Taking a look back at *some of the major changes Salon has seen, heard and featured over the past 25 years. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
1993
• Salon publishes its premiere issue. (Cover by Ray Civello)
• Websites are made public, allowing anyone to create and access web pages globally.
1994
• L’Oréal acquires Redken, expanding the company’s Professional Products Division.
• Redken moves to New York and is renamed Redken 5th Avenue.
• The concern about Diversion grows for manufacturers, distributors and salons, as featured in the February/March 1994 issue of Salon.
• American Crew is founded by David Raccuglia, adding a fresh take to the men’s styling category.
• INTERAC Direct Payment launches nationally, innovating the ways salons can accept payments for their services.
• Collega International is launched by Ray Civello, and combines sales, salons, education and distribution for AVEDA products across Canada.
1995
• Henkel acquires Schwarzkopf.
• In 2014, Henkel acquires Alterna, Sexy Hair and Kenra. In 2017, Pravana, Joico and Zotos International are also acquired by Henkel.
1996
• TIGI launches Bedhead, a line of styling products that includes the iconic Hair Stick.
1997
• Robert Lobetta is named the global creative director for Sebastian Professional. After a 10-year hiatus, Lobetta returned to the brand in 2018 as creative visionary.
• Montreal-based hairstylist Anna Pacitto is one of 27 women profiled in Salon’s “I Am Superwoman, and I Can Do Anything!” feature, which appeared in the September 1997 issue. “My dream is to be the first woman, and the first Quebecker, to win a Contessa for Canadian Hairstylist of the Year,” Pacitto said in the 1997 interview.
• Bio Sculpture makes its debut in Canada, launched by Peter and Nolene Nieuwenhuis.
• Schwarzkopf Professional launches Essential Looks, a range of seasonal collections that translate fashion-forward runway hairstyles into wearable looks.
1998
• Beauty Systems Group enters Canada with its acquisitions of Beauticians’ and Jaguar.
2000
• Matrix is acquired by L’Oréal.
2001
• Zotos acquires Joico.
2003
• TIGI’s co-founder and international artistic director Anthony Mascolo forms the brand’s international creative team.
• OPI collaborates with the movie Legally Blonde 2 on a six-piece limited-edition nail polish collection, becoming the first professional nail company to partner with a major Hollywood motion picture. To-date OPI has collaborated with 18 films, including James Bond’s Skyfall, Disney’s Cinderella and the all-time classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
2005
• ORLY launches Sparitual, an eco- friendly brand with nail polish lacquer “elixirs” that are vegan and free of DBP.
2007
• Robert Cromeans is promoted to global artistic director for Paul Mitchell
• L’oréal acquires PureOlogy, a luxury, environmentally conscious brand.
• Creative Nail Design rebrands as CND.
2008
• Kevin.Murphy launches in Canada. “Canadian hairstylists were one of the first to embrace the product and the philosophy of the brand. I feel that Canada and Australia share a lot of the same values with a love of all things natural and the environment. Canadian salons have been instrumental to the growth and acceptance of the brand.” — Kevin Murphy, founder of Kevin.Murphy
2009
• Shane Price launches Green Circle Salons, an in-salon environmental program to help salons divert waste from landfills. “Green Circle Salons is a movement; a community of more than 2,000 salons and spas in North America that are committed to igniting and supporting a pathway for positive green change. We are about transforming the way the world looks at beauty, and reinventing systems that make great business sense and are good for the environment.” — Shane Price, CEO and founder of Green Circle Salons.
2010
• L’oréal professionnel launches INOA (Innovation No Ammonia), one of the first permanent, ammonia-free hair colour brands, featuring an oil- delivery system.
• Instagram launches, changing the way stylists and clients find inspiration for their hairstyling looks.
• CND shakes up the nail industry with its launch of CND Shellac, the brand’s patented three-step, nail- curing system with zero-dry time.
• Unite launches in Canada. Montreal-based salon owner Carmen
• Tal launches Moroccanoil. “We revolutionized the beauty industry by pioneering a new oil-infused hair care category—and after ten years, it’s still a best-seller for us because there’s no other argan oil-infused treatment quite like it,” says Tal.
2011
• Angelo Seminara becomes the artistic director for Davines
2012
• The one and only Vidal Sassoon passes away at the age of 84. “I am honoured to have the privilege of carrying on the legacy of our mentor, Vidal Sassoon—something that I view as a tremendous responsibility to uphold the standards that he lived by and to continue the work that he loved so much.” — Mark Hayes, international creative director for Sassoon
• Reuzel is founded by Schorem barbers Leen and Bertus in Rotterdam, Holland. The name Reuzel is a Dutch word for “lard” and is a nod to the past when pomades were made from animal fat and scented with apples.
• The Contessa Awards name its Community Service Award in honour of John Steinberg , who passed away in 2011. “The dictionary definition of charity is ‘love of fellow men’ (sic), ‘an act of kindness,’ which is akin to the definition of philanthropy: ‘practical benevolence,’” wrote Steinberg in the November+December 2001 issue of Salon. “This is a precious commodity in our day and age, which is probably why o ering it leads to a wonderful feeling of fulfillment.”
• Schwarzkopf Professional names celebrity colourist Kim Vö as its BlondMe ambassador.
2013
• Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe is named as Sexy Hair’s global spokesperson for the brand’s “Styles Change. Sexy is Forever.” campaign. “Not only is Marilyn the sexiest woman of all time, she is known for her self- expression and style,” says Jennifer Weiderman, VP of marketing and education at Sexy Hair.
• Salon Suites begin opening in Canada, changing the salon business model landscape.
2015
• Wella Professionals launches EIMI, a range of styling products designed to express individuality.
• Lea T makes her debut as the face of Redken’s Chromatics. She is recognized as the first openly transgender model to become the face of a global beauty brand. “Lea T is a true pioneer for beauty,” says Shane Wolf, worldwide general manager for Redken. “She reflects Redken’s vision of global beauty, which is that beauty is a collective and not defined by only one standard.”
2016
• Wella acquires European lifestyle salon brand, Kadus Professional. Also in 2016, Wella Professionals and its brands are acquired by Coty.
2017
• Sam Villa is named the global artistic ambassador for Redken.
• Kao acquires Oribe from Luxury Brand Partners, expanding its presence in the luxury category.
2018
• Salon celebrates its 25th anniversary with a fresh start—a redesign for its print issues and website.
*With limited space in our anniversary-edition, we were only able to list some of the many highlights we’ve seen over the past 25 years. Sorry if one of yours didn’t make the “cut!”
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