Welcome!

Welcome to the new American Salon blog! I wanted to take a few lines to introduce myself. I'm Lori Morris, American Salon's senior editor. I started with the magazine about 4 months ago and have just been blown away by what an amazing industry this is. I've had the opportunity to meet many stylists and salon owners, ranging from legends like Ted Gibson, Orlando Pita and Antoinette Beenders to people who work in 5-chair salons in small towns, and one thing is constant: Everyone has such a true passion for hair and beauty. It's really inspiring to get to interact with these passionate people every day.

Now onto the blog. With all the news, products and services that the team at American Salon comes across on a daily basis, we thought this would be a great way to share all our new finds with you. I'll be posting a couple of times a week, but you can also expect appearances by Editor in Chief Marianne Dougherty, Managing Editor Lotus Abrams and Editorial Assistant Nicole Palmieri. Check back regularly for our musings on everything from industry happenings to red carpet styles to great salons across the country — and so much more.

Today kicks off Mercedes-Benz Spring/Summer 2009 Fashion Week in New York City, so I hope to have lots of trends and parties to report on in the coming week. On the schedule for today: Zang Toi, with hair styled by Eiji Yamane from Manhattan's Eiji Salon and special appearances from Jill and Bethanny from Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City; a preview of new products and campaigns from Helen of Troy; and a kick-off party for Aveda's participation in Fashion Week (Aveda is working with designers on "green" shows, meaning no water bottles, only organic foods served backstage, promos and programs printed on recycled paper, and no fur). As a special shout-out to Aveda, today's picture is from a recent global sourcing trip I went on with their PR team. This shot was taken in Vercheny, France, just before we harvested lavender and helped distill it into organic lavender oil. How gorgeous is that backdrop?

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more ... —Lori