Shear Genius’ Ben Mollin Hosts Hair Wars

Last month, hairdressers hit the Vegas strip for the National Finals of The Supreme Salon Tour “Hair Wars.”   The audience packed into Wasted Space at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which happens to be the new nightclub from tattoed hottie Carey Hart.   This highly anticipated live hair and fashion show pitted six salons from across the U.S. in a head to head battle.  The winner would walk away with the coveted title of Supreme Salon.  The evening’s host was Shear Genius Season 1 Alum Ben Mollin.

The Supreme Salon Hair Wars has been a nationwide hair and fashion runway competition unlike any other since 2001.  It includes the foremost stylists, fashion designer/boutiques, body painters, salons and makeup artists in the industry.  Top salons from all over the country competed in regional finals, and the final six teams headed to Vegas where they duked it out in front of a live audience. 

Participating salons were required to prepare a seven-minute presentation with 10 models on the theme of their choice.  Themes included classic architecture, video games and the elements.  Competing salons were Vegas-based Hot Box Salon, Tonic Salon and Carilo Salon.  Chicago was represented by Zazu Salon and Colouriffic Salon and Urban Hair hails from Phoenix.  The winning team--Tonic Salon--took home the title with their Circus Sideshow presentation that featured “alternative” Siamese twins, contortionists and bearded ladies.  “My hat goes off to all of them,” said Mollin.  “Of course some were better than others, but I think when you see the show you’ll be blown away by the level of work.  These artists put out!”

For Mollin, gambling, sunbathing and Siegfried & Roy had to be placed on the backburner during the weekend, because he was busy taping a TV pilot.   A film crew captured the entire event on film and it will pitched to BRAVO, Mojo and Oxygen for consideration.  Interviews started in the early morning and preparation and technical footage was shot into the wee hours on the night.  Judges for the event included Steven Rosengard from Project Runway, Joico Educational Artist and Colorist/Owner of Bang Bang Salon Ann Bower and fashion designer/rock photographer Ski Bassham.  Joico was the premiere sponsor of the event.

So how exactly did Mollin land a gig like this?  “I got the gig for hosting from Benjamin Moline, the executive producer of Hair Wars,” he says.  “I’ve known Benjamin and his business partner Dan Baron for many years.  After my stint on television, we all decided that we should use me as the host for the show and turn it into a television show.  Hosting Hair Wars and being a part of the production was truly awesome!” 

Ben walked away with more than just the title of host—this opportunity has opened up additional avenues bound to take his career to the next level. “This has given me an opportunity to take the underground world of competitive hair and put it out there for the world to see,” said Mollin.  “Hopefully this brings artists together from all over.  It’s a good feeling when you watch something like this grow and turn into its own thing.  I’m going to be on cloud nine when people can watch this and hairdressers can be inspired.”

In addition to promoting Hair Wars, Ben and the Supreme Salon are taking the competition to an international level.  The first-ever Euro Hair Wars will soon take place in Chicago, with continuing shows and events nationwide.  Mollin will also work on a number of events/shows for Joico including the Joico/ISO training in January.

For salons interested in competing in Hair Wars please visit www.supremesalon.com for additional information.

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