Industry Links

Trade Publications | Training & Career | Business Tools & Advice | Nonprofits

Trade Publications

Against the Grain

A trade publication designed to esteem the barber and grow the industry through education and timely editorial. This publication features Barbers and Barbettes who have changed the landscape of the barbering industry through hard work and dedication to tonsorial excellence. Editorial content features barbers on the rise, celebrity barbers, platform barbers, industry educators, and innovative products designed by barbers and entrepreneurs. Published 4 times a year, AHP members receive a discounted subscription rate.

Barbers Only Magazine

Started by three master barbers, this magazine features content on business, barber lifestyle, community, cuts, industry news, product and show reviews.

Beauty Launchpad

News and features about new products for hair, nails, makeup, skincare and tools for beauty professionals. AHP members receive a discount.

The Colorist

The latest in haircolor trends, techniques, products and fashion. Subscription to this magazine is free to AHP members.

First Chair: A Starter's Guide to a Beautiful Career

This is the industry’s only magazine written exclusively for cosmetology students and recent beauty school graduates. It helps students and new stylists successfully transition into their careers in the beauty industry.

HOT by Hair’s How

Created by beauty pros to meet and exceed your needs. Hair’s How provides beauty collections &hairstyle galleries, haircut and color step-by-step instructions, artistic &business education, and beauty products.

Modern Salon

Modern Salon is an incredible source of education and inspiration. It is the leading publication for salon industry professionals and included in AHP membership.

Salon Today

This magazine focuses on the salon business. Featured articles have been about managing inventory, marketing, salon management, and technology. Archived editions are available online.

Stylist & Salon Newspapers

This resource has four different versions: California, Northwest, Ohio, and Texas. The paper features industry news, business tips, information on educational classes, and more.

Training & Career

Barber-License.com

This website is an objective, free, all-inclusive resource on barber training and licensing, a one-of-a-kind resource designed specifically for aspiring and practicing barbers.

Beauty Cast Network

At its core, the Beauty Cast Network is a career placement tool to help students and professionals find their perfect role and to help owners find their perfect team.

BeautySchools.com

BeautySchools' goal is to link potential students with beauty schools in their area by using the most extensive list of schools and programs compiled from around the country, helping individuals take their first steps toward their dream careers through education in the cosmetology, health, and wellness industries.

BeautySchoolsDirectory.com

Beauty Schools Directory is a hub of information about education, licensing and careers in the beauty business. The site includes a directory of schools for cosmetology, barbering, nail technology, makeup artistry, and other beauty trades. Beauty Schools Directory also awards a quarterly $2,500 scholarship.

Cosmetology-License.com

This website is an objective, free, all-inclusive resource on cosmetology training and licensing, a one-of-a-kind resource designed specifically for aspiring and practicing cosmetologists and hairdressers.

Salon Matchmakers

Salon Matchmakers is a platform where both recruiting salons and spas and those seeking jobs in the industry can find and contact their perfect match online. Salon Matchmakers removes the frustration and streamlines the hiring process by providing a visual salon and spa hiring solution free of charge for all job seekers.

VenuEdu

A new platform for advanced hairdressing education: VenuEdu.com. Your connection to the best education in the industry.

Business Tools & Advice

AllBusiness.com

A number of free resources for a variety of small business challenges.

Bangstyle

A house of hair inspiration. Search, save, and share hairstyles from stylists around the world. Bangstyle is the ultimate resource for the hair obsessed. Here is a stylist’s chance to make Bangstyle’s global platform their stage.

Credit Card Insider

Resources for small businesses on how to use a business credit card. Credit Card Insider is a resource for unbiased consumer and commercial lending options. They are advocates of the responsible use of credit, building and managing your credit history, and making informed decisions when selecting a credit card.

Federal Trade Commission

If you’re thinking about buying a business, this government site has the scoop on fraud, scams, and specific state issues.

FindLaw Small Business Center

Free legal information for small businesses.

FyleStyle

This app is a sleek, modern way to manage your relationships with your clients. Built by a hairstylist for hairstylists, FyleStyle allows you to track clients’ personal information, their frequency of visits, color formulas, pricing, and before and after photos. It securely backs up all your data to the cloud so you’ll never lose it again. FyleStyle’s customer service is also run by locally sourced stylists happy to answer any and all questions by email or social media.

Industrie

Industrie provides real support for real salon professionals to achieve real success. By combining beauty + substance to provide high quality information, education and products, we blend best business practices with a stunning aesthetic to address the unique needs of the creative professional. Through our unique approach to marketing services and education, Industrie provides all of the tools, experience and resources that you need for a well-rounded, successful career.

Internal Revenue Service

Check out the official government IRS site for a variety of business and tax-related needs.

Kathy Jager & Associates

Kathy is known as the “Soft Skill Expert” who focuses on educating and inspiring today’s cosmetologists. She is the author of As the Chair Turns, full of tips for independent cosmetologists to create a bright future and is also an industry speaker.

Kopsa Otte CPAs & Advisors

Kopsa Otte is a nationally recognized CPA firm experienced in working with successful salons of all sizes on a daily basis. Kopsa Otte offers a full range of tax, accounting, and consultation services for salons and spas by combining the practical knowledge of the actual hands-on working of a salon/spa with the tax and accounting skills of a CPA firm.

MiladyPro

Brought to you by one of the most trusted names in the industry for the last 90 years, MiladyPro is the premier destination for ongoing professional beauty education, providing a one-stop source that includes the latest trends, techniques and business skills for salon and spa professionals. Read through hundreds of articles, view complimentary training webinars, or shop in our online store where we offer reference books, continuing education courses, step-by-step tutorials, and much more! (AHP members receive a discount.)

MoreBusiness.com

A website filled with sample business plans, marketing plans, templates, sample contracts, and business agreements to help entrepreneurs start and grow a small business.

United States Small Business Administration

This government site is rich in useful information for small business owners. The SBA offers a variety of programs and support services to help you navigate the issues you face with your initial applications, and resources to help after you open for business.

Nonprofits

Beauty Changes Lives

A non-profit initiative designed to raise awareness of how careers in the hair, beauty, and wellness industry transform lives both personally and professionally. Created by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), Beauty Changes Lives is supported by a coalition of beauty professionals including educators, product manufacturers, celebrities, and industry icons. Through public events, educational outreach, and partnership with select philanthropies Beauty Changes Lives showcases the breadth of career opportunities available to beauty school graduates.

Chairs of Change

Empowering, inspiring, and rewarding hairstylists who are making an impact on their own lives, their communities, and in the world. Join the movement to meet other hairstylists, see what they’re doing to effect change, and use our coaching tips to help create your own project.

Cut it Out

A program of the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the United States. Cut it Out builds awareness of domestic abuse and trains salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to local resources.

Hairdressers Against AIDS

A global advocacy program that aims to empower the entire industry of hairdressers and salon professionals to use their unique relationship with their clients and communities to become a resource to interact, educate and help prevent the spread of HIV.

Look Good Feel Better

A nationwide program that offers free workshops and educational resources that address skin changes and concerns, and offers lessons on wigs, turbans, cosmetics, nail care, and accessories.

The Jill Foundation

The Jill Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to local hairstylists affected by breast cancer. When salon owner Barbara Nolasco lost one of her stylists, Jill Kester, to breast cancer she wanted to create a foundation that would specifically benefit hairstylists affected by breast cancer. All funds collected by The Jill Foundation are distributed to hairstylists locally.