Won't You Join Us?
Education. Inspiration. Adventure.
February 3-7, 2026
Secrets Vallarta Bay
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Educator Lineup
Main Class - Thursday, Feb. 5th 9am-4pm
***SOLD OUT***
Click HERE to join the waitlist.
Brooke Brizendine
Brooke is a hairstylist, intuitive mentor, and founder of The Grounded Stylist, empowering beauty pros to protect their energy and thrive. With 25+ years in the industry and a background in six-figure sales, she now teaches Reiki, mindfulness, and abundance mindset to stylists ready to trade burnout for balance.
At this year’s education vacation, she’ll lead a grounding and intention-setting practice to help you reconnect with your purpose and set the tone for a transformative experience.
Wayne Tuggle
Wayne Tuggle amazed us in Punta Cana with his signature "Angles in Motion" haircutting class, and we’re thrilled to announce that he’ll be back in 2026 to do it all over again! You've probably seen him cutting bangs on TikTok or sharing gems on Instagram—but trust me, Wayne's class goes WAY beyond that! From mastering bangs to working with curly hair, extensions, and simplifying cutting techniques, Wayne completely transforms the way our attendees approach hair.
Shannon Demont
Join professional photographer + stylist Shannon Demont for a class designed to help hairstylists improve their photography and attract clients! Learn essential camera settings, smartphone tricks, lighting techniques, posing tips, and editing basics. Plus, get insights on creating content for social media and growing your online presence. Whether you bring a camera or not, you'll walk away with practical tools to enhance your business!
Shannon Keel
Get ready to elevate your craft and transform the way you paint hair! Shannon Keel —the original trailblazer of Education Vacations for Hairstylists—is back again with her signature class, "Painting with Purpose" Shannon is a master at creating seamless, stunning balayage with techniques and patterns designed to simplify the process while delivering flawless results. But that’s not all—she’ll also share insider tips on how to boost your earning potential and work smarter, not harder behind the chair.
Dawn Ambrose
Certified Trichologist (USTI & AMCA),
Passionate about scalp health, care, and improvement, Dawn specializes in helping clients and professionals understand the crucial connection between scalp wellness and healthy hair. As a certified trichologist, she provides expertise in addressing scalp concerns and optimizing hair growth through science-backed methods. Now bringing trichology education to stylists, Dawn aims to empower beauty professionals to integrate scalp care into their services—helping them elevate their expertise and results for clients.
New for 2026!
Business and Financials Class
Wednesday, February 4th 9am-12pm
Steve Gomez
Ready to turn your top-line sales into serious bottom-line success?
This dynamic, no-fluff business class is built for salon and suite owners, booth renters, and managers who are ready to make more money—now. You’ll dive into five key areas that directly impact profitability, rate your business in each, and walk away with actionable strategies to improve your financial performance. You’ll also learn how to get financially organized and take control of your business growth. Whether you join just for this session or pair it with our main class on Thursday, this is one training you don’t want to miss!
Happening Wednesday, February 4th, this session is separate from our main education class on Thursday—so you can choose to attend one or both!
Leading this exclusive class is Steve Gomez, a legendary business coach with over 32 years of experience helping beauty professionals and businesses grow. Steve's background in marketing, finance, leadership, and operations has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in the beauty and wellness industry. He’s worked with over 700 salons and spas, trained more than 600,000 professionals worldwide, and has had 100+ published articles in six countries. Steve has spoken across the globe—from the U.S. to Italy, Mexico, Russia, and beyond—and was even nominated as a 2024 NAHA Educator of the Year. He’s the author of two powerhouse books: Financial Fitness and Interdependent Leadership, with a third (The Service Cycle) dropping in 2025.
Class Fees.
Lock in the best deal! Class fees are separate from the room rates listed below. Take advantage of our Early Bird pricing now through April 30, 2025—because after May 1, 2025, prices are going up! After thoroughly reading through this page, click the button below to be redirected to our class registration page.
EARLY BIRD RATES:
-
Main Class $225.00
-
Business Class $75.00
After April 30, 2025:
-
Main Class $275.00
-
Business Class $125.00
The Resort.
*Link to resort is strictly for your reference! All reservations MUST be booked through Education Vacation and Riverside Tours and Travel. Reservations made through the resort's direct website or any other travel agency will not be honored as part of the Education Vacation Group.
 |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Pricing for resort stays is based upon availability and room type. We encourage guests to reach out to our dedicated travel agent for personalized assistance with availability and pricing details via EMAIL.
-
Payment Terms:
-
$100 Non-Refundable Deposit per person ($200 per room for single travelers) due upon booking.
-
2nd Deposit: $250 per person ($500 per room for single travelers) due 06/10/2025
-
Balance: due 09/26/2025
-
Guests may make additional payments as they wish by contacting Mary Fowler, travel agent.
-
-
Flights/airfare is not included.
-
Non-hairstylist guests welcome! Class may be exclusive to salon professionals, but the entire journey? That's open to everyone! Bring along your friends (yep, more than one if you wish!), your spouse, your family – the more, the merrier! Everyone is invited to be part of the adventure with us!
How to Book!
It is imperative that you please take a moment to read through all the rules, regulations, and booking instructions below carefully—that way, everything goes smoothly! If anything seems confusing or you have any questions, don’t stress—just reach out using the contact form below. I’m happy to help!
Hairstylists vs. Non-Hairstylist Guests
All hairstylists MUST register for the class first. After registering for class, you will receive a confirmation email with your next steps to book your room at the resort. In that email is a link to a form where you will submit your traveler details to Mary Fowler at Riverside Tours and Travel. If you are rooming with a non-hairstylist guest, you will add their information on that form. Non-hairstylist guests rooming on their own (not with a hairstylist) will need to submit your traveler details to Mary Fowler first. Please click the appropriate pink button at the bottom of this page to get started.
Class fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
Our class fees are essential to ensuring a high-quality experience for all attendees. These fees allow us to secure incredible educators, reserve the appropriate meeting space, and manage the many logistical details that go into creating a seamless and enriching event. Additionally, we take pride in adding personal touches that make our Education Vacations truly unique.
Because these elements are carefully planned and budgeted in advance, class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. We appreciate your understanding and commitment, as it enables us to continue providing an exceptional experience for every participant.
All resort stays MUST be booked through Mary Fowler at Riverside Tours and Travel.
Our travel agent, Mary Fowler, is an essential part of our Education Vacations. She not only takes care of all the bookings but also joins us on the trip to make sure everything runs smoothly. Additionally, we use Mary’s email list to send out important updates, reminders, and details to all attendees—including hairstylists, their partners, spouses, and friends.
To be part of the Education Vacation group and receive our exclusive group rates, your trip must be booked through Riverside Tours and Travel. If you choose to book your resort stay through any other method, you will not be included in the Education Vacation group—no exceptions! This ensures a seamless experience for everyone, so please book accordingly!
Room Upgrades and Extended Stays
You are most welcome to upgrade your room and/or add as many days to the trip on the front or back end as you wish, *as availability permits* and as long as you are at the resort for the class. You MUST be staying at Secrets Vallarta Bay to be able to attend the class. If you would like to make an upgrade or add on days, please reach out to Mary Fowler for more information.
Please avoid single travelers!
Every resort has its own policies, and for this trip, we kindly ask that you avoid booking a room for just yourself. Here’s why: Every reservation—whether for a hairstylist or a non-hairstylist guest—helps contribute to the success of our Education Vacation and the exclusive perks we receive as a group. Unfortunately, at Secrets Vallarta Bay, single-occupancy rooms do not count toward our group benefits. To ensure we all get the best experience possible, we appreciate your help in booking accordingly!