The first time I attended the “Midwest Beauty Show” as editor of my international beauty publication, “Sophisticate’s,” I was stunned at the attendance and all the exhibitors anxious to showcase their latest products, as well as the beautiful models walking the runways with finished looks for the new season.
As the years moved along, the show was rebranded as America’s Beauty Show and has been held at Chicago’s McCormick Place and the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont. Being in beauty media, I was fortunate to view the incredible works of some of the industry’s leading artists.
If you are not a certified cosmetologist you probably have not had the opportunity to attend this incredible trade show, but not to worry. This year I attended on behalf of the Chicago Star and had the opportunity to chat it up with ULTA’s Beauty Chief Artistic Director, Nick Stenson, about summer trends and haircare exclusively for the publication. And, as a bonus, we are proud to also showcase the ULTA Beauty collection from the company’s styling team.
Summer's hottest hairstyle trends
*Expect to see multi-dimensional brunettes and flawless foilyage blonde that brightens the face with beautifully balanced and sunny tones, perfect for hot days and warm Chicago summer nights for walks along the Chicago River.
*2024 has already proven to be the year of the unexpected, so you may see pops of bold color accentuating a natural base tone. Think “normalcy” with a side of excitement. After all, when you’re dining at your favorite outdoor venue, you will want to feel as amazing as the environment you surround yourself with—think fireworks at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier.
*We are in a moment where people are having fun expressing themselves through beauty. I don’t feel one trend is more popular than another. Regardless if you’re into beautiful balayage, incredible texture, strong shapes that we are seeing with barbering or even a pop of bold color—you can be the new you, and the Chicago Star scene-stealer you are while dining outside at one of our city’s incredible restaurants.
*A color trend I’m noticing with brunettes are subtly lighter ends... much like the slightest balayage and isolated to mid-length and ends of hair to mimic a more natural fading. This pairs beautifully with the once-again popular straight style that catches every glimmer of sun for those walks along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.
*The French bob may be the most unexpected styling trend that we will also be seeing this summer not only in Chicago, but everywhere. It’s quirky and playful with a fringe and not overly styled. With the bob making a comeback in general, this cut is a fun and easy customization to give even more personality with the look. Rooftop cocktails, anyone?
As Chicagoans we’ve been through so much together, and speaking as a born-and bred Chicago woman, I know summer is the time we wait forever for (at least it seems that way) a chance to have fun after those drab winter months. So let go, have the best time ever and do it with style—like the Chicago Stars we are.
About Nick Stenson
As the Chief Artistic Director for ULTA Beauty, Nick Stenson has the privilege of setting the course for salon and services direction through trend development, as well as for training and advising stylists at over 950 salons and stores across the country.
Nick oversees the seasonal, on-trend cut, color and styling offerings available at Ulta Beauty. This vision begins when Nick, together with his hand selected, elite Ulta Beauty Pro Team pioneer the trends for Ulta Beauty.
He and his in-house Ulta Beauty Design Team then translate the trends into seasonal, cut, color and styling offerings before ensuring that over 100 Ulta Beauty Artistic Educators are equipped with the necessary technical training to take those trends to the hands of thousands of Ulta stylists in stores across the country.
Nick’s experience as a former multi-unit salon owner and as the former senior creative director for a chain of 859 salons with 10,000 stylists nationwide at a major national retailer, contributes to the beauty industry arsenal he brings to bear at Ulta Beauty.
As Artistic Director and celebrity stylist for Matrix, a L’OREAL brand, Nick serves as a platform artist and spokesperson to some of the world’s best stylists at national venues such as Matrix Imagination, Destination Premiere, America’s Beauty Show and other industry trade shows.
His video education series has taught techniques to thousands of stylists online and his multiple nominations for the influential North American Hair Styling Awards (NAHA) have been widely acclaimed and published.
Nick Stenson is passionate to leave his mark as a respected professional voice and face of the industry, one known for challenging the world to recognize the beautiful.
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