The International Salon and Spa Expo (ISSE) took place at the Long Beach Convention Center January 27-29, 2018 with an impressive line-up of over 200 classes. With options in areas such as hair, nails, skin, lashes, business, well-being and more, these classes ensured that salon and spa professionals are up on the latest trends and learned new skills that they can proudly share with clients.
Over 40,000 salon and spa professionals wandered the show floor at ISSE exploring fab finds from 400 exhibitors representing many of the industry’s most popular brands. With top names such as Redken, Pravana, Moroccanoil, Rusk, Pulp Riot, and more, there was something for everyone including new product launches and some amazing show deals with products and tools.
In two theatres, icons of beauty shared the latest trends and techniques while dazzling audiences on the Center and NAHA Stages. On Sunday and Monday, ISSE showcased various artists such as Nick Arrojo, Tracey Hughes, Martin Parsons, Ted Gibson, George Alderete, Jake Thompson, Sherry Ratay, Lisa Vann, and Whitney VerMeer, to name a few.
Paparazzi Row brought social media center stage with the hottest beauty industry influencers from around the country. With professional lighting and backdrops, show attendees were able to meet and take pictures with names such as Larisa Love, Rickey Zito, Anh Co Tran, and Johnny Ramirez. And the trending continued all weekend with #isselb2018.
The competition was fierce with the Barber Brawl and NailPro Nail Competitions, where winners were named in various categories for 2018. Barbers flaunted their skills striving for Major League Barber 2018 Hot Hands Champion. The five categories included Female – Best Fade & Style, Best Fade & Beard, Student – Anything Goes, Fastest & Cleanest Fade, and Tag Team Design.
The Beauty Bar offered an opportunity for salon and spa professionals to sample the latest beauty products. In exchange for a donation, attendees chose from samples from the hottest brands in the industry. All proceeds raised from the Beauty Bar support The Disaster Relief Fund, which assists salon professionals in the case of a natural disaster.
Attendees and exhibitors also kept the excitement going after-hours at the Night Out Party where they danced, drank and unwound after the show.
On Sunday night The Leading Ladies, a group of industry icons including the likes of Eden Sassoon, Tracey Hughes, Candy Shaw, Sonya Dove, and Jenny Strebe came together for a panel discussion that was moderated by Sam Villa. The group discussed various issues that women face in the beauty industry and beyond. In addition to a special presentation by Beauty Underground, the evening brought a special announcement by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA). The industry group and producer of ISSE announced future plans for 2019, including STYL, a three-day immersive experience with hands-on learning that expands far beyond the classroom. The PBA also announced that the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) will be part of STYL.
The Professional Beauty Association is the largest and most inclusive trade organization representing the entire beauty industry. PBA exists to elevate, unify and serve the beauty industry and the professionals that improve people’s lives.
Photos: FocusOnHair.com & The Professional Beauty Association
