After skipping a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s Beauty Show returned with a bang. Thousands of salon professionals and owners, students, and educators convened at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL from September 11-13 to attend the annual beauty trade show which offered three jam-packed days full of inspiration, education, and entertainment.
With over 210 exhibitors in attendance—all ready to showcase the newest trends, product, techniques, and innovations to excited attendees—the exhibition floor was booming to say the least. Experts and beauty enthusiasts like myself strolled the floor, scanning booths bearing tables full of hair, skin, and nail products from brands such as Amika, Donna Bella Hair Extensions, Apres Nails, Hattori Hanzo Shears, and many others. Amid the sea of serums and treatments, we even found ourselves being introduced to a few new items such as CHI Professional’s new hemp and aloe-infused bond builder, Bond & Seal as well as Le Chat’s Perfect Match Mood Gel Polishes that change color according to your body temperature.
As far as education, attendees had the opportunity to learn about barbering, cutting, color, nails, business, and wellness from a star-studded lineup of beauty educators that included The Ulta Beauty Pro Team, Larisa Love, Olivia Smalley, Lala Chihaia, Matty Conrad, Nick Arrojo, Presley Poe, Sydney Lopez, and Jessica Scott. Not to mention, more than 20 free CEU classes were offered to ticket holders, including the required classes on sexual assault and domestic violence.
Following each busy day full of beauty, attendees made their way to the Rosemont Entertainment District for a fun-filled evening of outdoor, live environment and fireworks. On night one, beauty pros experienced a full-on dance party courtesy of the Purple Veins, who paid tribute to some of Prince’s biggest hits and lesser-known classics. Night two was all about the boy bands. From *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys to New Kids on The Block to Boys 2 Men, attendees were able to sing along to all their favorite songs.
In addition to attending America’s Beauty Show, salon pros were also able to stop by the International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa Conference (IECSC) which featured skincare, makeup, and spa exhibits on an interactive show floor, as well as the Data-Driven Salon Summit for salon managers and owner—as both of these events were also housed in the same convention center.
If you weren’t able to make it out to this year’s show, we highly suggest making plans to attend the event when it returns next year. To stay updated on all future announcements, be sure to follow @americasbeautyshow on Instagram.
