Hairbrained Articles

Your essential guide to HB Fest 2025 in Palm Springs. Get arrival tips, packing lists, party details, and everything you need for an amazing weekend.

Paris Hilton x Paul Mitchell: A Glamorous New Chapter Paris Hilton Named Paul Mitchell Global Ambassador The entrepreneur, global icon and philanthropist joins forces with Paul Mitchell to inspire the next generation of beauty. August 25, 2025 We'll always have Paris! Paul Mitchell is proud to announce Paris Hilton as its new Global Ambassador. The partnership kicks off August 25, 2025, with an unapologetically glam, multichannel campaign that spans digital, social and in-store activations. The Paul Mitchell x Paris Hilton campaign is a bold celebration of beauty, confidence and reinvention—from glossy packaging upgrades to must-have product innovations. What's more, Paris' head-turning looks are created by celebrity hairstylist and Paul Mitchell School alum Sienree Du, who offers exclusive behind-the-scenes content and expert styling tips to give fans VIP access to Paris' glam routine. Shot through Paris' signature lens of luxe-meets-playful, the campaign features the heiress with flawless hair in unexpected, instantly iconic locations, from tennis courts to gas stations (that's hot!). A dedicated Paris Hilton display will roll out at Ulta Beauty stores nationwide, spotlighting the Paul Mitchell essentials used to achieve each of her signature looks. Beauty lovers can expect dazzling visuals, step-by-step tutorials, and surprise content drops across digital platforms, social media and live appearances. Beauty with Purpose In addition to slaying the style game, this partnership is rooted in purpose. Paul Mitchell and Paris Hilton are proud to support the LA Wildfire Relief Fund, aiding victims of the devastating Southern California fires earlier this year. With a shared passion for philanthropy, both brands are committed to using their platforms for impact, proving that real beauty goes deeper than great hair. "Paris Hilton has been setting trends and breaking boundaries for decades. Her passion for beauty, authenticity and giving back aligns perfectly with our values. We're excited to partner with an icon who not only defines style but also champions purpose." — Michaeline DeJoria, CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems Celebrating the Artistry At the heart of the campaign is a tribute to professional hairstylists who are the visionaries behind every great transformation. Through the newly launched XO Your Pro initiative, Paul Mitchell celebrates the artistry and human connection that happens behind the chair. Sienree Du, who styled every campaign look, brings her talent and perspective to the forefront, sharing her journey from Paul Mitchell School graduate to sought-after celebrity stylist. "I've used Paul Mitchell products throughout the years and their products leave you feeling empowered and glamorous. This campaign is all about giving back to causes that are close to my heart, celebrating confidence and having fun with your look! I'm so excited for fans to see all the incredible moments we've created together!" — Paris Hilton A Legacy of Innovation With this partnership, Paul Mitchell and Paris Hilton bring together decades of legacy and innovation, proving that timeless glamor and fearless reinvention never go out of style.

Introducing Goldwell's SunDipped Color Collection A range of luminous hues for glowing hair color all year round For some, it's about maintaining a year-round glow. For others, it is all about quiet luxury. Within its "Unique Colors, Unique You" initiative, Goldwell proudly unveils its SunDipped Color Collection, a symphony of light and shadow, creating soft and luminous hues that highlight natural beauty. The collection enables color-loving stylists around the world to fulfill their client's wish for a personalized glow-up, creating long lasting, light-infused styles tailored for every client. SunDipped Color: A Symphony of Light and Shadow The SunDipped Collection was inspired by the brand's seasonal trend "Nocturnal Glam", which revolutionizes neutrals and classic tones, infusing them with jewel-like opulence and an intense depth of saturation. Alongside the beloved Topchic and Topchic Zero hero shades, the SunDipped Color Collection includes eight stunning new shades: 9NP Topchic 6NP Topchic 7NP Topchic 8GN Topchic Zero 10GN Topchic Zero 9KN Topchic Zero 7KN Topchic Zero 6GN Topchic Zero Designed to mimic the interplay of light and shadow, the palette ranges from warm golden hues to cool, pearlescent naturals, offering stylists an array of options to craft effortlessly refined, low-maintenance styles. The Looks These are looks that both stylists and salon clients will fall in love with, created with Goldwell's SunDipped Color Collection using Glow Framing. Glow Framing is a technique to enhance the clients' natural beauty by adding luminous highlights around the face and crown. 01 Copper Glow Model: Jamu A radiant and fiery look that blends rich copper tones with warm highlights to create depth, dimension, and a luminous finish. An exciting blend of red, orange, and brown tones with a reflective finish that mimics the richness of bronze. Warm Tones Rich Copper Bronze Finish 02 Moonstone Glow Model: Jasmijn A captivating look inspired by the iridescent shimmer of moonstones, combining soft pastel hues with radiant shine. Loose waves or sleek straight hair with a high-gloss finish to mimic the stone's reflective surface. The iridescent glow mimics the natural shine of pearls, creating a sophisticated and luminous effect. Iridescent Pearl Finish Soft Pastels 03 Dawn Glow Model: Line Dawn Glow accentuates the natural features of the face with micro-weave highlights on the hairline and stretched highlights throughout the rest of the head. A balance between a warm blonde and a hint of pearlescent undertones, creating a luminous, fresh, and ethereal effect. Warm Blonde Pearlescent Micro-Weave 04 Sunrise Glow Model: Molly Sunrise Glow is a warm, vibrant blonde color featuring rich golden undertones. Typically, a medium to light blonde shade that can range from soft, honey-toned blondes to more intense, buttery golds. For a warm, bright, and glowing effect. Golden Blonde Buttery Tones Vibrant Finish "At Goldwell, we believe that hair color is more than just a style -- it is a journey of self-expression. Our latest SunDipped Color Collection brings this belief to life by equipping stylists with the tools to create personalized, luminous looks that their clients will fall in love with and that will enhance their natural beauty." — Bettina Schupp, Vice President Brand Development Salon Global Goldwell's Color Portfolio: The Foundation of Excellence The SunDipped Color Collection is complemented by Goldwell's iconic portfolio of hair color: ✨ Topchic & Topchic Zero Offering best-in-class performance for vibrant, natural results 💎 System @Pure Pigments Enhancing shades with multidimensional, high-definition brilliance Making the SunDipped Look Last Goldwell is committed to achieving salon excellence and enhancing at-home care, which is central to every campaign. The high-performance Dualsenses haircare products ensure that the unique SunDipped looks remain vibrant and intense over time. StyleSign serves as the perfect styling complement to Goldwell's color and care products. It is safe for color-treated hair, allowing clients to effortlessly achieve visible, touchable, and long-lasting styling results. With both product ranges, salon clients can easily maintain their unique SunDipped look at home, extending the beauty of their salon transformation into everyday life. Discover Your Perfect SunDipped Look Explore the artistry of Goldwell's SunDipped Color Collection and follow the journey on social media #SundippedColor #UniqueColors #MyUniqueColor

4 Essential Ways to Become a Better Hair Colorist Whether you're new to the industry or remember when everyone wanted Kelly Clarkson's chunky highlights, becoming even more adept at hair coloring is a must. Not only is color one of the biggest moneymakers in the salon, but when applied expertly, it builds client retention and loyalty. 1 Continuous learning (and relearning) If there's one thing to be said about the hair industry, it's that it's continually evolving. That means you need to evolve too. Be sure to seek out top educators who can help you break out of creative ruts and stay relevant. In fact, Hb Fest has more than 30 top-tier educators you can learn from! Learn cut, color, extensions, style and more—all at the gorgeous JW Marriott in Palm Desert, September 13-15, 2025. Just sayin'! 2 Learn the Whys behind the formulas Move beyond copying or memorizing formulas and foil placement. Understanding the science behind color will help you customize, troubleshoot and elevate your results and reputation. Foiling Masterclass with Tabitha Dueñas : Learn when—and why—to use vertical, diagonal, horizontal placement. Color Correction with Confidence with Cassandra McGlaughlin : Advanced color theory, chemistry and technique. 3 Master the art of the consultation Whether your client is a ride-or-die or brand-new, asking, "So what are we going to do today?" is NOT a consultation! Find out the hair's chemical history, including relaxers, keratin treatments, past color—clients may not understand that rinse they put on their hair was color, but bleach don't lie. Review inspo images together. Ask your client to describe—in detail—what they like or dislike about their inspo photos. These tactics will help you manage expectations and effectively communicate costs. 4 Document and reflect on your work Consider starting a formula journal or digital portfolio. By taking notes and photos of what worked (and what didn't), every client becomes a learning opportunity. Over time, patterns will emerge, and your ability to make smarter, better and faster decisions will grow. Ready to Master Your Craft? Discover world-class education and take your skills to the next level Explore Education

This Is Why You Forget Everything Master the art of retention and transform your hairdressing education Have you ever binge-watched a series, only to find that a week later you can't remember details or plot points? This phenomenon of forgetting info over time is known as the "forgetting curve." In fact, studies show that when there's no attempt to retain information, we forget an average of 90% of what we learned within the first seven days! So what's a knowledge-hungry craft hairdresser like you to do? Master hairdresser Gerard demonstrating precision techniques Four Ways to Beat the Forgetting Curve 1 Learn in Spurts Since the biggest drop in memory happens almost immediately after learning—within an hour, you could forget up to half of what you just studied!—breaking up courses into smaller chunks and reviewing what you learned after each segment will improve memory retention. 2 Space Out Learning Times Longer gaps in between learning sessions can further help increase memory, especially if you recall what you've learned previously before moving onto the next session. 3 Be Interactive By printing out headsheets, taking notes and following along on a mannequin, you will be actively engaged and more apt to retain information for longer. 4 Try Interleaving Interleaving, or mixing up different concepts while you're learning rather than focusing on one topic at a time, can help improve your ability to tell different concepts apart and make them easier to recall.So, for example, if you're focusing on how to cut a bob →, switch it up and throw in a course on how to style curly hair →. Start Your Learning Journey Today Be sure to check out the wide range of online courses on the Hairbrained Live Academy → And if you want free education (and let's face it, who doesn't?!), then be sure to sign up for FLOW → our Free Lesson of the Week! Save hundreds of dollars a year while getting tons of top-notch education!

Join Goldwell ColorSphere 2025 in Milan, Sept 14-15. Global hair color innovation event featuring workshops, trends & Creative Awards competition.

Vagaro Launches Textured Hair Badge to Help Stylists Showcase Curl Expertise The new feature allows clients to more quickly and easily locate salons and stylists who specialize in textured hair services. NEW FEATURE Although the beauty industry has made meaningful strides toward inclusivity—especially in textured hair—it can still be challenging for clients to find hairdressers who are trained and confident in providing textured hair services. That's why Vagaro is proud to announce their recently introduced "Textured Hair" business-type badge, which allows salons and independent pros to easily advertise their expertise in caring for coils, curls and waves. "The ability to easily signal textured hair expertise helps clients—especially those in the Black community—feel seen." — Charity Hudnall, CMO, Vagaro From straight to stunning curls—this client's joy underscores the transformational power of stylists like Mona Baltazar of The Mona Cut, who specialize in textured hair. Thanks to Vagaro's new badge, finding these professionals is easier than ever. Photo courtesy of The Mona Cut The new badge from Vagaro, the leading software for beauty businesses, can be toggled on within a business profile, helping clients quickly identify stylists who are trained and confident in working with textured hair. "Hair is deeply personal, and textured hair requires specialized knowledge," says Charity Hudnall, CMO at Vagaro. "The ability to easily signal that expertise helps clients—especially those in the Black community—feel seen, while also helping to elevate industry standards." Textured hair is varied and requires specialized knowledge, says Charity Hudnall. Photo courtesy of The Mona Cut This effort builds upon Vagaro's recent activation in the UK at HairCon. During the trade show, a dedicated mainstage showcase with Project Afro and a braiding bar in partnership with Braids Gang highlighted the artistry and expertise of textured hair professionals, bringing visibility to both stylists and consumers. This also comes as an increasing number of states are passing new legislation requiring cosmetology schools to teach textured hair education. Several states, including Washington, Vermont, Maine, California, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana and New York, now officially require beauty schools to train across all hair types. As more recognize textured hair education as a professional necessity rather than an optional skill, tools like this badge reflect an important factor in what quality hair care truly means: inclusion, education and accessibility. Ready to Showcase Your Expertise? Join the movement toward inclusive beauty standards. Activate Your Textured Hair Badge

Find Your Flock 🦩 Hb Fest is more than just an education event—it's a gathering for passionate hairdressers to connect, grow, and get inspired. Happening September 13–15, 2025, in sunny Palm Springs, this three-day experience brings together the best in the industry for nonstop learning and unforgettable vibes. ✨ 30+ Classes Look & learn and hands-on sessions with master educators 🌴 Palm Springs Vibes JW Marriott Palm Desert at just $279/night 💰 Group Savings Save up to $130 per person when you bring 3+ friends 🌴 🦩 🌴 Learn from Industry Icons With over 30 look & learn and hands-on classes led by the best in the business, you'll sharpen your skills and see what's next in cutting, color, and styling. @jacobkhan @sonnabrado @danieljosephmuldoon 👉 Swipe to see more educators → @jacobkhan Cutting Specialist @sonnabrado Color Expert @danieljosephmuldoon Styling Master Experience the Magic Join us for hands-on learning, inspiring demonstrations, and unforgettable connections Get Your Tickets Now Elevate Your Learning Want to really take your skills to the next level? Join one of the intimate hands-on sessions and work directly with master educators to refine your craft in a focused setting. We're taking over the stunning JW Marriott Palm Desert, where attendees can stay on-site and soak up the full experience. Bonus: we've secured a special group rate of just $279 per night—so you can stay in style without breaking the bank. See You in Paradise Reserve Your Spot Today FLY IN EARLY, SAVE BIG! September 13-15, 2025 • Palm Springs, CA 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds EARLY BIRD TICKETS - SAVE UP TO $130

Discover the 2025 NAHA winners across 15 categories including Avant Garde, Haircolor, and Hairstylist of the Year. See the beauty industry's best work.