MENU
SEARCHIt was big industry news this summer, and with the new year, it'll become reality. On November 30, the board of directors for the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) announced that PBA's members ...
It was big industry news this summer, and with the new year, it'll become reality. On November 30, the board of directors for the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) announced that PBA's members and NCA's delegates have agreed to the merger of the two organizations with NCA joining PBA as its fourth section of membership. The merger represents another progressive step toward industry unification and furthers the strategic plan to be universally recognized as the catalyst for driving consumer loyalty, member success and the advancement of the professional beauty industry.
The merger will be official on January 1, 2010. Until then, NCA will continue to be managed by PBA. In 2010, NCA will officially join PBA as the fourth membership section, joining the current membership sections for manufacturers, distributors and salon and spa owners.
"By forming this strategic alliance, all facets of the beauty industry will now be represented by a more unified and efficient trade association capable of maximizing member value and better able to serve the professional beauty industry as a whole," says Steve Sleeper, executive director of PBA. "On behalf of PBA, we welcome the addition of licensed professionals to our membership and feel in the long term, all membership sections will benefit."
Listen to the Podcast!
Steve Sleeper, executive director of the Professional Beauty Association, shares details of the merger between the PBA and the National Cosmetology Association, including how the marriage of the two associations promises big benefits to members of both.
By merging, PBA and NCA will be able to serve their members and deliver upon their respective missions more effectively. By realizing multiple synergies, benefits such as more comprehensive research into the industry's best practices, a wider array of continuing education, advanced training, charitable outreach and networking across multiple channel are expected. Government relations and lobbying efforts benefiting the entire industry will also be combined and will remain a core focus. In addition, members of each association will share in the benefits of the others as appropriate, including free admission to major industry events, such as the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) beginning in 2011 and the International Beauty Shows, as well as special pricing to events, such as Cosmoprof North America, PBA Symposium and the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA).
"We're excited about this opportunity for the entire professional salon industry to be represented by one unified association," says Mark Goodman, NCA president. "This merger will allow salon professionals to have access to more advanced education and an opportunity to build their career with integrity, as has long been the NCA mission.
The strongest salons, spas, and med spas know which numbers tell the real story of their business. In this practical guide, Phorest breaks down the five essential KPIs every business should track to improve retention, boost revenue, and make smarter decisions with confidence.
Sponsored by Phorest
At Bella Style Salon in Slidell, Louisiana, Director of Operations Angela Meyer tackles inventory, team management, and guest relations. Read all about her in our latest Meet the Manager.
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.
