HJ Reports: The Hair by Schwarzkopf Festival

A global community gathered for the HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPF Festival in Berlin. Charlotte Grant-West reports

Lisa Farrall and Nick Irwin

Reema Jaber

Schwarzkopf Professional celebrated creativity, the power of the hairdresser and incredible business insights on 13-14 April for the HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPF Festival. Held at Berlin’s Motorwerk, a historic building built in 1921 that once produced electric motors – the venue’s industrial vibes transformed into a hub for 55 artists from over 25 countries and more than 600 participants from 45 nations.

The event was headlined by celebrity stylist and Schwarzkopf Global Colour Ambassador Chris Appleton, but the two days were packed with so much more, offering an immersive celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and connection. Fuelled by the Schwarzkopf campaign FOR EVERY YOU, the festival underscored the brand’s commitment to community and connection!

International HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPFPRO collection artists and speakers, including Schwarzkopf Professional’s Global Ambassadors Nick Irwin, Lisa Farrall and Lesley Jennison and British photographer Rankin, brought their A-Game to the stages.

The HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPF Festival Stages and Experience Areas

With 60 immersive activities across four stages, guests explored how hair connects to culture, fashion, personal stories, social media, business, and even mindfulness. The festival invited attendees to dive into hands-on look and learn sessions, thought-provoking talks, interviews, panels and interactive workshops. Experience areas brought the festival’s spirit to life. These included...

• The HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPFPRO gallery, which showcased the striking imagery from the collection.

• At the Silhouette Set, guests could get their silhouette picture taken, making them part of the Schwarzkopf Professional community. Take a look at HJ Editor Charlotte’s silhouette to the right!

• Authority in Colour and Authority in Care showcased science experiments and Schwarzkopf Professional’s latest technology.

• Shaping Futures and Sustainability highlighted ethical responsibility in the industry.

• Digital Education pushed boundaries with virtual reality experiences and an AI persona.

The HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPF PRO Shows

On stage, the likes of Lesley Jennison, Brendnetta Ashley and Patricia Nikole showcased their signature techniques and the services that salon clients will ask for. With seamless colour blends, contemporary cuts, and innovative styling, they redefined industry standards – placing a strong spotlight on the standout salon services of 2025: Contract Blonde, Curly Pop, and Embrace Grey.

What HJ saw at the HAIR BY SCHWARZKOPF Festival

HJ’s Editor Charlotte spent two days fully immersed in all things For Every You, and loved the 360 approach to hairdressing that the event offered professionals. Here’s just some of her highlights:

A Vision Through the Lens - Rankin Live on Stage: Photographer and Hunger magazine publisher Rankin took guests on a journey through his career, diving into the transformative power of hair in photography. He also teased his collaboration with Schwarzkopf Professional. Hosted by Nick Irwin, Global Schwarzkopf Professional Ambassador, the session gave insight into Rankin’s vision and artistry. Rankin also shot show looks live on stage which brought a new dimension to the shows.

Daniel Granger and Magnetic Mindsets: In this high-energy, interactive session, UK Ambassador and Salon Owner Daniel Granger delved into the power of unlocking a success mindset to help totally transform your confidence as a business leader and grow your magnetic energy.

Rankin and Nick Irwin on Stage

Creative Colour with Siobhan Haug and Robin Lachance: UK Ambassador Siobhan Haug was joined on stage by Canadian Ambassador Robin Lachance. The pair unveiled cutting edge techniques and seamless blending, transforming hair into beautiful and colourful works of art using Chroma ID.

Creating Safe Spaces with Keri Blue and Lisa Farrall: We learnt about acting as role models to your team, creating a safe space for both your team and for clients. Keri was keen to point out the importance of listening and reacting with kindness – and not to be embarrassed about getting something wrong!

Business panel-Women in Leadership: Michelle Tanner, Anna K, and Tina G shared how they started their hairdressing careers and became leaders either by accident or intent. They showcased the differences in leadership styles, from avoiding micro-managing to letting go of control. Our key takeaway? Don’t concentrate on the weaknesses of the team, but on the strengths.

Chris Appleton Schwarzkopf Global Hair Colour Ambassador: The hands behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic looks took guests on a wild ride through his personal journey in the hair industry, unveiling personal stories from his career, highlighting the transformative power of hair, and revealing the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments that shaped his career path. HJ particularly liked Chris’ story of JLO’s Superbowl performance and her big curls being a happy accident thanks to the humidity! Trust a Brit to talk about the weather...