<p>Attendee Cory Doggendorf tries out Belava&rsquo;s no-plumbing Embrace Chair.</p>

Attendee Cory Doggendorf tries out Belava’s no-plumbing Embrace Chair.

<p>Joe Galati stands by Continuum Footspas&rsquo; Vantage, a pedicure spa with a woodgrain formica curved arch that gives it the distinguished Continuum look.</p>

Joe Galati stands by Continuum Footspas’ Vantage, a pedicure spa with a woodgrain formica curved arch that gives it the distinguished Continuum look.

<p>En Vogue launched Lac It!, a gel polish line, which veteran tech Terri Wells demonstrates on an attendee.</p>

En Vogue launched Lac It!, a gel polish line, which veteran tech Terri Wells demonstrates on an attendee.

<p>Members of the European Touch team &mdash; Dawn Holz, TJ Lowery, Gene Drozdov, and Sheila Newkirk &mdash; pose by the Rinato Spa.</p>

Members of the European Touch team — Dawn Holz, TJ Lowery, Gene Drozdov, and Sheila Newkirk — pose by the Rinato Spa.

<p>Newton Luu talked about LeChat&rsquo;s upcoming Perfect Match gel polish collections.</p>

Newton Luu talked about LeChat’s upcoming Perfect Match gel polish collections.

<p>Christine Nguyen and Jennifer Nguyen talked up the upgraded features of the improved Infinity chair, including stain- and acetone-resistant leather.</p>

Christine Nguyen and Jennifer Nguyen talked up the upgraded features of the improved Infinity chair, including stain- and acetone-resistant leather.

<p>Licensed nail tech and nail art blogger (astrowifey.wordpress.com) Ashley Crowe and NAILS&rsquo; Sree Roy were excited to finally meet each other in person.</p>

Licensed nail tech and nail art blogger (astrowifey.wordpress.com) Ashley Crowe and NAILS’ Sree Roy were excited to finally meet each other in person.

<p>Gayle Snell and Melissa Hoogendoorn are excited about the seasonal color collections coming out from new nail polish brand Venique.</p>

Gayle Snell and Melissa Hoogendoorn are excited about the seasonal color collections coming out from new nail polish brand Venique.

<p>Nails are a family affair at Light Elegance, as evidenced by Lezlie McConnell, Lexy North, and Jim McConnell.</p>

Nails are a family affair at Light Elegance, as evidenced by Lezlie McConnell, Lexy North, and Jim McConnell.

<p>Lodaat (an acronym for &ldquo;living one day at a time&rdquo;) makes a wide array of reflexology products, and Rajiv Khatau showed attendees how they work.</p>

Lodaat (an acronym for “living one day at a time”) makes a wide array of reflexology products, and Rajiv Khatau showed attendees how they work.

<p>Tami Pfeifer and Kara Barnhouse shared the story of how Microplane Personal Care, which makes callus remover products, evolved from a line of kitchen microplanes.</p>

Tami Pfeifer and Kara Barnhouse shared the story of how Microplane Personal Care, which makes callus remover products, evolved from a line of kitchen microplanes.

<p>Sarah Burel, Stu Ludlow, Carla Bernard, Malinda Haggerty, and Julia Tucker worked the NSI booth.</p>

Sarah Burel, Stu Ludlow, Carla Bernard, Malinda Haggerty, and Julia Tucker worked the NSI booth.

<p>Bryan Colligan demonstrates how SeQRPay works with QR codes to help consumers buy salon retail products at home.</p>

Bryan Colligan demonstrates how SeQRPay works with QR codes to help consumers buy salon retail products at home.

<p>Latre Lawson, Krystle Jones, Kelley Palmer, and Candid Rogers don Trendy Nail Wraps&rsquo; new Trendy Lip Wraps.</p>

Latre Lawson, Krystle Jones, Kelley Palmer, and Candid Rogers don Trendy Nail Wraps’ new Trendy Lip Wraps.

<p><strong>CND SHELLAC COUTURE: </strong>&ldquo;Nail lengths are getting longer,&rdquo; observed CND co-founder Jan Arnold during this runway show, which featured models in designer clothing (like this Gareth Pugh silver chrome dress) with the nails styled as the perfect accessories (like these textured &ldquo;raindrop&rdquo; Shellac nails). <em>Photography by Babak for 2012 America&rsquo;s Beauty Show.</em></p>

CND SHELLAC COUTURE: “Nail lengths are getting longer,” observed CND co-founder Jan Arnold during this runway show, which featured models in designer clothing (like this Gareth Pugh silver chrome dress) with the nails styled as the perfect accessories (like these textured “raindrop” Shellac nails). Photography by Babak for 2012 America’s Beauty Show.

<p><strong>2012 STARS PHOTO CONTEST:</strong> Congratulations to the 2012 Stars Photo Contest Winner in the nails category, Viktoria Evtushenko, Iryna Giblett Nail Academy, Kiev, Ukraine. Photos of these stunning nails won her the first place award.</p>

2012 STARS PHOTO CONTEST: Congratulations to the 2012 Stars Photo Contest Winner in the nails category, Viktoria Evtushenko, Iryna Giblett Nail Academy, Kiev, Ukraine. Photos of these stunning nails won her the first place award.

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<p>Attendee Cory Doggendorf tries out Belava&rsquo;s no-plumbing Embrace Chair.</p>
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Attendee Cory Doggendorf tries out Belava’s no-plumbing Embrace Chair.

<p>Joe Galati stands by Continuum Footspas&rsquo; Vantage, a pedicure spa with a woodgrain formica curved arch that gives it the distinguished Continuum look.</p>
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Joe Galati stands by Continuum Footspas’ Vantage, a pedicure spa with a woodgrain formica curved arch that gives it the distinguished Continuum look.

<p>En Vogue launched Lac It!, a gel polish line, which veteran tech Terri Wells demonstrates on an attendee.</p>
3/16
 
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En Vogue launched Lac It!, a gel polish line, which veteran tech Terri Wells demonstrates on an attendee.

<p>Members of the European Touch team &mdash; Dawn Holz, TJ Lowery, Gene Drozdov, and Sheila Newkirk &mdash; pose by the Rinato Spa.</p>
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Members of the European Touch team — Dawn Holz, TJ Lowery, Gene Drozdov, and Sheila Newkirk — pose by the Rinato Spa.

<p>Newton Luu talked about LeChat&rsquo;s upcoming Perfect Match gel polish collections.</p>
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Newton Luu talked about LeChat’s upcoming Perfect Match gel polish collections.

<p>Christine Nguyen and Jennifer Nguyen talked up the upgraded features of the improved Infinity chair, including stain- and acetone-resistant leather.</p>
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Christine Nguyen and Jennifer Nguyen talked up the upgraded features of the improved Infinity chair, including stain- and acetone-resistant leather.

<p>Licensed nail tech and nail art blogger (astrowifey.wordpress.com) Ashley Crowe and NAILS&rsquo; Sree Roy were excited to finally meet each other in person.</p>
7/16
 
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Licensed nail tech and nail art blogger (astrowifey.wordpress.com) Ashley Crowe and NAILS’ Sree Roy were excited to finally meet each other in person.

<p>Gayle Snell and Melissa Hoogendoorn are excited about the seasonal color collections coming out from new nail polish brand Venique.</p>
8/16
 
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Gayle Snell and Melissa Hoogendoorn are excited about the seasonal color collections coming out from new nail polish brand Venique.

<p>Nails are a family affair at Light Elegance, as evidenced by Lezlie McConnell, Lexy North, and Jim McConnell.</p>
9/16
 
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Nails are a family affair at Light Elegance, as evidenced by Lezlie McConnell, Lexy North, and Jim McConnell.

<p>Lodaat (an acronym for &ldquo;living one day at a time&rdquo;) makes a wide array of reflexology products, and Rajiv Khatau showed attendees how they work.</p>
10/16
 
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Lodaat (an acronym for “living one day at a time”) makes a wide array of reflexology products, and Rajiv Khatau showed attendees how they work.

<p>Tami Pfeifer and Kara Barnhouse shared the story of how Microplane Personal Care, which makes callus remover products, evolved from a line of kitchen microplanes.</p>
11/16
 
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Tami Pfeifer and Kara Barnhouse shared the story of how Microplane Personal Care, which makes callus remover products, evolved from a line of kitchen microplanes.

<p>Sarah Burel, Stu Ludlow, Carla Bernard, Malinda Haggerty, and Julia Tucker worked the NSI booth.</p>
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Sarah Burel, Stu Ludlow, Carla Bernard, Malinda Haggerty, and Julia Tucker worked the NSI booth.

<p>Bryan Colligan demonstrates how SeQRPay works with QR codes to help consumers buy salon retail products at home.</p>
13/16
 
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Bryan Colligan demonstrates how SeQRPay works with QR codes to help consumers buy salon retail products at home.

<p>Latre Lawson, Krystle Jones, Kelley Palmer, and Candid Rogers don Trendy Nail Wraps&rsquo; new Trendy Lip Wraps.</p>
14/16
 
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Latre Lawson, Krystle Jones, Kelley Palmer, and Candid Rogers don Trendy Nail Wraps’ new Trendy Lip Wraps.

<p><strong>CND SHELLAC COUTURE: </strong>&ldquo;Nail lengths are getting longer,&rdquo; observed CND co-founder Jan Arnold during this runway show, which featured models in designer clothing (like this Gareth Pugh silver chrome dress) with the nails styled as the perfect accessories (like these textured &ldquo;raindrop&rdquo; Shellac nails). <em>Photography by Babak for 2012 America&rsquo;s Beauty Show.</em></p>
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CND SHELLAC COUTURE: “Nail lengths are getting longer,” observed CND co-founder Jan Arnold during this runway show, which featured models in designer clothing (like this Gareth Pugh silver chrome dress) with the nails styled as the perfect accessories (like these textured “raindrop” Shellac nails). Photography by Babak for 2012 America’s Beauty Show.

<p><strong>2012 STARS PHOTO CONTEST:</strong> Congratulations to the 2012 Stars Photo Contest Winner in the nails category, Viktoria Evtushenko, Iryna Giblett Nail Academy, Kiev, Ukraine. Photos of these stunning nails won her the first place award.</p>
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2012 STARS PHOTO CONTEST: Congratulations to the 2012 Stars Photo Contest Winner in the nails category, Viktoria Evtushenko, Iryna Giblett Nail Academy, Kiev, Ukraine. Photos of these stunning nails won her the first place award.

On March 3-5, Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) invited the entire salon industry to celebrate the 100th anniversary of America’s Beauty Show (ABS) in Chicago. Cementing the centennial milestone, Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recognized the contributions CC has made to promote, grow, and support the professional salon industry and declared the weekend “Cosmetologists Chicago Days” in Chicago and the entire state of Illinois, respectively. To enhance the McCormick Place experience for exhibitors and attendees, Mayor Emanuel permanently adopted the labor union work reforms that allow for greater flexibility and cost savings for exhibitors and attendees including reduced parking rates and free Wi-Fi throughout the facility.

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