Holiday cheer often sparks the urge to get dolled up for our year-end celebrations. Entertainment and sweetness icon Gabrielle Union and celebrity hair stylist Larry Sims need to make this desire is as accessible to attain as possible.

The celebrity-stylist duo, and c o-founders of Flawless by Gabrielle Union hair care line, got here along with JCPenney for a nationwide partnership that’s sure to assist us usher in the vacations in style. Starting November 18th, select in-store JCPenney salons throughout the Los Angeles and San Diego, California areas will offer the “SimStyled” experience, giving patrons the chance to experience accessible, red-carpet worthy hair for the vacations. This partnership provides clients the selection of eight curated styles, executed by skilled JCPenney hair stylists all trained by Sims using the Flawless line.

Commemorating the launch on the Glendale Galleria location, JCPenney’s team, together with Sims and Union, hosted a gap reception showcasing the styles the experience will soon offer. 

Transforming the JCPenney salon right into a communal atmosphere was easy enough. Situated on the rear of the primary floor, the salon boasted a stunning space decorated in white, black, and gold hues. A spacious layout with a plethora of well-lit styling and washing stations made for a welcoming environment for event attendees to socialize and observe the style demonstrations on display. A convening of family members and newfound supporters alike filled the space with joyful chatter as guests mingled over holiday themed refreshments, replicating the familiar salon atmosphere many grew up around. 

Making your way across the salon, one can see the eight styles unfolding by the hands of the expert JCP stylists, all of whom traveled from various JCPenney salon locations. Styles starting from naturally curly to heat-styled ‘dos all saw Flawless products incorporated into their routines. Notably, a handful of models receiving heat-styled or straightened treatments shared that they often wear their hair natural, and love the haircare line for its versatility in treating each curly and heat-styled hair.

Repeat favorites from each stylists and hair models include the Five Butter Miracle Masque and Leave-In, Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, and the Flawless 3-Minute Restoring Conditioner. As stylists performed their assorted looks, guests could walk around, speak with them about methods, and vote for his or her favorite styles (the bantu knots, wash-n-go, and wavy curls were front runners). 

Notable attendees included Ashley Everett, Robin Thede, Brandee Evans, celebrity hair stylists and barbers Sasha MaRi and Donato Smith, and Miss Gloria, the mother of considered one of Sims’ models and lifelong friends. Starting from all walks of life, each individual present shared a love for quality hair care and intentional community.

Sharing a number of words to kick off the event, Union and Sims underscored their gratitude for all in attendance in addition to for one another, demonstrating what a decades-long friendship and dealing relationship looks like. Union stated three values that guided her decisions in addition to the shaping of this salon experience: family, money, and time. “I do what makes me joyful, what allows me to keep up and expand my peace, joy, and what keeps me looking good.”

As for Sims? “Relating to creating, it comes from the core of my soul. I don’t do it for the cash,” he tells ESSENCE. “I do it for the best way that it makes me feel and for the best way that I do know that it makes others feel,” he—who grew up in Chicago, being surrounded by so many expressions and stewards of Black beauty—adds.

As for what makes Flawless by Gabrielle Union work so well and stand out amongst a crowd of others? Partnership. The total line of products, sold at JCPenney, is a joint creation by each Sims and Union. The actress expresses how integral it was to make sure she and Sims were on equal footing in all areas of the business, respecting Sims’ expertise in the realm somewhat than allowing her name alone to take the lead. In return, Sims discusses how committed Union is to each step of the method from formulation to user experience. 

“We’re sold in places which might be actually locally, and in locations that aren’t going to demonize or criminalize our consumer,” Union begins. “They really work, they usually’re not going to interrupt the bank. We’re also humble. We listen, we read the comments. We are able to’t get defensive, we just get well.” 

And regardless of what the 2 do, they deeply understand the impact beauty can have on confidence and presence, and point to the sacred relationship between beauty professionals and their clients. For that reason, Sims affirms that clients will walk away from the SimStyled experience feeling beautiful and “respected on your time and your hair, and exquisite within the style that you may have chosen.”