Sebastian Professional Announces Judges for What’s Next Challenge
A prestigious panel composed of industry and beauty aficionados are being tapped to judge Sebastian Professional’s What’s Next Awards (WNA), a competition that tasks up-and-coming and established stylists to create looks that reflect their interpretation of a key trend using the Flaunt collection, which includes Trilliance Shampoo and Conditioner and Shine Crafter. The judges are American Salon Editor in Chief/Beauty Director Kelley Donahue; Thomas Dunkin, a celebrity stylist and member of the Sebastian North American Design Team; Michael Polsinelli, part of Sebastian’s International Artistic Team; and JP Columbo, a past WNA winner from Canada.
Beauty pros have until February 1 to post photos of their hair creations on whatsnextawards.com, which will live as a tab on Sebastian’s Facebook page (facebook.com/sebastianpro), in one of two respective categories: The Professional category is for licensed stylists with two or more years of professional experience, while the New Talent/Student category includes aspiring stylists who are enrolled in a cosmetology program or recently graduated and have less than two years of experience. Thereafter, the judging panel will select eight finalists (four in each category) on March 15. Winners will receive round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations to Los Angeles to compete live onstage at the last stop of the Sebastian What’s Next Tour on April 28. Both category winners will receive valuable grand prizes, including a Sebastian editorial photo shoot that will be featured on the pages of American Salon. —J.T.
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Celebrates 75 Years
The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 706) celebrated its 75th anniversary last fall at a special reception held at the Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building in Hollywood, CA. Award-winning makeup artists and hairstylists who have created the looks for Hollywood’s most memorable characters and stars of stage, screen and television were in attendance to celebrate the guild, which boasts a membership of more than 1,700 artisans in the entertainment industry worldwide. Along with celebrating, guests were invited to peruse the vast collection of historical makeup artists and hairstylists’ memorabilia and exhibits honoring Local 706’s work throughout the years. —J.T.
Andis Helps Achieve World Record for Charity
This fall in Brookfield, WI, Andis Clipper Company sponsored the Be Brave and Shave fundraising event for children’s cancer research held by Milwaukee-based Roots Salon, an event that also established a new Guinness World Record for Most Heads Shaved in an Hour. The previous record of 318 was set in Ireland in February 2011, but a team of 10 stylists—Sami Teronde, Jeanette Schneider, Lara Huber, Ciara Ott, Nicky Bembenek, Becky Gbur, Jocelyn Wabiszewski, Heather Rodis, Elle Clements and Alicia LaChance—set a new record of 371 heads shaved, mostly men and boys, a few women and a 1-year-old. Adhering to Guinness guidelines of using professional tools for the official record attempt, Andis provided all of the stylists with Envy Clippers, Experience Cordless Clippers, SuperLiner Trimmers, combs, capes, oil and disinfectant spray. More than $50,000 was raised for 2-year-old cancer victim Haven Anderson and CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. —J.T.
DePasquale The Spa Raises Funds to Benefit Cancer Care
For the third year in a row, DePasquale The Spa hosted the Fashion Fight for a Cure event this fall at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, NJ, raising over $90,000 to benefit Cancer Care at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville, NJ. Featuring a friendly competition with a runway show of models styled by the DePasquale The Spa team of stylists, the evening also included a silent auction and a $10,000 raffle drawing. The sold-out show drew more than 400 guests and was sponsored by BeautyAddicts Cosmetics and HudsonMOD magazine. —J.T.