A Beauty Editor’s Guide to the Annual Bronner Brothers Hair Show
The adage goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but I am of the opinion that switching things up every once in a while — even when they already work — can be absolute magic, too. Apparently, the folks at Bronner Brothers, a family-owned hair-care company. agree. For the first time in its 72-year history, the storied International Beauty Show was held in New Orleans this March as opposed to its native Atlanta.
In the sprawling Ernest N. Convention Center, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the over 300 exhibitors bustling at their booths — not to mention a few smaller stages where classes were taking place, a food court, and of course, the main stage, complete with a runway. I walked in, not knowing where to begin, then ultimately deciding that perhaps an aimless-but-purposeful saunter through would focus my eyes. I scanned booths with tables bearing shampoos, conditioners, curl puddings, and box braid wigs in all manner of natural and otherworldly unicorn hues. For stylists and the DIY-savvy, there were gloves to protect your hands from the friction they may experience while doing sew-ins, bundles of loose human hair, and even a live wig-making tutorial to watch while you waited in line to pay.
On showgoers, I spied Senegalese twists — in cotton-candy pink and periwinkle shades, no less — pulled into a high ponytail to show off tapered, shaved-down sides. One woman wore mile-long box braids in a peachy-salmon ombré, which led me to wonder if it was a wig or if she'd sat all those hours getting those braids installed just for the occasion — an impressive feat either way. Also in the crowd were geometric designs etched into the side of crisp buzz-cuts and beards lined up so expertly, you would think the barber used an X-Acto knife instead of clippers.
Hair professionals and enthusiasts know Bronner Bros. as the ideal place for networking with fellow stylists, but the rest of us probably know it best for its Fantasy Hair competition. I was first introduced to it in Chris Rock's 2010 documentary, Good Hair; nearly a decade later, I was thrilled to see it with my own eyes.
Indeed, there is no better reflection of the Bronner Bros. legacy than the Fantasy Hair competition. 16 hairstylists head up against each other to craft elaborate, sculptural hair creations, all with a set theme. Since this year's event took place in New Orleans, Mardi Gras was the theme for the hairstylists, who all put their own interpretation on it.