At EXPO Snap Crackle and Cosmic Pop
The fifth annual ARROJO Expo, New York, Oct. 25-26 brought together hundreds of hairdressers for a long weekend of immersion into a culture of creativity. The opening ‘Welcome to NYC’ cocktail party and mixer united Expo attendees with the Intercoiffure community who were gathered in NYC for their yearly symposium. This mixer, held at ARROJO’s jaw-dropping new facility in Tribeca, includes a silent auction with Candy Shaw, live hairdressing demonstrations, a tribute to four legends of hairdressing along Heroes Way, a retrospective of our editorial videos, and a runway presentation that caps a night of creative celebration.Showing the Cosmic-POP film and runway show for the first time, it was also a glimpse of the hairdressing inspiration and education on tap at Expo. During two days of hands-on workshops most attendees head to one of three ARROJO NYC locations to practice the razor cutting, creative coloring, American Wave, and styling techniques that go together for the signature look of Cosmic-POP. Giving influential hairdressers vanguard trends and skills to take back to their own communities, the Cosmic-POP collection is a loud, colorful, punchy mash up of pop art and glam rock. It is the coolest thing in New York and with 350 top stylists now ingrained in the techniques and the trend, it’s about to go off across America. For salon owners and decision makers, Expo also offers two days of business learning. Keynote speakers include Nick Arrojo, Jerry and Karen Gordon, Gerard Scarpaci, and Josh McMichen. A quote taken from Aristotle — “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit” –– shared during Nick’s presentation sums up the commitment to craft and graft that is the essential take home of the two days. No Expo would be complete without an exclusive presentation and after-party for guests, but this year’s Sunday night shindig eclipsed anything we’ve seen at any hair show. DJs and an open bar started the party at Verboten nightclub before a ferocious and enthralling live performance by Mother Feather, a modern glam rock pop band who slither, thrust, and high-kick their way through an epic set. “That was…awesome,” hollered one partygoer who'd had her feathers ruffled. After the band an uncompromising club soundtrack signaled a succession of editorial videos with an accompanying runway presentation with scores of models. Led by the full release of Cosmic-POP, but also including Sou’Win, an inspired Halloween-infused collection, and Inter-Mixture, an array of tumbling textures made with American Wave, it is a hedonistic and spine-tingling expression of artistic collaboration. Afterwards ARROJO DJs turn up the heat before Nightmares on Wax, the legendary British underground music producer, takes control of the decks and instantly tunes in to the cheeky swagger of the pumped up crowd. “Who else puts on an event and a party like this,” says one reveler, heading to the dance floor.
Photography: Debbie Miracolo, Jammi York, Serichai Traipoom
Special Thanks to Josh McMichen, David Gatt, Tom Monticello, Stephen Adams, Jerry and Karen Gordon, Linda Gilette, Derek Maldonado, Jessica Walker-Hawthorne, and Gerard Scarpaci for sharing insights and inspirations at the two-day business success symposium. Very Special Thanks to every professional who came to Expo. Expo is the best hair show there is because you choose to be a part of it.