Candy Shaw, the world’s foremost authority on French Cutting and Balayage Highlighting, and the founder of Sunlights Balayage — the makers and purveyors of the world’s leading balayage products and education, has been named North America’s ‘Personality of the Year’ by Intercoiffure Mondial in Paris. Founded more than a century ago and now headquartered in France, Intercoiffure is the world’s most prestigious salon organization. Shaw was presented the coveted Award at a black tie ceremony at New York’s Hilton Hotel in Times Square in October at Intercoiffure America/Canada’s Fall Atelier. The award is one of the highest international honors bestowed by the organization.

Called one of the ‘most powerful and influential women in the professional beauty industry’ by American Salon and described as “truly the face of our industry – highlighting all that is good about the salon community” by Modern Salon, Shaw will celebrate her 40th year in the industry next year.
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In addition to receiving the award, as the outgoing New Member Chair of the organization, Shaw got to welcome thirty-seven new members at the ‘pinning’ ceremony.

Lastly, alongside Frank Gambuzza, the organization’s outgoing President, Candy got to present the Fabio Sementilli Spirit Award to Bella Sementilli, Fabio’s daughter.
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​“It was a tremendous honor to be named ‘Personality of the Year’ by Mondial,” said Candy. “I am humbled beyond words to have been recognized by an organization I hold in such high regard! I was also moved beyond words to have been able to present Fabio’s daughter with a partial scholarship to beauty school. Fabio was my friend, and he was a friend to Intercoiffure. It was the least we could do as an organization to see that his legacy lives on,” said Candy.

Shaw was nominated by Intercoiffure and recently appointed to the Board of the non-profit ‘Beauty Changes Lives’, with the goal of encouraging young people to pursue careers in cosmetology. “The greatest industry of all!” remarked Shaw.

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We'd like to thank Hair Expo Australia for sharing this exciting news with our Balay Believers Down Under!

"If you looked up ‘Hair Icon’ in the dictionary there would be a photo of Martin Parsons. A true gentle “man” in every sense of the word, Martin was a hairdressers hairdresser. He loved to teach and inspire both the newcomer and the veteran in the classic arts of upstyling and elegance. Typically, I would not use the word grace to describe a man but this Gentle Giant was the most graceful hairdresser I ever met or witnessed work a stage. And work a stage he did…! Better than anyone, to standing-room-only crowds filled with ‘Martin’s Groupies’ who were wowed by his hands, warmed by his personality and tickled by his jokes. I was just that, a Martin Groupie who couldn’t wait to share a hug backstage as often as possible. When you travel the show circuit year after year you develop a ROAD Family. Martin was the Ring Leader!

In our model prep rooms where we are known to share everything from hairspray to models, Martin always loved a visit from a friend. He was never seen in anything but a well-tailored suit and tie. He respected our craft in a way that made us all want to be better and do better. He could make you laugh at the silliest things and he used to joke that after smiling all day from all the fan photos his teeth were stuck to his lips, like Mr. Ed the talking horse. He loved to poke fun at himself, a quality I so admired.

Martin was painfully private outside the spotlight. We would sometimes have dinner together over the phone as he never went to bed late or attended the hair parties. If you were lucky enough to find your way into his inner circle you considered yourself Parsons royalty. His brother Kent was the man behind Martin’s brand. He was his voice off stage and revered his brother fiercely. I always revered Martin for his no-nonsense teaching methods. As an educator it is not hard to separate the ‘treasures from the trash’. And Martin was a gem! In many ways, the Crown Jewel. He shined bright in the lives of many including mine.

After admiring him from afar for years (today we call it stalking), I finally gathered up the courage to call him and invite him to Atlanta to shoot with me. It had been a dream of mine for years to learn from this iconic man and much to my surprise he graciously obliged. I promised to handle everything from models, photography, location and wardrobe if he would just come and jam with me for two days. When Martin arrived he was dressed in his trusted suit and carried a tool bag the size of a doctor’s kit. In that defining moment I realized Martin Parsons needed no fanfare, no little ‘hair tricks’ full of extensions or photo retouching. His work was poetry. He was a maestro of the art. He never forgot why he became an educator, he always wanted to leave our industry in a better place then he found it. Martin, if you are listening, just know you did just that my dear friend. I will miss you and the influence you had on all of us. You were as PURE as they come. Martin never cared about awards or accolades. He cared about the student and how to make women look and feel beautiful. We owe him so much for the things he taught us. But his greatest lesson was to never stop loving the ‘Art of Hairdressing’ and to pay your gifts forward. Martin Parsons was the original influencer. My life is better for having known and loved him."

- Candy Shaw 

Candy Shaw and the Sunlights Artisan Team took the best lift in the industry to Stockholm, Sweden for the very first time this past weekend at Highlights Hair Fashion Experience 2019! There, they taught back-to-back Hands-On classes along with a packed Look + Learn - all sold out!

Fueled by mineral water, Candy and the team prepped for a big day of teaching with only FOUR hours to set up (versus the typical 1-2 full days vendors get tradeshows). It didn't make a difference to the Sunlights team, though - the feat was pulled off flawlessly! The Balay Lama taught hundreds of eager Europeans balayage, even enjoying a game of "Match the Celebrity" on the Main Stage (though since they were mostly American celebrities, she may have had a bit of an unfair advantage).

It's always exciting to spread the Balayage Revolution to new frontiers, and this time was no different. The team's infectious excitement even convinced their hotel receptionist to step out of his own box and come visit America for the first time!

Candy and the team will be back in Sweden in 2020, but in the mean time, take a class from one of our talented Swedish Artisan Educators!

Sunlights is available throughout Sweden through Baldacci Hair Care.

The Blunt Bob with Candy Shaw: Sharing Your Knowledge​

1. Join Something Special & Considerate
I have over 100 educators globally who have come through this program, and they don't just love teaching balayage and hand painting. They love being a part of something special. Something bright, cheerful, loving, giving, considerate - all those things we sometimes forget to prioritize are the backbone that keeps you moving forward. If you focus on those qualities when choosing a company to work with, the dynamic between you and your employer will be beneficial to your career.
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Are you just graduating beauty school or an experienced professional thinking about your next job? Finding your salon home is the most crucial step for professional success. The list below is based on my years of experience and includes a few concrete steps you can take to positively further your career.
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Painting Arizona Yellow!
Candy Shaw and Sunlights Balayage flew all the way to Tucson, Arizona to teach 150 students how to paint with the power of the paintbrush! Gadabout Salon has 7 locations with over 300 employees. Candy was with with her husband, Fred Codner, and her favorite travel necessities: fizzy water and a good book (her current read – Love What You Do by Dana Spinola). 

Candy and the Team flew into Tucson to visit Gadabout's resource center, a refurbished church, and set up for teaching, but not before catching up with Frank & Jana Westerbe who reminisced about stories of the old days of hairdressing, that had Candy laughing hysterically! 

The Balay Lama's main focus during this trip was to encourage young stylists to follow their dreams and to help them make a reality! She took a page from the pro's listening to Ted Talks on her trip over to help inspire her. Candy's constant drive to teach stems from her motivation to help all hairdressers who may struggle with painting balayage.

All in all, the trip was a great way to bring Sunshine all the way to the beautiful, mountainous Arizona! You can now find Sunlights products & education through our NEW distributor ZHair Supply & Education.

Ready for some balayage inspiration of your own? Check out our education schedule to find classes near you!

It's our favorite day of the week: Tips & Tricks Tuesday! This week, Candy Shaw's personal hairdresser (and daughter-in-law!), Adrienne Codner, shows you her secrets for keeping her lines clean when painting balayage with Sunlights Balayage. This technique is helpful for this fun foil stroke technique, but can be applied to all of your balayage painting for spectacular results!
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Candy Shaw and her team work hard to help their fellow hairdressers better themselves, whether it's right here at home in our Atlanta Academy or all the world over with our extensive network of Sunlights Artisan Educators and classrooms on the road. But did you know you can learn from Candy from the comfort of your very own home?

Every Tuesday, Candy shares her favorite Tips and Tricks on the Sunlights Balayage YouTube channel. With over 100 videos and more added every week, there's no shortage of information to help you take your skills to new heights! Head over now and join the nearly 35,000 subscribers who tune in weekly to learn the secrets to increasing your bottom line, painting energy into your haircuts, and having more fun doing what you love. 
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If you're already one of our subscribers, we at Sunlights want to thank you for being a Balayage Believer and helping us get nearly 3.5 million views -- and that number's still growing!

Hungry for more education? Click here to find a Sunlights Balayage education event in your area!
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​Last year, Candy Shaw and the Sunlights team headed to Melbourne for Hair Expo Australia, the largest hair show in the country! We had such a great time we returned, this year to Sydney!

Candy and her team taught two hands-on balayage classes to a total of 70 students on Sunday, then spread the Balay Gospel to OVER 400 students in a packed out Look & Learn on Monday. With numbers like that, it's clear that Australia has bought in to the Balayage Revolution in a big way!

Thank you so much to all the wonderful Balay Believers that came out this past weekend and made our second visit to the other side of the world so special. We can't wait to be back!

Did you make it out to see us this past weekend and are looking for Sunlights down under? Just want to see what all the buzz is about? We're available through Rogue Beauty at sunlightsbalayage.com.au!

Living stateside and looking for some more Sunlights love in your life? Candy and her team will be in Bellevue, Washington next weekend! We'll be back soon with more tradeshow updates, so stay tuned!

You’d think after 8 straight years, we’d be tired of ABS Chicago, but you’d be wrong!

This year saw not only the release of our all new 50 volume High Lift Balayage Developer, Suncrème, but it also marked Sunlights' FIFTH BIRTHDAY!

The chilly weather couldn’t keep us out of sunny spirits, with Candy Shaw spreading the balayage love in a (what else?) packed out Hands-On Balayage class. We weren’t just there to paint the tradeshow floor yellow, though: for the first time ever, Candy brought a live hands-on French Cutting workshop to Chicago! The sold-out class opened up a whole new world of hair cutting to a group of students looking to further their skills as hairdressers.

Among the droves of hairdressers in attendance were a group of very special visitors: a group of SIXTY beauty school students that came all the way from Erie, Pennsylvania to meet the Balay Lama, lead by our very own Sunlights Artisan Educator, Kayla Noonan!

We’re glad to be home after a nonstop weekend packed to the brim with French Cutting and Balayage, but it was certainly one for the record books and a birthday to be remembered! With the support of Balayage Believers all over the world, we’ve been Painting the World Yellow for five years, and can’t wait to see what the next five bring.
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See you soon at ABA Toronto, then Image Expo Houston, Sunnies — here’s to many more years of spreading the Balay Gospel!

​This past weekend, Sunlights Balayage and the Academy at Jamison Shaw had the pleasure of hosting 20 students for our first ever Candy’s Cut Camp! Students took part in an intensive, 3-day workshop to learn the French Way — the right way!

The weekend began with a get together over dinner with the Balay Lama on Friday night. Can’t learn on an empty stomach, can you? With bellies full, our French Cutting devotees-to-be were ready to learn!

Students spent Saturday deeply engrossed in one-on-one learning with Candy Shaw, getting a detailed looking into her “Americanized” French Cutting method as they shadowed her in her Atlanta salon. Throughout the day, they learned the ins and outs of the technique, and how to use it to create gorgeous, versatile, and consumer-friendly hair cuts in half the time of a British cut. 

Sunday, the group took live models and really put their new found knowledge to the test. Nothing tests your skills like the real thing, and this crowd did not disappoint — nothing but beautiful hair cuts and happy guests walked out the door!

Just the Cut Camp would be a busy weekend for anyone, but was that enough for us? Not at all!

On Saturday, we had the honor of hosting ANOTHER cutting class at our education facility taught by none other than protege of Vidal Sassoon and world-renowned haircutter DJ Muldoon! Talk about a full schedule!

In all, it’s hard to ask for a more successful weekend. Such a successful weekend, in fact, that we’re excited to announce ANOTHER Cut Camp this July 27 + 28! If you missed out on the inaugural class, you have another chance but act fast — this class WILL sell out quickly!

Stay tuned for the release of the registration form to secure your place in Candy’s Cut Camp!

​This week's Tip & Trick with Candy Shaw she explains price increases and how to add value to not only your business but also how to invest in yourself to charge what you're worth!

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​Another Train the Trainer has come and gone!

This past weekend, Sunlights Balayage had the distinct pleasure of hosting a whopping 37 trainers from all over the world right here in Atlanta, Georgia — including one from the United Kingdom and not one, but TWO from Sweden! It was truly a mind-blowing weekend overflowing with inspiration, fun, friendship, mentorship, and — most of all — SUNSHINE! 

The weekend kicked off with a bang, beginning with an entrepreneurship workshop that featured some of our Artisan Team “Legends” — Lacie Wehrle, Abby Warther, Wayne Giles, and Jessica Scott Santo. A tour of Candy’s award-winning 50 chair salon, Jamison Shaw Hairdressers, followed to give the class of 2019 a glimpse into a busy day at the birthplace of Sunlights. Afterward, our newest crop of Artisan Educators was treated to a wonderful night of celebration at the Balay Lama’s own home, including a beautiful piano and cello duet from two of their own — Dianne Sitar of New Hampshire, and Brendan Buoni of Washington!

It wouldn’t be a Sunlights event if it wasn’t packed to the brim with education! The second day featured an intensive, all day, hands-on balayage class in which our newbies learned a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques straight from the Balay Lama to carry with them into the classroom. After a busy day of painting, the group blew off some steam with a surprise trip to Top Golf to putt and play the night away — inflatable yellow suits included.

On the final day of the event, painters were divided into teams to show off their skills on stage, all judged by Candy Shaw and the Artisan Team Legends! After winners were awarded, Candy took a few moments to honor those legends and give the new class back story on their journey with the Sunlights family. Diplomas were presented, educators were gifted their very own handmade Sunlights aprons, and the whole weekend was topped off with what else? A dance party!

​Train the Trainer is always a weekend full of laughter, tears, inspiration, new friendships, and life long bonds, and this fourth year was no exception. Please welcome to the family your 37 newest Sunlights Artisan Educators, the Train the Trainer Class of 2019!
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No, this isn't the trash you're thinking of! Watch this week's Tip & Trick as Candy Shaw explains how to clean up 'Trash', and how this time-saving tip helps you cut long layers! 

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If you're familiar with balayage, you're familiar with Candy Shaw. With the moniker the "Balay Lama," Shaw has been building her brand for the better part of her life—her father, Jamison Shaw, was a former world champion hairdresser and her mother was a professional makeup artist. Now, with over 35 years of experience, Shaw owns Jamison Shaw Hairdressers, a 5,000-square-foot, 50-chair salon in Atlanta, and sees more than 30 clients a day with the help of multiple assistants. 

In the hair color world, Shaw is regarded as a foremost authority on balayage education. She founded The Academy at Jamison Shaw, an advanced training facility teaching balayage highlighting more than 20 years ago, and launched a professional product line called Sunlights Balayage in 2014. Not to mention, she has worked with several A-list clients, including Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Karina Smirnoff, and received a number of honors including being named North America's Educator of the Year in 2017 by Intercoiffure.

If you're wondering exactly how Shaw built her empire, she'll be sharing her secrets alongside some of the industry's most influential names at this year's International Beauty Show New York during the Leading Ladies segment. The brainchild of Tracey Hughes and Candy Shaw, Leading Ladies is an honest and realistic program that dives deep into what it takes for someone to reach the top in the beauty industry. Emcee Mark Bustos will guide the conversation between Candy Shaw, Kris Sorbie, Najah Aziz, Ruth Roche, and Tracey Hughes, who will share their respective stories about what it takes to succeed. 

"Beauty professionals can expect to take a number of things away from the Leading Ladies program," Shaw says. "Friendship, emotion, motivation, confirmation, and inspiration, to name a few. The program's raw and simple format—just five of us sitting on stools with a shared microphone—makes the audience feel as though they are onstage with us, appreciating the struggles and gaining confirmation that their journey is very similar to the panelists," Shaw adds. "Attendees will leave both motivated and inspired by the collective, shared wisdom of the accomplished panel of women."

To learn more and register for this year's show, visit www.ibsnewyork.com.

Check out the American Salon article by clicking here.

Sunlights Balayage, the makers and purveyors of the world’s leading balayage products and education, has once and for all blown the lid off toning shampoos and conditioners with the highly anticipated 2019 launch of its unique Violet Toning Shampoo — in both take home and in salon only versions — and Frost Toning Conditioner, a revolutionary new toning conditioner and pH balancing treatment in one.

Lovingly formulated with Sunflower Extract, which naturally conditions and moisturizes hair while protecting its color vibrancy, Violet & Frost are designed to maintain and prolong your clients’ balayage highlights and other color services. Also containing Grapeseed Oil, the new four SKU product line adds shine and smooths frizz without weighing hair down and is an excellent source of vitamin E, which promotes both hair growth and a healthy scalp. As you would expect, the products are both paraben and sulfate free and are color safe.

Sunlights Violet Grapeseed & Sunflower Toning Shampoo comes in two strengths and sizes. A 12 oz. retail take home version for ‘Home-Use’ (suggested retail price to your salon guests is USD $22) and a 32 oz. ‘Professional Use Only’ version, containing a heavier pigment load, for back-bar In-Salon use. Both versions of Sunlights Violet Shampoo neutralize unwanted brassy tones and add brightness and shine to both natural and color treated hair.

Sunlights Violet Grapeseed & Sunflower Toning Conditioner, comes in just one formula for both At-Home and In-Salon use, but also comes in two sizes: 12 oz. and 32 oz. (The MSRP to your salon guests for take home are USD $22 for the 12oz. size and $58 for the 32 oz. size). Sunlights violet based conditioner brightens and moisturizes while restoring the pH balance of both natural and color treated hair.

Founded by stylist, salon owner and educator Candy Shaw, aka The Balay Lama, Sunlights Balayage is best known as both ‘America’s and The Worlds’ Balayage Brand’ since it’s now available in over a dozen countries. Sunlights, a garage start-up which is 100% woman owned and family operated turns five this year. Violet & Frost join Wash & Rinse, Sunlights’ original shampoo & conditioner designed to prolong your clients’ balayage highlights and other color services, as the third and fourth wet line options in Candy’s compact line of ‘hero’ products.

For the first time ever Sunlights Balayage and its creator Candy Shaw were invited to teach in Cape Town, South Africa! Candy was invited by Baldacci, their Swedish Distributor, who brought over 50 of their best customers to an Education and Wellness event!

Each morning the group of hairdressers started their day with either Yoga or an exercise Boot Camp on the beach. Candy also shared her best business practices of how to run a salon in America. She taught them how she hires, how she trains, and how to become a six-figure hairdresser, all essential practices in running a successful salon.

Candy also spent the afternoon introducing the Sunlights brand, and teaching a Look and Learn Balayage Demo. She stated, "my first impression of the Swedish hairdresser was since blondes are quite common, they would all know how to paint balayage!" However, to her surprise, the technique, although wildly popular in America, is just now catching on in Sweden!

​The Swedes were so excited to learn from The Balay Lama they are organizing a trip in 2020 to come to her Academy in Atlanta to see first hand how an American Salon and it’s business practices are run! We can't wait to spread the Balay Gospel all through Sweden! 

Purchase Sunlights through Baldacci here
https://baldacci.se/brands/sunlights/
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