It was number eleven and it was heaven! Behindthechair.com’s 11th Annual Stylist Choice Awards was more fun than ever before as we partied the night away with all of our industry friends on Sunday, March 13 in Chicago during America’s Beauty Show. Between the live hair presentations and entertaining presenters, all 2,500+ attendees in the room were having a blast, and whether you were there in the room or tucked in at home, you’ll want to check out all of these amazing pics and memorable moments from our annual shindig.

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We entertained the ABS crowd with jaw-dropping live model performances from P&G Salon Professional, Sassoon, TIGI, Matrix, Great Lengths and Irvine and Louise Rusk. Plus, over 50 presenters let their hair down for what was definitely a not-to-be-missed event. Topped off with a knee-slapping BTC Breaking Newscast from Mary and a heartfelt Hairdressers Unlocking Hope Award presentation to Winn Claybaugh, the few crazy hours we spent at the McCormick Place Skyline Ballroom turned out to be the highlight of the weekend.  

Besides unprecedented entertainment, everyone knows that the real reason for BTC’s annual party is to celebrate professional products, education and companies and this year, more than a half million loyal behindthechair.com members chose the deserving winners in an online, open-voting format. On Sunday, March 13, 2011, the victors claimed their shiny crystal trophies in front of an audience of eager and excited salon pros and company VIPs at what truly is the hottest party of the year.

Wella Professionals was the big winner of the night, taking home the grand daddy award of the night: Favorite Overall Products Company. They also scored wins for Favorite Permanent Color Line with Koleston Perfect and Favorite Bleach Lightener with Blondor. Sam Villa regained the title as Platform Artist of the Year and his acceptance speech brought tears to our eyes; and Tabatha Coffey humbly accepted the award for Favorite Celebrity Stylist and Favorite Cover of BTC On Paper Magazine. TIGI picked up awards for Favorite Professional Makeup Line and Favorite Dry Shampoo while Pureology took home wins for Favorite Prestige Company and Favorite Shampoo/Conditioner Duo. Farouk Systems was once again the big winner in the tool category, winning both Favorite Blow Dryer and Favorite Flat Iron. Sebastian snagged a win for Favorite Styling Product with Whipped Crème and America’s Beauty Show once again won for Favorite Show or Event. New SCA winners included Goldwell for Favorite Highlightening System with Silk Lift, L’Oréal Professionnel for Favorite New Color Line with INOA and Harms Millennium for Favorite Salon Software.

VIEW THE ENTIRE WINNERS LIST HERE!

Once again, the special presentations throughout the night added an extraordinary amount of entertainment to the show. P&G Salon Professional‘s presentation highlighted each of their brands—Sebastian, Wella, Nioxin and Clairol—with artists from each brand demonstrating amazing hair onstage. Sassoon showed us “Tribe,” a presentation that featured rhythmic music and of course, extraordinary hair. TIGI’s 3D show was truly brilliant, featuring inspiring hair and heart-pounding music and dancing. Matrix’s presentation reminded us to make each second count; a huge timer wound down on the screens while a parade of inspiring models took to the stage. Great Lengths served up a $10,000 check to their Great Lengths Challenge 2011 Winner, Gretchen Groth, making everyone in the room a little misty-eyed with excitement. Finally, Irvine and Louise Rusk shared their wild Scottish beauty presentation to cap off the night.

The Stylist Choice Awards is always known as the event where all of the coolest people in the beauty biz can get together and party for a few hours. Special guests and presenters included industry superstars Anthony Mascolo, Tabatha Coffey, Nick Arrojo, Mark Hayes, Irvine and Louise Rusk, Kim Vo, Janine Jarman, Ted Gibson, Beth Minardi, Sam Villa, The Doves, Martino Cartier, Michael O’Rourke, Nicholas French, Vivienne Mackinder, John Simpson, Ruth Roche, Antoinette Beenders, Stephen Moody, Zak Mascolo, Kevin Givens, Heath Grout, Nick Berardi, Nick Stenson, Omar Antonio, Phillip Wilson, Mia Liguori McHugh, Paula Malloy, Veronique Morrison, Gerard Scarpaci, Daniel Roldan, Anita Gutierrez, Dino Ivory, Rocky McCormick, Joe Anthony Pena, Andrew Dale, the Matrix Spread the Love Students, Betsy Hamlett, Rob Dubre, Sonna Brado, Nanci Lee Randolph, Andrew Bartfield, Lindsay Solomon, David Kim, Eric McLemore, Michelle Blaisure and Jared Trombetta. The presenters shared well-timed jokes and plenty of laughs which made for an all-out blast of a night!

Each year, we present one deserving person in the hair biz with the Hairdressers Unlocking Hope Award, and this year’s recipient was Founder of Paul Mitchell Schools Winn Claybaugh. His unprecedented efforts to include Future Professionals in “FUNraising” initiatives have changed our industry for the better and we couldn’t have imagined a more deserving recipient.

Finally, Mary’s hilarious Breaking News newscast was her most hilarious yet! No company was spared from her good-natured jokes (not even ourselves!) and the entire room was busting a gut.

We could never put on an amazing show without even more amazing sponsors. So here’s a big hug and a big THANK YOU to: Bosley, Clairol, Essie, Farouk, FHI Heat, Goldwell, Great Lengths, ILKA, ISO, JCPenney, Joico, Kenra, Keratin Complex, KMS California, L’Oréal Professionnel, Billboard Locks that Rock presented by L’Oréal Professionnel,  Matrix, Mizani, Nioxin, Scruples, Sebastian, TIGI, Unite and Wella.

SPECIAL THANKS:
Paul Dykstra and the ABS team—we can’t thank you enough for all of your help! Mike Esa and team—you are all brilliant and we loved working with you! Carl Bloat—you rock. Thanks for calling a great show! Kevin Givens—you kept Mary’s makeup looking superb and you were always there for a little (actually a lot of) comedic relief! Antoinette Beenders—Mary didn’t have a single hair out of place all night! Thanks for making her look great on stage! 

WERE YOU AT THE SHOW?! TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT!!

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