In partnership with world leaders in trend forecasting, WGSN, Fresha surveyed over 1,000 consumers, analysed over 600M bookings, and scanned over 2,000 social media accounts in the build up to launching their inaugural Future of Beauty and Wellness Trend Report.

 Fresha, the world’s #1 booking platform for beauty and wellness, has taken its unique industry perspective and launched an invaluable resource: its first trend report, called The Future of Beauty and Wellness Report 2024. 

Created in partnership with leading trend forecasters WGSN, the report is packed with groundbreaking insights based on:

• analysing 600 million Fresha bookings
• scanning more than 2,000 social media accounts
• more than 1,000 consumers surveyed across the US, the UK, Canada and Australia
• interviews with industry experts including makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan, and celebrity barber and educator Mark Maciver

The report uncovers and decodes 11 trends set to shape the industry. From high-octane beauty to the diagnostic tools taking over salons, clients’ expectations of beauty and wellness will evolve like never before in the next five years. 

The report serves as a guide to those changing expectations, and shows how services and treatments will need to be adapted to boost business. All of this game-changing information will help business owners outpace the competition and stay at the forefront of client care.

For beauty and wellness business owners ready to evolve to meet consumer demands with a holistic, personalised approach, this report will help them do exactly that. Those businesses with forward-thinking strategies and customer-centric services will be the ones that find the most success and keep clients coming back, into 2024 and beyond.

Read the report now.

JIM SHAW, DIRECTOR OF TONI&GUY BILLERICAY AND MULTI AWARD WINNING MEN’S HAIRDRESSER

At the weekend we saw the return of the Billboard Music Awards 2023 and there were some fantastic hair looks showcased on the night. Below, I share my favourite looks from some of the male stars that attended the event…

Peso Pluma gave off a cool, laidback vibe at this year’s Bilboard Music Awards. He wore his longer length mullet haircut effortlessly and completed his look with a beanie style hat. Natural hairstyles and longer length edgy cuts like the mullet will be a big trend as we go into 2024 for men and are perfect for those who are looking for an incredibly low maintenance style that requires little to no styling. I love to scrunch in a mousse or sea salt spray into this cut to enhance the natural hair texture and give it a further easy-going finish.

Real Stray Kids the group looked iconic at this year’s Billboard Music Awards. To complement their luxe outfits, they wore their hair styled straight, smooth and sleek. These longer length, smooth styles will be super on trend as we head into the festive party season and as we go into 2024. Whether you blow-dry the hair smooth or use heated styling irons to create this look, ensure you finish with a serum or oil for added smoothness and shine with no flyaways. Many of the band also have fringes, which will be another prominent trend this winter – from full fringes to curtain fringes. For those with oblong faces, a fringe is a great way to create the illusion of a shorter face shape. For those with square face shapes, they will want to avoid anything that overly softens and shortens their features and instead, they should opt for a well-balanced fringe like a side fringe that will flatter their features.

Mark Ronson – although he wasn’t in attendance at the awards, Mark Ronson won Top Soundtrack with Barbie: The Album and during his video award speech, his hair immediately caught my eye. It was worn with a deep side parting and slicked over for a super sophisticated and controlled look that’s very youthful and contemporary. This can be achieved with a pomade or wax either with a matt finish or shine, depending on if you would like to achieve a more natural or polished look. This style looks great on all hair lengths but particularly slightly longer lengths like Mark’s to give the hair added volume and height. This again is another great hair look for those struggling with a receding hair line/hair thinning, as it gives their hair a fuller appearance. It’s also great for showing off facial features and giving the face a more chiseled appearance. 

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JIM SHAW, TONI&GUY BILLERICAY DIRECTOR & AWARD-WINNING MEN’S HAIRDRESSER

Tis the season where many of clients are looking to look and feel their best for the festivities and upcoming Christmas events and nights out they may have. Below, award winning men’s hairdresser, Jim Shaw, shares some of his favourite men’s Christmas party hairstyles that will be on trend this year, and how he would achieve the looks.

Relaxed & Refined Pompadour – my personal favourite Christmas hairstyle trend for 2023 – the relaxed and refined pompadour. I love the shape of this look and how sophisticated and polished it looks, yet it still has an undone, effortless finish to it. I always create this look using one of my favourite products, American Crew Fiber, distributing this through the hair and then blow-drying the hair back off the face with a hairdryer and brush to create that voluminous pompadour shape. The key is that the hairstyle has hold but that it looks and feels flexible. This is a particularly great Christmas hairstyle choice for male clients who have longer hair length on top and slightly shorter sides that want to give their cut added finesse!

Sleek, high shine hair – Christmas is the time for sparkle and many clients are looking to achieve a sleek, shiny hair look in line with the season. Sleek hair styling works on all hair lengths, but is particularly effective on those with longer hair, especially when paired with a super blunt cut to exude the luxe hair look. When creating this look, I always start with a smooth blow-dry and then go in with my heated styling irons to give the hair a further sleek and smooth appearance. Products are also essential when creating this look. Before any heated styling I always prep the hair with a heat protection spray like LABEL.M Fashion Edition Heat Protection Mist and after styling I always apply a serum or oil through the hair to banish any frizz and flyaways and to give a further mirror like shine to the hair. The LABEL.M Rejuvenating Radiance Oil is one of my favourites.

Voluminous statement quiffs – the festive season is the time to go all out with your hair – the bigger and more voluminous, the better. It’s the time to be extra! With that in mind, this Christmas we will see the return of voluminous quiffs and hairstyles with mega height. A quiff pushes the hair forward and provides a more defined statement style, particularly when paired with shorter sides. With this look I would always start by using a product to help provide the hair with volume like a Volumising Powder. One of my favourites is American Crew Boost Powder Anti-Gravity Volume Powder. Next, I would use a hairdryer to help direct the hair into the desired shape and follow up by using a strong hold product such as a pomade like American Crew Pomade to mould the quiff shape and to give it further structure. Finish with a hairspray like American Crew Finishing Spray to lock in the style all day/night.

Deep side partings paired with sleek styles – deep side partings for men have become incredibly stylish in recent years and are a great way to change up their look. Previously we have seen these styles been worn to achieve volume, however this year, this style will also be worn sleeker and smoother for a more contemporary, polsihed take on the style. To create the side parting, always use the tail of your comb to help achieve that straight, defined line and finish by distributing a smoothing product like LABEL.M Anti-Frizz Smoothing Balm through the hair before blow-drying the hair smooth for added smoothness and glass like shine.

With Movember already half-way through, it’s time to check in on those moustaches that have been sprouting all month long. But if your facial hair is still in its early stages or needs a little TLC, don’t fret. These expert tips from Chris & Sons will help you salvage your ‘stache. A recent study by YouGov found that 1 in 10 British men now sport a moustache, equating to over 3 million people. While moustaches have gained popularity, many men find it challenging to grow and maintain a well-groomed moustache. A recent survey conducted by The Beard Mag revealed that 35% of British men who attempt to grow a moustache face difficulties, primarily due to uneven growth, patchiness, and itchiness. With this in mind, Andrew Vassiliou, Director of Chris & Sons – the UK’s leading hair and beauty supplier – shares expert tips proving a magnificent moustache is not an impossible feat. 1. Maintaining an amazing moustache is a blend of grooming and patience. To begin, allow your moustache to grow freely for a few weeks without trimming. This will help you determine your natural shape and thickness. Once you’ve achieved a desirable length, keep it tidy with regular trims, focusing on any strays that may appear. A quality pair of scissors or a fine-toothed comb is essential for this. 2. Moisturising is key. Just like the hair on your head, your moustache needs hydration. Apply a moustache-specific wax or balm to keep it soft, manageable, and free from flakiness.  3. Invest in a high-quality moustache comb or brush to maintain its shape and appearance throughout the day. Regular combing not only keeps your moustache looking neat but also helps to train the hair to grow in the desired direction. Start by combing in the direction of hair growth and then gently sweep the hair to the sides. Combing can also stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, potentially enhancing growth. Moustache growth serums, formulated with ingredients like minoxidil, have been shown to promote hair growth. Just apply a small amount to your moustache area, and you might notice a significant difference over time. 4. Avoid over-styling your moustache. Frequent trimming and excessive use of styling products can slow down growth. Instead, let it grow naturally and trim it sparingly to maintain your desired shape.  Don’t underestimate the power of a good diet and overall health. Proper nutrition can contribute to the health of your facial hair. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, especially B-vitamins and biotin, will promote growth. 5. Avoid excessive smoking and alcohol consumption as they can hinder growth and lead to hair loss. 6. Lastly, don’t rush the process. Growing an amazing moustache takes time. Embrace the awkward phases, be patient, and remember that every moustache is unique. With the right care and attention, you’ll soon have the enviable moustache you’ve always wanted.”   Check Chris and Sons website for more: https://www.chrisandsons.co.uk/barbering.html.

FRESHA BECOMES FIRST BEAUTY AND WELLNESS BOOKING PLATFORM TO LAUNCH TAP TO PAY ON IPHONE IN UK

Fresha, the #1 booking platform and marketplace for beauty and wellness, has launched Tap to Pay for iPhone in the UK – letting users take payments with just a phone. No other hardware needed.

 Fresha has launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in the UK, making them the first beauty and wellness booking platform to let UK users take contactless payments straight from their iPhone. The feature lets beauty professionals complete checkout in seconds and give clients an even smoother payment experience. Users simply open Fresha on their iPhone, ask clients to tap their phone or card, and the transaction is complete. 

Tap to Pay on iPhone effectively puts a point-of-sale system in each user’s pocket, letting them take payments from anywhere in the venue – without relying on payment terminals or other hardware. It completely eliminates the need to share terminals or manage queues, since payments can be taken by anyone, anywhere, at any time. Plus, Tap to Pay enables businesses of any size to take secure contactless payments in-store – from boutique cash-only startups and booth renters, to venues that rely heavily on online payments; all without needing to invest in any equipment.

The feature works with debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets. It’s also perfectly secure, using Apple’s technology to encrypt card details and process payments without storing data on users’ iPhones.

Fresha remains the top choice for forward-thinking beauty professionals
Tap to Pay on iPhone is the latest innovation in Fresha’s robust payment system, joining a lineup of features that includes multiple payment methods, upfront payment policies for reducing no-shows, and daily payouts that give businesses fast access to their earnings. All underpinned by one of the lowest payment processing fees in the industry. 

Having also launched the new feature in the US, Australia, and the Netherlands, Tap to Pay integrates seamlessly with Fresha’s all-in-one booking and management platform. Like all payments taken on Fresha, Tap to Pay transactions immediately appear in users’ reports, helping them track their earnings, spot trends in their sales, and make profitable decisions. 

Fresha remains the best booking platform for beauty and wellness businesses who want to be ahead of the curve. Their users get first access to the most powerful tech, giving them an edge over their competitors in a market where technology sets the winners apart.

Tap to Pay on iPhone is a hit with Fresha users
“I just open Fresha on my phone, let clients tap their card, and we’re done. I can’t believe how easy it is,” said Dino Antony, Co-Founder at Paradigm, a leading London barbershop. “Queues aren’t a problem anymore, and we don’t have to worry about finding a card terminal at the end of each appointment. It’s a hit with our staff and clients.”

Stuart Davis, Head of Product at Fresha, is thrilled with the positive response from Fresha users. “The team at Fresha worked hard to bring Tap to Pay to our users as soon as possible, and we’re proud to be leading the charge in the UK and beyond. Despite the short time it’s been available, many of our users are already calling it their favourite Fresha feature.” 

Nick Miller, Fresha Co-Founder and Chief of Product, says the new feature raises the bar for payment systems in the industry. “Tap to Pay helps us deliver the best payment experience in beauty and wellness, and being the first to bring this technology to our UK users aligns with our goal of setting the standard in the industry,” he said. “Plus, Tap to Pay is just the first of many game-changing new payment features we’re launching. Watch this space.”

Fresha is committed to innovation in the industry and serving their users worldwide, developing powerful tools for business growth that connect more people to beauty and wellness, every day. 

Fresha, the world’s #1 booking platform for beauty and wellness, has taken its unique industry perspective and launched an invaluable resource: its first trend report, called The Future of Beauty and Wellness Report 2024. 
Created in partnership with leading trend forecasters WGSN, the report is packed with groundbreaking insights based on:

• analysing 600 million Fresha bookings
• scanning more than 2,000 social media accounts
• more than 1,000 consumers surveyed across the US, the UK, Canada and Australia
• interviews with industry experts including makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan, and celebrity barber and educator Mark Maciver

The report uncovers and decodes 11 trends set to shape the industry. From high-octane beauty to the diagnostic tools taking over salons, clients’ expectations of beauty and wellness will evolve like never before in the next five years. 
The report serves as a guide to those changing expectations, and shows how services and treatments will need to be adapted to boost business. All of this game-changing information will help business owners outpace the competition and stay at the forefront of client care.
For beauty and wellness business owners ready to evolve to meet consumer demands with a holistic, personalised approach, this report will help them do exactly that. Those businesses with forward-thinking strategies and customer-centric services will be the ones that find the most success and keep clients coming back, into 2024 and beyond.

Read the report now.

The latest issue of BarberEVO UK & Ireland is OUT NOW. 

In this issue, we explore how you can elevate your business during the festive period in prep for a successful 2024. It’s time to market yourself and your shop, upskill your teams, and boost that bottom line.

ON THE COVER

BIG UP Cal Newsome, our cover star this month and the Master of the Fade. This talented stylist tells us what it takes to cut the hair of celebrities, build that all-star client list, and why Chris and Sons is his go-to for the best barber supplies.

WINTER SEASON

‘Tis the season to maximise on… everything!

Let’s get into it. In our winter season feature, we look at how to really strengthen your brand for Christmas. Including everything from social media marketing right down to putting seasonal branding in your shop windows. 

STYLING

You know us! We love a good styling feature. Our editor attended a hectic (but incredible) run of shows at London Fashion Week in September and rounded up some really valuable styling advice. Industry icons Nick Irwin, Syd Hayes, and Adam Garland took LFW by storm and gave intel on the newest and best tools.

• 

INTERIORS

We also look inside some of the UK’s finest barbershops to find out what it takes to not only make a space look good but how to entice clientele. Experts from Cape Gang, Ned’s Barbershop, REM, Gould Barbers, Takara Belmont, and many more give you the scoop.

Fresha, the world’s leading marketplace and booking software for the beauty and wellness industry, has an exciting update on the success of their recent campaign builder launch. 
Blush + Blow, one of Fresha’s long-term partners, has achieved the following after using the platform’s campaign builder feature:

• 15x average return on spend for their marketing campaigns, with clear reports showing how to make future campaigns even better 

• 3x sales of skin services, after promoting their new skin clinic with Fresha’s marketing tools
• 4 new staff members recruited to handle the increase in business

Blush + Blow, helmed by Bridget Hannon, began as a blow dry bar in 2017. They’ve since grown their services to a full range of hair and beauty treatments, and expanded with a clinic dedicated to skincare.
Before joining Fresha, Bridget used various methods to promote Blush + Blow, including PR agencies and influencers. But it was always hard to measure results, and managing each of these marketing campaigns separately was time-consuming.

Bridget needed an effective way to reach clients, and clear visibility of each campaign’s performance. She also needed an online booking platform to simplify running the salon, so she could focus on growing the business.
After signing up to Fresha for free, Bridget started using the campaign builder and templates to create personalised marketing campaigns. From seasonal promotions to new treatment announcements, she can build email and text message campaigns in minutes, then send them to the right clients at the right time.

Bridget also gets clear reports showing the results of every campaign so she can refine them for even better performance. All while using the platform to manage appointments at both venues, take online bookings, collect client reviews, and more. 

Watch our video focused on Bridget’s journey with Fresha, and find Blush + Blow on the Fresha marketplace at fresha.com, or by downloading the Fresha app on the App Store or Google Play.

20% of people with Afro hair have experienced discrimination in a salon vs 4% of people with straight hair 

58% of Afro-textured individuals have felt let down by a salon service 

A quarter have experienced undue pain and 15% have faced verbal micro-aggressions 

One in five people with Afro hair have experienced discrimination in a salon, compared to one in 25 people with naturally straight hair, a study has found. 

Ripe Hair & Beauty Insurance surveyed 2,113 UK residents from a range of ethnic backgrounds on their past experiences with hair stylists and barbers. 

It found that 20% of those with Type 4 (Afro) hair – which is typically considered the curl pattern of Black people – have faced discrimination when getting their hair done. Just 4% of those with straight (Type 1) hair said the same.  

In addition, a quarter of people with a coily hair texture reported experiencing undue pain during a hair salon treatment, with 15% saying they had also faced micro-aggressions and unsolicited comments related to their hair type. Amongst those with Type 1 hair, just 10% and 11% reported the same, respectively.  

People with Afro hair types were also more likely to feel let down by a hair service, with 58% saying this was the case vs. 44% of people with Type 1 hair. The most cited reason for this disappointment was that the stylist or barber didn’t know how to manage their hair type (32%).  

Perhaps even more concerningly, amongst those respondents, 78% said the salon had explicitly advertised that it specialised in their hair type.   

Consequently, nearly half (45%) of people with an Afro hair type acknowledged that they were left with long lasting disappointment following this experience, with 37% saying it had negatively affected their self-esteem in the long term. 

And finally, when asked whether they trust that a hair stylist or barber can do their hair well, 81% of people with Afro hair agreed compared to 87% of individuals with straight hair.