Saturday a group of Redken facilitators participated in a finishing prep lead by Chris Baran we went through a few techniques like root tonging, spiral tonging, the Marcel wave and the frizz to name a few.  The Marcel wave was the best and my personal favorite. This excersize was to get us ready for the big Finish on Monday where close to 900 hundred Redken Artists from all over the world participated. 

While we facilitators were busy getting prepped, 948 Redken Artists were arriving and registering for the event.  That evening we kicked it off right with the Grand Opening. 

The second editon of Redken Creates was launched with a great stage presentation using models. Redken Creates is another way that features Redken Artists, so they can show case their ideas for the year. We all recieved a copy of the book to use for inspiration in our work this year. The book is available on Redken's web site. I'll do another blog on this book later, when I have a bit more time. Thank you Redken Creates Team!

Sunday we started in General Session with Pat Parenty, Christine Shuster, Bobby Foster Kelly, Ann Mincey and all the fabulous people that keep Redken going at the beautiful pace in growth, giving us all the top sales numbers and educational focus.

We then broke up in groups: business, design, color and inspiration.  Each one of us were chosen to go into one of these categories.  I was in the inspiration group, where a designer was paired up with a colorist. We got a chance to do live models, what a great surprise!  I was paired up with Shelly Boss, a fabulous colorist from Georgia, here is a before and after of our look.  The charge we were given was make our model look beautiful and updated in a very wearable way. 

Monday was huge in that everyone, all 948 of us, participated in this finishing training, including a few people who don't do hair anymore and a few that don't do hair, period. I think that qualifies as huge in the content of training.  I got nothing but positive feedback after the day was over.  This was lead by Chris Baran.  He has a finishing vido coming out in March that everyone can purchase and work at there own pace.  I say buy it!  It will take your dressing work to a new level.

Monday night we had a party in true Redken Style. There was sushi, dim sum, mexican, and a carving station in addition to an open bar.  The entertainment was us.  We had two contests going on: a dueling guitar game and a finish the song contest.  I can't remember the words to very many songs so I checked out on that one. If it was Keroke, I would of rocked the house.

Tuesday we had general sessoion and had Darien Howe explaing how Redken's public relations image is number one in the fashion world.  Deb Rosenbug explained the color side of things. Sam Villa and Kris Baran went though our CORE Learing Process as only they can. It was good to revisit this as more and more artists join our family. It reinforces and refocuses us the understanding of who we are.  We ended looking forward to another great year.