As publisher of this magazine I'm often asked, "What's new?" This year at American Salon, the answer is plenty. As you all know, we completely redesigned the magazine last year, but we're always looking for ways to improve upon the formula. Sadly, American Salon has been caught in the web of illegal immigration, having just discovered that Claire Voyant, who wrote Hair-O-Scope, was working without documentation from a four-story walk-up in Queens, NY. She was outed by CNN's Lou Dobbs, so we had no choice but to replace her column with something else. I wonder if she knew this was coming. All kidding aside, you'll find Chat Room on the last page of this magazine from now on, but we're sure you'll want to read it first because it's a compendium of things everyone is talking about.
 Brett Vinovich |
Because the Internet has become such an important part of your business, we're also introducing two new columns in Better Business—Web Browser and Tech Support. Read them to find out which Web sites have been redesigned to serve you better, as well as the latest software that can help you become more successful. You'll also notice that we've added another new column called Intelligent Design that's devoted to decor. My Brilliant Career has also been expanded to profile salon owners whose careers should be of interest to you. Then in A-List you'll find the hottest products on the market right now. And finally, Show Biz will keep you up-to-date on all the happenings at IBS New York and Las Vegas, including headliners you'll see there.
This year you'll also find Portfolio in every issue. Think of it as a hip annual report that showcases a different company every month. To kick off the new year, we're taking you inside Redken 5th Avenue NYC. Turn to page 65 to find out what makes the company tick and what it has to offer you.
 The last known photo of Claire Voyant before she was deported to her country of origin |
Also in this issue, you'll find our annual education supplement, an in-depth guide to the best advanced education this industry has to offer. We'll be repeating our Going Green supplement again in April, and we'll examine diversion again in July. Then in September, we'll take a look at the high-tech tools that are transforming the way you do hair in the salon. The best thing about all of these supplements is that you can easily remove them from the book and save them for future reference. No other magazine in our industry gives you as much information on the subjects that impact your business as we do. As my former boss, Andy Warhol, used to say, "The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." Keep reading all year because we're just full of surprises. —Brett Vinovich, publisher, [email protected]