Beverly Ates does Pamela Erwin's eyebrows during the East Texas Hair and Beauty Expo Hair at Harvey Hall Convention Center in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, June 12, 2017. The expo featured vendors and products from across the South. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

The annual East Texas Hair and Beauty Expo drew beauticians from all over the country for hair workshops, makeup presentations and other beauty demonstrations.

Kalae Whitman, owner of Sankofa Natural Hair, who helped organize the expo, said this year’s annual event – Sunday and Monday at Harvey Convention Center – was bigger than previous ones. Organizers estimated 650 people attended.

“We had been planning for a whole year, trying to bring the best educators that could help local beauticians learn new techniques and stay on track with the newest trends,” Whitman said.

“Our focus was offering classes that would help continuing the education of students and beauticians as well, we offered a web media class also that showed people how to increase their sales using social media engagement,” Whitman said.

Sonya Blair, an organizer and an event sponsor, said one of the features of this year’s event was the addition of classes.

“This event has never been done with educators. We had people coming from Stone Mountain, Georgia; New Orleans; Houston and all over the country to give insight in their classes,” Blair said.

“Besides giving classes on hair and beauty products, we also gave CPR classes because health is also one of the topics we focus on,” Blair said.

Complimentary makeovers and hair treatments were available at the expo.

Perla Barzinjee from Luminess Airess, a type of airbrush makeup, was one of the beauticians doing makeovers and demonstrated the technique during a presentation at the expo.

David Mata, a distributor from Dallas, also gave presentations, including coloring classes and keratin treatments.

“We distribute to all of the hair salons in Tyler and our goal is to make their salons more successful, do things quicker while spending less money and caring for their customers at the same time,” Mata said.

Queena Mwanda, salon owner at Mwanda’s Anointed & Appointed Hair Studio and Beauty Supply came out to the expo to support and network.

“I came in order to get more education and stay on the latest most innovative styles as well as empowering myself as a salon owner,” Mwanda said.

Blair said organizers plan to continue the expo for years to come.

“It was a great success, we are aiming for bigger and better next year,” Blair said.

Twitter: @ElsaCavazosTMT