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Irish Hairdressers Federation Join March to Leinster House As Rising Costs Threaten Businesses

Irish Hairdressers Federation Join March to Leinster House As Rising Costs Threaten Businesses

Oct 28, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

Irish Hairdressers Federation Join March to Leinster House As Rising Costs Threaten Businesses

Salon owners join other small business leaders at rally calling for government support

by MADDI | INDUSTRY NEWS

Siobhan-Taylor-ISME-Protest-Leinster-House-15thOct-11

Salon owners from across Ireland joined the Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) outside Leinster House to protest the financial pressures facing small businesses following Budget 2025. The rally, which brought together SMEs across various industries, voiced concerns over rising costs, impacting small business owners nationwide. 

Timed during the Dáil session, the protest featured salon owners and supporters with placards reading “Save Our Salons”. Lisa Eccles, IHF president, highlighted unsustainable cost increases, from VAT and wage hikes to new statutory demands. Eccles pointed to the success of the 9% VAT rate in 2011, contrasting it with today’s 13.5% VAT rate and additional financial burdens.  

“Past government initiatives like VAT 9, which was introduced in 2011, were proven to be among the most successful measures they had implemented,” said Lisa. “In 2018, the government published their own report showcasing how this initiative increased employment, helped people open businesses, and encouraged entrepreneurship.” 

While the IHF supports enhanced employee benefits, they argue that recent government policies lack consultation with salon representatives or SMEs. The protest underscored the IHF’s call for reforms, such as SME representation on the Labour Employer Engagement Forum (LEEF) and adjusted tax, PRSI and VAT measures. 

The IHF thanked salon owners who attended, emphasising the urgency of supporting small businesses to sustain the economy. As a member of the SME Alliance, the IHF continues to advocate for policies that recognise the contributions of SMEs. 

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Want To Work At London Fashion Week? Karoliina Saunders Has The Answer

Want To Work At London Fashion Week? Karoliina Saunders Has The Answer

Oct 25, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

Want To Work At London Fashion Week? Karoliina Saunders Has The Answer

The celebrated stylist launches an exclusive education series, offering the opportunity of backstage access to London Fashion Week 2025. 

by CAITLYN | INDUSTRY NEWS

Celebrated stylist Karoliina Saunders, renowned for her work as a session stylist and salon owner, has joined R+Co UKI as their new guest artist. Bringing her expertise to the forefront, Saunders will be leading an exclusive education series called ‘Salon to Front Cover,’ designed to train stylists in the world of high-fashion hair.

With extensive experience in the fashion and hair industry, Karoliina has worked with some of the most notable names in hairdressing, including Guido and Eugene Souleiman. As the Head of Session at the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, she has cultivated a reputation for creativity and leadership in both salon and session styling. 

The ‘Salon to Front Cover’ series is designed to give stylists critical skills in transitioning from salon work to high-fashion editorial and runway styling. The series is divided into two courses: 

  • Essentials – Focuses on backstage etiquette, kit essentials, and key techniques. 
  • Enhance – Emphasizes creativity, advanced techniques, and the latest trends from fashion weeks. 

Stylists who complete the courses will have the chance to audition for a coveted spot to work backstage with Karoliina at London Fashion Week 2025, offering real-world experience in high-paced fashion environments. 

“I am thrilled to join R+Co as a guest artist,” says Karoliina. “This is a brand that aligns with my passion for creativity and innovation, and I’m excited to share my knowledge with the R+Co community.” 

With Karoliina Saunders leading the ‘Salon to Front Cover’ series, R+Co is set to offer one-of-a-kind education and career-shaping opportunities to stylists ready to step into the fashion world.  

Find out more here.

 

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AI in Hair Colouring is A Game-Changer – But How Can It Help You?

AI in Hair Colouring is A Game-Changer – But How Can It Help You?

Oct 24, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

AI in Hair Colouring is A Game-Changer – But How Can It Help You?  

Fresha’s partnership with Yuv brings innovative AI-driven technology to salons, offering tools to enhance precision and streamline services.

by CAITLYN | INDUSTRY NEWS
Fresha, a leading platform for beauty and wellness professionals, has made a strategic investment in Yuv, a beauty tech company pioneering AI-powered hair colouring technology. With Fresha’s network of over 120,000 beauty businesses globally, this move could revolutionise the hair colouring process, offering both precision and efficiency. While the thought of using AI in your salon may seem daunting, this will be a tool to help you, not replace you.  

Hair colouring is one of the most complex and creative services a salon offers. With years of training and experience, stylists have honed their craft, developing their own unique approaches to colour. So, it’s understandable that the jump to AI hair colour technology may seem suspicious. After all, how can a machine replicate the creativity and intuition of a stylist? The answer is it can’t, and it’s not supposed to. 

Yuv’s AI technology isn’t designed to replace a stylist’s expertise; it’s built to enhance it. By saving personalised colour formulas in client profiles, Yuv ensures that every visit delivers a consistent, tailored experience. This tool allows stylists to focus on their craft with the confidence that the formulas are accurate and repeatable. It’s not about taking creativity out of the process; it’s about giving stylists more time and freedom to push their creativity further. 

“Investing in Yuv aligns with our mission to provide the most advanced tools to beauty professionals,” says William Zeqiri, founder and CEO of Fresha. “Hair colouring is a cornerstone of the salon business, and by addressing the complexities of this service, we’re adding significant value to our platform.” 

Salon owners, too, might question whether adopting AI is worth the investment. But let’s consider the practical benefits. One of the biggest challenges for any salon is managing inventory – especially when it comes to colour products. Yuv’s technology seamlessly integrates with Fresha’s platform to provide real-time insights into product usage, automatically restocking when needed. This means less waste, reduced costs and always having the right products on hand.  

With over 120,000 beauty businesses using Fresha’s platform, the opportunity to embrace this technology is clear. But this shift will only happen if salon professionals are willing to trust it. AI is no longer a distant concept, it’s here and it’s designed to make your business more efficient while ensuring the artistry and individuality of hair colouring services remain at the forefront. 

Francisco Gimenez, founder and CEO of Yuv, adds: “Partnering with Fresha provides us with the platform and reach we need to revolutionise the salon experience on a global scale. Together, we’re set to transform how professionals and clients approach hair colouring, creating a more efficient and personalised process that benefits everyone involved.” 

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From Berlin To London: How Ursula’s Grown Her salon, Bond, With Fresha

From Berlin To London: How Ursula’s Grown Her salon, Bond, With Fresha

Oct 21, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

From Berlin To London: How Ursula’s Grown Her salon, Bond, With Fresha

How the right tools can help turn dreams into a reality

Promotion – Fresha

by KELSEY | INDUSTRY NEWS 

Ursula at Bond Shoreditch

Opened by Ursula, who’s been hairdressing since 1999, Bond sits in the heart of Shoreditch, London. With a great reputation for their outstanding hair colouring, it’s surprising to know that owning a salon wasn’t always a goal of Ursula’s.

“For many years I didn’t have a desire to own my own salon. But six years ago I was working in a really lovely small salon in Berlin. It was a beautiful salon, with a lovely team. I loved the vibe and the way they managed the salon, and I thought ‘well, I could do this,'” she explains.

Ursula outside of Bond Shoreditch

Ursula

Ursula first heard about Fresha through a friend and fellow business owner, Tina. Tina owns Shoreditch Nails and is a long-time user of Fresha. She recommended it to Ursula given that they were both at similar points in their business journey. After an easy sign-up, Ursula quickly knew that using Fresha was a “no-brainer”.

 Realising it would be exactly what she needed to streamline her business, Ursula has been using it since.

Ursula stresses she’s always impressed with Fresha’s continuous innovation. The platform regularly introduces new features that not only make the day-to-day easier, but makes it possible to always push the business further, bringing in more clients, higher loyalty and an all-in-all better experience from beginning to end.

Ursula also highlights how Fresha listens to its partners and quickly uses their feedback to make changes, which has helped her stay competitive in the busy Shoreditch hairdressing scene.

“We use the automated marketing campaigns – one of our favourites is the birthday 10 per cent discount. We give an email to all of our clients on their birthday month offering them 10 per cent off on their next visit. This makes people feel really special,” she shares. 

Ursula blow-drying hair of client at Bond Shoreditch

Running Bond is more than just managing a business for Ursula; it’s about creating a welcoming environment where creativity and excellent service come together. With her skills, the unique atmosphere of her salon, and the support of tools like Fresha, Ursula has turned Bond into a standout success. Her journey from a hairdresser in Berlin to a business owner in Shoreditch shows how passion, innovation, and the right tools can turn a dream into reality. 

To learn more, visit fresha.com, download Fresha on the App Store and Google Play, or follow Fresha on Instagram and Facebook.

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UK Talent Triumphs At Davines’ International Hair Gala

UK Talent Triumphs At Davines’ International Hair Gala

Oct 17, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

UK Talent Triumphs At Davines’ International Hair Gala

Hair industry icons push the boundaries of style in a three-day celebration of coiffured creativity

by CAITLYN | INDUSTRY NEWS

The Davines 2024 World Wide Hair Tour (WWHT) in Berlin was a spectacular, three-day celebration of creativity and talent, drawing over 2,400 attendees from 53 countries. The event kicked off with the Davines Experience at Alte Munze, where attendees immersed themselves in exhibits and activities before the main events. During the Welcome Dinner, the top 10 finalists of the Talent Green House initiative showcased their interpretations of the Davines Hair Identity, setting the stage for the grand finale.  

The Talent Green House programme is Davines’ 18-month global mentoring initiative designed to develop the next generation of hairstylists. It offers aspiring talent from around the world a chance to hone both their technical and creative skills through a series of online modules and mentorship from industry heavyweights like Robert Lobetta and Candice McKay. Focusing on everything from trend forecasting to design principles, the program equips participants with the tools they need to thrive in the competitive hairdressing world.  

Ben Grace 

The winner? Ben Grace, a UK hairstylist from Radio London’s education team, whose “keen sensitivity and intuition for emerging trends” led him to reimagine a classic style with raw, innovative techniques. Ben now has the opportunity to create a collection for WWHT 2026, further cementing his place in the industry. 

The magic continued on day two, with world-renowned hairstylists taking to the stage to showcase their talent. Danny Pato, New Zealand’s 2024 Hairdresser of the Year, kicked off the performances with his collection inspired by “the feminine power of three royal sisters, the Nomad Queens.” His avant-garde hairstyles fused bold shapes and cultural elements, delivering a visual spectacle that wowed the audience. Next up was Annie Ankervik, who presented her Alchemy of Superheroes show, urging attendees to embrace their inner strengths and rise to the challenges of today’s world. 

Radio London made their mark with a performance celebrating Berlin’s creative subcultures. Their live styling sessions, enhanced with cinematic video footage, offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their process and captured the city’s vibrant diversity.  

Coray Absolut, the 2022 Talent Green House winner, continued the showcase with his Prioller show. Drawing on his Turkish heritage and personal memories, Coray blended vibrant prints, scarves, and his signature roller technique, promoting individuality and empowerment with every look. Following him was Jesus Oliver, who presented a performance inspired by amber, using structured cuts to bring out rich shades of red, copper, and yellow, creating a dazzling effect on stage. 

The event concluded with a show-stopping finale by Michael Polsinelli, whose “visual distortion” performance turned imperfection into art. Using unconventional materials like rubber tubing and mesh, he created complex hairstyles that took inspiration from nature and the universe, leaving the audience in awe. 

Work of Coray Absolut, Jesus Oliver and Michael Polsinelli 

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We’re Jammin’… Vivid Hair and Electric Vibes At Hair Jam

We’re Jammin’… Vivid Hair and Electric Vibes At Hair Jam

Oct 15, 2024 | HOME INFORM, INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM, INFORM HEADER

We’re Jammin’… Vivid Hair And Electric Vibes At Hair Jam

BeBop hosts third live Hair Jam

by MADDI | INDUSTRY NEWS

It was an electric vibe at the third annual Hair Jam, hosted by Most Wanted Best Salon Team winners, Bebop. Thumping music and creativity oozed out onto the pavement, while inside, bright outfits and even brighter hair ramped up the thrills. Guests sipped on cocktails and wine as they mingled, soaking up the energy.

Quickly becoming a must-attend event for London’s hair community, Hair Jam was set up by Pont Smith, co-owner of Bebop, designed to create a free space for hairstylists and creatives to come together, share their passion and inspire one another.

Twelve talented stylists were invited to create live hair looks on their models, showcasing everything from vivid colour work to avant-garde styling. Among the line–up was It List Rising Star winner, D’Arcy White, as well as Tom Gear, Tanahya Grace, Kay Benes, Vodka, Luke Hawkin, Daniel Leo Stanley, Stevie Leah, Phoebe Friend, Brooke Pascarelli, Laura Wyatt, Tom Warr and Konrad Lucas.

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