L’Oréal Professionnel Portfolio Congress

Over forty salon owners and hairdressers travelled to Cornwall on Sunday 15 May, and after welcome drinks on Porthminster Beach and dinner at Beach Club at Carbis Bay, they joined the Congress on Monday morning where the following speakers engaged, informed and inspired.

Béatrice Dautzenberg, managing director UKI, L’Oréal Professional Products Division

After opening the Congress and welcoming everyone, Béatrice spoke about the challenges the industry has faced over the past two years, how she and her team have worked with the Government to support small businesses, invested in advocacy to drive clients into salons, and fasttracked digital transformation.

Tom Rolt, general manager UKI, L’Oréal Professionnel Paris

Tom emphasised the two main challenges of inflation and recruitment; and how L’Oréal Professionnel Paris will support the industry to help combat them.

He explained that stylists must communicate on the differentiation of professional in-salon services and the experience of being pampered.

Finally, he encouraged all to raise their prices in line with inflation – or risk falling behind.

Nancy Braun, celebrity colourist and balayage master, USA

Delegates were given exclusive access to Nancy Braun’s salon in Beverly Hills, where she shared her journey, how she first discovered Balayage in Paris with Jacques Dessange and how she has made a career out of it. Nancy shared her setup, and her technique, how she paints a haircut using single, double and multi-point techniques for a natural sun-kissed look and wider painted sections, using a flatter angle, for a more beach blonde look.

Monica Teodoro, education & business development UKI, L’Oréal Professional Products Division

Monica shared some key shifts to navigate in 2022: client behaviour (they are visiting salons less, but spending a little more), they are more informed and well connected via social media, empowered to speak up, ethically conscious, and are omni-channel shoppers. The industry has seen the rise of e-commerce and home hair colour since lockdowns, the challenge to find good staff (as well as the demand for flexible hours and the impact of Brexit), the importance of diversity and inclusion and the demand for healthy hair to drive over-all well-being.

Adam Kingl – Next Generation Leadership: expert speaker, author and advisor

Adam has spent five years studying how and why there are generational shifts. He shared that 90% of Gen Z (those born from 2005 onwards) plan to change jobs in five years and more than one third will move in two years.

Adam explored how to ensure young talent thrives in your business. The most important things to this generation are work-life balance, organisation culture and development. Make work meaningful and relevant for them, and remember, efficiency is not a substitute for empathy.

Vanessa Kingoria, CBP Conde Nast UK & Vogue European business advisor

Speaking on the importance of meaningful work, Vanessa is British Vogue’s first female business lead. She described how she transformed the publication, alongside editor Edward Enninful, shifting the brand’s purpose and strategy to emphasise a diversity of perspective, social responsibility and female empowerment. She emphasised the importance of how you collaborate at leadership level and suggested being open to evolving to reach a new generation of clients while keeping your core values and purpose.