Dining For Change, a very successful charitable outreach program for the beauty industry, is scheduled to be held in March 2010. The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) have recently announced this event which is held twice a year.

Dining For Change invites beauty professionals to network, share, enjoy each other’s company over a meal and raise money for a good cause. This grassroots philanthropy effort makes fundraising easy on a local level and allows participants to make a difference for those impacted by cancer, domestic violence and natural disasters. The first Dining for Change initiative had successfully raised $100,000 during March and October 2009, where beauty professionals across the country gathered at hundreds of dinners on a local level.

Getting involved with Dining For Change is easy! The registration process along with the rules for donations and other terms & conditions can be found on NCA’s website.

Many beauty professionals and their colleagues have successfully hosted Dining For Change events and so can you! As a host, you decide on the kind of event (formal / informal dinner), number of invited guests, location and suggested charitable donation by each guest. Gatherings can vary from ultra casual to sophisticated chic – it’s up to you! Each guest makes a voluntary donation which is then combined with the donations of others across the country to elevate the collective giving of all.

Like last year, NCA is inviting beauty professionals to:
• Host a get together with your fellow professionals, co-workers, business associates and/or clients
• Encourage others to host their own get togethers as part of a national network of professionals
• Promote your support of Dining For Change and the industry related charities it benefits
• Support the good work of “Look Good…Feel Better” programs for cancer patients and the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund’s CUT IT OUT program and the NCA Disaster Relief Fund.

PBA – NCA’s Dining For Change is a grassroots fundraising initiative based on a new and growing model of localized charitable work called ‘giving circles’ – groups of individuals networked with other small groups to make a difference. All the Dining For Change contributions go to support the work of Look Good…Feel Better, CUT IT OUT, and the PBA – NCA Disaster Relief Fund. So you end up working for three worthy causes by organizing an event like this.

Be the change that you want to see in our world. Spread the word amongst beauty professionals to be a Dining For Change host in March. To get started, visit www.ncacares.org/diningforchange

The International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) is all set to rock the cosmetology industry in 2010. So in the New Year, get ready for the BIGGEST and BEST professional cash-and-carry beauty exposition and educational event on the West Coast!

The event is scheduled during January 30 – February 1, 2010 at Long Beach, California. Having surpassed all the expectations for 2009, the ISSE 2010 will play host to more than 400 top quality exhibitors on 135,073 Sq. Ft. of sold-out space. This year’s event will be graced by industry leaders such as Karg + Blackwell, Nick Arrojo, Charlie Price, RUSK, and Sassoon Academy, along with many of the largest manufacturers from across the globe. ISSE 2010 truly promises to be an exciting event focused on professional hairstylists. Another thing that is worth noting is that ISSE offers an important opportunity for licensed beauty professionals and cosmetology students to invest in their careers and stay current on the latest trends.

What’s NEW for 2010?

Legends & Icon’s Gala – For the first time ever, ISSE will host the National Cosmetology Association’s (NCA) Legends & Icons Charity Gala, in cooperation with the Professional Beauty Association on Saturday, January 30, 2010, honoring Ann Mincey, Robert Cromeans and The Doves.

Faatemah Ampey to Emcee the International Fashion Theater – Faatemah Ampey, who spelled magic over the crowd at NAHA 20 will light up the stage at ISSE to produce another magical performance.

LFG Fashion Photo Shoot by the Masters – The Latino Fashion Group (LFG) along with photographer Babak will teach how to capture the latest beauty trends. This practical oriented class will also provide tips on creating a successful editorial photo shoot.

On-Demand Tickets – This year, attendees can purchase and print their tickets online! They can then directly proceed to multiple satellite credential checks for a hassle free entry to the show floor. To purchase tickets online, please visit www.probeauty.org/isse

Some more amazing programs at ISSE 2010…

International Fashion Theater (Complimentary with expo ticket purchase): This will see the industry’s most talented platform and in-house creative stylists deliver inspiring performances.

Latino Fashion Theater (Complimentary with expo ticket purchase): Presented in both English and Spanish, this program will attract some of the nation’s leading and up-coming Latino professionals.

Technical Theater (Some sessions require additional investment. Limited seating.): This program will feature the hottest names in the industry who will demonstrate the new cutting and styling techniques.

There are some great contests with great money to be won at the ISSE 2010. “Make Dreams Come True – $25,000 Giveaway” contest will be organized by Ultimate Beauty Companies. The ISSE Night Out Party on Sunday, January 31, 2010, allows you to network and enjoy with other beauty professionals. The party is Free to ISSE attendees and exhibitors, so start populating the venue 8:00pm onwards.

ISSE is open to licensed salon/spa professionals and cosmetology students only. To maintain a professional atmosphere, attendees must present proof of license and a valid photo ID. For additional information on ISSE and to purchase tickets, please visit www.probeauty.org/isse

I am thinking of sporting a new hairstyle for this fall. While searching the internet for some cool hairstyles, I noticed that most of times the hairstylists are men. Whether you visit a salon or attend a training seminar in cosmetology education, the chances of seeing women on stage are very less.

It’s a real surprise that the industry which caters to more women has less number of women hairstylists. While thinking about the implications that the lack of women will have on this industry, I landed on a great article that voices the same opinion as mine.

It discusses whether the cosmetology industry is becoming male dominant? And then it goes on to analyze the reasons and points to an exciting resource for online cosmetology education.

Do you think we should worry by the lack of women hairstylists in the hair-care industry?