Ready. Set. Cut!
A competition like no other made its mark on Rockford Sunday when the first-ever Barber-Beauty Battle was held in the parking lot at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture.
And it was all for a good cause.
“This was the biggest event on this kind of scale for domestic violence awareness in Rockford,” said April Cauthen, Campus Director at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture’s Rockford campus. Tricoci University was the lead organizer for the Barber-Beauty Battle, which also featured a Bike and Car Show and many family-friendly attractions.
Cauthen estimates that more than 2,000 people attended some part of the event, including members of River Valley Community Church, which held its morning worship services at the event venue.
The Barber-Beauty Battle was emceed by Joe Flano, an internationally known barber with Major League Barber, who emcees similar battles across the county. Barber-beauty battles are competitions, pitting students or professionals against each other to create the best fade haircut, the best graphics in a haircut, best creative makeup or hair style.
Cauthen said seeing her students compete with other students and professionals on stage was one of many moments of pride for her during the event.
“I love that our students were on the platform showing their skills to the entire world,” she said. “That’s the pride and joy of being in education — seeing your students step out like that.”
Cauthen also expressed pride in the number of groups in the community who came together to publically support Remedies Renewing Lives and The Amanda Reed Foundation, two organizations that help victims of domestic violence. Cauthen added the event raised approximately $3,000 in donations for those two groups.
In addition to local beauty professionals and students several Tricoci University campuses, a group of barbers traveled from Janesville, WI, and Midwest Barber Academy, a competing school, also sent their students to the battle as well.
Event Sponsors Included CRH Magazine, Custom Nardi Systems, Lino’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, Luxe Salon, Mad Men Barber Shop, 15th & Chris (Burgers & Ice Cream), Guitar Center, Sparkling ICE, River Valley Community Church, National Guard and many others.