We had full three-day marathon at Salon International 2025 (11–13 October, ExCeL London). It was the biggest, busiest Salon we’ve felt for some years—education stacked end to end, serious kit on the floor, and plenty of “steal-this-now” ideas to take back to the salon.
What was on
- • Salon Masterclasses: Toni&Guy, Sassoon Academy, and Mahogany delivered ticketed showcases for 350 guests in the South Gallery Rooms—tight education, beautiful craft, and a clear line from creative concept to salon reality.
- • HJ Stage: Top educators and artistic teams cycling through all day.
- • HJ Colour Stage: Continuous technical colour sessions with interviews and look breakdowns at the central stage.
- • Modern Barber Stage: Short-hair excellence, from shape control to texture and finish.
- • HJ Academy Stage: Up-and-coming talent working simultaneously on one model and unveiling live.
- • HJ In Conversation With: Big-name interviews—smart, candid, and useful.
- • HJ Business Live Seminars: A three-day business conference tackling pricing, client experience, team building and growth.
- • New HJ Texture Stage (sponsored by Avlon): A dedicated space for textured hair education—long overdue and absolutely packed.
New features this year:
- • 2-Day Trichology Conference: Scalp health, hair loss, diagnostics, and personalised care made genuinely actionable.
- • CMC World Championships: International creative competitions that brought serious theatre to the floor.
- • For brands/exhibitors: A Micro-Influencer Mixer and the Salon Society Brunch with Mintel—lots of talk about fresh collabs and data-led insights.
British Hairdressing Awards moments:
- • The HJ British Hairdressing Awards Gallery (sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional) was a constant stop-and-stare.
- • On Sunday 12 October, finalists gathered at the Schwarzkopf Professional stand for a special reception—the energy was celebratory and contagious.
- • The #BHA bursary (for under‑30s who’ve never entered) is such a strong gateway: free entry to a Regional or Newcomer category, a pro shoot, and two tickets to the awards.
We wandered the hall and also got to see Vagaro (the headliner), plus Shortcuts, Timely and Beu for booking, POS and client comms. Electricals impressed—Dyson Pro, BaBylissPRO, Alfa Italia, ETI UK, YUV, and Hair Tools—delivering lighter, cooler‑running dryers and clippers.
Colour and care from Schwarzkopf, Revlon Professional, Kevin Murphy and Manic Panic would refresh any shade menu.
Cult favourites K18, Glowwa and Bouclème nailed healthy‑hair storytelling. Essentials from Takara Belmont, Denman Professional, Procare, Olivia Garden and Scrummi covered chairs, brushes, foils and towels. Extensions and hair‑loss solutions shone with Zen Hair, Remi Cachet, Novo Cabelo and Exo‑Grow. Men’s grooming included Menspire, Wahl and Gamma+, while scissor specialists Dowa, Kamisori, Leaf, Matakki, Washi and Jaguar invited plenty of try‑before‑you‑buy.
Final thoughts
Salon International 2025 really did return bigger than ever—education you can action, brands that move the needle, and a floor plan that kept delivering discovery after discovery. If you’re planning your own visit next year: book masterclasses early, plot your stages each morning, wear great shoes, and bring a big shopping tote.
Bring on Salon International 2026!
