
The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
At noon today, The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) released an announcement that the two organizations have signed an agreement to merge, effective immediately.


At
noon today, The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the National
Cosmetology Association (NCA) released an announcement that the two
organizations have signed an agreement to merge, effective immediately.
According to leadership of both groups, the merger will "combine best
practices and leverage complementary strengths, assets and member
benefits to improve all sectors of the professional beauty industry."
Over
time, the proposed merger will have the NCA, which is currently based
in Chicago, join the PBA's three existing company-based membership
sections in its headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. This fourth "NCA"
membership section will be based on NCA's existing individual
membership criteria.

Steve Sleeper, PBA executive director.
The
announcement indicates PBA and NCA will work as partners to conduct
more comprehensive industry research, as well as combine government
relations and lobbying efforts. In addition, members of each group will
share in the benefits the other enjoys, such as free admission to major
industry events, including the International Salon & Spa Expo and
International Beauty Shows; special pricing on Cosmoprof North America
and Symposium; and free subscriptions to various magazines.
"The
NCA and PBA forming this strategic alliance was a natural evolution and
obvious opportunity because we share the goal of working toward the
success of our members, who represent all facets of the industry," says
Steve Sleeper, executive director of the PBA.

Gordon Miller, NCA executive director.
"NCA
has the largest, most diverse membership of any industry association,
while the PBA has phenomenal show and event properties-from Cosmoprof
North America to the North American Hairstyling Awards," says Gordon
Miller, executive director of the NCA. "We both have longstanding
shared values of doing good work on behalf of the industry and salon
owners, professionals and future professionals. We are delighted to
join forces with such a prestigious partner."
More details on the merger will be announced shortly. For information on the Professional Beauty Association, visit probeauty.org or call 800-468-2274. For more information on the National Cosmetology Association, visit ncacares.org or call 312-527-6765.

Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.

Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.

When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.

Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.

At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.

In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.

Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.

Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.

In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.

The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti

After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.

In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.

The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.

Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.