Celebrity hairstylists Ted Gibson and Jason Backe are bringing together the worlds of beauty, wellness, and science with the debut of the Convergence Beauty Wellness Science Summit, a two-day educational and community-driven event taking place May 3–4, 2026, in Palm Springs, California.
Hosted at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, the summit is designed to unite beauty professionals and consumers in one shared space—reflecting a growing industry shift where salon expertise and at-home beauty conversations increasingly intersect.
A New Era for the Beauty Industry
Gibson, whose celebrity clientele includes Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, and Sandra Oh, is widely recognized for his past role as the resident hair expert on TLC’s What Not to Wear and for starring alongside Backe in Paramount+’s Blowing LA.
Backe, an award-winning hair colorist, counts Tessa Thompson, Renée Zellweger, and Priyanka Chopra among his clients and has served as an educator for global beauty brands.
Together, they created Convergence to reflect a transformation happening across the beauty industry.
“For a long time, beauty lived in divided worlds,” says Gibson. “There was professional beauty behind the chair and consumer beauty at home. Somewhere along the way, those lines began to blur. Consumers are more educated and invested in their health, and professionals are evolving into leaders in wellness and science. Convergence was created to honor that moment.”
What to Expect at Convergence Beauty Wellness Science Summit
The two-day Palm Springs summit will feature:
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Technical education sessions
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Expert-led panel discussions
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Wellness-focused programming
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Professional growth workshops
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Retail shopping with insider pricing
Topics will explore ingredient literacy, mycology, longevity science, sustainability, and the future of beauty innovation.
Consumer-focused sessions will include skincare and haircare demonstrations, while professional programming will dive into advanced cutting and styling techniques, color mastery, business strategy, and operational logistics.
“This is about professionals and consumers growing together,” says Backe. “People are paying closer attention to ingredient lists, environmental impact, and how beauty fits into overall wellness. Convergence creates space for honest, intelligent conversations.”
Runway, Community, and Celebration
Day one will blend education with celebration, culminating in a runway fashion show performance titled Beauty in Motion, highlighting beauty as a living art form.
Day two shifts focus to professional-only education, offering deeper technical and business sessions tailored for salon and spa owners, service providers, educators, and industry leaders.
Industry Partners and Innovation
Vish joins as a key sponsor, showcasing its Bluetooth-enabled smart scale and app system that delivers color formula tracking, inventory management, profit intelligence, and real-time POS integration for modern salons.
Additional partners include:
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Hubnox – Beauty-focused ticketing platform
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Phorest – Salon software for client experience and growth
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Phenix Salon Suites – Franchise model for beauty professionals
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Balanced Beauty Pro – Science-backed movement system for stylists
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Ergo Styling Tools – Ergonomic professional styling tools
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Keune Haircosmetics – Sustainable professional haircare brand
Event Details and Tickets
The Convergence Beauty Wellness Science Summit takes place May 3–4, 2026, at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel in Palm Springs, California.
Ticket pricing:
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$199 – Consumers
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$399 – Professionals
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$499 – VIP
For more information, visit tedgibson.com or follow @tedgibson and @convergencebws on Instagram.
About the Founders
Ted Gibson and Jason Backe are celebrity stylists, educators, salon owners, and beauty entrepreneurs with decades of experience shaping the global beauty industry. Their work spans red carpets, runway shows, editorial campaigns, product development, and retail partnerships with Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, and Target.
Their work has been featured in major publications including Vogue, Allure, and The New York Times. In 2025, they launched Ted Gibson Beauty Wellness Science along with their flagship superfood daily supplement, Ascension.
Photo credit: Roberto Ligresti
