This years Las Vegas Cosmoprof was very, very similar to last years show. For those of you who are not familiar with Cosmoprof, in years past it was called the Beauty and Barber Supply International (or something like that, everyone just called it B.B.S.I. for short). This trade show is different from your typical hair/beauty trade show in that it is specifically for manufacturers and distributors. Say you are a distributor and are looking for a new line to bring into your distribution territory, you will go to this show. Say you are looking to manufacturer your own shampoo line, you will go to this show and find a contract manufacturer to make your poo. Say that you make shampoo that you want to sell to salons via distribution (the other option is to sell it directly to salons), you will go to this show. There are not demonstrations (well, maybe ONE), there are no seminars on how to be a better hairstylist, this show deals with the sales side of the beauty business.

My adventure starts on Saturday morning. I get up at 7 am and head to the salon for a busy day. After work, I go home, pack, take a nap, and hit the road around 7. I’m not a big fan of driving to Vegas in 110 degree heat, in a black car with black leather interior so I wait until the sun is going down to head out.

I arrive around 11:30. One of my friends brothers is getting married and is having his bachelor party tonight in Las Vegas and I am invited to make an appearance. They are at a club called Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel. I’m not a big club guy but I want to see the boys so I show up. Once I’m there I remember why I don’t like clubs. Ugh… I stay until 2:30, get a phone number of some hottie (I still got ‘it’, maybe) and head to the hotel room at the Wynn. Very nice room, I must say. The bed felt SOOOO good, I couldn’t decide if it was because I was so tired or if the sheets were that nice. I wondered how much they would charge me if I stole these awesome sheets as I drifted off to sleep.

The trade shows are always difficult to work. Your feet hurt, doesn’t matter what type of shoes you wear, and as I’m getting older it makes my knees hurt as well. Ugh. The good this about this trade show is all the people that are there. It’s like an industry ‘who’s who’. Especially since they have the North American Hairstyling Awards on Sunday night at this trade show. I saw Howard McLaren (who is one of my absolute favorites!!!) but didn’t get a chance to stop and harass him. I also saw Horst (he is the hairstylist that started a little company called Aveda)and got a picture with him.

Here are a few picts I took while at the show. Scissor Boy was in the house. Amy from Scissor Boy was so vivacious and friendly and they deserve all the success that they have. Keep up the good work!

I always give White Sands a hard time about the hair that they do but I will be the first to say that they work is improving and this style looked really intricate and impressive! The next picture was from the only hair demonstration that was going on at the show and it’s Moroccan Oil.

Next, everyone loves a Rolls Royce! Bang wiggletts and them me with “Flying Scissors” Emma Wang. I haven’t seen Magic Move since I was in NYC! Good stuff if you can find it!

See you guys at the next Hair Show!

R