4 mins
IN THE KNOW
Can new campaign cut cost of doing business?
A new campaign with the aim of reducing the cost of doing business is launching from an alliance of organisations representing and supporting small firms across Ireland, including the Irish Hairdressers Federation and the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation.
The SaveJobs campaign is fighting for a permanent 9 per cent VAT rate for the personal grooming, entertainment and experiential, and food services sectors.
Together, they aim to reduce the cost of doing business, create more jobs, and help small businesses thrive by advocating for supportive policies and relieving burdens imposed by government policies.
Within the campaign, the alliance spotlights how Irish SMEs cannot compete with wage premiums paid by multinational employers and the public service. It says benchmarking the minimum wage against these will fail, costing jobs and businesses. To sign the pledge and join the campaign, visit savejobs.ie/take-action
BOOK IT!
PASSIONATE PROFIT
Want to make more profit? Of course you do, so head to Cork on 20 May to discover the Passionate Profit principle for successful salons with The Fantastic Hairdresser, Alan Austin-Smith (pictured). His winning formula for running a successful salon business? Passion + profit = the secret sauce! Catch him on tour in Cork and later in Dublin, sponsored by Floomly. Tickets cost €150. thefantastichairdresser.shop
MEET THE #SKPCOLLECTIVE
The #SKPCollective team 2024 has been unveiled! It consists of (pictured above, from left): Harry Watson, DooDahs Hair, Hertfordshire; Vishali Visavadia, London Road Hair, Leicester; Grainne McClelland, Coventry; Chantelle Jones, Seckingtons, Northampton; Tommy Hardy, House of Marshall, Falkirk; and Alex Melville, The Hair Club, Stirling.
The six members were selected from a final group of 12 after being tasked with creating a captivating reel in just one hour using Schwarzkopf Professional products, and were then interviewed by a judging panel that included Creative HEAD’s digital director, Kelsey Dring.
Everybody’s talking about…
Foil It or Paint It tour
It’s nearly summer, and the demand for blondes is ramping up. But do you feel like you’re always using the same technique? Want to boss balayage and change up your approach? Then L’Oréal Professionnel Paris has the powerhouse duo for you. Harriet Stokes and Jack Howard (pictured) are teaming up to hit the road and decode their style and approach to creating a balayage result. Yes, they’ll share the skinny on foils, freehand, blend and gloss to create flawless results, but they’ll also be deep diving into consultation, managing expectations and social media.
WHERE AND WHEN: Dublin, 15 May
CONTACT: wolfandwhite. swoogo.com/BalayageTour
AHS International Visionary Award 2023
ALTERNATIVE HAIR SHOW: FIRST ARTISTS REVEALED
Anne Veck, Marc Antoni, SACO and Sanrizz are among the artists performing at this year’s Alternative Hair Show.
Taking place on Sunday 13 October at London’s Roundhouse, the theme is Evolution. Stylists can also enter the 2024 International Visionary Award, with the final held at the show. The categories are Cut & Colour, Men’s and Avant Garde. For more details, visit alternativehair.org
SEE IT!
TURNING HEADS: RUBENS, REMBRANDT AND VERMEER
@nationalgalleryofireland
This exhibition features works by exponents of the ‘Tronie’, focusing on facial expressions. Vermeer’s Girl with the Red Hat is a highlight. Until 26 May, from €5; nationalgallery.ie
OSiS launches new competition
A new global competition from OSiS is giving stylists the chance to showcase their skills and creativity, with a chance to win a one-to-one meeting with either Schwarzkopf Professional global ambassadors Nick Irwin or Lisa Farrall. Stylists must upload a video showcasing a styled look using OSiS products to their TikTok and/ or Instagram accounts, tagging @schwarzkopfpro and using #OSiS #justaddyoucontest along with the category hashtag – #texturedhair, #longhair or #shorthair. But be quick! Entries close on 31 May.
National Hairdressing Apprenticeship sees first graduates
The first students to complete the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship have graduated from Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education in Kilbarrack.
The graduates secured the nationally recognised QQI Level 6 Qualification in Hairdressing finishing the three-year programme. The first set of apprentices showcased skills to employers, mentors and families at a showcase event at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin. Presenting a ‘total look’ model, this was the culmination of the apprentices’ journey. Coláiste Dhúlaigh, one of the locations where the City of Dublin Education and Training Board offers the apprenticeship, has also added a second state-of-theart training salon to its campus.
In March the government welcomed the expansion of the national apprenticeships scheme, and announced the roll-out of €20 million in capital funding in response to the growing demand for apprenticeships.
LEARN IT!
Schwarzkopf Professional has unveiled the Schwarzkopf Pro eAcademy, an online learning hub packed with the latest trends, techniques, and inspiration. It boasts a vast library of pre-recorded education and inspirational videos, offering learners the chance to boost their skills at their own pace. The videos are bite-sized and totally free for all hairdressers to access. Sign up at eacademy.schwarzkopf-professional.com
Top five
searched-for celeb hair looks of 2024 so far…
Harry Styles: 5,300 monthly searches
Jennifer Aniston: 2,200 monthly searches
Hailey Bieber: 1,500 monthly searches
Taylor Swift: 1,300 monthly searches
Margot Robbie: 1,200 monthly searches
Source: Ripe Hair & Beauty, which analysed UK data using the average search volume of 150 celebrities plus their hair