Highland, the haircare brand specializing in high-performing, non-toxic products, is taking rosemary from kitchen cupboard to haircare heavyweight, with a new conditioner alternative, The Condish, a next-generation, broad-use conditioner powered by botanicals and clinically-tested ingredients that hydrate and strengthen hair while supporting scalp health.

More than two years in the making, The Condish was developed in response to traditional conditioners which coat hair in synthetics and silicones, which Highland said creates the illusion of moisture while blocking the real thing.
“They congest your scalp, accelerate buildup, leave hair looking dull and weighed down,” said Highland Co-founder Ben Medalie.

“With our Glacial Clay Pomade and Glacial Cream, we’ve already transformed the way people approach styling products. Completing the ritual meant taking the same standard into the shower. The award-winning Wash reimagined the cleanse. The Condish is our answer to everything after.”

Formulated in partnership with hair professionals, leading organic chemists, and cosmetic experts, The Condish replaces these synthetics with botanical and science-backed ingredients that power a high-performance, weightless conditioner that genuinely hydrates.

“We’re a brand that doesn’t take ourselves too seriously, but we take ingredient integrity and innovation more seriously than anyone else in the industry. This truly is a conditioner evolved,” said Boone Whiteside, co-founder of Highland.

“We set out to thread the needle on making a product that felt premium in the shower, supplied true, long-lasting conditioning, and was made with innovative, clean ingredients. Developing The Condish was strenuous, challenging and illuminated why most conditioner formulas are built the way they are—and exactly why this launch was necessary.”

At the heart of The Condish are clinically-proven ingredients selected for both immediate performance and long-term benefits, including caffeine, Amazonian Babassu Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Cupuaçu Seed Butter, and Aquaxyl™, an advanced humectant complex that supports moisture retention and hydration.

Rather than treating conditioner as something that simply softens the lengths, The Condish combines rosemary with biotin, and panthenol to support the scalp while delivering lightweight hydration, detangling and strengthening benefits. 

Highland said that while other conditioners lean on a few highly marketable active ingredients and leverage fillers for the balance of the formula, with The Condish, every single ingredient was scrutinized and had to earn its place—satisfying specific performance metrics (slip, detangling, hydration, anti-static, etc.) and hair health impact.

Infused with functional aroma notes of Siberian Fir and Rosemary, The Condish is free of silicones, artificial fragrances, sulfates, parabens, SLS, and gluten. It is designed for professional and at-home use, is color-safe, and suitable for all hair types.

Rather than treating conditioner as something that simply softens the lengths, The Condish combines rosemary with biotin, and panthenol to support the scalp while delivering lightweight hydration, detangling and strengthening benefits. 

The result is a conditioner designed to care for both the hair you can see and the scalp underneath it without relying on silicones, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances.

From Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo to Mielle’s viral Rosemary Mint collection and Nécessaire’s Rosemary Shampoo, the botanical has become one of the most recognizable ingredients in scalp and hair care, but its appeal goes beyond its fresh, herbal scent. 

Research has explored rosemary’s role in supporting healthy hair growth. One clinical trial found that rosemary oil and 2% minoxidil produced comparable improvements in hair count after six months among people with alopecia.  Research has also pointed to rosemary’s antioxidant properties, all which can contribute to a healthier scalp environment.

Studies have also explored its potential to support hair growth and circulation, with compounds such as 1,8-cineole, camphor, and rosmarinic acid contributing to its biological activity.  

The Condish retails for $36 and can be purchased on Highland.style and Amazon.

Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland has traded his statement golden locks for a short back and sides, stunning fans on social media before heading to the pitch to face AFC Bournemouth.

The Man City striker posted a series of shots to social media, showing the moment the clippers buzzed off his flowing hair to leave behind a short cropped style, commenting on his new look with a simple “Short hair, don’t care.”

Short hair don’t care 😅✂️ pic.twitter.com/tPzQVFoUIL

— Erling Haaland (@Erling) August 23, 2026

Commenting on Haaland’s new streamlined look, Bailey Snowden from Snowden Hair said: “I am a huge fan of the new look, Haaland is taking it right back to his roots with a style that he rocked when he was a young player.

“I think that it was about time that he freshened up his look and I can really get behind the buzz cut. It currently looks very natural; however, I think he would really benefit from a skin fade or a taper to finish. This would give the style a touch of premium edge, but overall its 10/10 and I rate the new look.”

Santana & Co had already rewritten the rules of scalp micropigmentation in Texas. The new challenge was bigger: put barbering, SMP, tattooing, permanent makeup, and education under one roof.

Three weeks after opening their new 5,500-square-foot space in Fort Worth, it was clear this wasn’t just another barbershop expansion. It was an experiment in what a modern grooming hub could look like.

“I’ve been in the industry going on 14 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Sam Garcia, the brains behind Santana & Co.

“I’ve traveled all over the country, and I’ve never seen a space that has tattooing, permanent makeup, scalp micropigmentation, barbering, and education all together.”

One roof, many careers

Around 20 professionals work inside the Santana & Co space, and the energy is of a shared ecosystem rather than a row of competing chairs. A client might walk in for a haircut and walk out with a new tattoo consultation booked, or come in for SMP and end up planning a full sleeve.

“Somebody will come in for a haircut, then realize they want a tattoo as well,” Sam explained. “It just all complements each other. Everyone’s clientele is one big community.”

From a barber’s perspective, that meant built-in cross-promotion without the pressure of fighting for the same fades and beard trims as the person at the next station.

“It’s not like you’re fighting for clients. You can come to me, go to him, go to them, do it all at once.”

In simple math: nine barbers cutting five to ten people a day means roughly 200 clients a week walking past tattooers and SMP artists. Each tattoo artist then brings their own clients back into the barbering and education side.

Designed for work, not Instagram

Visually, the space was built to feel open and communal, while still hitting strict sanitation and licensing standards. It took about a year just to secure the licenses.

“The space has to be big enough to do all this for sanitation,” he explained. “You can’t cram everything in. Our space is 5,500 square feet, all sectioned out perfectly.”

The fit-out was another story of risk and instinct. Santana met with manufacturers a year before the space was approved, and started designing custom stations, lighting, and furniture down to the last detail.

They skipped traditional tattoo chairs and installed remote-control dental beds instead, making long SMP and tattoo sessions more ergonomic for both artist and client.

The gamble came when he put down around $50,000 on equipment before the city had even voted on his licensing.

“If they didn’t vote it in, then I wouldn’t have a building, but I’d still have 30 crates of equipment arriving. That’s the risk you take in business.”

On January 7, the council voted in his favor. The bet paid off.

Education at the core

For Santana & Co, the space was more than just a flashy buildout. It functioned as an education center for barbers, tattoo artists, SMP specialists, and PMU professionals.

They bring in one to two high-level educators each month, focusing on quality over social media numbers. SMP remains Sam’s “bread and butter,” but all the education arms carry equal weight in the new space.

The vision did not stop at one location. Santana talked openly about franchising the concept globally within the next year and hinted at serious interest from major partners. Aftercare giant H2Ocean also came on board as a sponsor, underlining how seriously other segments of the industry were taking the experiment.

What barbers should take from this

For working barbers, Santana & Co’s new space wasn’t just a cool build; it was a signal of where the profession could go:

A barber no longer has to stay in a single-lane career for life. In a space like this, they could cut hair, learn SMP, explore tattoo or PMU education, and plug into a wider creative culture without leaving a shop environment. The idea was not to abandon barbering, but to expand it.

“I’ve been on the streets before,” he said. “If it all fails, I’ve been there. What do I have to lose?”

At an event packed with world-class education, barber battles, and product launches, one of the most talked-about experiences on the CT Barber Expo show floor was happening at the BarberEVO booth: the wheel of Rolda!

In partnership with Rolda, BarberEVO launched the Wheel of Rolda, an interactive activation that gave attendees the opportunity to spin a custom wheel-of-fortune-style game and win exclusive prizes throughout the weekend.

The activation was a major success, generating more than 200 spins across the event and drawing a constant crowd eager to test their luck.

Participants spun the wheel to reveal their prize before receiving a custom poker chip, which they could then redeem at the Rolda booth. The activation created a fun, engaging journey across the show floor while encouraging attendees to connect with both brands.

Step Up, Step Up

Winners had the opportunity to walk away with Rolda Hair Gel, Texturizing Powder, branded Rolda hats, professional cutting combs, the latest issue of BarberEVO featuring the Rolda family on the cover, or even a one-year subscription to BarberEVO magazine.

“Here at Rolda, we are so excited to be celebrating our 35th year anniversary with BarberEVO – not just with our front cover edition, but also with this amazing activation at CT Barber Expo,” said Luis Di Girolamo, Head of Digital & Ecommerce at Rolda.

While the prizes generated excitement, the activation represented something bigger than giveaways.

As Rolda celebrates its anniversary, the family-owned company continues to champion the values that have helped shape its success within the barbering industry.

“Rolda has been in this industry for about 35 years,” explained Di Girolamo. “It’s a family-owned business, so we’re just like you guys. We’re Latinos. We came from another culture, another country. We’re coming here to make our dream happen, whether your dream is success, a legacy, or achieving what you never thought was possible.”

“Spinning this wheel not only lets you win a prize from the company, but it allows you to meet other people, meet our educators, and start to envision yourself in the future,” he said.

Barbers, students, educators, and industry professionals gathered around the wheel, celebrating wins and sharing conversations between spins. The activation became a natural meeting point where attendees could engage with the Rolda team, discover new products, and learn more about the company’s mission.

With countless winners and a constant buzz surrounding the booth, the Wheel of Rolda proved that sometimes the most memorable moments at an expo come from simply taking a chance and spinning the wheel.

At PBA’s 2026 North American Hairdressing Awards sponsored by JCPenney, the “3” in L3VEL3 became even more meaningful, as not only did the ambassador team garner three finalist spots for the Barber of the Year category, but they took home their third consecutive win, with Carlos Pagan – aka Drastic Barber earning his very own trophy.

BarberEVO was lucky enough to speak to Carlos and the rest of the L3VEL3 team after their win in the Winner’s Lounge sponsored by Goldwell, but also in the BarberEVO X L3VEL3 podcast booth the very next day. David Foster sat down with Jay Nouri as well as Carlos himself to get the team’s first reaction.

When Carlos heard his name announced as the 2026 NAHA Barber of the Year, he did not see it as a solo victory. He immediately framed the win as a collective achievement, saying it was not his moment, it was their moment, and that everyone had put so much energy into the journey and helped each other so much that he genuinely believed all of them were winners.

Standing under the lights in Orlando, Carlos was not just accepting an award. He was validating a culture of shared success.

From Rocky Roads to Red Carpets

Carlos’s NAHA moment was inseparable from a health battle that could easily have ended his run before it began. He recalled that in January 2025 he had been diagnosed with cancer and had fought it for four or five months.

Later that year, he received a call from Jay, who told him he wanted Carlos in for a September shoot. Carlos admitted he told Jay he was not ready, but Jay – in a loving push – decided otherwise and told him he would be coming to shoot the NAHA collection.

He described that outcome as proof that God was amazing, that God allowed struggle to test how a person handled life, then surprised them with something like this on the other side. For Carlos, the award signaled that there was another chapter waiting, one in which God had more in store than he had imagined.

Carlos described the moment his name was called with disarming honesty. He said, “I heard ‘Carlos,’ I thought it was former winner and teammate, Carlos Estrella (Los Cut It.) I will be honest; I totally forgot about myself.”

Sitting in a category with people he called “so, so unbelievable,” including: “Papi Blendzz,” “Los, the goat himself,” and “Arod, the most well-known barber in the world,” he said he simply thought, “Los’s got it.” The reality hit when he heard “Pagan.” From there, the night became a blur of hugs and gratitude.

“When they called my name, I could not believe it, not even for a second. It took me so long just to make it to the stage, because everybody was just hugging me and hugging me and hugging me, and I did not want to let nobody go either.”

“You Are the Captain of Your Life”

In his final words as NAHA’s 2026 Barber of the Year, Carlos turned his story into a directive for others.

He told barbers and creatives: “Do not let nobody tell you what is going to be the destiny of your life. You are actually the captain of your life.” He urged: “Take decisions, put one foot in front of the other, and remember that with God, everything is possible, and there is always a brighter day tomorrow. No matter how big the storm looks today.”

For Carlos “Drastic Barber” Pagan, the NAHA win was not just a personal milestone. It was living proof that faith, family style teamwork, and a refusal to let ego lead could turn a cancer diagnosis, a first-time collection, and a stacked category into a moment that belonged to an entire community.

Three of the industry’s hottest names have launched a new mentoring membership program, creating a one stop shop for community support and business mentoring.

Mentored By Menspire (@mentoredbymenspire) brings together Chris Foster, Josh Lamonaca and Samuel Palmer to give barbers around the world direct access to the best advice, training and mentoring designed to grow business knowledge, technical skill and networking opportunities.

The first bi-lingual platform of its kind, the three industry icons will share their knowledge and expertise across every discipline they specialise in, all available through a single yearly membership that gives exclusive access to content, networking and weekly mentoring sessions.

Global educator and Men’s Hairdresser of the Year Josh focuses on cutting, styling and finishing skills, and putting together photo shoots for barbers looking to grow every skill.

“This isn’t a one-off masterclass or a single course,” said Josh. “It’s an ongoing community, so barbers can keep coming back to it as they grow, not just take one thing away and move on. We have always had a community but this will bring everyone together to support the industry for the future.”

Entrepreneur Samuel addresses the commercial side of the trade, including pricing, client retention and building a sustainable career, while award-winning barber Chris specialises in profile building, covering personal brand, social presence and reputation, helping barbers become known for their work rather than relying on it to speak for itself.

“There’s never been anywhere where barbers could go to learn from more than one mentor at this level, in one place,” said Chris. “We’ve each built our own name doing things differently, and that’s exactly why we wanted to bring it all together and share it with the industry.

“Mentored by Menspire has been years in the making and we are excited to work with a community of barbers.”

The trio describes the platform as something they wished they had had early in their careers, a program designed for barbers at every stage, from those just starting out to established names looking to grow.

“Our aim is to raise standards and expertise within the barbering industry, creating an international community where barbers can support one another, share their own inspirations and become the best barbers and barbershop owners they possibly can,” said Samuel.

Mentored By Menspire is available via a dedicated Menspire App and at mentoredbymenspire.com.

The Professional Beauty Association is inviting licensed barbers and beauty professionals to showcase their technical skill and artistic vision in one of the industry’s most prestigious competitions.

Entries are now open for the Professional Beauty Association’s North American Hairstyling Awards (PBA NAHA) 2027, giving licensed professionals—including barbers—the opportunity to have their work recognized on an international stage.

For nearly four decades, PBA NAHA has celebrated artists whose creativity, technical excellence and innovation help shape the professional beauty industry. The annual competition recognizes collections that challenge convention, demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and offer a glimpse into the future of hair and grooming.

Barbering remains an important part of that creative landscape. From precision cutting and detailed fading to styling, texture work and bold editorial concepts, the competition offers barbers an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of their craft beyond the barbershop chair.

This wider representation is also reflected in PBA NAHA’s refined logo. While respecting the competition’s long history, the updated identity moves beyond its traditional association with hairdressing to represent the full range of artists celebrated today—including those working across barbering, hair, makeup and nails.

“Every year, PBA NAHA reminds us that creativity is one of the most powerful forces shaping our industry,” said Leslie Perry, CEO of the Professional Beauty Association. “These artists don’t just create beautiful work. They challenge techniques, influence trends, and inspire what’s possible for the profession.

“As PBA NAHA continues to evolve alongside the industry, we’re proud to recognize all the extraordinary talent that makes professional beauty so dynamic.”

The 2027 competition will also see the return of Nail Professional of the Year for the first time since 2020, further expanding the disciplines represented by the awards.

Entries are open to non-members until October 13, 2026. PBA members receive an extended deadline and can submit their collections until November 12, 2026.

Finalists will be announced at Premiere Anaheim on February 7, 2027. The winners will then be revealed live at PBA NAHA 2027 on June 6, held alongside Premiere Orlando.

Barbers and other licensed professionals are invited to submit collections that best demonstrate their creativity, technical ability and individual artistic vision.

For competition rules, eligibility requirements, category descriptions and entry details, visit probeauty.org/NAHA.

Renowned international session stylist, Richard Phillipart chooses sustainable styling brand to create 48 unique looks celebrating natural texture and individuality

Mane Origin officially announced its arrival on the global grooming stage by making its backstage debut at visionary designer Colm Dillane’s highly anticipated KidSuper Spring/Summer 2027 runway show in Miami, staged as part of the FIFA World Cup celebrations.

Richard Phillipart, hair lead, selected Mane Origin’s styling collection to create 48 completely individual looks that embraced each model’s natural texture while delivering a fresh, lived-in finish worthy of both the runway and the football pitch.

Presented at Nu Stadium, in association with FIFA, the show, titled Resenha, took its name from the Brazilian expression describing the conversations, stories, friendships and moments of connection that happen around football rather than the match itself. Bringing together fashion, football, music and creativity, the show celebrated the spirit of international unity, with each of the 48 looks representing one of the competing nations while showcasing the diversity, culture and individuality that make the global game so powerful.

Setting the tone for the evening, Austin Millz opened the show with a live pre-show performance before guests experienced one of the season’s most talked-about runways. Walking in the show was UK DJ Barry Can’t Swim, followed by a highly anticipated closing set from Sean Paul.

Rather than creating a uniform look, Phillipart celebrated individuality, ensuring every hairstyle reflected the personality, movement and identity of the wearer while remaining connected through a single creative vision. He said:

“For the looks at this season’s KidSuper show I was inspired by the collection’s vision to include the 48 countries of the World Cup. With each look representing a country, I wanted to echo this in the hair looks.

“Each of the 48 models had separate hair looks that celebrated and featured the natural movement and texture of their hair. Embracing the idea that each model had just played football, showered and then walked out to the pitch wearing their country’s look, I purposely gave each model’s hair a ‘damp’ effect without allowing the hair to appear wet or flat.

“Looks included shaved heads, daring mullets and long flowing hair alongside intricate braiding and locs. No two looks matched, but they were all perfectly in tune with each other.”

The backstage debut introduced Mane Origin to the international fashion industry through one of the season’s most talked-about shows while demonstrating that high-performance styling and environmental responsibility can work hand in hand.

Founded by Beth Gowland and James Taylor, Mane Origin was created for those who refuse to compromise between exceptional styling performance and protecting the planet. Built around premium formulations and sustainable innovation, every product has been developed to deliver professional results while reducing environmental impact.

Launching with a curated collection of essential styling products, the range includes Matte Clay, Matte Hair Spray, Deluxe Hair Pomade and Sea Salt Spray. Each formula is sulphate-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free, while every product is packaged without a single trace of plastic.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the brand. Through its partnership with Treeapp, Mane Origin plants one tree for every ten products sold, while the forthcoming Mane Origin Foundation will support environmental initiatives alongside projects focused on men’s mental health and wellbeing.

Following its runway debut in Miami, the complete Mane Origin styling collection is now available from £18.99/$26.00, offering professional-quality styling solutions for every hair type and finish without compromising on sustainability.

For more information visit www.maneorigin.com

Instagram: @mane.origin

fter challenging the shampoo category with the launch of The Wash, Highland is turning its attention to what comes next: conditioner. Currently live The Condish is a lightweight, high-performance conditioner designed to nourish hair and scalp health without relying on the silicones, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and harsh preservatives commonly found in traditional formulas. 

Created alongside word-class hair professionals, organic chemists, and natural cosmetic producers, The Condish was developed to solve a longstanding problem in haircare: conditioners that either prioritize cosmetic shortcuts or sacrifice performance in the name of clean beauty. 

Instead of coating strands with synthetic ingredients that create the illusion of moisture, The Condish utilizes clinically backed botanicals and proteins that help hydrate, strengthen, detangle, reduce frizz, and support healthier hair over time. 

Key ingredients include:

• Amazonian Babassu Oil to deeply soften without weighing hair down

• Capuacu Seed Butter for lightweight hydration and silky texture

• Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein to strengthen and support long-term hair health

• Aquaxyl™ to boost moisture retention

• Caffeine to support a healthy scalp environment and promote fuller-looking hair

Suitable for all hair types and color-safe, The Condish delivers salon-quality performance while remaining free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, gluten, synthetic fragrances, and unnecessary fillers. Infused with notes of Siberian Fir and Rosemary, the formula offers a refreshing, nature-inspired experience that leaves hair feeling balanced, hydrated and effortlessly manageable. The Condish is $36 on Highland.style

On May 30, 2026, during Premiere Orlando, one of the beauty industry’s largest professional events, Booksy welcomed barbers, hairstylists, creators, educators, and industry leaders to its annual brand party, an evening dedicated to celebrating the people shaping the future of beauty and barbering.

Booksy’s Big Top Event hosted guests in a vibrant, circus-inspired venue with thoughtfully curated activations including custom fragrance experiences, a caviar bar, and photo booths. More than a party, the event brought together professionals from across the country for a night of connection, conversation, and community, while highlighting a growing industry shift. Today’s beauty and barber professionals are increasingly operating as entrepreneurs, educators, content creators, and personal brands, in addition to providing services behind the chair. While technology continues to transform business operations, beauty services and barbering remain fundamentally a human profession built on trust, creativity, confidence, and connection.

The event served as a platform to showcase how technology can support—not replace—the professionals driving the industry forward. In 2025 alone, Booksy powered more than 215 million appointments and helped providers save an estimated 7.7 million hours annually through automated scheduling, payments, marketing, and business management tools.

“At a time when AI and automation dominate conversations across industries, beauty and barbering continue to prove that human relationships remain at the center of exceptional experiences,” says Gus Murillo, Director, Global Creative & Community at Booksy. “Technology can simplify operations, but it can never replace the creativity, culture, and personal connections that professionals create with their clients every day.”

Beyond efficiency, attendees discussed how those time savings translate into opportunities for growth, education, creativity, and personal well-being.

The evening also highlighted the stories of several Booksy ambassadors whose careers reflect the changing landscape of modern beauty and barbering:

• Joel Torres, an internationally recognized hairstylist and educator, shared how simplifying business operations has allowed him to focus on traveling, teaching, and inspiring professionals around the world.
• Timmel Horne discussed his journey from managing appointments through direct messages and phone calls to building a business that extends beyond barbering into podcasting, education, and personal brand development.
• Lonnie Horne spoke about leveraging technology to create operational consistency, enabling him to pursue additional entrepreneurial ventures while continuing to grow his influence within the industry.
• Mr. Official, a respected figure in barber culture, reflected on the evolution of barbering from traditional shop management to modern entrepreneurship, while maintaining the strong sense of identity and community that has always defined the profession.

As the industry continues to evolve, Booksy remains focused on helping professionals spend less time managing administrative tasks and more time building businesses, careers, and communities.

“Behind every appointment is a real person, a real relationship, and a real story,” added Murillo. “The conversations throughout the evening reinforced that the future of beauty isn’t less human—it’s more intentional, more connected, and more empowering for the professionals who make this industry what it is.”

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app for free or visit booksy.info/learn-more to learn more.