Associated Hair Professionals - AHP

Fall event season is officially on. 🍂

If you've been looking for a reason to get out of the salon and into a room full of people who love this industry as much as you do, here are four great ones:

Oct. 3-5 — Intercoiffure Fall Atelier | Hilton Midtown, New York, NY
Oct. 11-12 — Premiere Columbus | Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
Oct. 25 — Houston Barber Expo | POST Houston, Houston, TX
Nov. 25 — MLB Barbers/NC Beauty and Barber Tradeshow | Hilton Garden Inn, Raleigh, NC

Live education, real connections, and the kind of inspiration that actually follows you back to the chair. Mark your calendar! ✂️

A lot of hair pros skip the business plan because it feels overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be long or complicated, especially when you're just starting out.

Here's what a solid basic plan actually covers:

👉 Goals statement: Short and long-term. Where do you want to be in year one, two, and five?

👉 Business description: Your services, location, social links, and what makes you different.

👉 Marketing plan: Who's your target client and how are you reaching them?

👉 Risk assessment: Your strengths, your vulnerabilities, and a contingency plan.

👉 Financial analysis: Projected revenue minus operating expenses. Know your numbers.

👉 Operations plan: Your legal structure, policies, forms, and how your business runs day to day.

Your plan will change as your career grows and that's the point. Start somewhere! ✂️

Full breakdown in the latest issue of AHP Indie Stylist Magazine, written by Marjorie Erickson.

"Vol 1" by Luke Ellis with Leaf Scissors

The Inspiration: “The idea was simple: Bring it back to real barbering. We wanted to recreate a workwear feel, natural light, honest textures, nothing overstyled or overproduced. The cuts were designed to feel like they’d just walked out of the shop—clean, wearable, built for the everyday man. Strong shapes, solid foundations, natural movement. This wasn’t about high fashion or trends. It was about craft, about hair that lives in the real world. Vol 1 sets the tone—authentic, grounded, and built on skill.”

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Today is World Barber Day, and we're taking a moment to celebrate the barbers who bring skill, community, and craft to every single client.

Behind every great cut is someone who genuinely cares, not just about the look, but about the person sitting in their chair. That's what barbering is. 💈

Happy World Barber Day! ✂️

Your fall plans just got a lot more exciting. 👏

Premiere Columbus is the Midwest's must-attend beauty education event, and this year it's bringing together 130+ classes, 80+ educators and influencers, and 100 exhibiting brands for one incredible weekend: October 11–12 in Columbus, Ohio.

Whether you're an esthetician, a hair professional, or a student just getting started, this is the place to learn, connect, and leave genuinely inspired.

ASCP and AHP members save on tickets. Log into your member portal to grab your discount!

The scalp is skin and it deserves the same attention you give the rest of it.

If your clients are dealing with greasy roots, itchiness, or reactivity after color services, barrier disruption might be the culprit. Niacinamide helps regulate oil production, calm inflammation, and support barrier health without overcorrecting. It's worth adding to your service menu conversation. 🧴

Read the full article by Ella Cressman 👉 https://bit.ly/indie-stylist-niacinamide

Just a friendly reminder that your AHP membership comes with some great perks, including free access to Qnity's financial literacy programs made for beauty professionals. If you've been wanting to get a better handle on your money, this one's worth checking out. 💰

Check it out here 👉 associatedhairprofessionals.com/ahp-x-qnity

Been doing this long enough to know that running your own business means wearing every hat. AHP membership is the one thing that works as hard as you do. From the moment you join, you've got a whole industry behind you. ✂️💪 Check out everything that comes with membership at the link below.

🔗: associatedhairprofessionals.com

"FRAY" by James Abu Ulba

The Inspiration: “This is a visual study in tension between structure and softness, precision and unraveling. Inspired by the raw edges of fabric, the collection explores the beauty found in imperfection and the moments where control gives way to expression. Each look challenges traditional notions of polish, inviting the viewer into a world where vulnerability becomes architecture and undone becomes beauty. The result is a bold tension between control and chaos.”

Color: James Abu Ulba, Marie Josée Mederios
Art team: Zoe Boysen, Amanda Venhaus, Cynthia Veilledent
Makeup: Ekaterina Ulyanoff
Styling: Florence Odurand
Models: Penelope Chantal, Leila Marie, Mel Yanga, Leonie Vachon-Houde, Jade Selena
Photography: John Rawson
Assistance: Paul Gill
Postproduction: Hume Retouch

Want to see your work here next?⁠
If you’re creating something you’re proud of, we want to see it. Send submissions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

The AHP Referral Directory is officially live! 🎉⁠
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Right now, someone in your zip code is searching for a hair professional. And the new directory is how they find you!⁠
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Take 5 minutes: Log in to your AHP portal, add your website, business info, contact details, and photos. Done! ✅⁠
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Now you're discoverable, bookable, and referable, at no extra cost.⁠
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BONUS: Your membership also includes a Wix website builder if you need an online home to link to. 👀 ✨