Phoenix, AZ (May 14, 2012) - The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is pleased to announce the members of Team USA who will compete in the Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC) HairWorld Championships of Beauty this Fall in Milan. Considered the Olympics of hair, over 1,500 beauty professionals from over 50 countries will compete in this event, which will take place October 6 – 8, 2012.

PBA is honored to help select and support these talented members as they represent the cosmetology profession and our nation. This year, the United States will be represented by four teams, which are proudly sponsored by LIVEGAIN COMPETITION (official color sponsor), Pivot Point, and Sally Beauty (Junior Ladies’ Team).

Senior Ladies’ Fashion Team:

• Dale Dees, Orlando, FL – Team Trainer

• Elena Basmova, Redmond, WA

• Barbara Lawson, St. Petersburg, FL

• Flora Linton, Tarpon Springs, FL

Senior Ladies’ Technical Team:

• Amanda Cassidy, Woodbridge, VA – Team Trainer

• Tatiana Kovanska, Santa Monica, CA

• Haeji Park, Los Angeles, CA

• Svitlana Vechera, Woodland Hills, CA

Junior Ladies’ Fashion Team:

• Manuel Rodriguez – Chicago, IL –  Team Trainer

• Kyleigh Banks, Chicago, IL

• Nataliya Ilkiv, Chicago, IL

• Kelly Jost, Glenview, IL

Junior Ladies’ Technical Team:

• Manuel Rodriguez – Chicago, IL –  Team Trainer

• Kyleigh Banks, Chicago, IL

• Nataliya Ilkiv, Chicago, IL

• Kelly Jost, Glenview, IL

Senior Team tryouts were held at the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) Long Beach hair competitions in January. Junior Team USA members were chosen through a photo competition.  In preparation for the OMC HairWorld Championships, team members have been training around the clock practicing styling techniques and finalizing their creative concepts and artistic visions.

During the championship, teams from around the world will compete in timed, styling challenges. All challenges are designed to see how contestants utilize their skill and creativity while under a time crunch.  After the three-day competition, one team will earn the coveted title of World Champion.

“Competing in the World Championships requires talent, skill, creativity and dedication,” says PBA Beauty Professional/NCA Leadership Council President, Graciela Santiler Nowik.  ”PBA | NCA’s Team USA will represent our country with enthusiasm, passion and hard work.”

PBA is the U.S. representative to Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC), sponsor of the OMC World Championships of Beauty, which will take place in Milan, Italy on October 6-8, 2012.  For more information, please visit probeauty.org/hairworld or omchairworld.com.

SS: Tell us about yourself?

Zoe: I honestly started doing hair for practical reasons and it was one of the last things in the world I would have imagined myself doing. I was one of those people that thought doing hair was materialistic, or for those who couldn’t figure out what else they wanted to do. Then, one day, a woman whose hair I had done once before came into the salon to see me. In our consultation I nonchalantly asked her, “So, what are we going to do today?” Her reply, “Zoe…,” tears swelling in her eyes, “I haven’t felt this beautiful in so long. I feel more alive and confident in myself.” It was at that moment I realized the power and importance of how one feels in relation to their appearance. I thought, ‘I have the ability to change people’s lives!’ From that moment on I was in love with doing hair, and I committed myself to learn everything I possibly could. It’s interesting; that moment struck such a deep chord for me that it is still so meaningful and now it is a passion. I worked in this salon for 7 years, and in 2005 I opened my own salon, dept. Z. I also work in Seattle once a month and travel doing education.

SS: Tell us about your inspiration for this year’s NAHA entry.

Zoe: My inspiration board for this shoot (Avant Garde entry) had several pictures of Tim Burtons’ work, some images of the late Alexander McQueen’s clothing and some old black and white classic images. I wanted the finished entry to have a dark/moody edge while still keeping a softness and beauty.

SS: What kind of financial investment are we talking about?

Zoe: The shapes are pretty big and I used a massive amount of real hair. I flew one of the models over from the West Coast along with a supportive group of friends. With housing, transportation, clothing, models, photographer, stylist, and food, it added up to several thousand dollars.

SS: WHY do you enter NAHA and what kind of response do you receive?

Zoe: I do this because by pushing myself technically and creatively I am learning and growing. If I am constantly learning and growing I am never stagnant, and it’s just really fun!

The response from this experience has been really positive. It was three months of prep and practice. Everyone close to me was affected by the process. I think we all have a desire to be a part of a big project and to watch it happen was pretty exciting. The support I had from friends was really amazing.

SS: How do you continue to stay inspired and bring your creativity to new levels?

Zoe: I play! When I am the most creative, I am playing, with no expectation or judgment on myself. I allow creativity to just happen. It’s difficult at times because fear or some voice in my head will tell me ‘that’s not the way to do it’ or ‘that doesn’t look good,’ but when I allow myself to just play and have fun with an open mind, kind of like a child, That’s when magic happens. What I once would have called a mistake now becomes a new way to do something. I’ll find an object and imagine if I were forced to make it a hairstyle what would it look like? I carry a notebook with me now, so when I see something inspiring I’ll sketch out a rough idea. One of the most fascinating things to me is the process of making something. It starts as an idea in your head, it comes out your hands and then it becomes something for people to experience.

SS: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Zoe: Knowledge is endless… keep learning. Creativity has no bounds…Play.

To see the work of the NAHA 2012 Finalists and to learn more about entering NAHA please visit  probeauty.org/naha.

 Article courtesy of Salon Services Viewpoint | May/June 2012 | 800-251-4247 | SalonServicesNW.com

Born in London, Vidal’s rise to success from a childhood of poverty and years in an orphanage is an inspiration to many. Apprenticing with a local barber when he was just a teenager, he opened his first salon in London in 1954 and is known by many as one of the most influential hairstylists of the 1960s. He was most famously known for freeing women from the overly teased, hair-sprayed up-dos of the 1950s to a new sleek, elegant style that was easy to maintain and always fell perfectly into place.

“Sassoon transformed women’s hair with his geometric ‘wash-and-wear’ cuts, so carefully shaped that a woman could shake her head and the style would fall back in place. And she needed a cut only once every six weeks, instead of the tortuous weekly visits” necessary for the bee-hive styles that were popular until Sassoon’s revolutionary vision, according to The Guardian UK. Vidal’s client list at the time included famous mod-model Twiggy, actress Mia Farrow, along with London’s high society and most fashionable women.

The Vidal Sassoon name could soon be seen across London on a chain of popular salons before he moved to the U.S. in 1964 to open his first New York salon. In 1973, he launched his line of hair care products, which are still widely known and used by professionals and consumers across the globe.Vidal also advocated to make examinations for cosmetology licensing contemporary and relevant for current hairstyling techniques. A documentary on Vidal’s life  was released in 2010.

Among his many accolades, Vidal was the recipient of the 1992 North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA) Lifetime Achievement Award. PBA, its staff and members, join the industry in celebrating Vidal’s exceptional talent, drive and determination. The legacy of his inspirational career will live on forever in the beauty industry.

Sources: The Guardian UK (Read Article); Bio.com (Read Article). Image from vidalsassoonthemovie.com.

Las Vegas, NV (May 8, 2012) – As everyone in the beauty business knows, a big part of your brand’s success is based on the branding product formula, but more importantly the packaging. It’s what sells the product and ultimately catches the consumers’ attention at the point of sale. The private label category has grown by leaps and bounds as manufacturers are incorporating innovative packaging solutions to create that sought-after million-dollar sku.

Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) is the platform that connects private label professionals, manufacturers, and design and packaging executives. These industry professionals come together to explore innovative ideas and packaging opportunities as it pertains to finished goods, secondary packaging, and contract/ private label manufacturers. This is the common theme, which Private Label magazine will cover in the It’s All In The Packaging session. This session will give in-depth views on the latest data behind packaging influence, how packaging and retail has changed, in addition to how to make the right choices when creating a new brand or implementing a re-branding strategy.

Join CPNA and three industry leaders as they highlight trends in packaging, new concepts, materials as well as having the right presence. Moderated by Phillip Russo, Publisher of Private Label magazine, the “It’s All In The Packaging” session will be held at Cosmoprof North America on Monday, July 23, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Scott-Vincent Borba | Scott-Vincent Borba Inc. | Founder and Creator – Scott-Vincent Borba has enjoyed career success in both the prestige and mass-market sectors in product development, branding, and marketing for companies such as Hard Candy^©, Neutrogena^®, P&G^®/Wella^®/Sebastian^®, Shiseido^®/Joico^® and Murad^®, before setting out on his own as the Founder of BORBA^® and Co-Founder of e.l.f. (eyes, lips, face) Cosmetics™. More recently, Borba introduced Scott-Vincent Borba Inc. He will highlight on this new brand and the debut with HSN.

Nick Gardner | HCT Group | Executive Vice President – Being a part of a design led manufacturer to the color cosmetics and skincare industries, Nick Gardner understands how important packaging is to a brand. When Gardner first joined HCT Group, the company focused on primary packaging, but has grown to encompass branding, full service color cosmetics offerings, brushes, GWP and any products that are of interest to their customer. Gardner will discuss new packaging concepts and materials from today’s leading companies he works with.

Amy Ziegler | Mintel | Global Personal Care Analyst – Amy Ziegler offers expert in-depth analysis of new products, markets, consumers and trends in the beauty and personal care space. Before joining Mintel, she spent six years with Walgreen Co, where she gained extensive experience and insight into category management, merchandise planning and sales projection, which adds an extra dimension to her analysis of the industry. She will share consumer trends and market data relating to the private label industry.

Cosmoprof North America will take place July 22 – 24, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.  Stay tuned for regular CPNA show updates, and for more information, visit cosmoprofnorthamerica.com and Facebook.com/cosmoprofnorthamerica.

DON’T MISS THE PREMIER B2B EVENT OF THE YEAR

Las Vegas, NV (May 1, 2012) – Media registration for Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) 2012 is now open! Registration allows access to the CPNA show floor and related events, including the sought after 2012 educational conferences.

To pre-register, please visit www.cosmoprofnorthamerica.com/news_press. To access the media registration form, click on the Media Registration section.

Members of the media will receive a confirmation email from Y Public Relations (YPR) with further instructions upon the completion of their registration. Media will also continue to receive show notifications and alerts allowing for pre-show planning prior to their arrival at CPNA 2012.

Visitor registration is now open allowing attendees to pre-register for the event and the conference sessions while enjoying significant discounts. Early bird registration pricing will be in effect until June 22^nd, providing savings of up to 30% off.

Attendees can print their registration confirmation and bring it to the show. There, at the self-check-in counters, they can scan the confirmation and print their badge. This easy process saves time and is in line with the CPNA’s eco-conscious objectives by minimizing emissions and energy use, since show badges are no longer mailed to attendees or media.

Preferred pricing on airline, hotel, and car reservations for all participants has been negotiated for by the event organizers. To review pricing and make online reservations, please visit: cosmoprofnorthamerica.com.

Cosmoprof North America 2012 Show Dates and Times:

Sunday, July 22, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  

Monday, July 23, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For questions concerning registration or specific CPNA initiatives, please contact Maddie Edgerton of Y Public Relations at medgerton@ypublicrelations.com or 702.405.8940. 

Cosmoprof North America will take place July 22 – 24, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.  Stay tuned for regular CPNA show updates, and for more information, visit cosmoprofnorthamerica.com and Facebook.com/cosmoprofnorthamerica.

New Legislation Aims to Advance Federal Oversight, Modernize Cosmetic & Personal Care Product Regulations

The “Cosmetic Safety Amendment Act of 2012,” (HR4395) recently introduced by Representative Leonard Lance (R-NJ) would modernize and strengthen regulations to provide greater transparency to consumers, establish the FDA as the primary regulatory authority on cosmetic safety, and allow the industry to continue to innovate and grow.

HR4395 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish new procedures and requirements for the registration of cosmetic product manufacturing establishments, the submission of cosmetic product and ingredient statements, the reporting of serious and unexpected cosmetic product adverse events, and other purposes.

Summary of key points included in the legislation:

Enhanced FDA Registration
Requires that personal care product manufacturers that market products in the U.S. comply with the following:

• Register all facilities where those products are manufactured.
• File product ingredient reports disclosing ingredients used, consistent with current guidelines.
• Report any serious unexpected adverse event with a product experienced by a consumer.

New Process to Set Safety Levels for Trace Constituents
When requested, or on its own initiative, FDA would be required to establish safe levels for trace constituents in cosmetic ingredients and products.

New FDA Ingredient Review Process
Once a request has been made, or FDA determines a review is warranted, the agency would be required to make a determination about the safety of any ingredient intended for use in a personal care product and set safe-use levels for such ingredient on a specified time table.

New FDA Oversight of CIR Findings
FDA would be required to review current and future findings on the safety of cosmetic ingredients by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel and determine if these findings are correct.  If there are instances in which it determines a CIR finding is unsupported, FDA would determine by guidance or regulations if, or under what conditions, the ingredient can be used safely in cosmetic products.

FDA-Issued Good Manufacturing Practices
FDA would establish industry-wide “Good Manufacturing Practices” requirements.

National Uniformity
FDA’s new regulatory authority would preempt similar state legislation for cosmetics and personal care products.

Alabama Pushes to Strengthen Regulation of Barbers

Alabama State Representative Kurt Wallace (R-Maplesville) has introduced HB664 to expand the Alabama Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Cosmetologists, the second largest licensed profession in the state, are regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, which conducts regular inspections and requires professional education and training. The bill would expand the Alabama Board of Cosmetology to include barbering, helping strengthen regulation and compliance for barbers and establishing much needed consistency in the enforcement of safety standards across all Alabama counties.

“Alabama has a vibrant salon industry with over 5,400 employment-based establishments and over 23,000 licensed professionals. Barbers and cosmetologists should be operating under the same guidelines and restrictions to protect consumers, especially since many barbers provide the same services cosmetologists do,” CIAA Executive Director Cory Brown said. “The CIAA appreciates Rep. Wallace’s legislative proposal.”

Click here to sign on to PBA’s letter of support for HB664 in Alabama. This bill would provide for the regulation of cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, manicurists, and natural hairstylists and their shops and schools under a new registration board, known as the Alabama Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Contact Cory Brown, Executive Director of Cosmetology Industry Association of Alabama (CIAA), at cbrown@ourCIAA.org or 334.649.8100 to learn more.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and it’s industry partners support Alabama HB664 and HR4395. PBA works year round to track legislation that can affect the professional beauty industry and partners with organizations across the nation to take action to either support or oppose the implementation of such laws. To learn more about PBA’s government affairs activities at both the state and federal level, and to get involved in ensuring fairness and success in the future of the professional beauty industry, visit probeauty.org/advocacy.

Think you have something to prove? You do. The good news is that you have the power to change false perceptions of the industry you love simply by being honest and utilizing best practices.

For starters… How much did you make last year?

Let me ask again… How much did you REALLY make last year?

Reporting your tips as part of your annual income is not an option: It is required under federal law. Every working professional – whether licensed contractor, nail technician, spa professional… everyone – is required to report their full income, including tips, as part of their taxable wages.

Not Reporting Undervalues the Profession and the Industry

Many professionals simply don’t know that tip reporting is required, and those who do often don’t realize the impact that not reporting has on the industry. Not only does under-reporting leave you vulnerable to IRS audits, it affects the national reported salary by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the principal federal agency responsible for measuring economic data such as labor market activity, demographics, and average wages by occupation.

So, as a professional, why care about what the BLS reports? The answer is simple: BLS data is used to determine the sustainability of the industry, the amount of federal funding available to students in cosmetology school (a cost that can sky-rocket to *$20,000 depending on state requirements) and is a gauge used to measure the general worth of your career and the industry.

Are you worth more than $10.82 an hour? That’s what the BLS reported as the median hourly wage of “barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists” in 2010. That’s $22,500 a year – only about $7,500 more than the national poverty line for a family of two.

Honest Reporting Leads to Personal and Professional Success

But the fact is, when you factor in tips, most licensed beauty professionals make much more than this. The immediate benefits of reporting your salary honestly far outweigh having a few extra unreported dollars in your pocket at the end of the day.

Thinking of getting a new car or a house one day? Lenders look at your salary to determine the amount you are eligible for to make these types of large purchases. But, that salary has to be documented and verifiable.

Stefanie Gilardo, a 29-year-old licensed stylist in Massachusetts, learned that the hard way when she went to purchase her first home at only 24 years old. “I found out during the process of buying my condo that I made enough money, but unless it’s on paper it doesn’t count. It had to be verifiable. I had to use a co-signer until I was able to refinance. During that time, I started claiming my tips.”

She continued that “There are a lot of people in the beauty industry who do not claim tips… when they decide to buy a piece of property or get some sort of loan, they will run into trouble even though they may make enough money. Unless it shows up on paper, it is worth nothing.”

Beyond getting a loan for your first home, think about where you’ll be in 30 years. The best thing to do for your future is to start planning now. Paying into Social Security is just one part of your savings plan for retirement. And, the more you pay in, the more you get out.

When you under-report your income, you are slowly and steadily chipping away at your social security retirement benefits. For example, a **30-year-old stylist making $40,000 a year who under-reports their income by $300 every month will receive nearly $250 (accounting for inflation) less per month for the rest of their life once they reach retirement.

If you are already reporting your tips, I hope you will join the effort to elevate the industry by educating your fellow beauty professionals on the importance of honesty in wage reporting. If you’re not reporting your tips, I hope reading this has helped you understand how much under-reporting hurts you and the industry. Be the person who stands up for the integrity of the industry – today and in the future.

And if you’re ever audited, don’t say we didn’t warn you!

*Source: www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com

**Based on the benefit calculator on the Social Security Administration web site: www.socialsecurity.gov.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) announces the much anticipated finalists for the 2012 North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA). As the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, NAHA celebrates the artistry and skill of the professional salon industry.  As the pinnacle achievement for professional hairstylists and makeup artists, NAHA entrants, finalists and winners, past and present, continue to push the boundaries of trend-setting style. Drawing from leading editorial, celebrity, and platform artists whose work graces top fashion and beauty magazines, runway shows, and red-carpets, NAHA is the culmination of style, beauty trends and sheer artistry.

Watch the 2012 Finalist Announcement HERE!

NAHAs are given in 13 distinct categories including Avant Garde, Contemporary Classic, Editorial Stylist, Haircolor, Master Hairstylist, Texture, Salon Design, Salon Team, Student Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Salon MBA for salon owners, and all new for 2012, Newcomer Stylist of the Year. The highest honor is the coveted award for Hairstylist of the Year.

The 2012 NAHA Award’s Ceremony is open to ALL and will be held on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. An evening filled with high-energy, creative expression and artistic presentations by Aveda, Cloud Nine, P&G and 2011 Hairstylist of the Year winner, Eli Mancha.

Noted TV personality, E! Network’s Giuliana Rancic, is this year’s NAHA Host and recipient of the PBA Beautiful Humanitarian Award for her outstanding contributions to an array of charitable causes. The ceremony will also be broadcast live, via streaming video, at hairdesignertv.com.

NAHA continues to draw from a diverse and internationally renowned list of hairstylist and makeup artists from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Switzerland. Judges included Vivienne Mackinder, five-time NAHA award winner, founder of HairDesignerTV.com, and editor-in-chief of MOD magazine;Tabatha Coffey, author, stylist and host of Bravo’s Tabatha’s Salon Takeover; Nicholas French, renowned UK stylist, author, and speaker; Damien Carney, prominent beauty industry educator, founder of hairstyling academy Damien Carney London, and NAHA finalist along many more top hairstylists from around the world! Via a blind entry process, entries were narrowed down to five finalists per category, and only one winner in each category will be chosen.

To see the work of all the NAHA finalists and to learn more about the NAHA Awards Ceremony on Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, visit probeauty.org/naha. Also, join the conversation at facebook.com/pbabeautyweek.

Las Vegas, NV (April 26, 2012) – Popular social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are changing the way consumers interact with brands on a daily basis. This instant, digital platform has paved the way to encourage consumers to engage and provide feedback within the online community. Although this idea might present opportunistic discussion, what happens when this open channel of communication results in less than positive feedback from the public – how should a brand respond?

Join Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) and four social media savvy influentials as they shed some light on how to handle the communication process between brands and the public, whether it is positive or negative feedback. Moderated by Brad Masterson, Vice President of Y Public Relations, the “Join the Social Media Democracy” session will be held at Cosmoprof North America on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Patrick McIvor | Matrix Professional Haircare & Color | Color Director – Named the Best Hair Colorist by Allure Magazine, this tireless trendspotter is involved in social media, educational, technical and philanthropic initiatives for Matrix, which has gained more than 300,000 online followers. In addition, he is one of the hairstylist pioneers in the social media community. McIvor began sharing with fellow professionals via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube early on, and today his online connection strategies serve as the success model for both salons and individual stylists.

Megan Segura | DailyMakeover.com | Associate Editor – Segura is responsible for reporting on the latest beauty and hair trends, as well as managing the social media channels like Facebook and Twitter for Daily Makeover, which receives more than three million readers a month. When she isn’t covering market events, Segura helps extend Daily Makeover’s reach by working with outside beauty bloggers. From basic makeup to luxurious skin treatments, she shares her love for all with beauty junkies and product fanatics, otherwise known as the Daily Makeover community.

Jeremy Thompson | LVCVA / R&R Partners | Corporate Director, Media & Digital Activation – Thompson leads the social media team at the advertising and PR agency, R&R Partners, where they develop various campaigns for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Through their various social media platforms, the LVCVA has over one million followers worldwide. With their successful campaigns such as, “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” Thompson strategically uses social media outlets to interact with the online community and encourage visitors to come to Las Vegas.

Jaime Richards | BellaSugar.com | Acting Editor – For the past four years, Richards has been writing about all-things beauty for the San Francisco based website, BellaSugar.com. BellaSugar is part of the Sugar Network, which receives an impressive 26 million visitors a month. By engaging and connecting with the ever-changing online community, Richards has experienced first-hand the direct feedback given by the readers of the site. She not only participates in the discussion, but also elicits feedback from her audience in regard to the content she posts daily.

Cosmoprof North America will take place July 22 – 24, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.  Stay tuned for regular CPNA show updates, and for more information, visit cosmoprofnorthamerica.com and facebook.com/cosmoprofnorthamerica. Cosmoprof North America also hosts PBA Beauty Week, which includes the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), PBA Symposium, the annual City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala, and other networking events. For information visit probeauty.org/beautyweek.

“In Alabama, cosmetologists are strictly regulated while barbers are free to operate without any accountability. In a business where personal services are being administered, there is a duty to make those services safe and sanitary with the highest level of care,” said Alabama State Representative Kurt Wallace (R-Chilton County).

Express your support for HB664, if you are a resident of Alabama please click here to sign onto our letter of support.

You may also email your support directly to the bill sponsor, Rep. Kurt Wallace, at representativewallace@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!