
ASCP, ISPA and PBA Receive 2026 Power of Associations Award for Esthetics Licensure Compact
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
MODERN SALON Media has collaborated with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) to develop MODERN SALON’s Excellence in Education program. Two top honorees are recognized in each category—one individual school location and a multi-location school organization—and were announced Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at the AACS Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

MODERN SALON Media has collaborated with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) to develop MODERN SALON’s Excellence in Education program. The purpose is to help the professional beauty school community gather, share and celebrate examples of great salon education experiences and beauty career development happening across the country.
In 2016, the crop of cosmetology schools entering the program brought plenty of benchmarks, measurable results and innovation into their application process.
“School pride and powerful results were very evident this year,” says MODERN SALON Editorial Director Michele Musgrove. “We are so impressed with the variety of top schools in the U.S. that entered MODERN SALON’s Excellence in Education 2016 program. We have chosen a select few that we believe show leadership and best practices that other schools can use to learn and grow.”
Honorees were determined based on key criteria in each category and grouped according to school size or whether or not they entered as a multi-unit school or single location. Two top honorees are recognized in each category—one individual school location and a multi-location school organization—and were announced Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at the AACS Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida.
Schools could enter one or more of seven categories:
Community Involvement
Facilities
Marketing Innovation
Next Level: Alumni Programs
Placement
School Culture
Technology
“On behalf of the entire professional beauty industry, we express gratitude that there are so many professional cosmetology schools continuing to do amazing and valuable work to shape the future of beauty," says MODERN SALON Publisher Steve Reiss. "The purpose of Excellence in Education is to make sure more of these great schools get the attention they deserve.”
2016 Excellence in Education Top Honorees in each category are listed below:
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Individual location: The Salon Professional Academy, Appleton, WI
Multi-unit school: MC College, Edmonton, AB
FACILITIES
Individual location: Blake Austin College/Beauty Academy, Vacaville, CA
Multi-unit school: Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL
THE NEXT LEVEL
Individual location: Aveda Institute Des Moines, Des Moines, IA
Multi-unit school: Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
MARKETING INNOVATION
Individual location: Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
Multi-unit school (three-way tie):
Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT
Aveda Institutes South, Hammond, LA
Ogle School, Arlington, TX
PLACEMENT
Individual location: Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
Multi-unit school: Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH
SCHOOL CULTURE
Individual location: DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA
Multi-unit school: Capri College, Dubuque, IA
TECHNOLOGY
Individual location: Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
Multi-unit school: Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA
To view the entire list of finalists, click here.
Originally posted on Modern Salon

This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.
At Premiere Orlando 2026, SALON TODAY catches up with Easihair Pro's Angela Gilmore, who talks about why stylists lose clients who are suffering from thinning hair and hair loss, and how their new Hairlosophy line can help.

Illuminated Paths is a boxed set of 52 cards, a guidebook, and an Oracolor Wheel, a visual framework that helps readers reconnect with the qualities they want to bring into everyday life.

In this rare essay, the president of a haircare brand takes us behind-the-scenes into a world we never see when we pick up a product off the shelves--the arduous, thought-probing, second-guessing journey of rebranding a legacy product line. Not only is her reflection fascinating, but it is also incredibly useful for any salon owner or manufacturer contemplating their own brand.

Twenty lucky winners will be selected July 30th, and each will be able to choose from three different service tray models.

Motivated by loved ones who have battled cancer, Phorest's Barry Quinn and two friends will embark on a three-day trek to the summit of the highest peak in North Africa in September, raising money for HairToStay. Find out how you can help them.

The company's Back to Business Sweepstakes is a direct investment in the stylists and salon owners who are building something that lasts.

Owners start to worry when a month's sales come up short compared to the same period last year, but that may have more to do with the days in the month than with an actual decline. The KIM Report's Alain Audet points to May 2026 as a prime example.

ELEVATE delivers the complete, immersive retail experience, combining interactive touchscreens, AI-powered product guidance, sales support, and immersive visualization into a single retail solution.

The strategic investment strengthens the company's North American presence and accelerates private label innovation in professional beauty.

The new partnership brings Amika products into Tricoci University and student salons across its 15 campuses, reflecting Tricoci's continued commitment to providing students with hands-on experience using modern, in-demand products that align with today's beauty industry needs.

Bringing global haircare authority closer to the chair, the partnership marks a renewed investment in New England's salons and stylists.

This growing must-attend industry event honors leaders across hair, nails, and wellness while creating opportunities for the next generation.

Calling all students! Intercoiffure America Canada will select five student-nominated teachers for all-expenses-paid trips to its Fall Atelier in New York. Nominations are due June 15, 2026.

Billed as the most important three days for beauty in North America, the leading B2B event returns July 13-15th, uniting brands, suppliers, buyers, and the larger beauty industry across the full industry ecosystem.