Salon International 2022 welcomed thousands of visitors and hundreds of brands to ExCeL London to celebrate the very best in international hairdressing innovation, creativity and education.

The three-day event, which ran from 8th-10th October, provided something for everyone ¬– from retail therapy with the hundreds of brands on offer, to show-stopping stage performances from the biggest names in hairdressing. There were also opportunities for education, business and networking – alongside boundless inspiration from live hairdressing shows and HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards Gallery sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional.

The show featured key brands from across the industry, including colour houses, software systems, education providers, equipment manufacturers, distributors and more. There were an array of new launches taking place, in addition to plenty of special offers and hands-on demonstrations.

For those serious about education, the Salon Live shows provided the opportunity to go deeper, with in-depth, intimate sessions from Mahogany, Patrick Cameron, Sassoon Academy and TONI&GUY. The shows provided hairdressers the opportunity to indulge in the latest techniques across cut, colour and styling, and left guests empowered with new ideas for both creative and commercial work.

Of course, the stages are a huge draw at Salon International and this year visitors were treated to a stellar line-up of artists. This year saw the return of the Colour Stage with the all-new branded colour pods. Visitors were treated to an exciting display of creativity and colour with exclusive backstage access to the full colour process. Jack Howard wowed the audience with hair that had previously been overly highlighted by creating more depth and a softer look. Meanwhile Eleven Australia, Elgon, Revlon Professional and Uberliss showcased the latest looks from their educators and ambassadors which kept visitors enthralled.

The HJ Stage was back and bigger than ever this year, from cutting and styling, to hair wrapping and wigs, to recreating collections. Krysia West took to the stage alongside a member of her team, Jenna, to showcase how to apply a wig using just gel and hairspray, as well as how to master a wig wrap. Meanwhile, Simon Tuckwell showcased sharp cuts, and Andy Smith showed off a little bit of colour, cutting and styling, finished with brand new hair accessories from Hairslydz.

From fades to full beards, the Modern Barber stage was a visual feast of barbering trends, techniques and education. Jack Eames and Stewart Roberts talked about the wonderful work that the charity does to help the homeless look good and feel better, all with the simple act of getting a haircut. The Manifesto team demonstrated both salon friendly and editorial looks, with Tom and Matt showcasing dry cuts and Dylan displaying his wet cutting skills.

The Business Live sessions were another must-attend for salon owners over the weekend. With the many economic challenges, the industry is currently facing, the salon owners were primed to gain all of the advice and support they need, thanks to the Business Live Stage, sponsored by the NHBF. Packed full of relevant, practical ideas and advice, the expert panels covered topics including apprenticeships, mental health, inclusivity and the shifting freelance model, as well as insight on launching a brand, recruitment and managing and maintaining a motivated team.

Brands were, as ever, at the heart of the show, with a host of leading manufacturers coming together to share their latest innovations and product insight. From ground-breaking styling tools powered by the latest in cutting-edge technology to everyday salon essentials, the show provided hairdressers with the perfect opportunity to stock up, and to learn more about the newest market launches that will help drive business forward, fuel festive retail and get clients excited about returning to the salon. Brands who exhibited at this years show included Schwarzkopf Professional, Great Lengths, Dyson Professional, Level 3, MoroccanOil, Takara Belmont, Maria Nila, Amika, Denman, Crazy Color, Wahl and this year’s headline sponsor Zenoti and many more.

Salon International played host to numerous competitions across the weekend, and there were many well deserving winners.

Denman’s Stage Star Finalists took to the HJ Stage to compete for the title and win a career transforming year of perks and opportunities. The competition, now in its seventh year for UK & Ireland saw Denman Global Stage Star 2022 finalists, Emma Dixon, Tia Gentles, Kirsty Innes and Eric Wright compete on the HJ Stage with Tia Gentles being crowned this year’s winner.

Whittled down from over 100 entries, 12 hair extension finalists took to the Great Lengths stand to present their models for the HJ’s Extensions Specialists of the Year competition sponsored by Great Lengths. The 12 finalists presented their models to judges Rick Roberts, Darcey Clarke and 2021’s winner Jo Fox. Winners Jade Searcy (Classical) and Katie Hemming (Creative) were then crowned on the HJ Stage.

Salon International also provided attendees with the opportunity to view and be inspired by the finalist and nominee collections for HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. A highlight of the show every year, the 2022 gallery of work proved outstanding creativity across all categories. Watch this space for the winners in November!

“Salon International was a wonderfully, action-packed weekend”, says HJ’s executive director, Jayne Lewis-Orr. “Full of inspiration, education and excitement we are so proud of everyone involved and who helped to make Salon International the incredible show it is. From stage teams to the brands - everyone came together to create an unforgettable weekend. It was fantastic to see the industry reunite, where ideas and inspiration were exchanged, new products unveiled and leading educators revealed their trend collections. Salon International is an opportunity for the industry to refuel creatively and push forward, and a huge thank you to all those who exhibited, demonstrated and visited.”

Salon International will return to the ExCeL London on the 14th – 16th October 2023. For further details, please click the link below: