Regionals Return As LCT Hits 70

Entries now open for the iconic competition

by AMANDA | INFORM

2025 L’Oréal Colour Trophy UK winner Angela Thomson, Russell Eaton Salons

Regional finals are returning to the L’Oréal Colour Trophy competition as it celebrates its 70th anniversary in the UK.

Alongside the return, there’s a new category in play – the Social Colour Creator Award for both UK and Ireland. Entrants must create a 30-to 60-second reel on Instagram or TikTok that highlights their finished hair look, demonstrating artistic vision, creativity and technical skill.

The full line up of categories looks like this:

UK 
L’Oréal Colour Trophy Award
L’Oréal Colour Trophy Star Award, for those aged 16 to 25
L’Oréal Colour Trophy Afro Award, for hair types between 3C and 4C
L’Oréal Colour Specialist Award, for entrants who have passed the 15-day L’Oréal Colour Specialist Diploma

Ireland
L’Oréal Colour Trophy Award 
L’Oréal Colour Trophy Star Award, for those aged 16 to 25

UK & Ireland

L’Oréal Colour Trophy Future Talent Award, for college students, part or full time, who are studying on eligible courses across the UK & Ireland
L’Oréal Social Colour Creator Award, open to all, from those working in a salon or as an independent stylist.

2025 L’Oréal Colour Trophy Ireland winners Graham Santelíz Molly and James Coleman, Brown Sugar South William Street

Entries close Friday 27 February, with the Regional Tour starting on 13 April in Belfast and taking in eight locations, including Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, St Albans, Brighton and London White City. The finals will be hosted in Dublin on Monday 8 June and London on Monday 6 July. For more details, visit lorealcolourtrophy.com.

IHF In Search For Educators

Body is opening up educator opportunities to its members and their teams

by AMANDA | INFORM

IHF Star Team

The Irish Hairdressers Federation are offering members the chance to become educators for future IHF education days.

The opportunity is available to IHF members, or members of their teams, with the IHF acknowledging the wide range of talent, experience and expertise within their membership: “We want to provide an opportunity for those who feel they have something valuable to share to put themselves forward for consideration.”

This would be a chance to share skills and experience with the wider industry, contribute to accessible, member-led education and be considered for participation in future IHF education initiatives. 

Members who wish to be considered must meet certain criteria, with all submissions reviewed as part of the planning and selection process.

To be considered as an IHF educator, applicants must:

Have a minimum of one year’s experience delivering education and have delivered education outside of their own salon environment.
Have experience delivering education on behalf of a professional brand.
Have completed a recognised course in education delivery, for example Train the Trainer.
Be confident and comfortable with public speaking and group education.
Be able to plan and clearly outline their proposed education content, which will be reviewed before any decision is made on delivery.

Interested? Fill in the form – good luck!

JOICO Color Talent Awards Reveal Finalists

Marc Antoni stylists among the line-up

by AMANDA | INFORM

Hair by Alysha O’Keefe

The JOICO Color Talent Awards have unveiled the names of finalists, with more than 200 entries logged in the first year of the competition.

Charlotte Lauren Giamattei and Alysha O’Keefe from Marc Antoni are representing the UK, with the stylists finalising in the (In-Salon) Transformation Snapshot and Young Creative Talent categories. The winners will be announced in January on the @joicoeurope Instagram feed.

The judging panel featured a roster of leading names, including colour educator Grace Dalgleish alongside JOICO artists and ambassadors such as Bruno Marc Giamattei, Sevda Durukan, Dan Spiller, Alberto Di Domenico, JOICO EMEA head of marketing and Danielle Swartebroeckx and JOICO EMEA head of education.

The 2025 finalists are:

(In-Salon) Transformation Snapshot
Maria Ahle – Juma Hairstudio, Denmark
Clinton (Chante) Herries – The Goddess Emporium, South Africa
Charlotte Lauren Giamattei – Marc Antoni, United Kingdom

 Young Creative Talent
Ruby Lowe – Marc Antoni, United Kingdom
Regina Kiss-Varga – Fésűszépségszalon, Hungary
Alysha O’Keefe – Marc Antoni, United Kingdom

Creative Talent
Monika Woźniak – Hair Colorist Studio, Poland
Maria Sanotchi – JOICO Központ, Hungary
József Szikrist – HAIRSZIKRISZT, Hungary

HairCon Now Powered By Fresha

Hair and barbering event announces revolutionary new five-year premier partnership

by AMANDA | INFORM

Exciting times lie ahead for the UK’s most innovative hair and barbering experience as HairCon reveals a major new chapter, welcoming Fresha as its official Premier Partner for the next five years.

Bold, disruptive and future forward, the partnership marks the launch of HairCon powered by Fresha, bringing together two brands driven by a shared ambition to empower and push the hair and barbering industry forward.

HairCon has quickly earned its reputation as ‘no ordinary trade show’. Set within a live music venue, it blends high production creative moments, real business insight, and a festival atmosphere that runs long into the night. Fresha, meanwhile, has changed how tens of thousands of salons and barbershops operate around the world with its booking software. It equips professionals and business owners with the tools they need to run their businesses day-to-day with confidence, as well as thrive in a fast-changing industry.

Together, they are focused on championing creativity, supporting strong, sustainable businesses, and bringing the global hair and barbering community together.

Book your tickets to HairCon now: 13-15 June, O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

Who’s A 2026 Remi Cachet Super Stylist?

Top extentionists for the brand revealed as new incentive programme is unveiled

by HAYDN | INFORM

Hair Syrup’s Lucie Macleod 

Extensions brand Remi Cachet have revealed their Super Stylists for 2026. The Super Stylist community comprises the top tier of Remi Cachet extensionists, offering them exclusive access to extra benefits that include discounts, training,collaboration opportunities and more. Discover who’s made it onto the 2026 Super Stylist Honour Roll.

Led by founder and global creative director Victoria Lynch, Super Stylists represent the most passionate and committed professionals. “Each year we open the Super Stylist opportunity for applications, ensuring that we broaden the chance to participate. We are always inspired by the quality and talent of the individuals that choose to apply,” she said.

A new part of the project for 2026 is the Super Stylist of the Month Incentive Programme, celebrating the stylists that go above and beyond as brand champions. Each month, one Super Stylist is celebrated for their creativity and impact, receiving a £100 Remi Cachet Gift Card and brand wide recognition across their channels. Every month focuses on a different way for Super Stylists to get involved, from content creation and creativity, to education, sustainability, storytelling and craftsmanship.

Timely Launches Conference To Tackle Salon Sector’s ‘Quiet Financial Crisis’

Research reveals that 21 per cent of UK salons are currently operating at a loss

by HAYDN | INFORM

Hair Syrup’s Lucie Macleod 

New research reveals that 21 per cent of UK salons are currently operating at a loss, prompting bookings and payments specialist Timely to launch a major new business conference aimed at restoring financial confidence across the industry.

The Business of Hair and Beauty, a free-to-attend one-day event, will take place on Monday 2 February 2026 at The Curve Club, London, bringing together salon owners, founders and experts to address what Timely describes as a “quiet crisis” threatening the long-term sustainability of the UK’s £30bn hair and beauty sector.  

The conference follows the release of Timely’s Beauty on the Brink report, which highlights how under-pricing, rising costs and low financial literacy are leaving thousands of microbusinesses and solo practitioners vulnerable, despite the industry employing almost half a million people nationwide.

Designed specifically for salon owners and beauty professionals, The Business of Hair and Beauty will focus on the practical tools required to thrive in 2026. Attendees can expect actionable insights into sustainable pricing, profit and loss management, and long-term financial planning, delivered through two core panel sessions and a headline keynote.

Leading the conversation is Lucie Macleod, founder of Hair Syrup, who believes that access to the right knowledge, rather than a lack of talent, is the industry’s biggest challenge. “Hair and beauty is a hugely resilient industry,” she says, “but far too many brilliant business owners are still operating under financial pressure. Events like this give founders the clarity and confidence they need to build sustainable, profitable businesses.”  

Tickets for The Business of Hair and Beauty are free, but places are limited, with demand expected to be high. Get yours here.