Highlights: The Official Newsletter of AACS

July 17, 2025

Don't let your educators miss out on valuable teaching tools and expert instruction at this year's CEA Conference, August 2-4, in Orlando. Attendees will:

• Learn from new, dynamic speakers with actionable, take-home tools that can be put into use in the classroom right away
• Earn 8+ CEU credits with 20 breakout sessions to choose from
• Improve teaching strategies with 3 methodology courses with industry experts L'Oreal, Milady, and Pivot Point
• Network with other beauty, barber, and wellness instructors
• Connect with 30+ vendors in the exhibit hall
• And MUCH more!

Congratulations to the First-Ever Student Stylist of the Year Finalists!

These finalists excelled in creativity, technical skills, and styling, bringing them to the top of the pack amongst more than 120 entries in the first-ever AACS & L'Oreal PPD Student Stylist of the Year competition.

Attend the CEA Conference Awards Luncheon to find out who the winners are for Best Overall, Best in Cut, Best in Color, and Best in Finishing! Can't attend the whole conference but still want to join for the awards presentation? A luncheon-only ticket option is available in registration. Click below to register!

Start Planning Your Entries...Golden School Awards Coming Soon!

This year's Golden School Awards are launching soon! Start thinking about which categories your school will enter: Advocacy, Community Involvement, Facilities, Legacy Alumni, Marketing Innovation, Placement, School Culture, Student Salon & Spa, and School of the Year.

The winners of the 2025 Golden School Awards will be announced at the AACS Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 23-26.

Start planning your entries with this helpful Planning Document and Judging Criteria!

Three More States Now Require Texture Education in Cosmetology Schools

Vermont, Maine, and Washington have joined the growing movement to make cosmetology education more inclusive, passing new laws that require state-licensed hair care professionals to be trained and tested in working with curly, coily, and wavy hair textures.

Read more via American Salon here.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Annual Conference Registration to Open Soon!

Registration opens soon for the highy anticipated 2025 AACS Annual Conference—designed specifically for you—beauty, barber, and wellness school owners and operators!

Mark your calendar for this important annual event, October 23-26, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Get ready to secure your spot at the only conference in North America exclusively for owners and operators of beauty, barber and wellness schools.