Creative Direction: Christel Barron-Hough @christelbarronhough
Photographer: Alex Barron-Hough @alexbarronhough
Photographer Assistants: Ken Street
Digital Technician: Gideon Marshall
Stylist: Clare Frith @clarefrithcreative
Make-up artist: Katie Moore @katiemooremua
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Sponsor: Wella @wellaprofessionalsuki
Hair: F.A.M.E. Team 2025 – Annie Franklin @anniefranklinhair, Stevie Leah Loscombe @Stevieleahstylist, Sam Bickle @sammybickle_hair, and Bekki Delehedy @bekkidhair.
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Curated Beauty London, the female-founded beauty and wellness brand from industry insiders Sam Grocutt, Ros Simmons and Natalie Ingham, has expanded into haircare with two high-performance vegan products designed to strengthen, repair and restore confidence in your hair: ROOT FORCE Scalp Strengthening Serum and STRAND SURGE Concentrated Hair Repair Booster.
Formulated to work together, this expert powerhouse duo targets the two key areas of hair health – scalp and strand – to help bring back stronger, shinier, more resilient hair, especially during times of hormonal or lifestyle change.
Stronger strands from root to tip
A daily leave-on serum that energises the scalp and supports the foundations for healthy growth. Perfect for anyone experiencing thinning, shedding or lack of volume, ROOT FORCE helps revive the scalp and strengthen new growth over time. Key ingredients include; Hair Redensifying Peptide Complex, Caffeine, Biotin, Rosemary & Ginger Extracts, and Bisabolol.
Rebuild, repair and restore shine
STRAND SURGE transforms any conditioner or mask into a deeper repair treatment. Just a few drops instantly improve softness, strength and shine, while protecting hair from future breakage. Key ingredients include Bond-Building Matrix (50%) and Creatine Complex A.
Used together, ROOT FORCE and STRAND SURGE form a simple, intelligent two-step routine for strengthening the scalp while rebuilding the hair fibre. Designed for women who want real results without over-complication: works with life, not against it.
To order for your salon, visit www.curatedbeauty.london, or email
sales@curatedbeauty.london.
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Custom blend tonal colour wefts for your clients.
Published:Remi Cachet is stepping into the colour consultation space with a new ‘Buy and Blend’ strategy that encourages extensionists to reframe their services in the context of colour.
Extensions already fulfil the hair goals of clients through length, volume and texture. The next step on the customer journey is colour without chemical damage or commitment.
“Offering salon clients a dedicated colour consultation for extensions is crucial and our ‘buy and blend’ service aims to inspire extensionists to experiment with new colour combinations from our 60+ shades to meet seasonal trends and bespoke client needs. Stylists can custom blend colour pairings to create impact without relying on chemical colour. Seasonal updates, added dimension and shade migration are all on offer and introducing colour into the conversation early will make a real difference to both the client and the extensionists bottom line! We want to shift the conversation from; ‘What colour extensions do you want?’ to ‘What colour blend works for you?’
– Victoria Lynch, Remi Cachet Founder.
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Extensions colour consultations on your service list offer:
All products are exclusively available at www.remicachet.com.
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Are you showing up for yourself? If you dithered about the answer, then the answer is NO! And you totally should be!
It’s so easy to watch others online, read about them in magazines, be filled with inspiration yet equally filled with fear. We all know how important and powerful social media is, it’s where we spend so much of our time! The impact an amazing profile can have on your career and business is wild! (AND IT’S FREE!!) So, what’s stopping you from throwing yourself out there and creating a profile that showcases all you are and all you do?
I’m probably right in assuming it’s fear. Fear of criticism. Fear of judgement. Fear of failure. Maybe with a bit of dread and overwhelm sprinkled in there too. It can seem like a monumental task to tackle your social media pages and get started. Like all things, you might not create the best posts to start with. The engagement might be low. The growth of the page might be slow. But the idea of ‘progress- not perfection’ is so true! Showing your face and personality is what really helps to build a page, a community and engagement. This can be scary, so work up to it if you need to. Start by posting your work, your space, and day to day life. There’s no pressure to turn into an Influencer overnight. The hardest part is getting started, so start however you want!
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I’m not here to tell you what to do or how to do it, I’m still learning myself. What I am here to do however, is give you the pep talk you need! Since focusing on my social media the opportunities, I’ve had have been nothing short of incredible! If I had sat back and put off creating content and braving the camera, all of those opportunities would have passed me by. We are all out here working hard on ourselves and our skills, if you’re not shouting about it, then no one will know… What a shame!
There are pages and accounts dedicated to sharing social media tips, tricks and plans that you can access for free. Everything you need is literally sitting in your hand right now. The fact that we have unlimited free advertising at our finger tips with a potential audience of thousands of people is amazing. Doesn’t it sound crazy to not be utilising it? All it costs is time, patience, and creativity. I don’t know about you, but I think you’re worth the investment.
No one else will do it for you. The people you’re looking at online started just like you and me, the only difference is that they spent the time and were brave enough to put themselves out there. If you never try, you’ll never know what you’re capable of, or where you could end up. Whether you put the work in or not, the next 6 months will pass anyway. Surely you’d rather reflect back to now and think how far you’ve come and how much you’ve achieved, rather than still be in the same position just watching from the sidelines.
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By reading this article, I know that you have passion for our industry and want to excel in your career. We love that! To be able to provide information and inspiration to you is our goal, but without taking action what is it worth?
I came across this quote online which really spoke to me, so I’m going to post it below as my final thought.
“You’re never criticised by someone doing more than you, only someone doing less who wants to hold you back to make themselves feel better”.
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Plus Recognition Awards Deadline Extended.
Published:Telford College came alive as the Concept Hair Learner of the Year Final celebrated the next generation of hairdressing and barbering talent.
From over 3,000 entries, just 60 finalists made it to the stage, with Dom Lehane, Founder and Presenter of the renowned podcast How To Cut It, acted as guest compere, highlighting each finalist’s creativity and celebrating their achievements.
Overseeing the competition was the event’s official Judging Partner, VTCT Skills, made up of Head Judge Nicola Cole from VTCT Skills, Jason Hall on behalf of L’Oréal Professionnel, Adam Murphy on behalf of Alan Howard, Emma Dixon on behalf of Denman Professional, Patricia Davies from Design Essentials, Ken Bose from Kenchi Blades, James Parr from Wahl, and Ashleigh Hodges on behalf of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing.
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The deadline for the Concept Hair Recognition Awards 2026 has been extended to 22nd April, giving lecturers, teams, and colleges extra time to submit nominations and ensure their achievements are fully recognised.
The awards celebrate the individuals and teams who go above and beyond to support learners and drive excellence across hairdressing education. Whether it’s an inspiring lecturer, a dedicated team, or an unsung hero working behind the scenes, you’re encouraged to highlight your achievements.
Full details on eligibility, submission requirements, and judging criteria can be found here:
www.concepthairmag.co.uk/college-recognition-awards.
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To celebrate the launch of its new mascot, Enki Towels took to its social media pages asking its community to name their new furry friend.
Green in colour to reflect the brand’s values, all names in the running began with ‘E’ to coincide with the name Enki. These included Eddi, Evie, Egor and Eva. Erni, however was the name that trumped the vote amongst Enki customers and salon professionals.
Since its launch, Enki has used Erni Enki across its social media platforms as a voice of reason to share insight into the problems facing the industry in terms of sustainability, including disappointing statistics surrounding salons’ energy and water usage and their contribution to a large carbon footprint.
What’s Next
The brand will begin introducing its new friend at industry events and sharing more of him with its client base, creating engagement and further awareness across the sector. The introduction of Erni to a wider audience will give the brand a more personable, fun feel and help showcase its offerings for salons, and most importantly, how its eco, luxury, disposable towels can help salons reduce energy and water usage and go laundry-free, effectively saving money for the business while being more hygienic and very comfortable for clients.
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“We have so much in the pipeline for Erni; from real-life dolls being created and shared with our salons and at events, to competitions featuring Erni and, of course, using Erni to continue sharing our mission of sustainability and how salons that choose Enki can benefit from taking a more sustainable approach,”
– Nilofer Aydinli, Enki Towels Managing Director.
Become eco-friendlier and more sustainable by choosing vegan, compostable and biodegradable Enki towels. For more info please visit www.enkitowels.com.
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Have you joined the Enki towel revolution yet? Famed for their vegan, bio-degradable salon towels, helping your salon become more sustainable, save money, and a simple way to help preserve the planet this Earth Month!
Enki Towels don’t just offer luxury eco disposable towels, they also supply high-quality disposable hair cutting capes designed for busy salons and barbers.
Perfect for barbershops, hairdressers, beauty salons, and spas, they offer an affordable, hygienic alternative to old, tired, reusable cotton capes, without compromising on client comfort.
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“We’re deeply aware of how precious our planet is and how quickly it’s changing. We wanted to create a product that supports environmental longevity while encouraging others to adopt more sustainable practices in their businesses,”
– Nilofer Aydinli, Director
Made from high-quality PE material, they’re recyclable, waterproof, and suitable for hair dyeing, colouring & cutting. Retailing from £12.50 for a pack of 50 large (100 x 140 cm) professional disposable Hair Cutting Gowns/Capes, they’re unisex and easy to fasten with an adjustable necktie.
Enki also offer the option to buy in bulk and save with 18 packs featuring 900 towels. Give every client a fresh, hygienic experience… without the laundry!
For more info on Enki’s sustainable products, please visit www.enkitowels.com.
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Medusa Annual Team Day brought together its entire team to focus on personal and professional development.
Published:Medusa closed the doors of its six salons to bring together more than 60 team members from across the business. This included its head office, education and artistic teams, for its annual team day, placing a clear focus on development, wellbeing and long-term growth.
Held as a dedicated moment to step away from the salon floor, this year’s event centred on the connection between personal health and professional performance. Managing Director Colin McAndrew opened the day with a review of the past year, setting the tone for a programme designed to inspire and equip the team with practical tools for both work and life.
A key highlight of the morning came from nutritional therapist Amanda Hamilton, who delivered an engaging session on self-care and nutrition. Her talk focused on realistic, everyday habits that salon professionals can adopt to support their physical and mental wellbeing. Reinforcing the message, the team swapped the traditional team-day pizza for a healthy, locally sourced lunch from a nearby organic café.
The afternoon shifted towards the impact of wellbeing on client results, with hair wellness brand Glowwa presenting on the role of nutrition in hair health. The session drew a direct line between internal health and external results, offering valuable insights for client consultations as well as personal lifestyle choices.
Culture and high performance were also firmly on the agenda. Drawing inspiration from the All Blacks’ renowned approach to success, McAndrew led a session exploring what it takes to consistently deliver world-class standards. The discussion challenged the team to consider how strong culture, daily habits and a commitment to excellence underpin long-term success.
Throughout the day, Medusa reinforced its core values of honesty, authenticity, connection, community and creativity, while underlining its ongoing commitment to investing in its people at every level.
The event concluded with a celebratory moment, as senior stylist Corinne McNaughton was announced as the winner of the company’s retail incentive challenge, earning a trip to New York.
“Our team day is a chance to step back from the salon floor, reflect, and invest in our people. This year, we focused on nutrition, culture and wellbeing because we know that when our team thrives, so do the clients. It’s not just about hair, it’s about the people who make our salons great. The results are showing, with at least one team member swapping their daily Red Bull for water. Education is power!”
– Colin McAndrew.
For more info on the brand, please visit www.medusahair.co.uk.
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Key kit wrapped in a scratch-free blue and white Spring print.
Published:The Blue Belle collection features every hair pro’s essentials, covering tools to prep, detangle, style and finish.
Denman tools are crafted with quality materials and manufactured in Northern Ireland. Each tool has been designed with the hair professional in mind to deliver the best results and help salon stylists everywhere hit their hair goals.
This time around its tools have been given a stand-out Spring make-over with a clean blue and white print. All of the quality you’d expect from Denman tools but finished with a stylish new pattern!
Shop at www.denmanbrush.com.
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It’s time to get your tickets for INSPIRE 2026! The one-day experience dedicated to freelance and self-employed hairdressers looking to elevate their skills, grow their business, and connect with the wider industry is back for 2026.
Taking place on Sunday 28th June 2026 at Hellidon Lakes Hotel & Resort, Daventry, INSPIRE! brings together education, community and creativity in one inspiring setting. Learn from leading industry names, discover new brands, top your kit up and be part of a supportive, like-minded network.
The ever-popular Retail Village will once again showcase leading brands and suppliers, offering attendees the chance to explore and purchase new product launches, access exclusive offers, and get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of hairdressing.
INSPIRE! 2026 will feature an exciting line-up of education and live demonstrations on stage too, from some of the industry’s most respected names, including:
The day will culminate in the FHA Freelance Awards, celebrating the creativity, professionalism and individuality of freelance hairdressers across the UK. There is still time to enter, with a simple online submission process open to all freelance hairdressers HERE: thefha.org.uk/events/freelance-awards-2026.
Tickets for INSPIRE! 2026 are priced at £170, including access to all stage presentations, the Exhibition Village, refreshments, and a two-course buffet lunch. FHA members receive a discounted rate of £155, applied automatically at checkout.
Book Tickets Here:
www.thefha.org.uk/event/inspire-2025
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For years, the fringe sat quietly on the sidelines of men’s grooming with more polished styles reigining supreme – but that’s all about to change.
Gone is the Y2K heavy, side-swept fringe, as today’s version has an underlying air of cool, being much more natural.
What makes the modern fringe so compelling is its subtle impact. A few inches of hair falling forward can completely change the character of a haircut – adding movement, framing the face, and introducing the essence of effortless cool. Whether worn cropped and choppy or longer and slightly undone, the fringe has become one of the easiest ways to give classic men’s cuts a distinctly modern edge.
The man fringe is back with a bang! The RUSH team are here to explain the correct proportions, styling, and maintenance for 2026.
Jacob Elordi is no stranger to a fringe… I think it adds to his laidback Australian essence! His wispy surfer fringe is all about texture and dimension, harmonising nicely with his sharp bone structure and dominant features. Jacob has a square face shape, so I would always opt for a disconnected fringe to add dimension to the look. A full fringe would overpower his facial features and give the hair a heavier appearance – keep it choppier with lots of texture.
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Another celebrity who is no stranger to switching up his look is Timothée Chalamet who recently debuted a long, disconnected full fringe which showcases his bone structure! It’s messy, ‘lived-in’ and ultra-chic, not to mention, it works with his aesthetic. Timothée suits more texture and volume in his hair as it perfectly balances the proportions of his triangle face shape, complimenting his gorgeous high cheekbones and narrow jawline.
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Recently, Matt Smith has been sporting a short, blunt cut fringe which is difficult to pull off with a square face shape. This means he has a naturally wider forehead and when paired with a short, blunt fringe, this can draw attention to this area. Instead, I would opt for a wispy, curtain fringe which would balance and soften the proportions of his face and create an effortlessly cool look.
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The fringe proves that the smallest shift in a haircut can make the biggest difference. Whether worn soft and textured, sharply cropped, or on the longer side, it offers a simple way to reshape a look without completely reinventing it. As men continue to experiment more freely with personal style, the fringe has emerged as a versatile tool – one that balances individuality with effortlessness. It frames the face, adds character, and, perhaps most importantly, shows that modern men’s grooming is no longer about playing it safe, but about finding subtle ways to stand out.
For more trends follow INSTA @officialrushhairbeauty.
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By Luke Doolin, Country Manager, Phorest UK & Ireland.
Published:Earth Month is a timely reminder that sustainability isn’t a seasonal campaign for our industry, it’s a long-term commitment.
Luke Doolin, Country Manager, Phorest UK & Ireland explains what steps Phorest are taking to reduce their environmental footprint.
One of the initiatives I’m most proud of is our Phorest Forest. In partnership with forestry organisations, we continue to restore native Irish woodland, planting thousands of trees and investing in biodiversity for the future. What makes this particularly special is that it’s not just a concept, it’s something our team actively participates in.
For example, our team came together at Dunsany Nature Reserve to physically plant trees, expanding the Phorest Forest with our own hands. There’s something incredibly powerful about stepping away from your desk, picking up a shovel and contributing directly to rewilding and habitat restoration. It reinforces that sustainability isn’t just strategy, it’s action.
The same mindset drives our wider environmental initiatives. As part of Plastic Free July, our team partners with Clean Coasts for a beach clean at Bull Island in Dublin, removing plastic and debris from the shoreline. We also invited our salon customers to attend, and it was a simple but impactful reminder that collective effort matters. When our team comes together around a shared purpose, the difference can be tangible.
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Internally, we’ve green energy solutions and solar panels at our headquarters, and we continue to promote hybrid working models to reduce commuter emissions. Accountability starts with us.
Within salons, we recognise the challenges are different but equally pressing. Our industry generates significant waste, from colour tubes and foils to excess product and chemical waste. For busy salon owners, balancing sustainability with profitability can feel complex.
That’s why our approach focuses on solutions that support both. Our integration with Vish helps salons measure colour accurately, reducing unnecessary waste while protecting margins. Our collaboration with Green Salon Collective enables salons to recycle materials that would otherwise go to landfill, ensuring waste is repurposed, composted or recovered into energy.
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We’re also helping salons go paperless through digital consultation forms, e-receipts and tools like the PhorestGo app, reducing unnecessary printing and streamlining operations at the same time.
Importantly, clients are more environmentally aware than ever. Many salons have introduced a small ‘Green Fee’ of £1 or £2, seamlessly added through our system, to support their sustainability efforts. Not only does these offset costs, but it also communicates values clearly to customers who want to support responsible businesses.
Earth Month gives us a moment to reflect, but it also reinforces that sustainability must be ongoing – not just for that one month. Whether it’s planting trees, cleaning coastlines, reducing waste in-salon or investing in greener operations, real impact comes from consistent action.
At Phorest, our Sustainability Promise continues to evolve, because building greener businesses and a healthier planet is a responsibility we all share.
To request Phorest for your salon, visit www.phorest.com.
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