Creative HEAD Ireland July/August 2023

Change is coming...

mood swing

BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

Want a haircare regime that’s bond-rich, saves clients time, and dials down on your salon’s water bill? You’ve got it – meet Ultimate Repair from Wella Professionals

Clients want it all – and they want it NOW. Guests crave instant results, even in the shortest appointment. They want transformations, to head back onto the high-street as a brighter, newer version of themselves without compromising on colour or condition. Now no-one will leave disappointed with Ultimate Repair from Wella Professionals.

This new innovation not only offers a solution that clients have been seeking, but it’s also a new business opportunity for salons that have been looking for another revenue stream, without a hefty time, education, or cash investment.

A definitive four-step system with no extra time needed, Ultimate Repair really lives up to its name as the in-salon solution for demanding clients who are short on patience yet after transformative results. Along with a luxurious and lightweight shampoo and creamy deep-working conditioner, the Miracle Hair Rescue is the breakout star! Lightweight yet ultra-powerful, this leave-in spray offers intensive inside-out repair for all hair types, ensuring no manes are left out in the cold.

It works its restorative magic in just 90 seconds* – a real gamechanger for those short-on-time clients who want almost instantaneous “Wow! Look at my hair!” results. Whether you

use it after a colour service or before a blow-dry, watch them swish, smile and get on their merry way – a great way to finish a five-star service. And you’ll save water at the backwash because Miracle Hair Rescue is a non-rinse spray, a big tick for your green credentials too!

The final step is the Protective Leave-In Serum for smoother hair and best-in-class styling. The delicate yet potent cream serum offers five-in-one protection against breakage, UV damage, heat up to 230˚C, mechanical damage, and frizz for up to 72 hours.

What’s the secret sauce? Well, Ultimate Repair contains patented technology that packs a punch on two fronts; alpha hydroxy acid targets the deepest level of hair fibre, rebuilding bonds in the cortex for a strong hair core. Then omega-9 replenishes strands on the outside too, recreating a protective barrier to help prevent further damage, so clients get that ‘wow’ factor in the mirror. Beauty and brute strength from the inside out make for healthier hair, but surface level beauty matters still.

Whether clients are enjoying the powerful care of Ultimate Repair in-salon or at home, it will be an experience that won’t be a time drain, just a major hair gain…

Keen to keep clients happier and plug that time and water drain? Contact your Wella account manager, or Wella customer services on 1 800 246 100 @wellaprofessionalsuki

BUILD YOUR BLONDE ARMY

Got clients swerving blonde because of damage worries? Convert the colour agnostics into blonde believers with No Bleach Blonde from Wella Professionals

Whatever the natural shade, texture, or complexion of the client in your chair, taking their hair lighter can make them feel fabulous.

But damage fears can turn away virgin heads and putoff current colour customers from another service, and is a key reason why clients choose not to go lighter.* What if there was a way to create blondes AND keep hair healthier, all while keeping your colour business increasing? No Bleach Blonde with Koleston Perfect Special Blonde is an innovative service collection by Wella Professionals without bleach, (yes, you read that right!). It could help you turn the tide against decreasing in-salon colour services and attract blonde seekers to your door…

We can’t let blonde services self-destruct; they are far too profitable. They have an ace to play that many other services don’t. They’re hard to DIY at home, so that’s built-in loyalty from your client who wants the best bespoke blonde look, each and every time. Now give that to them with less damage, all courtesy of No Bleach Blonde. The lift may be gentle on the hair, but it’s effective too, and offers up to five levels of clean and controlled lightening. There are selected cool dyes for powerful neutralisation, meaning a one-step lift, tone, and polished finish.

This beautiful blonder isn’t just bleach free. It’s conditioning with caring lipids for root-to-tip fibre nourishment, making it welcome news for those with concerns about their hair quality being compromised, such as clients with textured hair. Expect creamy results and a sensually soft lightening effect, a great first step into blonde. Special Blonde offers three different blonding techniques in just one bottle. We’re talking foils, full head, and balayage – that’s minimal in cost to you for a maximum return from a real multi-tasker.

Restoring client confidence in blonding isn’t just about creating new blonde clients. You need to get the current ones back for more – and there’s another range in the Wella Professionals family that’s ideal! Blondor Lightening produces a higher degree of lightening on previously coloured hair while being as gentle and nourishing as possible.

And finish any BlondorPlex lightening service by toning with new BlondorPlex Cream Toners for up to 90 per cent less breakage.*

No one wants the exact same shade of blonde; you have the expertise to tailor it just so. Ensure you have the right tools too, for every blonde, thanks to Wella Professionals. You’ll have a happy, loyal army of blondes before you know it…

* Instrumental testing measuring combing resistance of BlondorPlex bleach and BlondorPlex Permanent Cream Toner versus BlondorPlex bleach alone.

BY KOLESTON PERFECT

I’ll be honest, I’m still recovering from our brilliantly busy Most Wanted and It List Award judging days. It’s the time where I pop my Out of Office on, mute the phone and, alongside our judges, dive into the entries that our amazing participants share. There’s no better way to learn what salons and artists are up to, how they are tackling the tricky times and thrilling clients and their communities. Want to know who made the Grand Final? Turn to page 50. But this year I also wanted to hear from those whom salons and stylists collaborate with on their businesses. I reached out to some of the leaders of the industry’s most influential brands to gauge their understanding of the current landscape. What do they see as the challenges and opportunities, and how are they helping empower their salon and stylist partners for the future? Take a look, from page 28. There’s also a deep dive into bossing your blonde business (from page 42), and you’ll get to enjoy a religious experience in a Limerick cathedral with the artistic team from Cyril Morgan. Why don’t you pop your phone on mute too, and enjoy…

JOIN US!

Pop the prosecco corks, MWIT’s time to celebrate!

Congratulations to our Most Wanted and It List 2023 finalists – all earning a prized place at the Grand Final at Tate Modern on 4 September, and all worthy of SO MUCH praise. Want to be there, too? Tickets go on sale at 9am, 3 July. For details and lists of all the finalists, turn to page 50. And there’s another hot ticket in town! As this issue went to press, we were putting the final plans in place for The Coterie on 4 July. Set to sizzle in Shoreditch, speakers include British GQ’s former creative director Paul Solomons, and session stylist Joe Mills. Too late to book? You can follow the event on social media using the hashtag #TheCoterie.

creativeheadmag.com/events

BOSS YOUR BLONDES

L’ÓREAL

MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Discover Benvoleo, a new Alfaparf Milano brand with a sustainable approach, bringing a transparent, responsible and participative idea of beauty to our industry. A range of professional, customisable products and treatments for astounding results. Taking care of your hair, people and the planet. Available from August.

IN THE KNOW

A SELECTION OF THE ESSENTIALS

SLICK SHOW AT GFW23

AMONG THE GENERAL vibe of slicked back, wet-look finishes that hit the runway for the Best of Graduate Fashion Week show, hair leads Paul Davey (Davey Davey) and Claire Mariscal (Johnson Blythe) for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris also incorporated a selection of ’90s, up-styled twists, featuring some loose ends, ironed to add spiked detail.

IHF announces new president

Lisa Eccles is the new president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF). The owner of Zinc Hair & Beauty in Dublin has served as vice-president for the past three years, and has taken over from Danielle Kennedy. Supporting Lisa in her new role is new vice-president Mark O’Keeffe, owner of the Sugar Culture Hairdressing and Beauty Group.

The IHF has also unveiled its 2023 awards outing. The IHF Championships 2023 will include the prizes IHF Irish Hairdresser of the Year 2023, and IHF Trainee Hairdresser of the Year 2023. It will also feature senior categories such as Hair Up, Colour, and Fantasy; junior categories including Colour, Fantasy, Newcomer, and Trend Upstyle; and specialist categories Barber Technique, Textured Specialist, Extensions, and Salon Social. Entries are open from 17 July to 19 August, and awards will be handed out on 8 October. Go to irishhairfed.com for more details.

The week saw 20 shows take place over four days; the L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Portfolio hair team created bespoke styles for each show with a range of influences to complement the collection. Elsewhere, Central Saint Martins BA Fashion presented two live shows with 134 collections, as Darren and Jackie Ambrose led the hair team backstage. Frankie Pullen and the Daniel Galvin team styled up a storm at the University of Westminster, while Clare Hansford and the Headmasters team tackled hair duties at Kingston University, all for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris.

HairPeople goes carbon neutral

DUBLIN-BASED luxury hair salon HairPeople has offset its carbon footprint by supporting a green build in Ukraine. The salon purchased 4 tonnes of CO2e Hemp Carbon Credits from Tao Climate. The Hemp Carbon Credits are being used to build sustainable housing for those who have lost their homes in the conflict in Ukraine.

HairPeople’s Bernadette Byrnes and Jennifer Zamparelli

Lisa Eccles and MarkO’Keeffe

Claire Mariscal

Paul Davey

The Sober Colourist opens in Dublin

STEPHANIE MAHER has opened The Sober Colourist salon in Dublin with an inspiring message of resilience in reference to her past battle with addiction. “The Sober Colourist is a nod to my new life and putting my vulnerability right above the door,” says Stephanie, whose space has a minimalist design reminiscent of a New York loft aesthetic.

GAINFORT BOSS TO MENTOR FUTURE LEADERS

Fiona Gainfort is one of 10 in uential female SME business leaders selected for the AIB Mentoring Access Initiative for women, The 30% Club. The director of Gainfort Hair & Beauty will become a mentor to successful applicants in a yearlong programme created to encourage gender diversity in business leadership. The news comes as the Gainfort Academy celebrates winning Training Provider of the Year at the County Wexford Business Awards.

Coia Dahill links up with ALFAPARF

Coia Dahill, owner and creative director of the awardwinning Hemera Studio in Clonmel, is a new ALFAPARF Milano Professional brand ambassador. The colour educator and balayage expert will lead four new courses at the Accademia in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. She will also be a mentor on the ALFAPARF Milano Professional Architects of Design programme.

Sarah Mason stylist makes ghd style squad

Rachel O’Neill from Sarah Mason Professional in Galway is a member of the new 2024 ghd style squad. More than 100 young hairdressers applied for the chance to join the team, with 20 shortlisted for a final audition at ghd’s studio. Rachel and the team have begun their year-long programme with a mentoring day with ghd trade ambassador, James Earnshaw.

BOOK IT!

10-MINUTE TECHNIQUES BY GREAT LENGTHS

The summer can mean air conditioning on full blast, leaving skin dull and dry. Ensure your complexion doesn’t suffer on the salon oor by using this hydrating (and cooling!) face mist from handmade brand, Oxmantown Skincare. RRP €24, oxmantownskincare.ie

IT’S THE FINISH that really wows the client in a salon visit – so get some timeefficient styling tricks under your belt with this fabulous Great Lengths course, led by award-winning extensions specialist Kirby Blythe. You’ll learn how to create four 10-minute styling options from textured chignons, tousled ponytails, sweeping braids to half up-half down looks.

WHEN AND WHERE 14 August, Dublin

BOOK +44 113 216 3064

Stephanie Maher

Coia Dahill

Developed by barbers, STMNT has new products that deliver both care and style to the max. Hydro Shampoo and Serum create softer, stronger strands and balance moisture, while STMNT Curl Cream nourishes and de nes texture, STMNT De nition Spray ups the volume and STMNT Gel delivers smooth hold.

RRP from €22.35

stmntgrooming.com

Clients are concerned about damage, and it can put them off colour. So, what about delivering a service that gifts a gorgeous blonde while keeping hair healthier? Enter the No Bleach Blonde with Koleston Perfect Special Blonde from Wella Professionals. Boost blonde numbers without the bleach…

In-salon service

ie.wella.professionalstore.com

Brrr, something super-cool has landed – new LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid shades from JOICO. Welcome Blue-Violet, Platinum Violet and Violet Gold to the brass banishing party, all dressed in a hint of icy iridescence.

In-salon service

joico.eu

ORI Lab is a new organic haircare line from Australian favourite NAK Hair. Each product starts from its Clean Beauty Base, and is elevated with Beauty Boosters to nourish and nurture diverse hair types. And each bottle is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, too.

RRP from €13.80

xpertprofessional.ie

Prime, protect and perfect a fabulous colour nish long after your client has left the chair, with the new-look Color Fanatic spray from Pureology. It’s an all-in-one hero with 21 healthy hair bene ts and 100 per cent vegan ingredients.

RRP €33.50

ie.lorealpartnershop.com

Bonacure R-TWO from Schwarzkopf Professional offers instant repair for the summer of bleach, blow-drys and straightening ahead. It provides 93 per cent less hair breakage, 90 per cent fewer split-ends, and 10-times more resistance to damage.

In-salon service;

RRP from €17.60

schwarzkopfpro.com

STOCK IT!

LAUNCHES AND INNOVATIONS READY TO HIT YOUR SALON SHELVES

A bad blow-dry can ruin the entire salon experience, so create softer, stronger and healthier-looking nishes with Volumizing Blow Dry Mist by OLAPLEX. That’s bond-building for blow-drys! Who’d have thought it?

RRP €29.50

xpertprofessional.ie

capitalhairandbeauty.ie

R+Co’s Dallas

Biotin Thickening

Treatment is a mega-thickener that helps build texture for long-lasting volume without weight. We’re talking instantly visible results!

RRP €38

xpertprofessional.ie

Providing top-notch tone on tone and permanent colouring all in one product, PureTone from ASP Expert Haircare comes in 35 intermixable shades for nourished, ultra-shiny results.

In-salon service

asphair.com

RRP from €20 salon-services.com

Hair feeling thirsty? Food For Soft from Matrix is the ideal recipe for hair hydration. There’s a shampoo, conditioner and a multi-use hair oil serum stuffed with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid for seventimes more moisture and up to 72 hours of softer hair.

RRP from €14.90

ie.lorealpartnershop.com

Fresh from Swedish favourite Maria Nila comes LeaLuo to celebrate youth and identity. Care ranges and colour masks are packed with upcycled ingredients and its free-from formulas are vegan.

ACCESS ALL AREAS:

Pearls are here to stay with L’Oréal Professionnel Paris

Balayage isn’t just for the young, it’s for everyone. Its low-maintenance look* is something busy clients can get behind. As the sun shines this summer, make your clients’ hair shimmer and glow with French Balayage Pearl from L’Oréal Professionnel Paris.

Embrace the inclusivity of French Balayage Pearl as an essential summer service. Whomever is in your chair, a complexion and con dence booster is appreciated by all... and that’s where French Balayage Pearl’s two-step technique using Blond Studio and Dia Light comes in! Pearls really are a client’s best friend, and you can convey that message better than anyone. The opportunity to extend balayage services to older clients has never been greater. Trust in their stylist to deliver the right colour result is as high as 90 per cent for those aged 55 and over.* What’s more, clients with white hair feel they are being left out from professional colour services. Once again, French Balayage Pearl is the ideal professional service, perfect for summer and for all.

BALAYAGE EDUCATION BOOST

FRENCH BALAYAGE PEARL – HOW TO WITH HARRIET STOKES

L’Oréal Pro Global Artist Harriet Stokes shows how to create a French Balayage Pearl result, including placement when working with a fringe. Also learn about application choice and creating the best tonal result.

WHERE Online at L’Oréal Access COST Free Scan the QR code for more details

ACADEMY: PAINT WITH PURPOSE WITH HARRIET STOKES

Paint in person with Harriet Stokes’s one-day in-person balayage course. See Harriet display her freehand balayage technique and how to paint different hair types.

WHAT One-day practical course WHERE Dublin COST €325 Scan the QR code for more details

The buzz around French Balayage Pearl remains sky-high this summer, and everyone can experience its shimmering beauty…

POWERFUL PEARLS

French Balayage Pearl is the perfect summer service, so get inspired to paint with passion with these four looks!

Curl Placement Balayage

Before After

Face Framing Balayage

Before After

Danielle Louis

@dandiggaz_hair @headmastersuk

HERO HELPERS: Blond Studio 8 Multi-Techniques + NEW Dia light 8.18 and 9.82

Before After Pearl perfection on short hair

@loreal_education_uki

HERO HELPERS: Blond Studio 9 Bonder Inside + NEW Dia light 10.18

Nancy Stripe

@nancystripecolour

HERO HELPERS: Blond Studio 8 Multi-Techniques + NEW Dia light 9.82 and 10.82

Before After White hair blending with ammonia-free balayage

@loreal_education_uki

HERO HELPERS: Blond Studio Clay 7+ NEW Dia light 9.18

Want to know more about the amazing L’Oréal Professionnel Paris education services and show-stopping colour ranges? Register for free at lorealaccess.com

@lorealpro

Theory Hair Studio, Killenard, Co. Laois

@theory__hair__studio

At Theory Hair Studio, owner Jamie Lee Kavanagh believes in creating an experience; one that merges modern day luxury with a bit of boho, comfort and calm. The salon design was inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the salon itself – the village of Killenard which is home to The Heritage Hotel luxury resort. “We wanted to provide a space that was warm and welcoming, bright and airy, professional and friendly, with a touch of boho chic,” says Jamie. The island sections allow plenty of light but also plenty of privacy, while the use of colour rather than muted tones keeps it relaxing and remaining rmly within the boho aesthetic. Richard Barry of Xpert Professional worked closely with Jamie in helping scale out and plan around the ergonomics of the building to deliver maximum space, while guiding the choice of furniture designs and shapes to complement the theme.

THE PLACES

NEW SPACES, FRESH LOOKS AND LOCATIONS TO HELP YOU WORK BETTER

Lottie’s, Dublin

@lottiesrathmines

Looking for a place where you can pop in and enjoy a cocktail, try culinary experiments at the chef’s counter, or dine with your team? Et voila!

In uence and Identity

@immaireland

This major exhibition at The IMMA in Dublin features shots from the golden age of portrait photography, including work by iconic photographers such as Peter Hujar and Richard Avedon.

Lynn Davis (Pulling Hair) by Peter Hujar

THE FACES

THE FACES

THE PEOPLE IN ACTION

What Would Michelle Christie Do?

Trichologist Michelle Christie from Cheveux Hair Salon and Scalp Clinic explains how to manage the sensitivities around hair loss

an incredibly sensitive subject with clients, and a stylist will tend to notice it on the client sometimes even before the client does themselves. The way to try to understand it is to break it down into three primary areas, is it thinning, shedding, or is it patchy?

If it is patchy this can cause alarm, especially bald patches, so reassure the client that this is quite common, and get them to see their GP or a trichologist. Usually, if it is just one area it will fill back in within a few months. Try avoiding the word ‘alopecia’ until a proper diagnosis is given, as this could send clients into a panic unnecessarily.

If it is thinning over a long time this can be female or male pattern hair loss and there are many products on the market that can help with this.

WHAT MADE ME EILEEN MCHUGH

Hair Together

@eileen.mc888

I spent 14 years in a state of addiction. Hairdressing gave me other options and now I help others. Hair Together is the crossover between my love for the hair industry and my experience with drug and mental health issues. We teach styling and barbering courses with a wraparound wellness programme. We work with young people from disadvantaged areas, young people in care, and women in the probation system.

Nioxin and Actvya P Factor by Kemon are designed to help block the DHT that can cause this in the hair follicle.

Once certain health issues are ruled out, I suggest getting them to see a trichologist first to discuss this line of treatment, and check contraindications.

Now, how can you tell if someone is shedding? If the client’s been seeing it in the shower or on their clothes and it’s within six months, these triggers could be the reason: hormonal changes, thyroid issues, low iron, extreme stress, excessive dieting, persistent temperature or going on a new medication. The trigger can be three months before the shedding starts. I always suggest a full blood count be done and usually, if all is okay, within six months it will have slowed down or stopped once the underlying cause is established. Nioxin’s serum with Sandalore is excellent to help as it reduces shedding.

@cheveuxhairsalontullamore

I can honestly say that hairdressing saved my life. During my struggles, my job was the only thing that kept me motivated. Whatever issues I had would melt away the second I stood behind the chair. I love making others feel great. I also got to spend time with people I wouldn’t usually get to mix with.

I’m proud to say that I’ve been drug-free since 08/08/08. After studying psychology for a year in early recovery, then going back to college to study business, I set up Hair Together in 2020. Some people think it’s unfortunate to have gone through such traumatic times; I look at it today as a positive because it’s made me who I am. I turned my pain into my power, and I’m driven by passion and purpose. I get to open pathways for others and help them develop their own life skills.

LOVE THAT LASTS

A great partnership between a hair brand and a salon is just like a successful interpersonal relationship. Both require mutual understanding, support, security, and an investment of time to ourish. Mike O’Connor of Galway’s legendary hair and beauty spot Bellissimo knows the value of a good pairing. A Wella Professionals customer for the past 35 years, it’s a relationship that has stayed strong no matter what changes and challenges it faced.

In his rst Galway salon, Michael Daniel, Wella Professionals helped Mike’s young team rise through the ranks to become one of the city’s top tier hair destinations through business support, education, and dynamic products that beat the competition.

Wella Professionals then accompanied Mike to Moscow when he took over a major salon space. Wella Professionals was an integral part of Mike’s new venture in Moscow, with a Wellatrained technician as a manager. The brand was a touch of home, a friendly reminder of what top-grade professional products and excellent education can achieve. Then Galway life beckoned once more, and Mike opened Bellissimo in 1998, followed by a branch in Limerick a year later. His talent may have taken him across the world, but his relationship with Wella Professionals means he always has the best tools to hand.

Wella Professionals doesn’t treat Mike’s business as just another salon to add to the books. It’s about helping it prosper. Forging links with Wella Professionals means connection, conversation and the personal touch. Mike enjoys regular

planning meetings with Wella Professionals’ senior national account manager, Michael Glover, national account executive Cormac Rolston, and the rest of the Wella team to map out the ways to take Mike’s brand to glittering new heights.

has always had my back... for that I am truly fortunate. I look forward to the future and will be building on this connection!

MIKE O’CONNOR, BELLISSIMO

Today, Bellissimo is the jewel in Galway’s hair and grooming crown. Occupying a mammoth 5,500 sq ft space with 40 chairs, 14 beauty suites and a private wig service, there’s no doubt the partnership has helped Mike become the entrepreneur he is now: “Wella’s business advice and support is second to none,” he beams. Being a salon owner is one heck of a ride and no two days are the same. Despite the chaos and challenges, you CAN have a constant in your life – a partnership with Wella, which will help you grow into the successful business you dreamed of being when you rst started out.

Want to enjoy a relationship with Wella just like Mike’s? Visit wella.com/professional/en-UK/home @wellaprofessionalsuki

I’ve had an amazing 35 year relationship with Wella, which

Salons need business support and education to y. Here’s how Bellissimo salon owner

Mike O’Connor’s partnership with Wella Professionals has fuelled his success

A DAY OF WORK/LIFE BALANCE FOR ANTHONY

KILCOYNE, OWNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF SALON 2 @SALON2SLIGO

I GET UP AT… About 6:30am if I’m on the salon oor with clients, but a bit later if it’s an education or of ce day.

MY WORK WARDROBE CONSISTS OF… A lot of black!

MY JOB ENTAILS… Doing lots of haircuts, which is my favourite aspect of hairdressing, especially restyles. I’m also an educator with Xpert Professional which I really enjoy as it gives me the opportunity to pass my skills on to others. I love seeing stylists’ con dence grow as they progress.

MY DAY CONSISTS OF… Organised chaos!

I’m very grateful that my day is always ‘all go’, thanks to a busy column. The salon is always full-on as we have a staff of 30, so there’s a great buzz which I love. Mondays or Tuesdays consist of education, of ce work or planning ahead for the next few months and the other four days are on the salon oor with clients.

MY FAVOURITE WORK TOOL IS…

My JB Mazella 5” silver scissors, which to me is like an extra limb.

MY DAILY FUEL IS… Water and Nature Valley bars.

MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST INCLUDES… Jenny Greene and Dec Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats!

I’M ALWAYS WILLING TO… Share my knowledge with others.

WHEN I GET STRESSED I… Go into the of ce and have fun with my dog Bijou who comes to work with me a few days a week. She is our staff therapy dog!

WHEN I GET STUCK I… Ring my wife Deirdre, she always knows what to do!

THE HABIT I NEED TO BREAK IS…

Overthinking, as the things I worry about usually never happen. I always tell myself overthinking is creating problems that aren’t there and worrying about things going wrong won’t make them go right.

THE MISTAKE I LEARNT THE MOST FROM… I have made plenty of mistakes but nothing major jumps to mind, thankfully.

THE ADVICE I’M GLAD I IGNORED… My accountant told me 30 years ago not to become self-employed. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to him!

MY INBOX LOOKS LIKE… Not a clue! I don’t do emails – Deirdre looks after all that. Phew!

MY BIGGEST INDULGENCE IS… My car.

AFTER WORK I… Go to the gym or for a walk, or chill with a good lm.

I DECOMPRESS BY… Painting. After four years, I eventually went back to my art classes and I really enjoy that peace and quiet for hours at a time!

I

I love it though I’m not great with posting – thankfully my colleagues

You can’t beat a great playlist to chill out with.

usually check my WhatsApp messages rst when I get up.

Shirley and Cara do this for me!

SUBSCRIBE NOW TO CREATIVE HEAD

AND RECEIVE AN OLAPLEX TRAVELING STYLIST KIT, WORTH

€77.50*

Be one of the rst 10 new subscribers to Creative HEAD and you’ll receive a Traveling Stylist Kit from OLAPLEX, which includes one No.1 Bond Multiplier (100ml) and two No.2 Bond Perfectors (100ml).

The original bond builder, OLAPLEX’s patented technology repairs the damage caused by chemical services by seeking out and repairing broken disulphide bonds.

When used together, the two-part system allows hair professionals to push the limits of creativity while protecting the health and integrity of hair. The Traveling Stylist Kit is perfect for on-location use for up to 30 applications.

Already a Creative HEAD subscriber? Then we’ve got something for you too! One lucky member will win a full-size OLAPLEX Salon Intro Kit worth €228, which includes one No.1 Bond Multiplier (525ml) and two No.2 Bond Perfectors (525ml).

For more information, visit uk.olaplex.com

creativeheadmag.com

HUB

Looking to level up your summer plans? In partnership with Authentic Beauty Concept, we’re giving away two tickets to join us at Pleasure Gardens festival on 6 August. Head to @creativeheadmag

How can we best support the next generation entering the industry?

See more from our apprentices special as we talk to Robert Eaton exclusively on Salon Smart HUB

Will you be joining us for THE hottest night in the hairdressing calendar? Tickets for the 2023 Most Wanted and It List Grand Final are on sale on 3 July at 9am. See you at Tate Modern!

Created and directed by Jordan Martin, ‘Surf the Net’ sees hairstylist Vicki Lord draw inspiration from the sea, combining loose, flowing waves with tight up-dos and fishing nets to add to the nautical narrative

Beautifully CONSCIOUS

Work together with Benvoleo from ALFAPARF Milano to make heads, hearts, and the planet happier and more beautiful

Products built for surface level styling with little care for the bigger picture are so yesterday. Attitudes are changing. Clients want brands that care for hair, people, and the planet.

Those that put time and passion into curating new products while respecting Mother Nature will win the hearts of these environmentally conscious customers, whose numbers grow larger by the day. They require a more benevolent touch – and Benvoleo, a new and deeply caring range from ALFAPARF Milano, is the answer.

Never before used in cosmetics, the four innovative new hyperfermented active ingredients create a low environmental impact and underpin the Benvoleo range – making it a real first. Across its four lines – Daily, Glossy, Hydration and Recovery – you’ll find oak bark, vine sap, rice water and citrus fruits, all sourced from across Italy, a firm nod to the ALFAPARF Milano heritage and its love of the local. In the Daily line, oak bark is an antioxidant and colour protective property. Chemical treatments, pollution, UV rays: it protects hair against it all, and cosmetic colour fading too.

It’s not just the inside that counts. Benvoleo’s primary plastic packaging is 50 to 100 per cent recycled plastic; glass is 100 per cent recycled, while cases are made of FSC-certified 100 per cent recycled and recyclable paper.

Going further, it has also actively reduced extra packaging such

as sleeves and wrappers, strictly limited secondary packaging to the essentials, and has reduced the weight of its bottles, for less plastic waste.

Clients connect with brands that genuinely love nature. But how do you show your love for something? You care for it – and that’s what Benvoleo is doing through the AGROCORTEX

Amazon project. It is fully offsetting its CO2 equivalent emissions via carbon credits to finance forest protection and sustainable farming. Closer to its home, there’s the PARKS FOR CLIMATE project in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines region. Here, Benvoleo is working to increase the resilience of oak trees to climate change by promoting sustainable and responsible sourcing.

Benvoleo is just the latest in what has been a determined and committed sustainability journey for ALFAPARF Milano.

Inspired by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals launched in 2015, it created its own Sustainability Plan to help make these goals a reality.

Clients are changing. As an ecologically conscious generation hits salons and looks for the most ethical and responsible products, they don’t want to compromise on quality and they’re going to have their eyes on you and what you stock. So make it Benvoleo for haircare that really works – and goes the distance on the subjects that matter, too.

Need a haircare brand that goes further for people and planet? Discover Benvoleo now – visit alfaparfmilanopro.com

@alfaparfmilanopro_uki

OUT

CO2 EMISSIONS OFFSET

FREE FROM SULPHATES, SILICONES, SYNTHETIC COLOURANTS, PETROLATUM, PARAFFINS, MINERAL OILS, BHA AND BHT

HYPER FERMENTATION, AN INNOVATIVE NEW PROCESS WITH LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

VEGAN AND NATURALLYDERIVED INGREDIENTS

BIODEGRADABLE FORMULAS

A VIEW FROM THE TOP

SALONS HAVE NOT seen a large growth in business during 2022, but business in general is quite stable in the Irish market. What is noticeable is a struggle to nd experienced staff, and also a lack of new stylists coming in. This is the area we need to focus on most, and it’s also where our industry and the government need to work hardest together to secure our long-term future.

Smaller boutique salons are on an upward growth pattern, while freelance hairdressing and chair rental remains quite small and is only seen in highly populated areas. Retail trade continues to remain positive for salons, including in-salon treatments.

Irish salons have not allowed ecommerce to take trade away and have remained the chosen destination for professional haircare purchases overall – Irish consumers are showing their loyalty.

In terms of the biggest challenges in the market, it’s unanimously employment that is the key issue. However, this is a global issue across various industries, so we are not unique in this area. Obviously, the cost of utilities and rent is also a challenge and, depending on your brand of choice, some salons have also seen some crazy price increases in their stock purchases in the past two years. With the support of ALFAPARF Milano Professional, Xpert Professional has managed to keep this to a minimum.

Digital marketing, training and support is still in demand. Salon re ts appear to be high on the agenda also, as owners recognise the need to attract the client away from mobile hairdressing. However, high-quality education to give salons the edge over the home hair market is absolutely the most requested area.

Although we have seen our competitors cut back on face-toface training – which is concerning – Xpert Professional has pushed forward with more than 400 courses in the Irish market. These programmes are there to help both respond to and support our salons, with newer courses added to re ect market requirements, such as multi-dimensional colour trends.

Finally, we are also continuing to invest heavily in advanced colour technology that will allow salons to stand out from the rest. Removing MEA and ammonia from the latest liquid colour from ALFAPARF Milano Professional is just one example of this breakthrough. But it’s not just colour where we’re seeing major evolution. In care, we will soon launch one of the world’s most advanced clean beauty lines at a price that consumers can afford to buy and use every day – not just as a treat.

We’ve seen a few tumultuous years, and the industry still faces uncertainty as the cost of living – and of doing business – bites. So where are we headed? Creative HEAD Ireland asked four business leaders for a road map

David Donnellan, managing director at distributor Xpert Professional, argues that although recruitment is a major challenge, salons remain the top choice for consumers looking for the professional difference

“It’s unanimous that employment is the key issue. However, this is a global issue across industries”

MY TIME AS managing director of L’Oréal Professional Products UK&I has shown me that, without a doubt, personal services such as hair and beauty are critical to the social and economic wellbeing of people in the UK and Ireland.

These businesses are at the heart of communities and play a vital role in the lives of consumers – a recent L’Oréal survey reported 74 per cent of females agree that having their hair done by a professional supports their mental health and wellbeing.1

The positive impact of salons doesn’t just stop with consumer wellbeing, they are also a considerable component in helping to grow the UK economy. The British Beauty Council recently estimated that hair and beauty service providers contributed £5.1bn to the UK economy in 2022, and that the services division supports almost a quarter of a million jobs.2

Despite these contributions, the industry continues to face headwinds in the wake of an unpredictable few years. We know from our salon partners that challenges come from a range of different factors: soaring energy prices, the pace at which digitalisation is impacting the industry, the growing consumer demand for sustainable services, and the recruitment and apprenticeship crisis that continues to impact the workforce.

All of this has been echoed by the National Hair and Beauty Federation, which reported that only 49 per cent of businesses they surveyed were confident of their survival.3 Hairdressing has been dealt a tough hand.

From a consumer perspective, we know the cost-of-living crisis is causing concern. L’Oréal data shows that 77 per cent of women feel impacted by current market conditions 4 and are watching their spending as a result. However, the data also tells us that beauty regimes are not the first thing women sacrifice and this is backed up by positive indicators in our industry, with footfall into salons creeping back up, even with the rise in the cost of living. It’s our job to help salons capitalise on this, and L’Oréal

Professional Products is behind initiatives to upskill, convene and make things more convenient for our industry.

Hairdressing is a highly skilled job and salons are great places to build fulfilling careers, that can allow you to travel the world and work with some of the most inspirational and creative people. At L’Oréal, we are passionate about the endless opportunities of hairdressing and upskilling the next generation of industry leaders. Being able to offer online and face-to-face education has also been a game-changer, as we reach even more of our professional network, bringing them the support they need to develop their craft. Our new London Academy will also open this summer, offering hair professionals a state-of-the-art space to learn and create, with sustainable design at its heart.

We recognise that our salon partners value time and having more of it to focus on what matters most – their clients and their business. By stepping away from a more time-consuming ordering process facilitated by their Business Partners and replacing it with a more convenient 24/7 online platform with L’Oréal Partner Shop, customers can shop how they want, when they want, at a time most suitable for them. We’re always looking for new ways to innovate in this space.

We also know that every salon and stylist is unique, so over the past couple of months we’ve been touring the UK and Ireland, joined by salon and stylist partners, to listen, learn and be there for one another. We were able to celebrate the power of community and our partnership, and discussed how the industry can work together to build a resilient future.

Having joined L’Oréal’s UK&I Professional Product Division last year from its Australian counterpart, managing director David Higgins has seen salon partners face a truly testing time. But through upskilling and being there for the community, he argues that a bright future is on the horizon

“Salon footfall is creeping back up, even with the rise in the cost of living. It’s our job to help salons capitalise”

I AM A rm believer that data, combined with industry intelligence and a working knowledge of hairdressing, is what drives and informs leadership roles in this brilliant industry.

At this moment, everything points to an extremely positive outlook in the salon marketplace. Footfall is on the rise in the high street despite ongoing challenging climates, and salon partners I speak with have shared recent success in terms of driving growth in services and retail.

This is partly thanks to the ever-growing consumption of beauty electricals.* We lead and support this growth via our Innovation Laboratory in Cambridge, creating the latest and greatest in tech, an example being the ghd Duet Style launch. We’ve exceeded all expectations on our sales and we’re seeing some incredible results with our salon partners.

Resilience

A key reason for my positive outlook is that I’ve seen how truly resilient and agile salon owners and independent stylists have had to be over the years, changing business models and strategies to adapt. We’ve all had to change so quickly to a new landscape of reaching our audiences. Clients’ buying behaviours are increasingly in uenced on social media platforms. This is an area that we have moved into in a signi cant way as we partner with hundreds of hairdressing professionals – specialist in uencers to magnify the importance and power of the professional hairdresser within the consumer decision-making process.

An example of our strategic response to support salons in making retail gains is our work with our Premier Partner Salons, which all had an exclusivity period with the ghd Duet Style. It was exciting to see several going viral on TikTok and Instagram, creating fantastic content to demonstrate and educate their audience on how

the tool is enabling them to provide new services and reach a wide variety of hair types. We know social media can be a little scary and sometimes time consuming, which is why our business development team breaks it down for our salon partners, helping them to create engaging content for their salon audience.

We also believe in meeting and learning together, the sharing of data and science and enjoying experiential events. In addition to bringing together hundreds of hairdressers at ghd Underground, our team also supports salons with local salon events.

We recently worked with Inanch London on a bespoke launch event for Duet Style that also celebrated all the services that the salon offers. They had an incredible guest list which enabled them to create earned media value from the event – meaning the

clients that they invited had a fantastic circle of in uence and they had some headline press coverage too.

At ghd we have a long-standing relationship with Creative HEAD’s It List Awards and the reason is simple – we believe it’s important to inspire and prime future talent to continue to evolve the industry. We also continue to offer a wide variety of education both live and virtual, from live streams where we have thousands of stylists attending virtually to view our latest collections, trends and techniques, to exclusive regional events.  Education is the key to driving return on investment. The more we can continue to upskill ourselves, the more value we can bring to our business. We’re all life-long learners, and it’s that which makes us both adaptable and successful. How we reach audiences has shifted almost beyond recognition in the past few years. But the other part – how we relate to an audience – stays the same. The meeting and learning together is as important as ever.

“Everything points to an extremely positive outlook in the salon marketplace”

and agility is helping salon owners and independent stylists adapt to the ever-changing climate, says Liz Griffiths, managing director of ghd UK & Ireland

THE CURRENT CLIMATE is interesting, there is a lot of change and progression in our industry. We have salons that are thriving and investing heavily in education and developing their businesses, as well as salons that are consolidating and using this as a time to create a business to take them into the future.

There has been an increase in self-employed hairdressers, and more shared workspaces for artists to work independently but under the same roof.

How can we respond to the needs of our salons and freelancers right now? Two years ago, Wella became an independent company, meaning we have the agility of a start-up with the backing of 140 years of experience. Our goal is to be 360-degree business partners with salon owners – their success is our success. By supporting them in their business – with inspiration, education, and innovative products – we drive that success.

We know times are tough. The cost of living, the impact of Brexit on recruitment, and changing habits of clients are all important factors. However, at Wella we pride ourselves on being so much more than just a manufacturer. We can help provide the best experience for the client: our mission is to enable people to feel and be their true selves. When we get this right, the potential for growth is limitless.

Relationships have always been at the heart of our business. We combine the traditional approach of strong, personal relationships with hybrid events (such as our legendary TrendVision Award), an inspiring social media presence and a new community programme. We recently launched an Instagram channel for professionals (@wellaprofessionalsuki) and our target

is to become the number one beauty community. One of our new initiatives is Wella Red, an exclusive business partnership programme focusing on community, education and rewards.

I believe that businesses that set standards high and keep them consistent will stand the test of time. This all starts with education, which is our point of difference. We offer exceptional education across multiple platforms, including digital, in our studios and in salons. Our newest initiative is an industry first: the Wella Colour Higher Level Diploma. This is the first degreelevel certificate of this kind, making it a major step forward in recognising the professionalism and technical acumen needed to be a true colour expert. This intensive learning journey will take up to 18 months to complete and will arm colourists with the most in-depth colour qualification available. Students will graduate at Glasgow University in a formal ceremony to celebrate their achievement: I can’t wait to follow their journeys.

We’re seeing the demand for e-commerce accelerate, with Wella Store providing a platform to our customers 24/7. In a relationship-focused business, we recognise that offering customers the flexibility to engage with us in whichever way works for them is key. And we’re making significant investment to further enhance the platform in the next few years. We don’t believe this will ever replace the personal relationship that many of our salons have with their account manager, which has a critical role to play. But it does allow salons the freedom to engage with us in a way that works for them.

It’s also important to acknowledge the changing structure of our industry. There are more freelance hairdressers than ever before, and many people have adjusted the days and hours they choose to work since lockdown. So, for the growing freelancer market, we have launched the Freelancer Hub, which helps guide them on how Wella can help them grow their business both with training and relevant promotions.

High standards, ongoing relationships and community initiatives – that’s how Max Amen, general manager UK & Ireland at Wella Company, is supporting salons and freelancers in its network

“The first degreelevel certificate is a major step in recognising the professionalism needed to be a true colour expert”

BLOW-DRY

PRIDE WITH

Put the love back into your blow-dry with the new Volumizing Blow Dry Mist from OLAPLEX

* Based on an independent consumer perception study of 43 women with fine to medium hair who use blow-dry products.

Blow-drys can make or break a salon visit. You want every client to have an Instagram-worthy finish. They should be the cherry on top of a great salon experience, but a sub-par finish could hide the wonderful colour or cutting work you’ve spent hours crafting. For those giddily preparing for an event, a lacklustre result could stop them returning.

The all-important final touch can deliver a red carpet-ready buzz when done right, so restore pride in your blow-drys with new Volumizing Blow Dry Mist from OLAPLEX.

Don’t defer to dryness and dullness. Instead, use Volumizing Blow Dry Mist for a reparative blow-dry that feels softer, looks shinier and is visibly healthier. It also holds the style longer without weighing down the hair. Think lasting body and bounce without the stickiness or heaviness that other styling products can create. Not just concerned with improving results, OLAPLEX’s Volumizing Blow Dry Mist has innovated the blow-dry experience. It’s clinically proven to speed up blow-dry time, great news for your jam-packed day. It’s also a shield against humidity and heat up to 232°C.

And what do clients think? The results are in! A study on women using blow-dry products saw 96 per cent agreed it retained their style with a lightweight touch, 94 per cent experienced buildable volume,

93 per cent felt lightweight body, and 89 per cent said their hair did not feel sticky.*

All that, AND it’s helping hair get healthier, too! The Mist’s exclusive patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology relinks damaged bonds, creating stronger and healthierlooking hair.

What creates the soft, smooth, and sensual blow-outs with a hold that lasts? That’s the work of jackfruit polysaccharides and advanced polymers, while bamboo extract lipopeptides protects against styling damage and pea peptides plump, hydrate, and protect strands. Those ingredients are IN, but this Mist is also 100 per cent free of sulphates, phthalates, parabens, gluten, and silicone.

How proud are you of your blow-dry game? Reach for Volumizing Blow Dry Mist from OLAPLEX, and you’ll pack power and restorative results into every finish. Hairdryers at the ready…

STRENGTH

FROM

WITHIN

Stronger and healthier-looking blow-drys from the original bond builder, OLAPLEX

Plenty claim to really care for hair, but who has the receipts to prove it? OLAPLEX burst onto the scene in 2014 with its revolutionary bondbuilding technology, changing the industry and the way we care for hair for good. Now, it’s here to change the game again – now it’s time to evolve your blow-dry!

The new Volumizing Blow Dry Mist from OLAPLEX takes blowdrys further. On any day, a stylist must make the best of what they’re given in the chair, including damaged locks that are begging for transformation. Some might try to hide the damage with clever styling, but they’re only temporary fixes.

With just a few sprays of OLAPLEX Volumizing Blow Dry Mist you can take your client on a journey – not just of styling, but of intense repair, too. If you could peek into the hair as the blow-dry takes place, this is what you would see; damaged and compromised hair bonds being repaired from the inside out, protecting it from damage while simultaneously relinking

broken disulphide bonds. That’s real muscle work!

Whether they’re just having a wash and blow or the ‘full monty’ with colour, this clever new addition works to repair many types of client hair damage, from heat styling to outside factors such as pollution. All from a name that consumers know, trust and actively hunt out, making it an easier upsell for the team, too!

Offer your clients the fab, final flourish they deserve with a stronger, softer, healthier, and more durable blow-dry, with new Volumizing Blow Dry Mist from OLAPLEX.

Want to hear more about the OLAPLEX story and grab that new Volumizing Blow Dry Mist for your shelves? It’s available at uk.olaplex.com and your local professional distributor: Aston & Fincher, Capital Hair & Beauty, Sally Beauty, Salon Concept, Salon Promotions, Salons Direct and Xpert Professional @olaplexuk

TAKE TWO!

TAKE TWO!

Bleaching, blow-drying, straightening… let’s scale back on the damage and the guilt with Bonacure R-TWO from Schwarzkopf Professional

Before After

If clients don’t return for a colour or styling top-up, what’s a regular excuse they use? It’s fears about damage – and they have a point. No service will shine if hair is in a bad way.

To keep clients returning for that beachy balayage or silky-smooth straightening treatment, they must trust that you really care about their hair – including its condition –in all services you deliver.

Stop over-processing hair without the extra care and turn to Bonacure R-TWO by Schwarzkopf Professional. It ensures that treatments will delight, not damage. Double bonding technology inside Bonacure R-TWO delivers instant hair repair for damaged and over-processed strands.

This clever formula works within the hair fibre to create brilliant new ones. It’s a handy helper that reinforces the

hair’s inner matrix and strengthens its alpha-helical structure, so every single hair fibre is stronger, more resistant to future damage, and with a lasting strength and lifespan.

Build up client trust in your colour and styling services as strong as double bonds with Bonacure R-TWO’s powerful assortment – clients can expect a hair damage reversal equivalent to one lightening and two balayage services,* and 20,000 combing strokes!** Compared with untreated hair, heads will experience a whopping 93 per cent less hair breakage,** 90 per cent fewer split ends,** and 10-times more resistance to hair damage.

POWER, DISTILLED

Now we know what Bonacure R-TWO can achieve, let’s meet the hero products doing the hard work. Enter Bonacure R-TWO Restoring Essence, an instant bonding hair essence. A truly versatile essential, use it either before, during, or after a chemical

service. It can be applied as part of an easy two-part system with the intensive and fortifying R-TWO Rescuing Treatment or Renewal Sealer, the latter a leave-in hair mask that instantly strengthens locks, provides frizz control, and protects against heat up to 230°C. Scale back the damaging effects of chemical services at the backwash and rebalance the hair’s pH levels with Bonacure R-TWO Resetting Shampoo.

To achieve that desired shine, strength and softness while you colour and style, it can only be Bonacure R-TWO’s double bond-building brilliance by Schwarzkopf Professional. Damage is so yesterday…

Choose double duty on hair repair with Bonacure R-TWO by Schwarzkopf Professional. Find out more at schwarzkopfpro.com

@schwarzkopfprouk

CRAFTED WITH CARE

Sensational styling starts with great haircare. Raise the bar – and broaden your service menu – with STMNT

Some products are about stylish design and social media-ready snaps, but the best care is about substance too. For looks that last 24/7, heads and beards require a gentle, caring touch. For a premium groomed result that delivers every time, turn to STMNT.

Pioneered by modern barbering icons Julius Cvesar, Sofie ‘Staygold’ Pok, and Miguel ‘the Nomad Barber’ Gutierrez, STMNT is a no-fuss range that has been carefully curated by barbers, for barbers, and for clients who take their look seriously.

Styling success is built on strong foundations. It’s time to prep that canvas for great things… Enter STMNT’s Hydro Shampoo and STMNT Serum, the new must-have dynamic duo to achieve sculpted, soft yet strong strands and beards. Whether in your chair or using at home, this is a pair that cares.

Sulphate and silicone free,* STMNT’s Hydro Shampoo is a hair cleanser gentle enough for daily use, but its benefits are powerful. Cleansing without stripping – stressed-out hair, beards and scalps are soothed, strengthened, and moisturised, with balance restored.

Yes, those nourished locks will last but so too will the aroma. A heady scent of lavender, fresh citrus and tonka bean creates a blissful experience at the backwash that continues every time they step into the shower at home or

the gym, and when they step out the door to face the day.

Serums have become essential to many looking for that extra injection of hard-working ingredients. Yet some make hair flat and greasy, doing little to restore condition.

You can forget these concerns with STMNT Serum, the perfect follow-up to Hydro Shampoo. This deeply nourishing booster is packed with antioxidantrich vitamin E to deliver instant TLC to dry hair and rough beards.

Soothing scalps and strengthening strands while leaving hair lightweight and silky with perfectly balanced moisture, STMNT Serum is a versatile addition to your care kit. Work it into your hot towel services for an extra dash of luxury, or use it to make the cutting process smooth and silky. Clients will enjoy the same sensory pleasure of citrus, lavender and tonka bean found in STMNT’s Hydro Shampoo, enveloping them in a holistic regime to get every day started right. Crafted from scratch by the vanguard of the barbering world, use STMNT to offer clients an all-encompassing service at the backwash. From specialised scalp massages to steamed towel wraps or tailored beard care, STMNT is there to boost what you’re bringing guests in your chair. Want to make a statement with your services? Then you need STMNT.

To explore the full STMNT Care and Styling range, and discover hair and beard how-tos from its creators, visit stmntgrooming.co.uk @stmntgrooming

“We wanted to ensure we offered products that would not only benefit the in-store experience but the homecare experience too. We are so proud of the new additions, and we hope to continue to provide the industry with everything it needs over the coming years”

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ, AKA THE NOMAD BARBER, CO-CREATOR OF STMNT

STYLE WITH SUBSTANCE

Industry-born styling products that deliver what they promise with a luxury edge –that’s the work of STMNT and its three new styling essentials

STMNT wasn’t dreamed up in a boardroom; it was born in the barber shop, with three barbering stars behind it. This authenticity continues with its latest drop of styling essentials, designed to get your creative juices owing. With STMNT in your corner, every client will emerge with a look that is truly theirs – in the salon or at home.

Got a client with curls, coils, or waves for days that needs a helping hand? Reach for the new STMNT Curl Cream. Feel its rich and creamy texture in your hands before you apply – that’s the argan oil, which tames frizzy, coarse hair and improves manageability. After more control and de nition? That’s the job of the plant-based waxes; a tick for great texture without the

unwanted crispiness. The final touch is a stunning scent of coconut, sandalwood and orris designed by Julius Cvesar, barber icon and member of the STMNT founding trio.

For extra volume and a firmer hold without the dreaded stickiness, opt for the new STMNT Definition Spray. This super-powered solution creates iron-strong hold, tantalising texture and great definition, while also giving a fuller feeling to the hair without drying it out. The ingredients of sugar, salt, and glycerin are as natural as possible, yet do not scrimp on power or effectiveness. You’ll get the results you want with a semimatte finish. Those that dare to define will get an added by-product too; an invigorating scent of citrus and peppermint; the work of STMNT dream team co-founder, Sofie ‘Staygold’ Pok.

If you love a bit of OG suave styling, the third addition to STMNT’s new styling assortment is for you. Reach for STMNT Gel for that ‘classic with a twist’ look for strong definition, firmness, and lasting hold. The charcoal within creates a showstopping satin-like semi-matte finish. Don’t fear flakes, there won’t be any when it’s brushed through, and it’s also easy to wash out. Notes of spices, lavender, and a hint of wood are the signature scent from Miguel Gutierrez, the ‘Nomad Barber’, the third piece of the STMNT founding puzzle.

Professional styling products created by barbers, for barbers, with an eye on individuality, creativity, and that extra magic touch – that’s the way to make a STMNT!

Uncover the full STMNT range in more detail, as well as education and tips from the brand creators at stmntgrooming.com

TROPHY LIVES

Trend-led and commercially creative, the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Ireland Grand Final is always a mouth-watering showcase of artistry that clients will crave. But who stole the show at the RDS Dublin?

Bringing together creative colourists from across the country, the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Ireland Grand Final at Dublin’s RDS celebrated not only the exceptional talent on display but also a strong sense of community. Hosted by TV presenter Darren Kennedy, this was a chance to get properly creative and illustrate just why there’s such a buzz around Irish hairdressing right now.

There was also a spotlight on the new Head Up initiative from L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, to raise awareness and focus on the mental health of hair professionals. It includes Head Up Keys, a free training programme available through its Access platform.

The evening showcased the artistry created by enthusiastic finalists, seeing them take to the runway alongside their models

and compete for the coveted title. From young professionals beginning their colour journey to seasoned pros, the competition was tight. The judges – Sally Brooks from Brooks & Brooks, Trevor Sorbie’s Nathan Walker, Sally Montague Hair Group’s Angel Montague-Sayers, Strictly Xtended’s Abigail Butler, and Adam Reed from ARKIVE by Adam Reed – had a tough job on their hands.

Once the winners were revealed, it was onto the after party, where DJ, sax and percussion trio Toca Groove set the tone, with a set inspired by Ibiza and Dubai nightlife that raised energy levels sky high. Wow, we loved seeing everything #LCT23 had to offer. We can’t wait for next year…

Photography by Andres Poveda

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

L’ORÉAL COLOUR TROPHY OVERALL WINNER

ZEBA HAIRDRESSING, SOUTH WILLIAM STREET, DUBLIN MARK SHERWOOD (COLOURIST), AUGUSTO MIRANDA (STYLIST)

L’ORÉAL COLOUR TROPHY SECOND PLACE

THE HAIR ARTIST, DUBLIN CIARAN CANNON

L’ORÉAL COLOUR TROPHY THIRD PLACE

THE HAIRSHOP, DUNDALK

JAMES MCMAHON (COLOURIST), CATHERINE MCELLIGOTT (STYLIST)

STAR AWARD WINNER

LA MODE, DUBLIN

NADINE BRADY (COLOURIST), CLAIRE DONEGAN (STYLIST)

BLANKSPACE

Marlon Hawkins wrote his name into legend with a stunning cyber chic display at the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Ireland Grand Final show, supported by a stellar team of ID Artists

Marlon Hawkins

The L’Oréal Colour Trophy Ireland Grand Final always dials it up when it comes to the hair shows, and 2023 delivered in spades. The audience was transported to BLANKSPACE – a futuristic world where cyber chic met statement, runway styles. Behind the showcase was 2022 Most Wanted Creative Talent winner and Brooks & Brooks artistic director, Marlon Hawkins, presenting a visual feast of concepts and colour. He was not styling alone, however. Marlon led a hair team of ID Artists that included Mike DeCanter, (Zeba Hairdressing), Callum O’Donovan (The Edge Hair Design), 2022 L’Oréal Colour Trophy winner Emma Marcey (Odd), Claudia Walsh (Davey Davey), Orla Langton (Wildflower) and Gemma Murphy (Dylan Bradshaw).

The show took the audience on a quest to discover beauty in a blank space, in a totally unique way. Exploring colour pops, silhouettes, and dynamic energy, BLANKSPACE submerged those watching in an utterly creative and immersive experience. Beautiful and inspiring, it held everyone captivated.

BLONDES BOSS YOUR

Ensure your summer season of blonde is more brilliant than ever. It only takes these simple steps…

LIFT WITH LOVE

The word ‘bleach’ can still scare clients, but innovation is allowing for lighter looks with less damage.

We know blondes are the most pro table colour clients, yet damage can make many swerve bleach. Thankfully, the new generation of bleach and lifting lines are kinder than ever before, while also performing brilliantly.

Indola has reformulated its Blonde Expert range to lift up to nine levels, while its integrated Hair-Bond Technology signi cantly reduces hair damage. It has both an Ultra Cool Booster and an Ultra Lift Booster to dial up neutralisation or lift, while its Highlift – Special and Ultra Blonde products deliver specialised lifting. “When I’m bleaching, especially on lighter bases, I always use the motto ‘low and slow’,” says Indola ambassador, Abbey Jarrold. “I always opt for a lower peroxide/developer and leave the bleach on for longer.”

Schwarzkopf Professional’s much-loved BLONDME line-up has been extended with new integrated Anti-Metal Bond Protection Technology to ensure the extra TLC to honour the hair’s health. It’s all about those extra ingredients that help protect during lightening.

Look at the ALFAPARF Milano Professional BB Bleach range and you’ll see its Easy Lift formula delivers up to 66 per cent less breakage than some of its rivals, thanks to a protective bond system.

So, due to the improvement of formulas, blonde is more inclusive than ever. Educator Anne Veck, says: “Be mindful that the bleach will elongate curl patterns and ensure you advise that the right regime of care makes everything possible.”

DELIVER IN FULL

Expanding your service menu with backwash treats isn’t just about building your bottom line – it’s also delivering your clients their best blonde health ever.

Time spent lightening is time wasted if the hair looks frizzy and damaged as a result. But there’s no excuse now as the evolution of backwash treatments and bonding additives means hair health can look better than ever.

“When planning a client’s colour journey, it all comes down to consultation. It’s really important for the client to have healthy, manageable hair so we can get them to their end goal,” says Matrix artist ambassador Niamh Hayden. “We build the journey, including maintenance and how often they need to return for different services; sometimes it’s a treatment or toner inbetween blonding services.”

With the original bond-builder OLAPLEX there’s a built-in brand recognition, as many clients search out the treatment in salons. That brand recognition can help in conversations with clients too, especially those worried about lightening and the damage they think it will do to their hair. “It’s crucial to explain that having a bond-builder mixed into the lightener will help prevent damage,” explains OLAPLEX artist and colourist, Tom Smith. “Also using the No.2 step in the salon and No.3 at home will continue to repair and protect their hair from the effects of damage, meaning they can stay blonde long-term.”

Another hair repair brand that consumers have love for is K18. The range of scientifically supercharged

products K18 has made major waves on social media and fights damage and frizz from within. Want to improve client hair condition while they’re going lighter in the chair? Reach for K18’s molecular hair repair service including a professional hair mask, mist, and oil, which reverses hair damage and dials down on frizz. It is sure to make those new blonde hues shine and feel stronger to the touch.

Targeted, time-efficient hair repair for heads subjected to rigorous colouring and chemical styling? It’s as easy as taking a shot with Revlon Professional’s RE/START range. RE/START Repair Bonding Shot offers 40 per cent better inner and outer damage recovery for chemical styling, the RE/START Colour & Shine Sealer Shot delivers better colour vibrancy and condition, and the RE/START Density Fortifying Shot gives fine hair a lease of life.

And don’t let metal build-up ruin your precious colour work either. Using the Metal Detox Pre-Treatment spray and mask by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris during a colour service helps eliminate excess copper, lock in your hard work and prevent any nasty particles from returning.

ALWAYS TALK TONE

Why thank you, social media, for truly teaching the consumer world about the importance of toners and glazes. And now clever new launches are making such finishes quicker than ever.

You can lift and get a lighter look, but we all know that the real finesse comes via the toner or glaze to nail the bespoke blonde for that specific client. Social media has showcased the true beauty of blonde, the variety of tones available. And thanks to that, consumers have a better understanding than ever before of toners. Yet, only about 20 per cent of blonde clients in UK salons have a toner. Think how much more business the other 80 per cent could offer.

How can a simple toning service boost bookings and business?

“By having trusted great results for both clients and colourists, who have total confidence in Shades EQ,” says April Pattara, Redken advocate and founder of Somewhere Salon. Shades EQ has cleverly capitalised on the power of social media to showcase the glossy, sumptuous results a toner delivers, all with its Bonder

Inside ensuring hair is healthier too. And with new VV Intense shades, there’s something fresh to discuss in consultations or to shout about online.

April loves the “perfect amount of sheer” from Shades EQ that supports the natural tone of the hair. “It gives a nice sparkle, as opposed to some that are more blanket coverage on blondes,” she adds. “The new Shades EQ 09VV Intense is like a secret weapon for creating the most neutral blonde!”

Many clients don’t have the luxury of half a day to sit in your chair, so toning can deliver a fresher look in a quicker appointment, handing you the opportunity to offer fast services that make a difference. “It’s all about time, creativity and freedom,” says Daisy Goord, Wella Professionals digital craft expert. “Clients can pop in on their lunch break and have a toner refresh, that’s so important.”

Daisy’s a fan of new BlondorPlex Cream Toners, a collection of shades that works in just five minutes, so colourists can make the most of the time they have, and see more clients over the course of their column.

Getting the perfect result can sometimes be a guessing game, testing sections of hair drenched in product to see when you need to rinse. Well, with new Tonal Control from Matrix, the formulas visibly oxidise in real time, changing colour so you can see when it’s ready.

Linking celebrity and fashion trends to toning services in menus is a savvy way of showing you have your finger on the pulse. Look at the moment all things pearl is having. Right on cue, L’Oréal Professionnel Paris has unveiled five Dia Light pearl shades and a French Balayage Pearl technique to help you make the most of it.

“Its luminous and translucent qualities lend a captivating shimmer. Pearlescent blondes, with their iridescent sheen, are a huge hit,” says Mike Decanter from Zeba Hairdressing. “The new L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Dia Light Pearl shades .18 and .82 are perfect for creating this trend. These colour choices will infuse the hair with a touch of summer magic.”

A fan of Goldwell’s legendary TopChic? TopChic Zero is bound to impress. Ammonia free with up to 94 per cent naturally derived ingredients, it delivers intensive conditioning alongside naturallooking finishes and better-than-ever sustainability credentials.

L’Oréal Professionnel Paris French Balayage Pearl

Redken Flashlift Bonder Inside and Redken Shades EQ Bonder Inside

BE A TEACHER’S PET

From half-head highlights to your balayage, you’ve got your foundation in place. Now upskill with the techniques that will deliver next-level bespoke blondes while boosting your professional expertise.

Blonde is a journey, for the colourist as much as the client. You will need to be able to advise on the best strategy for the individual in the chair, so stay clued up about the latest blonde and balayage techniques. Education for colourists is always going to be money well spent.

Fresh from Wella Professionals, Blonde Expert Parts 1 and 2 starts with the fundamentals, progressing up to the more challenging blonding scenarios. It will give you the con dence to tackle whatever blonde challenge sits in your chair. You’ll soon be the blonde guru in your area, and you’ll be ready for the stampede of blonde demands!

From JOICO educator and owner of CUT_social salon, Katrina Kelly, Hair Paint brings colourists on a freehand hair painting journey to bring out their inner artist, creating a blueprint for each client individually. This course is all about the strategy behind creating longer-lasting healthy lightness with added contours for more natural growing out. It's spot-on for colourists with a keen interest in learning freehand balayage techniques for those bespoke blondes that look brilliant on social media.

For many, the naturally low-maintenance look of balayage is what they want to get them through those carefree months. Ensure you’re on tip-top form by joining the Paint with Purpose one day in-person course with L’Oréal Professionnel global artist Harriet Stokes, which hits Dublin in November. Learn how to paint different hair types and watch Harriet work her freehand magic.

Could a course be more perfect for this season than Beautiful Blondes? From ALFAPARF Milano Professional it teaches the theory of hair lightening and the concept of colorimetry and melanins. A deep dive also covers the theory of colour and how to read the colour chart, with an

emphasis on tones of blonde, the super-lightening series, lightening reinforcers, and decolourants. It’s a course for the experienced colourist who wants to become a true blonde boss.

There will always be clients who fear colour due to damage. But you can still offer them colour services by taking the Great Lengths Balayage Blends course – there’s one in Dublin in October. It shows you how to add balayage style extensions to clients, who can experience all the great results of balayage without a chemical service. “Adding a service like this to your business can generate a huge increase in salon revenue, see client satisfaction rise and keep clients returning time and time again,” says Beverley Rosser from Rosser Hairdressing. “Through placement techniques, a seamless balayage effect can be created with additional strands to add dimension and thickness to the client’s hair while looking completely natural.”

ALFAPARF Milano Professional

Wella Professionals

TO THE TATE ’TIL LATE!

The most coveted ticket in town. See the Creative HEAD Most Wanted and It List Award winners crowned. It’s time to celebrate the UK and Ireland’s most exciting hair talents!

#MWIT23 @creativeheadmag

LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST Grand Final tickets on sale 9am, Monday 3 July WE’VE FROZEN 2022’S TICKET

Most Wanted celebrates the most outstanding, progressive and game-changing talents in UK and Irish hairdressing. Meet the finalists hoping to lift a 2023 trophy!

2023 FINALISTS

AWARD FOR INNOVATION

Sponsored by

Naomi Brooks for

The Hair Sanctuary Training Group

Louis Byrne for I Can I Am and I Will

Tom Chapman for The Power of Pop-ups

Maddi Cook for Boss Your Profit

Ruth Lundstrom for The Freelance Suite

EDUCATION EXPERT

Sponsored by

BEST CLIENT EXPERIENCE

BEST LOCAL SALON

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Edward James London, London

Linton & Mac, Aberdeen

Samantha Cusick London, London

STIL, London

YOKE, Plymouth

HAIR TREND

Conor James Doyle,

Conor James Education, Dunlavin

Chris Foster, Welwyn Garden City

Sarah-Louise Keane,

SLK Education, Manchester

Laura Leigh Kerr,

Rainbow Room Academy, Glasgow

Harriet Stokes, London

Buller and Rice, London

The Hair Base, Gorleston

The Head Gardener, Inverness

McGills Hairdressing, Edinburgh Medusa, Edinburgh

INDEPENDENT STYLIST

Buller and Rice, London

douce, Cambridge

Haug London Haus, London

House of Bad Apple, Birmingham

Massarella + Jones, Leamington Spa

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST

Sponsored by Sponsored by Sponsored by

Grace Dalgleish, London

Adam Garland, Clevedon

Rudi Rizzo, Sanrizz, London

Darrel Starkey,

Taylor’s Hair Studio, Skegness

Anne Veck, Oxford

Louis Byrne, London

Laura Chadwick, Peterborough

Lisa Farrall, London

Chris Foster, Welwyn Garden City

Adam Garland, Clevedon

Charlie Cullen, Dartford

Chris Foster, Welwyn Garden City

Tariq Howes,

Avenue Male Grooming, Cardiff

Dexter Dapper Johnson, TONI&GUY, London

Rino Riccio, Manifesto, London

GAME ON GAME’S STRONG…

BEST SALON TEAM BUSINESS THINKER

COLOUR EXPERT

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Architect Hair, Leeds

Bloggs Salons, Bristol

Ena Salon, London

Fry + Dean, London

Samantha Cusick London, London

SUSTAINABILITY HERO

Pedro Inchecko and Johnny Othona,

Ena Salon, London

Colin McAndrew, Medusa, Edinburgh

Nuala Morey, Nuala Morey, Bristol

Lee Nash-Jones and Rob White, Nashwhite, Warwick

Nicholas Nicola, Allertons, Leeds

TEXTURE EXPERT

Sponsored by Sponsored by

Stephen Buller and Anita Rice, Buller and Rice, London

Nicole Hewitt,

The Salon Of Chi, Henley-on-Thames

Lois Mant, Muse Hairdressing, Salisbury

Lorraine Naughton, OB-1 Hair, Maynooth

Laraine Rose,

Twelve Hair Design, Eastleigh

Vivi Dague, Stanley Watts Greenwich, London

Lisa Farrall, London

Rianna Henry, London

Tariq Howes,

Avenue Male Grooming, Cardiff

Claire Martin, Gro London, London

Jordanna Cobella, Cobella, London

Daniel Couch, Russell Eaton, Leeds

Grace Dalgleish, London

Harriet Stokes, London

Lydia Wolfe, Jack & the Wolfe, Lymington

CREATIVE TALENT

Sponsored by

Bartek Cass, Smiths Soho, London

Grace Dalgleish, Billi Currie, London

Efi Davies, TONI&GUY Academy, London

Danilo Giangreco, Danilo Hair Boutique, London

Richard Phillipart, The Boutique Atelier, Ellesmere Port

SESSION STYLIST HAIR ICON

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BY NOMINATION ONLY BY NOMINATION ONLY

Luke Hersheson

Adam Reed

Eugene Souleiman

Rio Sreedharan

Anthony Turner

Sally Brooks

Errol Douglas MBE

Duffy

Gary Gill

Cyndia Harvey

Syd Hayes

Sophia Hilton

Cos Sakkas

Anthony Turner

itit it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it

Emma-Louise Cantwell and Christopher Laird, November Collective, Edinburgh

Brooke Evans, BE Ironbridge, Telford

Exaucè Imbo, EXSTUDIO, Glasgow

Jack Mead, Jack & the Wolfe, Lymington

Charles Rose, Crate Cheshire, Knutsford

THE EDITORIAL STYLIST

Michaela Bodden, London

Ashley Cockrell, London

Darcie Harvey, Reuben Wood Hairdressing, Manchester

Rosie Jones, Trevor Sorbie, Bristol

Josh Woodman, Eden Hair and Beauty, Stotfold

THE SALON STYLIST

Rebecca Hare, Brooks & Brooks, London

Yasemin Hassan, Woolf Kings X, London

Holly Matheson, ARKIVE by Adam Reed, London

Mia Mozley, Alice and the Hair, Derby

Shay Ryder, Josh Wood, London

THE BUSINESS BUILDER THE RISING STAR THE VISIONARY

Edoardo Colasanti, Trevor Sorbie, London

Birte Klintworth, Radio, London

Emy Roccabella, Danilo Hair Boutique, London

Roman Sys, Brooks & Brooks, London

Frazer Wallace, THE HAUS STUDIO, Dundee

Norman Boulton, Not Another Salon, London

Elle Foreman, Tribe Clapham, London

Maria McCormick, Paint & Powder, Stafford

Francesco Merico, Trevor Sorbie, London

Emy Roccabella, Danilo Hair Boutique, London

THE ONE TO WATCH

Conor James Doyle, Conor James Education, Dunlavin

Georgia Freeman, Q Cut, Kew

Sophie-Rose Goldsworthy, Goldsworthy’s Hairdressing, Swindon

Christopher Laird, November Collective, Edinburgh

Jack Mead, Jack & the Wolfe, Lymington

Annabel Payne, TONI&GUY, London

Emy Roccabella, Danilo Hair Boutique, London

Roman Sys, Brooks & Brooks, London

Miles Twist, Architect Hair, Leeds

Emma Vickery, Percy & Reed, London

/ SUNDAYS

FOR FREELANCERS FOR FREE

Crack The Vault and access a wealth of brilliant sessions from our SELF/STYLED Sundays, and new content too!

EARN NEW SKILLS. MAKE MORE MONEY. EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR INDEPENDENT STYLISTS

• Boosting your treatment and service menus

• Bold and bright colour ideas

• Brilliant blondes, all day every day!

• Insight on cuts and care for texture and curls

• NEW! Business essentials for a fresh approach to freelancing, from Vagaro

NEW ON SITE

MORE TO EXPLORE ON THE SALON SMART HUB…

Russell Eaton in Yorkshire currently employs around 10 apprentices across its two salons. Discover how the brand nurtures its talent and the impact the young blood has on salon culture from Robert Eaton, its creative director

Like a prayer

IN CYBERPUNK, THE ARTISTIC TEAM FROM CYRIL MORGAN PLAYS WITH COLOUR AND STRUCTURE IN A SUITABLY DRAMATIC SETTING – LIMERICK’S

ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

CLAUDIO GANGI

SCENE

THE EVENTS AND PARTIES TO BE SEEN AT

KAO HUB NETWORK

ON THE STUNNING

Costa Del Sol, Kao Hub Network enjoyed its 2023 outing where business owners peeked into a crystal ball to glimpse the “salon of the future”. The best will focus on the “little wins” that add to the bottom line, explained salon business expert Liz McKeon. Upselling retail earlier on in the customer experience will be key as they are “three-times as loyal if they buy homecare from you”. The best salons will also strike the balance between seeking new customers and keeping the ones they like, argued business coach Bianca Miller. They’ll have a goal list of clients and will also ask for feedback from existing ones. For time-poor owners lagging on their salon social media output, Kao’s Nathan Agland suggested they try new AI tool Chat GPT, which produces copy tailored to your desires, almost immediately. But what will these salons look like visually? They’ll be borderless spaces, suggested brand expert Bernd Wagenknecht. A place where activities such as yoga, coffee-drinking and hairdressing take place in perfect harmony. The client outcome will be less “bling” with a return to genuine wellness, with stylists as the fountains of knowledge, linking clients to doctors and dermatologists as well as hair advice.

Caroline Sanderson

Liz McKeon

Bianca Miller

Julie Winchester Jack Stratton

Nathan Agland

Claire Brumby

AUTHENTIC BEAUTY CONCEPT GLOBAL COMMUNITY GATHERING

SET AGAINST THE scenic backdrop of Fort Mokotów in Warsaw, the Authentic Beauty Concept Global Community Gathering brought together more than 200 members of the #AuthenticBeautyMovement from across the globe for two days of inspiration, networking, and content creation. Transforming the space into a fabulous garden party, brand advocates including Adam Garland, Hester Wernert Rijn, Said Rubaii, Juliette den Ouden, and Marta Zawiślańska, joined fellow hairstylists, influencers, and beauty editors to celebrate the hairdressing community. Representing the UK and Ireland, Daniel Caines, Mimi Kobayashi, Anthony McMeiken, Dan Mewies, Matt Surplice, and Melissa Timperley were among the attendees treated to trend presentations, engaging creative sessions and workshops. The gathering also gave pros the opportunity to enjoy handson experiences, which included creating multiple looks for a photoshoot. With many of the hairstylists inspired by the brand’s recent collaboration with DJ Peggy Gou, looks included effortlessly undone waves, rick-rack texture, and micro braids. The two-day extravaganza concluded with an innovation workshop focused on gathering feedback from local hairdressing advocates to shape the brand’s upcoming innovations. What does the future hold? Our lips are sealed, but expect great things!

Said Rubaii

Juliette den Ouden

Hester Wernet Rijn

Marta Zawi Ś lań s ka

Adam Garland

THE LAST WORD ON…

ACTIVISM

IT’S OFTEN HARD TO KEEP POLITICS SEPARATE FROM OUR DAY-TO-DAY. HERE’S

Keeping things professional is a mainstay of working life. Once, the workplace was like a dinner party where politics and religion were rmly off limits. But things have changed…

Employees, especially younger ones, are more politically active thanks to social media and the immediate sharing of information. So how can businesses allow staff to publicly express their passions – whether that’s discussing climate change or a charitable cause – while still ensuring a professional service for clients?

Giving your team a platform for their activism won’t just make them feel seen and heard by your business, it’s good for business too, argues business coach Liz McKeon. “You can use social responsibility initiatives to advance business objectives. You can have a competitive advantage by being seen as a responsible business and attract new talent who will want to work with companies that share their beliefs. Staff will feel valued and will want to work harder and stay, you could also see positive public relations and press coverage from it.”

For Brian Leo McCallum, founder of ROAR Hair and Beauty, personal and political conversations keep the customer/stylist relationship alive: “We talk openly with guests about all the things we were taught years ago not to discuss – religion, politics, money. A healthy debate or difference in opinion helps a genuine relationship form between guest and hairdresser.”

Letting go and giving staff free rein to discuss what’s important to them is one thing; just ensure they don’t go against your brand’s wider purpose. “As a business, we encourage and support any employee activism that aligns with our mission, vision, and values,” explains Brian. “We will gladly share on social media and actively talk about fundraising with guests.

As a LGBTQ+ owned business and safe space, we understand how important it is to stand up for what you believe,” he adds.

But with multiple staff wanting to get their messages out there, could the conversation get crowded? Yes, and that’s why Liz advises leaders to “allocate a month to each person. Ask them to choose a cause they support and get creative with promoting to your community”.

Kubair Shirazee, leader of business consultancy AgiliTea, argues that such conversations can still be professional and workplace appropriate. He says: “Instead of implementing strict rules about discussing politics, focus on educating people about having respectful, open-minded conversations. Highlight the importance of understanding different perspectives, maintaining professionalism, and knowing when to agree to disagree.”

Whatever political discussions are being had in your business, effective management, including giving staff and clients space to vent and share, is key. But knowing when to step in and change the conversation matters too.

HOW TO EMPOWER STAFF TO SHARE VIEWS IN A HEALTHY WAY

Oleg Laptev for Unsplash