America’s Beauty Show (ABS) 2025 took place from April 5–7, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
This year’s theme, GROW, emphasized personal and professional development, community building, and innovation within the beauty industry. The event focused on expanding skills, networks, and overall well-being for beauty professionals.
300+ classes offered across various disciplines, including hair, nails, skincare, esthetics, makeup, and business development
On the show floor, a dedicated section hosted by Fruitful Yield offered classes on topics like hair loss, weight management, mental health, fitness, and stress management, highlighting the importance of holistic well-being in the beauty profession.
The ABS Global Image Awards celebrated creativity and artistry across multiple categories. The awards ceremony featured live entertainment by Libido Funk Circus, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS at ABS
At the ABS Press Conference, Van Council, renowned American hairstylist, salon owner, and industry educator, best known as the co-founder of Van Michael Salons, a prominent salon group based in Atlanta, Georgia, received the Jerry Gordon Salon Business Leadership Award. Since opening the first location in 1984 with his brother Michael, Van has expanded the brand to include multiple salons in the Atlanta area and numerous affiliated salons internationally.
Reflecting on his years in business, Council said: “Anybody who can run a salon for 40 years deserves an award.”
One of the educators in the classroom, Meg King from Empowering You, shared the importance of investing in education:
“To borrow from Benjamin Franklin, for every coin invested in your mind, your purse will overflow.”
One the show floor, a brand out of Virginia, Veg Out Organics, an organic clean beauty plant-based skincare line, impressed attendees with its efficacy. Katie Wynne, co-founder with her husband, Brad, shared:
“A woman bought a tube of our Magnesium Body Lotion and she came back the next day to buy more. She said her husband has a chronically painful neck, but he applied and was so happily surprised to feel so much relief.”
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