When I first visited the Midwest Beauty Show as the editor of my international beauty publication Sophisticate’s, I was overwhelmed by the number of visitors and all the exhibitors eager to showcase their latest products, as well as the beautiful models walking the runway with ready-made looks for the new season.
Over the years, the show was renamed America’s Beauty Show and was held at McCormick Place in Chicago and the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont. Being in beauty media, I have been fortunate to see the incredible work of some of the industry’s leading artists.
If you’re not a certified esthetician, you probably haven’t had the chance to attend this incredible trade show, but don’t worry. This year I was there on behalf of the Chicago Star and had the chance to chat with Nick Stenson, artistic director of ULTA’s beauty department, about summer trends and hair care exclusively for the publication. And as a bonus, we’re proud to also feature the ULTA Beauty collection from the company’s styling team.
The hottest hairstyle trends of the summer
*Expect multi-dimensional browns and flawless foilyage blondes that illuminate the face with beautifully balanced and sunny tones, perfect for hot days and warm Chicago summer nights strolling along the Chicago River.
*2024 has already proven to be the year of the unexpected, so you may see bold pops of color that accentuate a natural base tone. Think “normalcy” with a dash of excitement. After all, when you’re dining at your favorite outdoor spot, you want to feel as amazing as the environment that surrounds you—think fireworks at Chicago’s famous Navy Pier.
*We are living through a time where people are having fun expressing themselves through beauty. I don’t think one trend is more popular than another. Whether you’re into gorgeous balayage, incredible textures, strong shapes like we see at the hairdresser, or even a touch of bold color, you can be your new self and the Chicago Star scene-stealer that you are when you dine outside at one of our city’s incredible restaurants.
*One color trend I’m noticing on brunettes is subtly lighter ends… similar to a light balayage effect and isolated to the mid-length and ends of the hair to mimic a more natural fade. This pairs beautifully with the once again popular sleek style that catches every ray of sunshine on walks along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.
*The French bob is perhaps the most unexpected styling trend we’ll see not only in Chicago, but everywhere this summer. It’s quirky and playful, with bangs and not overly styled. With the bob making a comeback in general, this cut is a fun and easy adaptation to add even more personality to the look. Fancy cocktails on the roof?
As Chicagoans, we’ve been through so much together, and as a Chicago native, I know that summer is the time we wait forever for (or so it seems) to have fun after the dreary winter months. So let’s party, have the time of our lives, and do it in style – like the Chicago Stars we are.
About Nick Stenson
As Chief Artistic Director of ULTA Beauty, Nick Stenson has the privilege of setting trends to drive salon and service direction and to train and mentor stylists in over 950 salons and stores nationwide.
Nick oversees Ulta Beauty’s seasonal, on-trend cut, color and styling offerings. This vision begins when Nick, along with his hand-picked, world-class Ulta Beauty Pro Team, drives trends for Ulta Beauty.
He and his own Ulta Beauty Design Team then translate the trends into seasonal cut, color and styling offerings, and then ensure that over 100 Ulta Beauty Artistic Educators receive the technical training necessary to communicate these trends to thousands of Ulta stylists in stores across the country.
Nick’s experience as a former owner of multiple salons and as a former executive creative director of a chain of 859 salons with 10,000 stylists nationwide at a major national retailer enriches the beauty industry arsenal he brings to Ulta Beauty.
As Artistic Director and Celebrity Stylist for Matrix, a L’OREAL brand, Nick serves as a platform artist and spokesperson for some of the world’s top stylists at national events such as Matrix Imagination, Destination Premiere, America’s Beauty Show and other industry trade shows.
His instructional video series has taught techniques to thousands of stylists online and his numerous nominations for the influential North American Hair Styling Awards (NAHA) have received widespread recognition and publication.
Nick Stenson is passionate about leaving his mark as a respected professional voice and face of the industry and being known for challenging the world to see beauty.
