SALON MASTERCLASSES

ALLOWING VISITORS AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LOOK AT SOME OF THE INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST STARS

SACO AND JACK WINN SHARED THEIR CUTTING AND COLOURING TECHNIQUES IN THE ALL-NEW SALON MASTERCLASSES

SACO

Salon International was the setting for URBANE, delivered by the SACO International Art Team.

The team encouraged stylists to explore the art of hairdressing with confidence. Richard Ashforth pointed out, “Sometimes, if you haven’t got that security of a base knowledge, it limits how far you can travel with your creativity and how much you can throw the rules out of the window.” The team focused on the concept of creating a silhouette before looking at what technique is needed, what the hair needs, the client needs, and what is the best solution.

The second phase of the presentation featured the international SACO team from the UK, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Techniques involving large rectangular and diamond shapes, as well as broken convex and concave panels, were showcased. Richard closed the seminar with his work controlling the internal shape and working to the edge as he talked about 90s inspiration, and how those designers who changed fashion also changed the way we saw models, and that this decade brought a turnaround of thinking.

JACK WINN

Jack Winn Pro brought their first ever Masterclass to the UK at Salon International 2023. The seminar was hosted by Jack Winn, CEO, and Kimberley Michelle, Creative and Education Director.

This was an opportunity to see the product in action and understand the ethos and community spiritit thatt underpins one of the USA’s fastest growing beauty sector brands. Kimberley discussed how she believes the interior texture is where hairdressers are leaving untapped opportunities and she focused part of her presentation on this area using geometric lines for contrast ensuring the lengths fall with movement. Kimberley urged the audience to be “thinking hairdressers” and talked about how she finds value in talking about the problems and the pain points that we have as stylists. The result of her work was a visual tonal movement with subtle highlights from surface painting with lift, movement, and natural texture giving a new lightness to the look in every sense.

The fascinating history of Jack Winn Pro was shared with the audience thoughout the presentation and built a picture of a dynamic, genuine brand built on science, hairdressing and community.

FROM CHIGNONS AND MOHICAN-STYLE QUIFFS, TO SHORT, SHARP HAIRCUTS AND THE LATE 70S AND 80S POST-PUNK SCENE, THESE MASTERCLASSES DID NOT DISAPPOINT

PATRICK CAMERON

The highly anticipated Sunday Masterclass schedule kicked off with a bang as Patrick Cameron took centre stage.

The audience were treated to a captivating showcase of tips, techniques, and the magic of long hair manipulation, providing a blend of classic and contemporary styles to take back to the salon. Patrick shared his approach of creating beautiful, straightforward hairstyles with step-by-step techniques, ensuring that the story of the hairstyle remains consistent throughout the entire process.

He unveiled a series of stunning looks, including a textural, low chignon reminiscent of a seashell, “a cacophony of textures and curls held together by a ladder of hairpins”, and a bold Mohican-style quiff, while sharing valuable tips and tricks Patrick emphasised the importance of adaptability in the everevolving world of hairstyling. “The biggest change I’ve seen in my career is the rise of the individual. To be successful, you have to excel at everything.”

Patrick’s Masterclass demonstrated the fusion of timeless hairdressing techniques with cutting-edge trends. Alongside a charismatic and informative live presentation, he masterfully delivered his expertise, creating a spectacular display of both trend-led and enduring hair up looks.

The biggest change I’ve seen in my career is the rise of the individual. To be successful, you have to excel at everything.

MAHOGANY

Mahogany continues to push the boundaries of creativity, providing a unique blend of technical precision and artistic expression.

Mahogany took centre stage to present their latest collection, Blitz Kids, leaving the audience inspired as the team demonstrated their unique and cutting-edge techniques within the collection, drawing inspiration from the iconic Blitz Club era in London.

The event kicked off in style, setting the mood with Mahogany models donned in sequins, showcasing their signature short and sharp haircuts that are synonymous with the brand. The models transported the audience back to the vibrant and creative atmosphere of the Blitz Club, and really reflected the collection being a celebration of the late 70s and early 80s post-punk scene, inspired by icons including the legendary Debbie Harry.

Mahogany continues to push the boundaries of creativity, providing a unique blend of technical precision and artistic expression. The Masterclass concluded with a grand finale featuring trademark Mahogany crops and bobs. The colour palette for the collection ranged from icy blonde and shimmering metallic pink to steel grey and inky black outlines, creating a diverse and stunning visual impact. The team’s vision came full circle, celebrating individuality and self-expression, much like the iconic Blitz Club, and brought the post-punk era into the modern age.

FUTURE PUNKS AND ROMANTIC INFLUENCES DOMINATED AT RUSH, WHILST AT THE SASSOON MASTERCLASS WE SAW PRECISION CUTTING AND CLASSIC SILHOUETTES WITH A TWIST

RUSH

After a brief hiatus from the Salon International stage, the highly acclaimed Rush Artistic Team made a triumphant return, captivating a sold-out audience with a mesmerising display of punk-inspired and romantic Avant Garde hair creations. Creative Director of Rush Salons, Andy Heasman, set the tone for the Masterclass, announcing: “It’s fantastic to be back after a few years to explore rebels, eras of anarchy, and British designers.”

The showcase began with a tribute to the anarchy of punk, with a bold ‘Future Punk’ theme, where contrasting colours in counterbalanced placements created a yin and yang effect. Models sported square-shaped cuts with triangular placements of red and magenta in the front and back, along with V sections and square layers. Andy emphasised: “Simplifying the complex shape of a cut with the right colour is crucial.”

Following this, Tina Farey, Sophie Chandler, and Nicole Appadu presented Avant Garde styles that departed from punk influences, embracing a more romantic feel inspired by London Fashion Week and British designers.

The finale saw six models gracing the stage -three with Vivienne Westwood-inspired punk creations, and three showcasing enchanting woodland-inspired styles. The Rush Artistic Team’s presentation at Salon International 2023 was nothing short of a masterpiece, leaving the audience in awe of their creativity and technical expertise.

SASSOON

The highly anticipated Sassoon Masterclass at Salon International brought together hairdressing enthusiasts and professionals from around the world. Hosted by Vidal Sassoon International Creative Director, Mark Hayes, this year’s event promised a captivating lookand-learn presentation focused on craftsmanship and pure technique.

The Masterclass was all about breathing life into the discipline, methodology, and creativity that has propelled the Vidal Sassoon Academy team to the forefront of hair education for the past six decades. Members of the International Colour and Creative Teams demonstrated individual looks that showed how to create modern, desirable, and mood-setting hair. Mark shared: “Of course, we are always inspired by our heritage, and that will find its way into our new ideas, in cool and perhaps unexpected ways.”

The sell-out event showcased the technical expertise of the Sassoon Creative Team to a global audience. Starting with a long look, Mark created a style inspired by Celine, recognising that in today’s salon age, people seek interesting long hair.

He was then joined on stage by Silvia Salerno and Daniel McCourt. Silvia captivated the audience with her 20s-inspired Louise Brooks look, while Daniel presented a layered, Kurt Cobain-inspired style with a punky twist and a blend of peach and pink tones. With classic silhouettes, techniques, and values expertly blended with a contemporary, hyper-individualised approach, this show exemplified what makes Sassoon truly special.

FROM FREEHAND TECHNIQUES OF THE 1960S TO NEW PERSPECTIVES ON BALAYAGE, AUDIENCES AT THE TONI&GUY AND JACK HOWARD MASTERCLASSES SAW A STUNNING DISPLAY OF INSPIRATION

TONI&GUY

Renowned hairdressing brand TONI&GUY celebrated their 60th anniversary in style with an unforgettable sell-out Masterclass led by the brand’s creative director and British Hairdresser of the Year, Cos Sakkas. In a perfect display of innovation and creativity, the brand showcased their evolution over the past six decades with an exciting collection that fused the past, present, and future of hairdressing.

“We, as hairdressers, love to share education as we push boundaries and share ideas for TONI&GUY’s 60th anniversary. We’ve created an incredible 72 campaigns and collections over those years,” explained Cos Sakkas. The Masterclass showcased models inspired by each decade of the brand’s rich history, from the freehand techniques of the 1960s to the cutting-edge artistry seen at London Fashion Week today.

Overall, the TONI&GUY Masterclass featured an array of incredible colours, taking inspiration from 1970s punk subculture to achieve fluid, versatile looks with bold and beautiful tones. The collection highlighted the power of personalising hair textures using asymmetrical panels and merging strength and softness with modern twists, redefining the boundaries of contemporary hairdressing, and celebrating the brand’s illustrious 60-year journey.

We love to share education as we push boundaries and share ideas for TONI&GUY’s 60th anniversary. We’ve created an incredible 72 campaigns and collections over those years.

JACK HOWARD

I’m thrilled to share my passion for balayage and help fellow professionals troubleshoot common issues. Balayage is a beautiful art from, and I’m dedicated to helping others master it...

Jack Howard’s Balayage Problem Solving Masterclass set the tone for the amazing line up on Monday, giving the audience new perspectives on balayage, armed with the knowledge and techniques to overcome common obstacles they may encounter in their salon work.

Opening the Masterclass, Jack said: “I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to share my passion for balayage and help fellow professionals troubleshoot common issues. Balayage is a beautiful art form, and I’m dedicated to helping others master it and create stunning results for their clients.” As a globally acclaimed celebrity colourist and balayage expert credited for bringing this technique to the UK over 10 years ago, and with over two decades of experience, Jack has become a sought-after authority in the world of hair colour. He continually pushes the boundaries of creativity and innovation, and his passion for sharing knowledge and expertise has made him a respected figure in the industry.

This masterclass was an exploration of balayage, with a strong emphasis on the importance of choosing the right technique to match the client’s needs. Jack engaged with the audience, encouraging them to share their challenges and participate in solving these problems on stage.

LEADING PHOTOGRAPHER ANDREW O’TOOLE WOWED THE AUDIENCE WITH A LIVE SHOOT, AND SOPHIA HILTON HOSTED A BUSINESS EXTRAVAGANZA ON THE MONDAY

ANDREW O'TOOLE

The Masterclass kicked off with a warm introduction by Ken Picton, who described Andrew O'Toole as not just a master of hairdressing photography but also as a disruptor in the field. Ken emphasised the significance of O'Toole's collaborative approach, stating that "if I can’t shoot with Andrew then I don’t shoot at all."

One of the key takeaways from Andrew O'Toole's masterclass was his encouragement for attendees to "be a unicorn." He illustrated this concept by showcasing a collection that stood out, captured the viewer's attention, and became a reference point for mood boards. O'Toole continued to unveil the secrets behind his most iconic shoots.

The masterclass delved into the practical aspects of photoshoots, including budgeting. Attendees gained valuable insights into how to navigate these financial aspects and make them less prohibitive as well as some tips to help bring costs down if you are just starting out.

During the event, Andrew directed four quick shoots in real time alongside ELEVEN Australia Ambassador Melvin Royce Lane who demonstrated that the "pre-work is the magic work," and that with the right preparation, a shoot can go off without a hitch and produce beautiful results. Andrew also explained the importance of a timeline for the preparation process leading up to a shoot. This typically starts with idea collection, 12 months in advance before showcasing key images to the client two weeks before the shoot.

SOPHIA HILTON

The 'Leadership for a New Life' course, led by Sophia Hilton, equipped participants with proven strategies to tackle their business challenges – time and people management, all while achieving a healthier work-life balance.

The atmosphere was electric as Sophia took the stage. Addressing the audience, she emphasised the course's intensity but underlined the importance of emotion in driving positive change, and participants received interactive learning materials, including workbooks, to facilitate their journey. "Sharing stresses and pains with a room full of people who have struggled too can be a beautiful thing," Sophia remarked, highlighting the strength of collective learning and support.

Throughout the afternoon, a compacted version of her full Leadership for a New Life course, Sophia covered a wide range of topics, including the weight of responsibility borne by salon owners. She invited a salon owner to the stage, showcasing the challenges they face, while adding: "I am not only going to show you lots of things you can improve on and get better at, but I also want to celebrate you".

One key highlight of the course was the introduction of the "80% growth rule". Sophia stressed that delegation is essential for business growth. "It's not your job to do the job anymore; it's your job to help them do the job," she advised attendees. Participants had the opportunity to work on activity books to identify what tasks they could delegate, to whom and when, thereby freeing up valuable time to focus on strategy.