The International Beauty Show and The American Spa Expo of New York opened at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Sunday April 30th and continued through May 2nd.

The two shows were produced by Questex Media Group, Inc. and presented by American Salon and American Spa magazines. IBS New York is the largest and longest running professional beauty event in the country. These shows, which spanned the entire floor of the Javits Center, are for industry professionals only. They reach a wide cross-section of participants from the beauty and spa product manufacturers and distributors to salon and spa owners and managers. Of course hair stylists, hair colorists, estheticians, makeup artists, nail technicians, dermatologists, massage therapists and of course members of the media are also invited to attend, and attend they did.

IPA photojournalist Sara Milkovich and I, decided to attend the show on the opening day and we arrived early, not really knowing what to expect or how long we would stay at the show. Since this was our first IBS show, we contacted Tanya Cruz at Questex who arranged for our attendance at the show.

As we arrived at the Jacob Javits Center, we knew this was not going to be another computer or photographic show with tons of computer geeks or camera buffs, but rather a different type of show. We saw gorgeous young women with lots of hair, purple, hot pink or lots of curls or extensions. Most were dressed in high heels or comfy espadrille's and skin tight jeans, we knew there would be no geek's here today.

The event is a trade show that caters to the specific needs of the New York beauty and spa industry. Thousands of industry professionals attended and were able to learn about the latest cuts, curls, beauty techniques and products at this exciting event. I can understand why so many attend this show. The average hair stylist doesn't often get the opportunity to see what is happening in the industry first hand, nor do they get a chance to actually see and touch the latest beauty products.

Many companies offered attendees incredible deals on their company products too, which as you can imagine is a great way to get their products in the hands of what would end up becoming a sea of non-paid sales personnel. We even purchased a wonderful package of Rusk products valued at a minimum of $60, for a mere $20, what a deal.

I kept thinking to myself, do we need gifts for this Holiday season? Should we come back another day and bring a large piece of luggage on wheels to carry a myriad of beauty and skin care products as so many others had? Well, maybe next year we will be better prepared for all the deals at the show.

Ernie Brauchli the Founder of Artizen, gave us a demonstration of his Artizen Surround Heating™ flat hair iron that is a remarkable and innovative device featuring digital intelligence. He was gracious to give us one so we can test it and feature it in a future review on this site.

We then moved on and found exciting jewelry and other non-beauty items that might find their way into the boutique section of the beauty salons or spas. We even purchased a beautiful highly polished stainless steel and "Cubic Zirconia" ring at the B. Tiff booth and the rings and jewelry they create were outstanding and of for sale at the show at wholesale prices. Our shopping bags kept getting larger as we filled them with exciting merchandise we bought or were given at the two shows.

We also visited a few of the instant tan exhibitors and there were many showing a safe way to enjoy that golden tan and even do it in the privacy of your home. Forget the tan salons of yesterday, we didn't see one piece of tan equipment in the spa or beauty show. I suppose they finally got the message, it just isn't good for you. We loved the idea of spraying a natural product on your face or body and getting the same healthy look without all the harmful side effects of sitting in the sun or tan salons.

We especially liked the folks and products that Krome Tan were showing. They had twin models, one alabaster and the other with a rich golden Florida tan, or was it a Krome Tan...you bet it was and it looked sensational. We got a kick out of the well built male model they had laying in his swim trunks on a lounge chair. Funny about people at shows, many just walked by not even noticing this six footer in the aisles. We thought this crew was lots of fun and we love their products, especially the do-it-yourself tan in a can.

I was glad that Sara came along on this assignment (as if I could keep her away from this show). You see she was the one who got tan sprayed, hair straightened and even had a mini-face lift with a new surgical tape product meant to give you that youthful appearance without going for expensive plastic surgery. We were amazed how this little bit of tape can take years off ones face and body. What will they think of next?

Now if you want a body lift, you have to check out the folks at Pink Corset who offered the passing attendee a chance to lose 10 pounds off their mid-section by squeezing into one of their "Slimming Corsets". Gladys, once again volunteered to be put into one of these devices made to keep your back straight and stomach flat, while giving your bust a nice lift. Who would have thought these 18th century contraptions would be back with a vengeance. We loved them and the girls from Pink Corset were busy pulling and tugging their corsets around all that agreed to try one on.

If you needed hair brushes, $185 scissors, blow dryers, salon chairs, furniture, massage and pedicure chairs that rival anything Sharper Image could offer, well this was the place to find it. I thought how nice would it be to have one of those J&A Pedicure Spa massage chairs in my home. Imagine coming home, sitting back and putting your tired feet in a whirlpool foot spa...heaven.

Believe it or not, I really enjoyed being shown how to use foil to color hair, or the proper techniques to cut hair. It gave me a better understanding of the industry and what people go through to get that "movie star look".

One has to love the passion and enthusiasm we saw at this show. We felt these people really do believe in their products and love their jobs. Their electricity filled the great convention hall like nothing I have seen at any other show we have attended. I understood why the people there really love their work...where else can you make a client beautiful and feel healthier after their visit. It has to be a rewarding job, even for those in the industry that don't make $600 for a hair styling.

Many companies built their own theaters and had fashion and styling shows and on their main stage you could sit all day and watch such shows as "Nick Arrojo presents Summer Trends" or maybe "Ted Gibson & Jason Backe present High Fashion Hair". Fortunately for us, we had no idea about much of what we saw and I think that was a good thing, otherwise we would surely have had to come back all three days to get it all.

When we attend a trade show, we always make new friends and interesting people and products. But how do you list all of them in this short revue? Well we have developed the IPA Short List of outstanding exhibitors and products and have provided a brief description of their products with a direct link to their web sites.

Please visit them all and the next time you are in your favorite beauty supply store or salon, remember their names and pick up one of their products. We are sure you will be as impressed as we were at the show.

OUR SHORT LIST

Pure Inventions - Pure Inventions introduces six delicious green tea flavors that will change the way you think about green tea.

White Sands - Amazing hair products used by professionals and movie studios to get those amazing hair styles. See their very creative hair styles in our slide show.

Rusk - We love their products and bought them at the show. See their fantastic beauty presentation in our slide show.

B. Tiff of New York, specializing in Tension Set jewelry made of stainless steel with both Cubic Zirconia and Diamonds.

Color Mark Pro - Instant temporary liquid hair color for touching up gray roots.

Artizen Pro Digital Flat Irons - Amazing, innovative products for the hair.

Krome Tan - Great product and great people, check them out.

Pink Corset - Slimming shorts, cinchers, corsets, lingerie, bras and girdles.

J&A Pedicure Spa's exceptional site, and you might just be tempted to get one for your home.

Bring It Up web site to see actual videos of how this product works on lifting ones face and bust.

Join us now and see our complete photo slide show with over 80 photos from these two shows.

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