Over three days this October, more than 42,000 hairdressers visited Salon International, where they were inspired, educated and motivated at the Salon Live Shows, the Salon Seminars, the Salon Business Extra Seminars and the fantastic free live stages in the Hair Show where the best in British hairdressing presented stylish shows.

You could “shop ’til you drop,” at the Hair Show, where visitors could purchase the latest educational DVDs from Toni & Guy, TIGI, Vidal Sassoon or Patrick Cameron alongside everything you need for a full scale salon refit.  Anything a salon owner, stylist or assistant could ever want or need was found at Salon International from a new computer system to hair extensions or the latest developments in hairdressing products such as Rita Rusk’s new volumising tool – The Wire. Also new, The Nekee, an appliance designed by a doctor, a hairdresser and a product designer to ensure client comfort at the backwash and Frank Bisson’s innovative FB1 Glass Hair Designer. Salon Services provided visitors with a huge range of salon sundry items including stylish aluminium tool kits along with a complete range of brushes, combs, dryers, clippers and trimmers.

The larger stages in the Hair Show showcased the best of British hairdressing with nonstop presentations from some of the hairdressing industry’s biggest and brightest stars. Wella, Goldwell, Schwarzkopf, Clynol, Indola, Hairdressers Journal International, Racoon, Wahl, Hairaisers, TIGI, BaByliss, Great Lengths and Toni & Guy all presented some of the most experienced teams who proved that British hairdressing is the best!

In the Salon Live theatre visitors were treated to an educational and inspirational visual spectacular. Presented by Wella, Patrick Cameron demonstrated a series of looks from his Ladies Who Lunch collection. Also presented by Wella, Vidal Sassoon showcased looks from their latest collection, a combination of beautiful geometric shapes and softer feminine curls and waves. Annie Humphries, International Colour Director and Tim Hartley, International Creative Director delighted the audiences with beautifully executed cutting and colouring techniques. TIGI presented the TIGI International Creative Team, who kept their audience enthralled with their directional fashion led presentations. Aveda presented the current British Hairdresser of the Year, Antoinette Beenders, who allowed audiences to get up close and personal as she shared the secrets of her success and presented a variety of show-stopping looks complete with gothic hairpieces, jewel encrusted hair and beautiful couture costumes. Inspirational Youth presented by TIGI showcased the talents of a group of young hairdressers who spent an inspirational six months honing their presentation skills and hairdressing techniques to culminate in the presentation of their work on the Salon Live Stage.

Salon Seminars provided audiences with an opportunity to learn the detailed techniques behind the latest collections of Vidal Sassoon, Toni & Guy and Mahogany. UK Creative Director of Vidal Sassoon, Mark Hayes and the Vidal Sassoon Creative Team presented an amazing collection of models from their Vamp collection, showing precision haircutting and colouring at it’s best. Mahogany led by their UK Creative Director, Colin Greaney and Anthony Licata, UK Salon’s Creative Director presented a beautiful selection of looks showing the new cutting and colouring techniques from their new Harlequin collection. Toni & Guy demonstrated and presented models showcasing looks from their new Identity Collection, which culminated in a spectacular avant-garde finale.

If you were looking for business education, the Salon Business Extra seminars, sponsored by Shortcuts Salon and Spa, provided a wide range of subjects from experts in their field. Peter Lunn presented Motivate Yourself to Brilliance, Terry Bellamy explained the philosophy and techniques behind successful retailing and Nergish Wadia-Austin explained how Profits Start from Salon Consultations. HABIA took you behind the scenes in running a good business, explaining the importance of good health and safety practices and ensuring you are up to date with employment law, Sean Hanna presented RAGE – Reasons, Actions, Goals and Education and Alan Austin Smith closed the programme of seminars with The Fantastic Hairdresser.

Salon International will once again bring you the best of British when it returns to ExCel on 14th, 15th and 16th October 2006. 

For more information, please log onto: www.salonexhibitions.co.uk

Click here to see more of Vidal Sassoon’s Spring/Summer 2006 Vamp Collection!

Check out the 23rd Alternative Hair Show – Click here!

Photography by Jamie Carroll