enhance curls and eliminate frizz. Many product manufacturers have wonderful shampoos, conditioners and finishing products to work with a diffuser. My favorite would be a cream-based styling product with a light amount of hold within.”
—Pat Helmandollar, president of Savy Salon and Day Spa in Cornelius in North Carolina
“My clients who are embracing their texture are opting for reduced bulk. I am removing weight within a hair cut so the ends are not thin, but chunky with a more flat appearance to the style.”
—Tammie Terczynski, Matrix Artistic Educator of Salon Envie in Wausau, Wisconsin
“The focus has to be on proper home maintenance. Too often a client wants what they do not have naturally, and if texture is what they want, then practical techniques are paramount. From the proper cut, to the styling products and tools—make sure your guest is willing, ready and able to maintain her textured style!”
—Ian Marc Smith, owner of Imagine Salon & Spa in Bedford in Nova Scotia
“I have hosted special evenings for clients with textured hair in the education facility at the salon showing them styling techniques that can enhance or minimize their specific textural issues.”
—Steve Napier, Master Stylist/Education Manager of J. Bentley Studio and Spa, in Columbus, Ohio
“When my guest has curly hair, I show them a better way to bring out their curls by doing Ouidad’s Rake and Shake method. If my guest has fine hair, I disconnect the hair in order to achieve more volume for them.”
—Keri-lyn Cleaver, Director of Education/Senior Stylist of Salon Ya Ya, Nashville, Tenn.
We were honored to be invited to the Ron King Salon Grand Opening on Sunday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, TX. The Style King wanted to share his success with the entire city by throwing a major soiree and runway show with NY designer, Thuy. To open the show, INOA by L’Oreal Paris had four models including their signature fiery red head, with insane texture and vibrant colors.
The famous INOA red hair.
The one reason we were all there was to honor The Ron King Foundation’s scholarship winner, Briana Flores. King’s Foundation has a goal to directly influence young cosmetology students. Not only did he hand over $25,000 in scholarship funds, but he also promised to mentor the student throughout their career.
Ron King with Briana Flores, accepting the scholarship.
The entire event went off without a hitch, and we can’t wait to see what this super-stylist has up his sleeve for the future. We wish all the best of luck to the new Ron King Salon in the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.
Celebrity hair stylist Betsy Reyes offers some tips:
“When I have a client who has naturally curly hair, I dry it with a diffuser, head turned upside down, patiently and gently allowing the natural curl to form undisturbed. When it is fully dried I section the hair from the bottom up and take only the curls that didn’t form well and wrap them around a skinny curl iron (pending on natural curl size) then I pull the curl from root to bottom with my thumb and index finger (this allows it to not set so perfectly to give it a more natural look). Follow this through until you reached the top. When you get to the top, you should not fight the curl direction or make parts, go with the flow. If height is needed, tease then curl the under parts of the top crown/part area. Leave it down or use this as a great base for a fun up-do.
“When doing the up-do, its key to not disrupt the curl pattern. Keep it real soft by flowing with the curls. Its best when you leave the front and the sides sectioned off until last. Let your creativity do the rest.”
Salon owner and cutting expert Anna Craig offers tips on running your business.
Ron King, L'Oreal educator, writes about his "easy-wear" philosophy.
Globetrotter Antonio Gonzales got his start doing his sisters' hair in Trinidad.
Ivan Zoot addresses haircutting.
