The Rainbow Convention

Do you know how many people asked if American Sign Language interpreters were possible for the 2025 ? Just one, and that’s all it took for me to be on a mission all the way back at the 2024 event. Because if one person had the tint bowls to ask, that meant there were likely more people that are in need of this support and may have been uncomfortable asking. Accessibility isn’t just elevators, ramps, or the antisensory lounge, though we crushed that all in year one. It means listening to people when they mention why they haven’t been able to be a part of the hair world before and seeing what I can do to make accommodations for everyone because IT’S NOT THAT HARD.

I couldn’t be more lucky, grateful, and PROUD to introduce you to our Main Stage educators, American Sign Language interpreters & .o.d.a.curls 🤩 Swipe to read all about these Alabama baddies that are coming to NY to grace us for 3 days of education surrounding beauty, business, and wellness!

Having and .o.d.a.curls presence helps ensure that every moment of the event is inclusive, accessible, and empowering for all. Offering ASL interpretation is one of many ways we honor our commitment to disability justice, inclusion, and building a space where everyone belongs in the beauty industry. Again, not PR, not for show, for YOU to understand there is a place and space for you to have the same access to education that everyone else has to the best of my ability because I didn’t do alllllllll of this to do it the same way it’s always been done.

Please let us know if you have any accommodations you may need, and my team and I will do our darnedest to make it happen for you! Email us at [email protected]

✨ Meet the 2025 IDEAS Board of The Rainbow Convention 🌈
Inclusion • Diversity • Equity • Accessibility • Support

The IDEAS Board wasn’t created because it’s trendy. It was created because it’s necessary.

When I dreamed up , it wasn’t just about filling a gap—it was about changing the structure entirely. Too often, the hair show world has overlooked both who gets to teach and what gets taught. Education in beauty, business, and wellness should reflect the full spectrum of our community. Ours does.

Last year, I invited a wide range of some of our favorite educators and brands. Some showed up. Others left me on read. That silence alone was a lesson that only deepened my commitment to cultivating the change we were trying to see.

I can’t control who the judges are—that’s up to who hears of us, who enters, and who are the previous year’s winners. But I can create the systems that hold this platform accountable to its roots. The IDEAS Board is that system.

These are longtime peers and industry friends—people I’ve turned to in confidence, for real conversations and honest feedback. Their guidance has been shaping event behind the scenes as a system of checks and balances so I’ve never solely been the one making all of the decisions, but I wanted to announce their roles with respect and honor it with intention. ❤️

While others move on from their DEI commitments, we’re planting them deeper. Because this is what love looks like in leadership.

This isn’t about trend. It’s about truth.
This isn’t performative. It’s personal.
This isn’t business as usual. It’s better.

Please welcome the 2025 IDEAS Board:
💫 Keon W. – (Team Lead)
💫 Osman S. –
💫 Jai B. –
💫 Tara A. –
💫 Thomasena –
💫 Preston –
💫 Aja H. –
💫 Meg L. –

Tickets drop Sunday at NOON EST! We wanted to give you a little sneak peek into the tiers and what’s included! This year, we’re increasing education by a whole day, dropping GA pricing by $100 as part of our accessibility commitment, and added luxe extras for our VIP attendees for those who want allllll of the self care 😌 You can still expect the same attention to detail throughout your experience with us, and we’ve been working on more things to surprise you with over the next few months!

Last year, our GA tickets sold out in FOUR MINUTES, so I doubled the size of the show hoping that wouldn’t happen again. We won’t be offering Afterpay this year, so if you’re hoping to snag a GA tickets, Sunday would be the time to grab those. Tickets are first come first serve, and an awards show nomination does not guarantee you a ticket. If you’re a 2025 winner, you’ll receive a free ticket to the 2026 event and be invited back as a judge. Awards show entry period opens 8/1/2025. Set your reminders to sneak away from Mother’s Day brunch at 12:00 PM EST ON SUNDAY, MAY 11, and head over to the website to secure yours! 🙂‍↔️

Www.therainbowconvention.com

TAKE US BACK 🥹❤️🌈

Welcome, friends! This is the official FB page for The Rainbow Convention! The most up to date information will be on our IG and website as well.

Feel free to use this page to ask questions, find travel buddies, and connect with each other ahead of the event on 11/3-11/4!