Aveda’s 19th annual Congress presented "Human X," a colorful and reflective interpretation of today's trends by the Aveda Global Team. Featuring bold hair and makeup looks, the show celebrated the importance of human‐to‐human connection and the universal embrace of individual expression.

“The big trends we are seeing right now link back to a massive shift we have seen in humanity over the past two years,” Janell Geason, Global Artistic Director, Makeup, said at the show. “Nothing is new, but everything feels new, because it has become really important. We are all experiencing things differently than we were before. That’s the philosophy that inspired our presentation.”

Hair ranged from blunt cuts with strong lines and soft layers to feed‐in braids and vibrant pops of hair color. Dramatic makeup enhanced individual features. The models wore bright, vintage, patchworked clothing created for the event.

“The human experience is like patchwork,” noted Renee Gadar, Global Artistic Director, Texture. “Each of us is the sum of our experiences. Like these braids, life has a way of meandering and coming together to make colorful sense.”

Bea Carmichael, Global Educator, Styling, added, “Human X is all about creating a signature look for the guest that takes all elements about them into consideration—their social life, job—to make the look completely unique to them. It’s about the experiences that we’ve all been through, good and bad, and the tapestry of life they create.”

Big bold color

With the evolution of working from home, the Aveda Global Team acknowledged that bold hair color has skyrocketed in recent months, now that the perception of what’s professional has changed. But guests want something more than what’s just come out of the box; they want something truly unique to them.

“Customizing for every guest is something that Aveda has always prioritized, but now it’s become more important than ever," said Ian Michael Black, Global Artistic Director, Hair Color. "From an education perspective, we love to create and share a technique, but also how to customize it for each person. Personalization is the epitome of the guest experience.”

Ricardo Dinis, Aveda Global Artistic Director, Hair Cutting, wrapped the show by saying, “The passion that we have for the craft and artistry is very special here at Aveda. Wherever we are in the world, we are connected right now.”