John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS) welcomed over 3,500 hairstylists and salon owners to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for its annual Paul Mitchell The Gathering, held this past July. This year’s theme—I’MPOSSIBLE— inspired attendees to strive for and achieve their dreams.
The two-day conference featured 17 classes and 10 hands-on workshops such as the “Forever Blonde” blonding techniques with Stephanie Kocielski, Julian Perlingiero’s “Barber Classic” and “Styles of Stars” where Paul Mitchell Editorial Director Lucie Doughty taught how to create the most popular celebrity styles. Additionally, attendees were also educated on the new Paul Mitchell Curls collection and learned how to cut, color and style curls with workshops from Robert Cromeans, Angus Mitchell, LaDonna Dryer, Heather Kaanoi, Mary Cuomo and Donna Mizell.
The last day kicked off with inspirational stories of special guests achieving the impossible, such as Tracy Quattropani who opened her own salon that went on to gross $1 million a year when people told her she couldn’t. Cromeans, Doughty, Takashi Kitamura, Mitchell and Kocielski then took the stage for individual presentations and performers Double R, Dot Biz and Rodney closed the show with a performance of the I’MPOSSIBLE theme song to usher the attendees out until next year. —Aja Edwards