Issuu

there. So when life gets too loud, sometimes what we really need isn’t another motivational quote—it’s just a damn good laugh.

In this wild world of beauty, you’re not just making hair happen, you’re putting on a show. The salon is your stage, and every guest who walks through the door is your audience. You perform. You connect. You create something memorable.

Often the unsung hero of that whole experience is humor.

Whether you’re a stylist, colorist, salon owner, assistant or the wizard who keeps it all running behind the scenes, you know that connection is everything. Clients remember a good hair day, sure. But they really remember how you made them feel. A perfectly timed joke. A weird insider reference. That moment when you laughed so hard you almost dropped your color bowl. Those are the magic moments.

At R+Co, humor isn’t a side dish, it’s part of the recipe. It’s how we break the ice, shake o the stress and stay inspired. If you’ve ever been around us IRL, you’ve seen it: our product names, our campaigns, even our meetings—nothing’s too serious to laugh at.

Behind every shoot, show and launch is a team of pros doing serious work, but never taking themselves too seriously. Humor connects. Humor energizes. And let’s be honest, it makes long days a lot more fun.

This issue of R+Co Love is our little love letter to you: the artists, rebels, entrepreneurs and everyday magicians who make this industry so undeniably cool. Flip through for some inspo, a little pause and hopefully a few LOLs.

You deserve it.

See you soon,

WHAT MADE THEM LOL?

ASHLEY STRIKES AGAIN

SHE’S A SOUGHT-AFTER CELEBRITY STYLIST, SALON OWNER AND THE AESTHETIC INSPIRATION FOR A GENERATION OF CLIENTS AND INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS. MEET ASHLEY STREICHER—AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE OF MIND BEHIND HER R+CO COLLABORATIONS.

“I wanted to do some shit. Some real shit.”

“WITH R+CO, I COULD ACTUALLY CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. NOBODY ELSE IS MAKING NEW THINGS. IT’S ALWAYS THE SAME WHITE-LABEL STUFF, AND IT’S NOT REAL. IT’S PULLING THE WOOL OVER PEOPLE’S EYES.”

Ashley Streicher, R+Co Collective member, celebrity stylist

That’s how Ashley Streicher describes the beginning of her collaboration with R+Co—years before her now-iconic product collabs ever hit a salon shelf.

The California-based celebrity stylist is best known for creating hair that feels e ortless but elevated— the kind of cuts and styles clients don’t just admire but actually want to live in. Her signature aesthetic (modern, natural, a little bit bohemian but never crunchy) has made her the go-to stylist for stars like Mandy Moore, Kiernan Shipka and Emily Blunt. But behind the celebrity clientele and six-ﬁgure social following is someone whose own aesthetic has quietly become the blueprint for a certain kind of e ortless, lived-in hair. Ashley co-owns a salon with her sisters, and while her client roster includes major names, what’s perhaps most surprising to her is that she herself has become the aspirational reference for so many.

Her following isn’t just there for red-carpet moments, they’re drawn to the way Ashley shows up: the undone wave, the air-dried texture, the perfectly imperfect fringe. It’s a balance of natural texture, yes—but also finely honed techniques, thoughtful routines, and a toolkit of products designed to enhance hair’s natural wave patterns. That’s what made her collaboration with R+Co not just a partnership, but something deeper. She didn’t want to sign on as a face; she wanted to fill gaps. To create the products she knew were missing—the ones stylists and clients alike had been searching for but couldn’t find. It was about building from the ground up with a team that shared her vision for meaningful innovation—and had the infrastructure to actually do it.

“I don’t have it in me to make my own product line from start to ﬁnish, but I wanted to make products, and I wanted to be really hands-on,” she says. She’d been approached before—by other brands, with other o ers. But when you know Ashley, you quickly understand: she’s not a contract-for-hire type. Her ﬁngerprints are on every formula she touches.

From the texture to the fragrance to the performance, if it’s not real, it’s not happening.

“There are so many people that start a hair brand, and they’re all stock products,” she says. “I don’t understand why we need more of the same. That’s why I wanted to work with R+Co. Nobody else is doing what they’re doing.”

Ashley found a creative home in R+Co, a brand as obsessed with originality as she is. This wasn’t about slapping her name on a bottle. It was about creating products that didn’t exist but should —designed not just for consumer hype, but to solve real problems for stylists and clients.

“Nobody else is making new things,” she says. “It’s always the same white-label stu , and it’s not real. It’s pulling the wool over people’s eyes. With R+Co, I could actually create something di erent.”

And she has. Her first launch, SUN CATCHER Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner, arrived in 2020 at a time when the industry—and the world — needed it most. What started as an idea to create a hydrating leave-in cream that simplified hair routines became not just a best-seller but a staple. Beloved for its versatility, weightless moisture, subtle shine and intoxicating signature fragrance, it filled a need in both salon life and real life.

From there was ZIG ZAG Root Boosting + Texture Spray, a styling essential that delivers airy volume and movement without the dull, matte ﬁnish so

common in texture products. Then came LABYRINTH 3-in-1 Texturizing Shampoo + Conditioner, a cleansing conditioner that ﬁts seamlessly into her less-is-more approach to hair.

• Lightweight mist allows easy and even distribution for bouncy, shiny hair

• Provides heat protection

• Vitamin C-infused antioxidants protect against environmental aggressors

Because she was woman’sAshley:Whywasthe hair so angry?

Most recently, she expanded the story with SUN CATCHER Power C Nourish + Refresh Styling Spray, a featherlight mist designed to revive hair days after a blowout, reactivate texture, ﬁght frizz and shield strands from pollution and heat up to 450°F.

If there’s a through line to every formula Ashley creates with R+Co, it’s this: it has to make sense in real life. Whether it’s her own hair, her clients’ hair, or the clients of every stylist reading this, her products are designed to work the way real people live. When asked what’s next, her answer is as simple as it is telling. There’s no rigid plan. Just a creative mind constantly observing, constantly solving, constantly thinking about what’s missing—and how to make it real.

“There’s always a new idea,” she says.

“Always a new hair cut, trend or style. Always more.”

LISTENTOTHE FULLINTERVIEW

Wash Days: Mist onto towel-dried hair to hydrate, prep and prime. Air-dry for soft, frizz-free waves; or blow-dry for smooth, soft control with 450°F heat protection.

Non-Wash Days: Mist onto dry hair, scrunch to enhance texture, revive shape and smooth frizz while air-drying. Or, mist and blow-dry to touch-up without a full rewash.

THE EVOLUTION CONTINUES R+COLOR wins Cosmopolitan’s Best Pro Hair Color

BEGIN

The ﬁrst R+Co Excursion in Ocean Reef, FL, reimagines salon owner education. Jay Wesley Olson joins the R+COLOR Collective.

REDEFINING SUSTAINABILITY The ﬁrst recycled aluminum demi-permanent hair color bottle rolls o the line. Jenna Perry joins the R+COLOR Collective.

INNOVATION + BUZZ Richy Kandasamy and Renee Valerie join R+COLOR, deﬁning the future of color innovation. SUN CATCHER Leave-In becomes a best seller. EXCURSIONS

FRESH FOCUS R+Co BLEU debuts on WWD’s front-page.

Adam Federico joins R+Co EDU. R+Co Talk Radio podcast launches, spotlighting beauty icons + industry thought-leaders.

immersive experience. Tev Finger’s WWD CEO keynote spotlights leadership in beauty innovation. R+COLOR development kicks o in Italy, pioneering sustainable, input from thousands of colorists.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BEAUTY’S MOST CELEBRATED DISRUPTOR

Best Mousses

FROM HEADLINE-MAKING AWARDS TO STANDOUT FEATURES IN BEAUTY AND FASHION’S MOST TRUSTED PUBLICATIONS, R+CO CONTINUES TO EARN ITS PLACE ON “BEST OF” LISTS, IN COVETED GIFT GUIDES, AND ACROSS PAGES AND PLATFORMS THAT SHAPE THE BEAUTY CONVERSATION. WITH MILLIONS OF IMPRESSIONS AND A STEADY STREAM OF ACCOLADES, OUR PRODUCTS—AND THE PROS WHO USE THEM—REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT’S NEXT IN HAIR CARE.

100 Greatest Hair Products of All Time

R+Co DART Pomade Stick

“Meant for on-the-go grooming and styling needs, DART deﬁnes hair while taming ﬂyaways. One stick is sold every four minutes.”

91,000 BADLANDS sold in 2025, enough to ﬁll every seat in Yankee Stadium —twice.

R+Co CHIFFON Styling Mousse

“My combination wavy-curly hair simply does not cooperate without mousse. The one most likely to whip it into shape is R+Co's CHIFFON, a creamy foam with a thick, bouncy texture.”

THE BIG BANG R+Co o cially launches—bold visuals, a Collective ethos and purpose-driven products redeﬁne professional haircare.

BREAKING NEW GROUND R+Co begins transitioning to a fully vegan product line. The brand makes its ﬁrst stage appearance at Behind the Chair.

TAKES SHAPE

INNOVATION

Howard McLaren uses a co ee frother to prototype AIRCRAFT Pomade Mousse. First brand photos taken at DEATH VALLEY.

Best

Best Shampoos for Gray Hair

R+Co SUNSET BLVD Blonde Shampoo

“R+Co’s SUNSET BLVD shampoo features a lighter indigo tint than other toning versions, making it a perfect match for blonde and gray tones.”

Best Detangler

R+Co CANDY STRIPE Protect + Prep Detangling Spray

“CANDY STRIPE smells great, nourishes and softens strands for tangle-free styling, and o ers heat protection up to 450 degrees.”

Best Texturizing Sprays

R+Co BALLOON Dry Volume Spray

“Our favorite texturizing spray is the R+Co BALLOON Dry Volume Spray. It’s lightweight, adds volume and creates a beautiful lived-in look.”

Best Styling Product

R+Co BLEU Rose

Water Wave Spray

“Creates the perfect mix of waves and volume, minus the crunch. Smells great, strengthens and is perfect for curls.”

22 MILLION

Best Hairsprays

R+Co OUTER SPACE

Flexible Hairspray

DEATH VALLEY Dry Shampoos sold since launch

“I was pretty impressed with how well it held up after a sweaty day walking around the city. It didn’t leave any residue or weigh my hair down. It kept it looking smooth, velvety and in place.”

Clean Beauty Products

“Equal parts heat protectant and summer styling look super luxe,

Best Pro Hair Color R+COLOR

“Not only does R+Co’s pro color line make my hair look vibrant and shiny as hell, it’s free of many of the harmful ingredients found in most dyes and it’s housed in sustainable packaging. Basically, it's better for you and your hair—and the environment too.”

Best Curly Shampoo & Conditioner

R+Co BLEU Soft Bounce

Natural Texture & Curl

Shampoo & Conditioner

“Hydrating without weighing down my curls. It left my hair soft, easy to detangle and hydrated my scalp.”

Top Hair Launches

R+Co BLEU Ultra Dry Texture Spray

“Spritz away to build texture without hair getting weighed down, flaky or sti . The invisible formula also doubles as a dry shampoo, adding definition and shine while keeping flyaways and frizz under control.”

Best Conditioner for Curly Hair

Best Hair Wax

R+Co HALFPIPE

Dry Wax Finishing Spray

“Unlike goopy waxes of ye olden days, this ultra lightweight ﬁnishing spray delivers hold and texture without weighing hair down.”

Best Hair Fragrances

R+Co ROCKAWAY Salt Spray

“R+Co bottled that seamless ‘been at the beach all day’ vibe in their ROCKAWAY Salt Spray, making tastefully tousled hair easier to get than ever.”

R+Co CASSETTE Curl Conditioner

+ Superseed Oil Complex

“CASSETTE is a ﬁnal boss-level conditioner that deeply moisturizes and deﬁnes your curls without weighing them down.”

8,965,764

Approximate number of AIRCRAFT Pomade Mousse uses by Howard McLaren.

Best Texturizing Sprays

R+Co HALFPIPE Dry Wax

Finishing Spray

“This is by far the best I’ve tried. No other spray has transformed my post-gym hair into a blowout-worthy voluminous ’do. R+Co either used witchcraft to make this or somehow bottled magic.”

Best Sea Salt Sprays

SAIL Soft Wave Spray

“Delivers a lightweight mist, a perfect ﬁnishing touch on styled loose curls or waves to gently hold your look in place while maintaining movement.”

R+Co BLEU Essential Air

“The key to e ortless beachy waves? This air-dry cream. It has avocado oil, lactic acid, and squalene to smooth and soften strands. (Psst: You can also use it for blowouts!)”

Color by: Richy Kandasamy, VP of Color Development

Styling by: Garren, R+Co

ALWAYS READY

A gift from the owners of The Foundry salon in Texas, this leather roll holds all his essentials. "You never know when someone’s gonna ask, ‘Can you do my hair?’ I’m always ready."

LORD OF THE RINGS

His rings are his armor—if he’s not wearing them, he feels physically unbalanced. Each one holds a story: a custom skull from a SoHo street artist, another from Italy he purchased while developing R+COLOR, and one from Milan that looks smooth but feels rough—a reminder that nothing’s perfect.

MOISTURE MODE: ON

HIGH DIVE Moisture + Shine

Creme is what Richy reaches for post-wash or when refreshing hair with just water for hydration without weight.

TEXTURE, ALWAYS

Ultra Dry Texture Spray from R+Co BLEU is his secret weapon for reviving hair. He keeps the mini in his bag for quick refreshes on planes or between gigs. "This is not hairspray, it’s freedom. When I travel, my hair gets smashed in the car or the plane. I just spray it, shake it and my hair stays how I want it.”

COLORFUL PROTECTION

The Murano glass beads represent the vibrancy of life, a nod to his time living in Italy. The tiger symbolizes determination, power and a fearless pursuit of his goals. "A tiger keeps moving, keeps hunting. I’m always pushing myself."

IT’S IN

PAGE TURNER

Richy returns to this book often, ﬂipping to random pages for lessons in emotional intelligence and leadership styles. "Sometimes I just open the book to a random page because I believe the universe will show me what I need to learn. It ﬁnds my blind spots and teaches me how to lead by example."

CHAIRLIFT, ALWAYS

Richy’s ride-or-die lightener. CHAIRLIFT delivers the clean lift and condition he demands for dimensional lightening while maintaining the hair’s integrity. He always has packettes with him.

To keep up with Richy's techniques, transformations and Tips of the Week, follow @randcolor.

COLOR CONSULTATION

This tool is always with him. He pulls it out in unexpected places (like airports) to explain color theory, educate curious strangers and share his passion for hair color.

PERFECT BALANCE

These two shades of HYPERMATIC 10 Minute Demi-Permanent Liquid Hair Color are his go-to for balanced, beautiful results. Used individually or blended, Midas o ers warmth while Bubbles brings a cooler vibe.

ON TIME

Engraved with the initials of himself and his wife, Richy bought this Rolex to pass down through generations — a symbol of legacy, hard work and self-made success.

SOUND ON

Richy brings this small speaker to create a bubble wherever he goes. "In the mornings, it’s meditation and sometimes Mel Robbins. At work, Afrobeat, tribal, sometimes Senegalese music. I don’t know what they’re saying. It’s about the sound and the beat.”

TINTED POV

These help Richy “microdose in color.” Each lens a ects his mood and perception: purple for clarity and balance, pink for nighttime energy, blue for calm.

These are his mood boards in magazine form. Dazed feeds his creative edge, and the Dior lookbook is a constant on his desk—full of images he references when dreaming up concepts.

same intuitive, intentional

practices that support longevity and clarity behind the

Stylist, educator and R+Co Collective member Adam Federico approaches hair—and self-care—with the

mindset. Here, he shares ﬁve daily

chair.

3x STRONGER 16x

PRO TREATMENTS

Stronger, smoother, healthier-looking hair in just 5 minutes.

New PRO TREATMENTS deliver visible results clients can feel right away. Choose from Hydration, Volume or Bond-Building—three targeted solutions designed to address your clients’ top concerns. Convenient monodose spray format makes it a fast, easy add-on service that elevates every appointment.

SPILLING THE TEA WITH JENNA

“I love all the HYPERMATIC colors, but TWENTY-FOUR K holds a special place for me It adds richness, dimension and even makes you look healthier when done right Since I’m a natural redhead, I owed it to my younger self to make a signature red "

CHAM ELEON

CLASSIC ROCKABILLY - >

“THIS IS A CLASSIC REPRESENTATION OF WHY PRODUCT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GREAT STYLING. I CAN CREATE ENDLESS LOOKS ACROSS EVERY GENERATION—AND WITH ONE SHAMPOO, HE’S READY FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE.”

—Howard McLaren R+Co Co-Founder

This look, cut by Garren and styled by Howard McLaren, starts with a soft round shape that can be worn loose. But by switching up the styling products, the look transforms— bringing total versatility to the ﬁnish.

To transform the look, Howard turned to HALFPIPE Dry Wax Finishing Spray, which creates instant volume, separation and ﬂexible hold while protecting against humidity.

"HALFPIPE not only ampliﬁed his look, it changed how he felt," Howard says. "His attitude totally changed."

Applied on dried hair, the product allowed Howard to mold the hair with ease through multiple versions before landing on the ﬁnal rockabilly ﬁnish.

“HALFPIPE gives a lasting hold that’s not sticky or sti . It added shine and conﬁdence to the character I created," Howard says. "The result is a throwback to an '80s new wave look, reimagined for today, thanks to a great product.”

IN THE WILD

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

BEYOND THE

A CONVERSATION ON CREATIVITY, STAYING CURIOUS, AND THE SOUNDTRACKS THAT DEFINE THE WAY WE FEEL, WORK AND MOVE. There’s hairdressing—and then there’s Howard McLaren. A visionary razor cutter, documentarian of his craft and co-founder of R+Co, Howard has led the charge in transforming not just the craft of cutting, but the conversation around the industry. With a mindset shaped by imagery, experience and curiosity, his perspective always hits a deeper frequency. We caught up with Howard to talk about the role of music in creativity, the beauty of being blocked and why your playlist matters just as much as your product. What type of music do you listen to while working? I like to have music on when I work, but since most of what I’m doing happens in my head, it can’t have lyrics. I don’t want to notice the music—I want it to be part of what I’m doing. It’s not something I’m actively listening to; it’s just there, supporting the ﬂow without interfering. To me, music is part of your consciousness. You live with it— alongside sound, space, everything.

What role does music play in shaping a meaningful experience? Music is everything. It sets the scene, and you become part of that scene. I remember going to a Japanese restaurant where the food was incredible, but they were blasting the Barbie soundtrack. It completely ruined the experience. I didn’t go back. That’s what we have to think about as we design salons and experiences. Because it is an experience. You’re not just walking in for a haircut, you’re stepping into a world. And if all you want is a haircut, cut it yourself, or ﬁnd the cheapest place down the street. But if you want something more, go somewhere that’s been curated. Where the sound, the space, the energy all align with your idea of beauty.

How you get through a creative block? I give myself time to think about it, or I write things down, or draw. I draw more than I write, because for me, an image speaks louder than words. You have to give yourself the space to be blocked, and then ﬁgure out the best way to move through it. Most of the time, it just takes time—unless you’re heading toward a brick wall in a car, then you’ve got no choice but to slam the brakes and hang on. A block usually shows up for a reason. It’s not just, “Here’s a block.” It’s because you’re not fully prepared for what’s ahead. So let it be a block, and work through it. If you’re consciously aware of who you are and what you do, you’ll get through it. Whatever it is.

to listen to the full interview on R+Co Talk Radio.

Hilary Du ’s polished, lasting ﬁnish by Barb Thompson was created with R+Co

R+COLOR Collective member and celebrity stylist Jenna Perry gave Lila Moss a color refresh for Vogue using HYPERMATIC 10-Minute Demi-Permanent Liquid Hair Color in shades Plume N8 and Midas G9, plus a gloss with Luna N10 for rich dimension.

R+Co Global Educator Nancy Greer cut and styled Isa Loren’s curls, beginning with CASSETTE Curl Deﬁning Shampoo + Conditioner, then using RING TONE Ultra Deﬁning Gel Crème to add shine, elongate and smooth hair.

@craigsworldofhair prepped this look using DALLAS Thickening Spray for volume and control, TWO-WAY MIRROR Smoothing Oil, and OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray for ﬂexibility and hold.

Mark Indelicato’s bold editorial edge for Polyester magazine was created by Caitlin Krenz using R+Co AIRCRAFT Pomade Mousse and HALFPIPE Dry Wax Finishing Spray for textured volume with shine.

Bryan Greenberg’s deﬁned, sleek style for Flaunt Magazine was created by stylist Amaran Grewal using R+Co MOTORCYCLE Flexible Gel and VICIOUS Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray.

Stylist Linh Nguyen styled this look on Amilna Estavao for Harper’s Bazaar using CHAINMAIL Thermal Protection Styling Spray, OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray and TROPHY Shine + Texture Spray.

Riawna Capri of Nine Zero One gave Julianne Hough a voluminous look for the Oscars using R+Co BLEU Root Booster Volume Spray and Lifestyler Volume & Texture Spray.

Jenna Perry gave Chloe Fineman a luxe color refresh, layering custom formulas including STELLAR lowlights in Haystack and Beehive, and HYPERMATIC shades like Hummingbird, South Sea and Idol for multi-tonal brilliance.

Diego

for

using R+Co DART Pomade Stick to tame and deﬁne, and OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray to keep every strand in place.

HOWARD MCLAREN

DAMN THING THE POST POST DAMN THING

Caroline Stahl didn’t plan to be a TikTok creator, but her tutorials quickly made her one to follow. A salon owner, educator and R+Co Creator Collective member, she shares ﬁve smart strategies to help stylists show up on TikTok with conﬁdence and clarity.

market your salon? The vibe, aesthetic and overall client experience should be your main focus. When you’re clear on your why, what to post becomes much easier.

MARKET YOUR MAGIC

It’s easy to fall into the trap of only posting trends, especially when that tends to perform the best. Trends don’t always reﬂect the kind of work you want to do, and it’s important to remember that what you post is what you’ll end up promoting. If curtain bangs give you anxiety, don’t post about them just for the sake of going viral. Share the looks you love doing: Your passion will translate on camera and attract the clients and opportunities who want exactly that.

MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY

Whether you’re behind the chair or behind the camera, you are a brand. Your brand is the feeling people get when they come across your content, and that connection starts before they ever go to your proﬁle page or sit in your chair. Embrace your quirks, your personality and allow this to come through what you post. TikTok isn’t about being everything to everyone, it’s about being yourself so you attract the people who genuinely resonate with you.

DONE > PERFECT

Don’t let perfectionism stand in the way of being consistent. I know what it’s like to sit on a video for weeks because it’s “not quite right” but the reality is, TikTok rewards those who show up. Stylists wear a lot of hats as-is, and adding “content creator” into the mix can be overwhelming. You don’t have to make TikTok a full time, or even part time, job, you just have to show up. Post the thing. Share the clip. Let it be imperfect.

IF IT’S NOT FUN, LOG OFF

Howard:Howmanyhairdressersdoes ittaketochangealightbulb?

Four. One to change it, three to debate how they’d have done it di erently.

Social media used to feel like a pressure cooker but once I made the process fun, it became my creative playground. I compare it to an amusement park, you can ride the rides, play the games, and even win some prizes, but you have to know when it’s time to take a break and grab some Dippin’ Dots. If you feel yourself getting burnt out, overwhelmed, or overly ﬁxated on numbers, then it’s okay to pause. Your mental health and creative energy are worth protecting. Come back when it feels good again.

YOUR TURN: MAKE IT VIRAL

WHO IS MISSING IN THIS ISSUE

BADLANDS Dry Shampoo Paste is the It Product of HairTok. Put yourself out there—we’re watching.

Olivia Munn’s soft, hydrated style was created with R+Co RODEO STAR Thickening Style Foam and HIGH DIVE Moisture + Shine Crème by Timothy Aylward.

Andrea Denver’s undone look

Glamour was created

stylist

Larez

New York, London, Milan, Paris. Four cities, two seasons and hundreds of designers all pushing the boundaries of beauty and style. Fashion Week isn’t just a showcase of trends, it’s where fashion, hair, nails and makeup move in sync. One of the most consistent forces backstage is the legendary Garren, founder of R+Co BLEU. With a career that spans decades, he’s a true architect of hair and a regular ﬁxture at Fashion Week.

“This isn’t about perfection,” he says. “It’s about vision. And execution. Fast.”

Even before the lights hit the runway, every detail matters— sometimes the backstage action is more photographed than the ﬁnal looks. It’s a global conversation unfolding in front of editors, cameras, buyers and billions of digital eyes. For beauty makers, it’s more than entertainment. It’s a signal. A source of inspiration.

R+Co BLEU has become a backstage essential in the kits of the industry’s top stylists. Its light-but-luxurious formulas are tailor-made for high-speed environments where hair needs to shift instantly and hold under pressure.

FRONT ROW FINISH

Ga rren builds his backstage teams with purpose, choosing artists who don’t just have skill but who can think on their feet, adapt to any texture and collaborate without ego. “It’s not about owning the look,” he says. “It’s about bringing an idea to life through the craft of hairdressing.”

There’s nothing quite like the backstage experience. R+Co Global Educators like Ania Lisikiewicz, Sasha Zoghi and Saeid Homayouni say the pressure is intense but so is the growth. “You’re working with models who just came from another show. They have ﬁne, thick, curly or prepped hair—and zero time,” Sasha says. “You learn to read hair in seconds and choose products that work right now.”

That kind of product ﬂuency and speed-based decision-making is a game-changer back at the salon. “Working in an environment like this gave me so much more conﬁdence,” Ania says. “I learned I should be using more product, to trust the process, to not overwork the hair. And R+Co BLEU makes it easy—it never builds up, it’s super workable and it gives editorial payo without sti ness.” Fashion Week is fast, unpredictable, demanding. “But that’s exactly why it matters,” Saeid says. Creating a look in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment helps sharpen instincts, uncover unexpected inspiration and return to the salon with new ideas and stronger hands. Even better, one creative opportunity often sparks the next.

Even if you’re not behind the scenes, paying close attention to how stations are prepped, how product is layered and hair is transformed backstage o ers a glimpse into new techniques, interesting product combinations and creative decision-making. Follow the designers. Watch the session artists. Don’t just scroll for polish—look for the process. As Garren says, “It’s about vision. And execution. Fast.” That’s where the craft comes to life.

GARREN HAS CRAFTED COUNTLESS ICONIC LOOKS FOR DESIGNER ANNA SUI’S LOOKBOOKS AND RUNWAYS. AND THERE’S ALWAYS ONE CONSTANT BEHIND THE SCENES: R+CO BLEU ESSENTIAL HAIR TONIC. IT’S THE FOUNDATION HE TRUSTS TO PREP, PRIME AND BRING HAIR TO LIFE.

TEV FINGER, CEO OF LUXURY BRAND PARTNERS, ON WHAT EXCURSION I REVEALS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY + WHY EXCURSION II IS PUSHING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD.

Excursion I has been the place for salon owners, managers and leaders to hit pause on the daily grind and make space to think bigger. It’s not about learning to foil faster, it’s about mindset, leadership and what’s actually next for this industry. Every graduate of Excursion I experiences a shift. In the room. In the business. In the person.

Now, we’re taking it further. Excursion II is the next level. We’re going deeper—into tools, into strategy and into territory most people are still pretending doesn’t exist. Like AI.

AI isn’t coming for the industry. It’s already in it.

Your clients are using it to ﬁnd stylists, decode hair color, ask questions and make decisions before they ever walk through your door. If you’re not even in the conversation? You’re behind.

Too many salon owners and stylists are exhausted, not because they can’t do the work, but because they’re trying to be everything to everyone all the time. AI isn’t about replacing the magic—it’s about protecting it.

You can use it to write social media captions in your tone (in seconds), send personalized appointment reminders and follow up with clients without lifting a ﬁnger.

You can automate rebooking nudges, birthday messages, even personalized product suggestions based on visit history.

You can build a chatbot that answers the same 15 questions you get every day (“Do you take walk-ins?” “Who’s best with curls?”) so you can spend your energy doing what actually matters: leadership, vision, connection, hair. This isn’t a “what if.” It’s a “why aren’t you?”

The pros who are going to lead this next wave aren’t afraid of change. They’re strategic about it. They know how to keep their hands in the craft and their minds in the future.

That’s what Excursion II is built for. Not followers. But leaders. Real ones. See you on the edge. See you at Excursion II.

“AI WON’T TAKE YOUR JOB. SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS AI WILL.”

I’ve been to Excursion multiple times, and every time, I take away di erent nuggets of knowledge to share with my team.

The ﬁrst Excursion I attended was in Las Vegas and I brought one of my managers with me.

Afterward, I tried to jam three days of knowledge into a 30-minute download with the extended team—it didn’t work. So the second time I went, in Dana Point, California, I brought four of my managers with me. It changed everything. We were able to experience it together, and they understood why I was saying what I was saying. They even exchanged numbers with other salon managers on-site.

That’s the thing about this experience: I’m hearing the same information, but it lands di erently because I’m in a new location, with di erent people, in a di erent headspace. The second time, I was like, Oh my gosh—I got this the ﬁrst time, but now it makes so much more sense. You can hear the same thing twice and still walk away with ten di erent takeaways.

Through Excursion, I’ve met salon owners from all over the country—people I wouldn’t normally cross paths with—and built some truly great friendships. I’ve also built deeper relationships with the R+Co team. Excursion makes the industry feel smaller and more intimate, especially in moments when you feel alone as a salon owner.

JENNA PERRY

Jenna Perry Hair, NYC I didn’t know what to expect going into Excursion, but I left so inspired. I felt like I had a new community that I could lean on. There were so many amazing salon owners there, I was in awe.

I feel like I’m so in the weeds with my salon sometimes, and I rarely take time to zoom out. Excursion gave me that chance. It shifted my thinking and lit a ﬁre under me. I loved the blend of business and creative—it really made me think about where I want to grow, and what’s next for me. Not just behind the chair, but as a business owner.

There’s something really powerful about being in a room with other people who get it. I didn’t feel like I had to prove anything—I could just absorb, reﬂect and connect.

Kepford Haus of Heir, Davenport, IA

These Excursions are monumental in business.

If you're wondering if it's worth it to come to an Excursion—to step away from your business for three to ﬁve days—it's worth every single penny.

Everyone at Excursion gets to have one-on-one time with the R+Co leadership team, where you really get to identify where your salon’s at. It's so impactful and so empowering. Some of our lifelong mentors are people we've met at R+Co Excursions. We've had a decade of relationships now — and there’s real power in that.

RACHEL VOSS

Watch Tev Finger interview Rachel Voss about her Excursion takeaways and the power of connection.

Cameron

Have the “about to sneeze” feeling all day...