Battle of the Strands Commemorates a Third Season as "the Project Runway of Hair Stylists" in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, October 14th, 2013

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosted by "King of Makeover's" Kim Vo and YouTube Beauty legend Kandee Johnson, the Palms Casino's Pearl Theater set the stage for Battle of the Strands "Final Battle". Creating a finale showcase centric around "Iconic Legends of Las Vegas" theme, the champion team was chosen based on their presentation of avant garde hair, editorial makeup and nails, and wardrobe rendered to cohesively play atop it all. Project Runway's Nick Verreos, Sam Villa's Andrew Carruthers, Cosmo's Editor Ana Victoria Tache, and Rock Your Hair's Michael O'Rourke sat among the celebrity judges on Battle of the Strand's decisionary panel. Top 40 singer, Manika (Manee-ka) recently touring 20 cities with One Direction, launched the Battle's theme song on main stage while featured Japan's Master Artist Lisa Yamasaki of J's Hair Studio and Academy, opened the show.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131023/LA02669)

Dazzling this year's competition, the Clark Russell Salon from Lafayette, California walked away in first place with their masterful creation inspired by Vegas Icon Cher. Other salons making it to the Final Battle round included the Miranda Beauty Group (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Angel Rosario Salon (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Peter Cardon Salon (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), WM Squad (Carolina, Puerto Rico), Charlie's Place (Panama, Republic of Panama), L'Occoco Team (Guadalajara, Jalisco), and House of Style (Henderson, Nevada). The People's Choice Award, voted upon by viewers watching the show's online video streaming, went to Puerto Rico's WM Squad.

It's first Student Battle was also launched this year with Aveda's Team making it to first place and awarded on main stage by Jim Cox, CEO of the Association of American Cosmetology Schools or AACS.  This segment of the competition is also expected to expand in 2014 to include participants from Beauty Schools overseas.

In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, Battle of the Strands launched Battle for Boobies, a philanthropic partnership program paired with I.C.O.N. #CureForACause campaign to help fund breast cancer research through StopCancer.org direct.

Battle of the Strands is grateful for the participation of sponsors' that include the Las Vegas Conventions & Visitors Authority, IBS New York, IBS Las Vegas, Premiere Shows Orlando, Daily Nails, American Salon, Televisa Publishing + Digital, BHUMI Makeup Brushes, Sam Villa Brand, Hot Tools, TIGI, Audi Henderson, Lamborghini Las Vegas, Davines, Doucce, Enzo Milano, Foil It, FROMM, NOHO, Street Label Jeans, GK Hair, Hattori Hanzo, Hikari, HOYU, ICON, Le Chat, MAKA Beauty Systems, Icon Shears, Rock Your Hair, Shades by Gal, Stila, Sexy Hair, Cortex Pro and Xtensify. 2014 plans will incorporate local & overseas Qualifiers with the 4th Annual Las Vegas Final Battle scheduled next fall, opening contestant applications to Asia and Europe.

SOURCE Battle of the Strands