Samson’s Haircare, the artisanal men’s hair and beard care range, have recently launched an innovative hair styling clay designed to help men achieve and maintain the perfect hairstyle, while at the simultaneously nourishing the hair with vital minerals. Samson’s Haircare Dead Sea Clay (4oz. / $22.00) is an easy-to-use moldable hairstyling clay that provides a matte finish and a medium-to-high hold. It is ideal for men (or anyone with short hair) who wants a natural-looking style that lasts all day.

This new hair styling clay is made with natural ingredients sourced from the Dead Sea region on the Eastern shores of Jordan. The formula predominantly contains the coveted Dead Sea Clay, which is known for its nourishing and healing properties that cleanse and purify the hair. The product also contained the addition of Black Hawaiian Sea Salt which delivers a naturally soft and moldable texture. Samson’s Dead Sea Clay is suitable for all hair types and can be used daily to revitalize hair texture.  And….the best part is that this clay can actually be rinsed out with water!

Dead Sea Clay is medium-to-strong hold, which makes pliable and easy to use, allowing you to style hair into the desired look with ease. Whether you prefer a casual, messy, textured look, or a more formal, modern pompadour style, this clay provides a natural-looking ultra-matte finish that lasts all day. 

The Samson’s Dead Sea Clay is packed with good-for-you minerals that nourish hair follicles and allow them to retain a healthy moisture level. The matte finish of the product ensures that hair looks effortlessly styled without appearing greasy or shiny compared to other products on the market. The Dead Sea Clay and Black Hawaiian Salt are ethically sourced and are hand batched and distributed by the Samson’s Haircare team.  

“We know that men want a hair product that is easy-to-use and delivers great results,” said Adam Muncy, co-founder of Samson’s Haircare. “We originally started experimenting with Dead Sea Clay for its healing and restorative properties and our new forming clay is specifically designed to provide a range of benefits for men’s hair. The product itself is a major achievement for my partner Jake, as a brewer and formulator, as this improves hair health and delivers a natural-looking style that lasts all day. We believe that this product will be a game-changer for men who want to achieve stylish and healthy-looking hair with minimal effort. Usually, it’s almost impossible to check all these boxes at once, but Samson’s Dead Sea Clay allows us to do so.”

Samson’s Haircare is committed to using only the highest quality and naturally sourced ingredients in every product. The Dead Sea Clay is free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, making it safe and gentle for daily use to improve hair texture, hold and moisture levels for men who care about the look and health of their hair.

Dead Sea Clay is now available for purchase online at Samson’s Haircare website. Customers can enjoy free shipping on orders over $16 and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information on the Dead Sea Clay Hair Product and other Samson’s Haircare products, please visit their website https://samsonshaircare.com/

Despite the challenging economic climate with double-digit inflation, the latest National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) quarterly survey demonstrates a return by the industry to a positivity that we previously saw in spring/summer 2022. 

More businesses report making a small or good profit (43%); 38% of businesses are breaking even, with fewer businesses (19%) making a small or substantial loss.

The general trend towards increasing prices is slowing. Over the previous three months, 64% of businesses raised their prices. A further 51% will do so over the next three months.

Energy costs are still at the top of business concerns in terms of impact of the business (80%). The NHBF has already presented the detail of these findings to Ofgem the regulator to feed into their review of the non-domestic energy market and report to government in the summer.

The increased cost of trade supplies and increases to National Minimum Wage/National Living Wage (NMW/NLW) are the next two major concerns for business owners. In response, they are removing non-essential expenditure, increasing prices and continuing to hold off taking on staff/apprentices – 23% have cut back on apprentices and similar to the autumn, only 15% (up from 9% in January) were definitely or likely to take on apprentices in the next three months.

However, 21% of respondents were definitely or likely to take on new staff in the next three months, up from 15% in January. 

Reliance on external support has eased back to levels seen in spring/summer 2022; now only over half of businesses (58%) are either partially or completely reliant on Government support – down from 71% in January.

Business survival expectations have improved and are in line with more positive outlook seen in July 2022. Two thirds (64%, up from 49% in January) are now confident of their survival. Nevertheless, the number of businesses who are not sure whether they will survive over the next six months until September 2023 is still significant at a third.

Richard Lambert, Chief Executive of the NHBF said: “Overall, this latest NHBF State of the Industry survey is showing a more positive feeling in general and improvement for most of the industry.

“Hopefully, the announcement of a rise in funding for the apprenticeship standards will encourage more employers to change their mind about recruiting junior staff, and we will start to see more young people come into the industry – plus this will help businesses to grow.

“As an organisation, we will continue to use this vital information to help inform our work with government for their planning on issues that directly affect our industry.”

@nhbfsocial // NHBF

Phorest’s highly sought after Client Experience Award is back for an eighth year. Awarded to salons who have maintained an average customer rating of four and five stars, from a minimum of 60 online reviews for 12 consecutive months ( 1st March 2022 – 28th February 2023).

It’s no secret that a high standard of customer service is key in the success of running any barbershop. From building personal relationships with clients to going above and beyond, it truly can have a significant impact and Phorest salons are no stranger to reaping the benefits from this. 

Phorest Salon Software is used by over 155,000 hair, beauty and clinic professionals worldwide, freeing teams up to focus on their passion and business success. More creativity. Less admin. Known globally for providing the best salon marketing tools, Phorest touches every point of the salon experience, from custom salon apps, online bookings and inventory control to e-commerce and payments.

The Client Experience Award is a true testament to all the hard work salons put in their business. Ronan Perceval, CEO of Phorest, said: “Beauty businesses who receive the annual award should be incredibly proud of this achievement. It’s a true reflection of who they are, their team and the level of service they provide.

“From everyone at Phorest, a huge congratulations to all the winners! With economic uncertainties and the cost of living crisis across many regions, we know that this last year has not been the easiest for many businesses so to walk away with this award truly shows the hard work, dedication and passion you have for your shop and customers”. 

In addition to the Client Experience Award, Phorest also offers the five-year award, a special recognition for those salons who have won for five consecutive years, maintaining a strong suite of customer reviews.

Award winning men’s hairdresser, Jim Shaw, shared his comments on this season’s pastel hair colour trends for men.

With us now in spring, pastels are one of the biggest trends we are seeing this season. Pastels come back on trend year after year in springtime. However for 2023, pastels have a more contemporary and stylish update! Below are some of my favourite, current and on-trend ways for male clients to wear pastels this year…

Match pastel tone to natural shade

I love to cut my clients’ hair right down at the sides, revealing their natural hair colour, and then bleach and tone the top, longer section of hair. This creates a super cool and quirky contrast. I particularly love this look with a steel grey tone on the top or a blue. This is a great way for male clients to update their look with colour without opting for too much of a bold/statement hue.

Deep toners

Adding an opulent/pearlescent toner is another way for male clients to give their pastel hue an up-to-date finish for 2023. Giving the hair an opulent/pearlescent finish, instead of the ordinary soft pastel, creates a more expensive, luxurious, and high-shine look.  

Follow the seasons

Ashy/silver blondes have been on trend for some time but as we come into the warmer months, we will see hair colours becoming a lot warmer. Now is the time for men to go blonde and if they’re feeling bold and adventurous – try yellow! A pastel yellow/blonde hue can look great when teamed with the right cut. I think this looks particularly stylish with a crew cut. It’s such a fun, playful colour and a perfect match for men with bubbly personalities!

Embrace the rainbow

For those feeling daring and adventurous, pairing two or three pastel tones together is another modern way for male clients to wear their pastel hair for 2023. Teaming shades of blue, pink and green together will create an incredible rainbow-inspired hue that will have heads turning.

Aftercare

What’s the key to keeping pastel hair colour looking its best and long-lasting? Hair care! Clients should be advised to use a good quality, professional shampoo and conditioner that’s for coloured hair. They should also consider using a hair mask once per week to keep their hair in optimum condition and colour sealed in.

Heat styling

Heated styling tools can of course lead to colour fade, so it’s important that clients are aware that should they need to use heated styling, to always protect their hair with a heat protection spray first.

Find Jim on Instagram as @jimshawhair

Andis® Company, a leader in professional tools and education for the barber and beauty industry, is excited to introduce Sabra Clark and Brea Retic as the latest additions to its Global Education Team!

Now consisting of 44 educators across four continents, the Global Education Team could not be more thrilled to welcome the two educators and barbershop owners.

Angie Perino, Andis® Global Education Manager, said: “I’m thrilled to add such incredible barbering talent to our roster of global educators.”

She continued: “Not only are Sabra and Brea fantastic advocates for barbering education locally, but, most importantly, they are committed to bettering the next generation of barbers and stylists, no matter where they’re from or what stage in their career.”

Sabra (@Saaabra) was born and raised in San Diego and owns Straight to the Cut Barbershop. She has been fascinated with barbering ever since she was three years old and cut her bangs off after getting a comb tangled in them. She received her barbering license in 2017. 

Sabra is also founder of the SoCal Lady Barber Expo, the Lead Barber Educator for Bellus Academy from 2021-2022, and a six-time award-winning competitive barber. One of her goals is to start a non-profit organisation to empower women and femme people in the barber industry, creating a safe space for all to feel beautiful while developing hair and their craft. Now a part of the Andis team, Sabra will share her mission with a global audience.

Brea (@Breajcuts) made a drastic career change in 2009, moving to Atlanta to attend barbering school. Now the owner of the Brea J Cuts Studio and part of the SalonCentric It Takes a Pro Team, she has taken her calling in stride. Discovering her passion for barbering made her realise it was the perfect field to enjoy flexibility, family time, and a better quality of life. 

Brea is passionate about helping others and is a volunteer for A Different Cut, which helps barbers style young adults and children on the autism spectrum who can find the sensory aspect of getting a haircut overwhelming. Giving barbers the tools to be thoughtful and prepared in a sensorily-sensitive environment, A Different Cut offers as much peace of mind to barbers as it does to their clients.

Brea will be a powerful addition to the Andis team, fostering encouragement and community while sharing her craft. 

For more information about Andis Company or the brand’s educational offerings, visit andis.com. To keep up with Andis Global Educators, look to #CREATEYOURWAY and follow Andis on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.