Highlights from Beauty’s Biggest Week

Who: All parts of the beauty industry—including manufacturers, distributors, stylists, salon owners and even students—came together last week for product launches, fundraisers, awards and education at one of the biggest professional beauty events of the year.

What: Cosmoprof North America is where distributors come to meet with manufacturers to see the latest launches and find the newest innovations. Taking place around CPNA are a variety of industry-related events, including the City of Hope dinner, Beacon (an educational forum for students), and the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), where Nanaimo, B.C.’s Edwin Johnston took home the award for Master Stylist!

Also announced at the NAHAs was a new partnership and $100,000 sponsorship between Great Clips and CUT IT OUT, an organization that is dedicated to raising awareness and stopping domestic violence with the support of salons, spas and beauty professionals

When & Where: July 21-24 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

Highlights:

— Al Green and Aretha Franklin performed for guests at the annual City of Hope fundraiser. This year, held to honour George Schaeffer with the Spirit of Life award, the goal was to raise $5 million for diabetes research. Schaeffer paid for the entire cost of the gala event, allowing all proceeds to be used for fundraising. He also matched, dollar for dollar, all money raised. George also decided to surprise his beauty industry friends by getting his vows renewed at the event! Congratulations George!

— The winners of NAHA 2012 were announced in grand fashion at a gala event. Hosted by Guiliana Rancic, who also took home the Beautiful Humanitarian Award, the awards were given out to:

Avant Garde

Nicholas French, West Hampton, NY

Contemporary Classic

Dimitrios Tsioumas, New York, NY

Editorial Hairstylist

Neeko Abriol, Pasadena, CA

Haircolor

Chad Demchuk, Drexel Hill, PA

Hairstylist of the Year

Dimitrios Tsioumas, New York, NY

Make-Up Artist

Jeanne San Diego, Upland, CA