HJ NEWS

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British Hairdressing Awards 2025 Finalists Announced

The finalists for HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards 2025, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, have officially been announced. The first round of judging for this year’s awards took place on Monday 21 July at Epsom Downs Racecourse, where over 100 industry experts came together to choose their favourite work across 17 specialist and regional categories. Congratulations to all the finalists – head to hji.co.uk to see the full list.

Hair & Beauty Industry Tees Off for Charity

The Hair & Beauty Charity Golf Day brought together hair and beauty professionals at the Carden Park Championship Resort. The event was supported by Hair & Beauty Charity President Jayne Lewis-Orr. Jayne said: “A huge thank you to everyone who took part, including those who sponsored tees and evening awards. Your support helps us continue vital work for those in the hair and beauty sector who are struggling, your contribution makes a difference.” The next Hair & Beauty Charity Golf Day will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2026 at Carden Park.

OBITUARY: LEADING HAIRDRESSER CHARLIE MILLER DIES AGED 80

On Monday 14 July, legendary Scottish hairdresser Charlie Miller died at the age of 80. Charlie was a hairdresser to the stars including Sir Sean Connery, Leslie Nielson and fashion designer Donna Karan. The Charlie Miller salon group, which is internationally recognised, has four salons in Edinburgh and held their 23rd Achievement Awards in 2024. Charlie was the first Scottish hairdresser to receive an OBE for services to hairdressing, presented by Her Majesty the Queen in 2012. He was also three-time Scottish Hairdresser of the Year, Avant-Garde Hairdresser of the Year, and received two nominations for British Hairdresser of the Year. His sons shared: "Our Dad was so much more than the name above the salon doors. He was a force of creativity, integrity, and love - for his work, for his team, and most of all his family. Whether you knew him as a hairdresser, a mentor, a colleague, or a friend, you'll know the warmth he brought to every conversation and the generosity with which he gave his time, his talent, and his heart."

30% THAT’S THE NUMBER OF CALLS MADE TO EVERY BUSINESS THAT ARE MISSED, ACCORDING TO ZENOTI RESEARCH

TRICHOLOGY SYMPOSIUM LANDS AT SALON INTERNATIONAL 2025

Salon International 2025 will host the first DOSE Symposium with Dr Sharon Wong on Sunday 12 - Monday 13 October. The symposium will cover common hair and scalp conditions, how to talk to your clients about hair loss, the nuances of Afro/Textured hair and hair loss, as well as a deep dive into the trending topic of hair loss and the rise of Ozempic.

Sharon says: “Hair and scalp education is not routinely taught in hairdressing training, yet it is the very material and surface handled by hairdressers. With the rise in ‘skinification of hair’ there is also an increasing demand and expectation by consumers… The hairdressing profession is perfectly placed to promote and reinforce a healthy scalp, providing the best foundation for healthy growth.”

Head to hji.co.uk to book tickets.

New Dates: #BHBA26 Entries Are Open

HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards 2026 will be held on Monday 2 March 2026 at Royal Lancaster London – so mark your calendars!

Entries are now open for #BHBA26, the biggest celebration for business brilliance in the hairdressing industry. Whether you’re a director of a salon chain, manager of an independent salon, or starting out your career in hairdressing, there is a category for you. All you need to do is prove your business prowess and you could be joining the list of prestigious past winners. The closing date for entries is Monday 1 December 2025 so head to hji.co.uk to start your entry now.

SALON INTERNATIONAL HEADLINE SPONSOR ANNOUNCED

Salon International is excited to announce Vagaro as its exclusive headline sponsor for 2025.

Returning to Excel London from Saturday 11 - Monday 13 October 2025, Salon International is the go-to professional hairdressing exhibition. Whether you’re a professional hairdresser, barber, salon owner, or hairdressing apprentice, there's a whole host of free education, live stages, live competitions, business talks and world-class live hairdressing masterclasses and iconic, and newly emerging, brands to explore. At Salon International, Vagaro will be sponsoring a Salon Owners Lounge, Drinks Reception and you'll see a host of Vagaro ambassadors across all of our stages.

Fred Helou, CEO of Vagaro, commented: “We’re proud to be the headline sponsor of Salon International 2025; an event that brings together the very best in creativity, education, and business in the hair industry. At Vagaro, we’re passionate about empowering professionals with the tools they need to thrive, and we can’t wait to connect with salon owners and artists from across the globe in London.”

The British Hair Consortium (BHC) has made progress in bringing the voice of salon and barbering professionals into the heart of Parliament. Collette Osborne from the BHC commented:

“WE’VE ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH OVER 10% OF ALL MPS, AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, SECURED A DEDICATED PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE FOCUSED SOLELY ON THE REAL-LIFE CHALLENGES FACING SALON OWNERS ACROSS THE UK.”

CMC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT #SALON25

The C.M.C (Catwalk, Make-up and Creative) World Championship is coming to London on October 11-13, presented by C.M.C World & CAT UK in collaboration with Salon International. The World Championship is an international event for hair, barbering, make-up, nails, fashion and PMU (Permanent Make-up) and is an opportunity to innovate, learn, and engage with top international talent.

Raising Standards in Textured Hair

At Fusion Hair Co., salon owner and textured hair specialist Chris Grimley is driving a cultural shift in British hairdressing by embedding textured hair education into the foundation of training from day one. Through her work at Fusion Co. and the Textured Curl Academy, Chris is challenging the status quo and initiating change from the ground up. Founded in early 2024, the Textured Curl Academy was established to eliminate the fear associated with textured hair services and to promote inclusivity as a professional standard.

THE HAIR COUNCIL INVITED TO HOUSE OF COMMONS

The Hair Council and selected guests were invited by Rupa Huq MP, to enjoy afternoon tea on the terraces of UK Parliament to reflect on the council’s mission to make State Registration mandatory and hear from two MPs who are supporting it. “I have massive respect for all that you do. You are a pivotal part of the high street and the campaign you have for state registration is really important,” said Rupa Huq MP. “You are continuing to give people employment rights and career opportunities, so thank you for doing all that. I ask all of you to lobby your MPs, because we shouldn’t keep taking industries like this for granted. Incredibly important grass roots small businesses are keeping our high streets going. From me to you, thank you for everything you do,” said Julia Lopez MP.

OS Lifestyle Launches OS Coffeeshop Shoreditch

OS Coffeeshop has opened its doors. This expansion isn’t just a new location, it’s part of the OS mission: to create spaces that feel personal, intentional, and rooted in community. “OS Coffee Shoreditch is a new chapter for us. blending our barbershop culture with speciality coffee. We’ve worked closely with coffee experts to create this community space,” says OS co-owner Joe Steven.

KAO SALON DIVISION UK AND IRELAND ANNOUNCES GCA 2025 NATIONAL WINNERS

Kao Salon Division UK & Ireland has unveiled its National Winners for the Global Creative Awards 2025, celebrating some of the most exciting emerging and established talent in the industry. The competition, which spotlights creativity, technical skill and innovation across colour and cutting, is a standout moment in the professional hair calendar, and this year’s UK & Ireland Gold winners will now progress to the international stage of the Global Creative Awards, where they’ll represent the UK & Ireland against top talent from around the world. The winners were celebrated at the annual Celebration of Color event which was held on Sunday 27 July at EXHIBITON White City in London.

Roca Returns to RUSH

RUSH Hair are delighted to announce the return of Jeremy Roca after an interval of seven years. For Jeremy, his homecoming is very exciting as he is returning as a member of the award-winning RUSH Artistic Team. Hitting the ground running Jeremy’s first RUSH Artistic Team presentation was at Goldwell’s Celebration of Colour, where he put his skills to great use creating many of the show stopping vivid colours that took to the catwalk.

Commenting on the return of Jeremy, Joint CEO and Founder of Rush, Stell Andrew said: “It’s great to have Jeremy back with Rush. We’re looking forward to him working with us to develop our digital strategy and being part of the Artistic Team, we love his passion for his work which has only got stronger over the years, he’s a great addition to the team”.

MICHAEL VAN CLARKE, LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST

HJ’s Business Director of the Year, Michael Van Clarke, has launched a brand-new podcast called Heads Together, featuring conversations with celebrity stylist and Michael’s brother, Nicky Clarke, along with Principal Stylist from Michael’s salon, Mitchell Scott. Topics include the brothers looking back on the early years that led them into entrepreneurship, sibling rivalry, and creative differences. Michael says: “When you’ve spent a combined hundred years in any industry, you’ll have lived through upheavals and dramas, highs and lows.”