Congress Gets a Makeover; Members of the $56+ Billion Professional Salon Industry Combine Pampering and Politics to Deliver a Message to Capitol Hill.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2002

Congress might just look a little more beautiful this week, thanks to the Professional Beauty Federation (PBF).

On Wednesday, May 22, this community of small business owners, creative artists and dedicated caregivers takes to the Hill to help more than 400 politicos, including members of Congress and their staffs, look and feel their best. During the third annual "Welcome to Our World," an educational event, they'll provide haircuts, manicures and other salon and spa services they perform at the nation's 150,000+ salons and dayspas.

Why is the $56+ billion rofessional beauty business taking to the Hill? PBF members want Congress to know:

-- The salon industry provides rewarding and lucrative career opportunities in hair, skin care, nails, spa, management, manufacturing, product development, movies and television, photo session work and more.

-- There are thousands of job openings for full- and part-time positions. Many salons are open seven days a week, making it a flexible job opportunity for parents and caregivers.

-- The beauty business is "recession-proof."

-- Cosmetology school can be completed in less than 12 months, making it a wonderful option for workers who have been laid off, people moving from Welfare to work or want a rewarding career they can enter quickly.

"Cosmetology is a rewarding career that deserves respect," says Mark Gross (Arlington, VA), president of the Professional Beauty Federation. "We want to dispel the negative stereotypes that some in Washington, D.C., and the media hold about our wonderful profession and carry the message to our legislators that we must be treated fairly in regard to small business and education issues."

Adds David Wagner (Minneapolis), president of The Salon Association, "The 27,000 salons and 270,000 beauty professionals represented by the PBF are committed to educating our legislators in Washington, D.C. and locally, as well as our clients back home, about the issues that are important to our small business community."

Says Phil Horvath (Chicago), president of the International Chain Salon Association, "On a grassroots level, PBF members touch 400 million clients per year in our salons. Traditionally, salons are community communication hubs where people talk about what's important to them. We say, let's talk about issues that matter to our businesses."

Adds Bill Church (Cleveland), president of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, "All we ask is that our students and potential students receive fair and equal access to professional career training in their chosen field."

Products for Welcome to Our World are provided by Belson, Bianco Brothers, Creative Nail Design, One Minute Manicure, OPI, Paul Brown, Schoeneman Beauty Supply, Schwarzkopf Professional, Spilo and The Wella Corporation.

Founded in 1999, the PBF represents the political interests of the professional beauty industry. Association members include the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute (BBSI), the International Chain Salon Association (ICSA), the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS) and The Salon Association (TSA). Others include OPI, Regis Salons and JC Penney salons.

The PBF represents 27,000 independent and chain salons employing 270,000 licensed beauty professionals who see more than 400 million client visits per year. PBF membership also includes 1,200 cosmetology schools, 80,000 cosmetology students, 400 product distributors and 700 manufacturers of products used and sold in professional salons.

For background kits, interviews, photo ops or to attend the reception, contact: