In marking the 25th anniversary of Salon we dug into the archives and connected with past editors for a look at some of our milestone moments.
Launching January/February 1993
Salon may have originally started out as an ambitious idea with business partners Brian Light and Greg Robins, but after 25 years of celebrating hairstylists as well as nail and makeup artists it’s certainly a big part of the lives of those at the heart of the Canadian beauty industry.
Canadian-Made Talent
“I had such an incredible time during my seven years at Salon. The best part was working in an industry that allowed me to be creative and indulge my love of beauty and fashion. I loved travelling the world to shows and events and meeting beauty pros and will never forget, the incredible warmth and closeness of the Canadian beauty industry.” —Alison McGill, editor-in-chief 2000-2002
En Français
Acknowledging the distinct creative aesthetic and culture among French Canadians, in 1997 Salon launched its French edition, featuring content of specific interest to hairstylists for French-speaking Canadians.
Building Community Connections
As the online world was debuting, in the late ’90s, Salon launched BeautyNet.com followed by SalonMagazine.ca. Fast forward to today, SalonMagazine.ca has a fresh redesign, that’s more mobile friendly than ever!
“As a digital pioneer in the beauty industry, I remember being one of the first people with an email address on my business card. Then we had a website at the very beginning of the online boom.
In the late 1990s, beautynet.com, our forum had almost 100,000 posts from around the world where consumers would come to ask professionals for advice. Two of them let me know that they met on our site and got married.” —Greg Robins
Nailing the Details
Beginning in 2003, the Contessa Awards started honouring nail artists with the Canadian Nail Artist of the Year.
“It was around this time that we also saw the nail industry rise to the top and was always incredibly inspired by Jan Arnold from CND and her fashion-forward thinking. She is a true visionary and innovator who continues to inspire today.” —Alison McGill
Reader’s Choice Awards
The Reader’s Choice Awards were launched seven years ago, in an effort to shine a spotlight on more brands, and give beauty professionals product options they might not otherwise have been recommended.
“In talking to salon pros about their favourite products, the Reader’s Choice Awards were thought of as a means to highlight additional options. Needless to say, I’m happy to see this carry on, and I like to think of it as a contribution I made in my time with Salon.”—Melissa Hill, editor-in-chief 2010-2013
Best Night in Beauty
In 1997, Salon Magazine began hosting the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards— the Contessa Awards. Since then, the Contessa Awards have become known as the biggest night celebrating the best in the Canadian beauty industry.
“The Contessa Awards have always been such a highlight for the industry. The awards personify the industry’s passion, commitment and joy and putting the night of celebration all together was always a monumental team effort, but seeing it come together year after year was very rewarding!” —Alison Wood, editor-in-chief, 1995-2000
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