The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) today released findings from its latest State of the Industry Survey, revealing that an unprecedented 78% of hair and beauty businesses plan to increase their prices in the next three months – the highest level recorded since the survey began.

The quarterly survey of sector businesses across the UK paints a picture of an industry at a crossroads, with rising operational costs post Autumn Budget forcing difficult decisions about staffing, apprenticeships, and business models.

Key findings include:

• 52% of businesses plan to implement price increases of 5-10%.
• 31% of businesses reported a decrease in their workforce over the last quarter.
• 59% expect to reduce apprenticeship intake following the Autumn Budget.
• 26% of businesses are now planning to downsize or hand over their business.

The sector has already seen significant job losses, with official data showing a workforce reduction of 16,500 positions in 2023-24, following a 7% reduction in staff in 2022/23.

The impact of the Autumn Budget has been particularly significant, in addition to taking on fewer apprentices, businesses will reduce staff or apprentice hours (47%), the number of staff employed (47%) and business investment (41%) in response to the 6.7% rise in National Minimum Wage rates and changes to Employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Caroline Larissey, Chief Executive of NHBF, said: “The survey results paint a concerning picture of our sector’s future. While the personal care services sector has grown its economic contribution to £5.8 billion in 2023-24, we’re seeing a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. The combination of rising wages, increased National Insurance contributions, and reduced business rates relief is pushing many salon owners toward self-employed models, potentially ending decades of apprenticeship training that has been the lifeblood of our sector.

“Without urgent government intervention, particularly around VAT reform and targeted support for small employers, we risk losing the traditional salon model that has been central to high street vitality and community wellbeing. The NHBF is calling for immediate action, including a review of the VAT system, enhanced apprenticeship incentives, and improved business rates support to help protect and grow this vital sector.”

The survey also revealed that 41% of businesses are currently making a profit, with 42% breaking even. However, the number of businesses reporting losses has increased to 17%, up from 14% in September 2024.

Look out for our ‘Straightening out the costs’; report analysing the impact of the Autumn 2024 Budget on Hair & Beauty Sector in the coming days – a comprehensive analysis commissioned by NHBF and conducted by Pragmatix Advisory Ltd.

NHBF has written to the Chancellor ahead of the spring fiscal statement on 26 March calling for VAT reform, apprenticeship incentives for employers and business rates reform.

The NHBF has also launched its “Survive & Thrive with the NHBF,” a transformative programme designed to support members through these challenging times. This bold initiative provides month-by-month practical support including business adaptation tools, employment guidance, political engagement resources, and professional excellence development. The initiative will help businesses prepare for and navigate through the April 2025 changes and beyond.

Members can access these valuable resources through the ” Survive & Thrive with the NHBF” section of the NHBF website.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is thrilled to announce the 36th annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) finalists. NAHA is the most prestigious professional beauty competition in North America and honors the salon industry’s top artists who push the boundaries of skill and creativity.

The 2025 NAHA finalists represent the best of the best in the beauty industry, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication to their craft. These artists have defied expectation, creating collections that captivate and inspire.

To win a coveted NAHA award, artists submit their collections in their choice of fourteen categories which include hair, makeup, and educational excellence. Development of these collections often takes months of envisioning, planning, and shooting.

Collections are judged anonymously by a panel of esteemed experts in hairdressing and makeup artistry. The submissions are scored based on technical skill, cohesiveness, and creativity.

The NAHA 2025 Finalists are:

Avant Garde:

• Rusty Phillips @rustyphillips13 – nominated for 2 categories
• Chrystofer Benson @cbensonhair – nominated for 2 categories
• Julia Clayton @jujuwiththegoodhair
• Jaimee Harris Smith @Hairbyjsmith – nominated for 2 categories
• Ruth Roche @ruthroche – nominated for 3 categories

Barber of the Year:

• Joel Tenser @JoelThair
• Carlos Estrella @Los_cut_it
• A-Rod @arod23pr
• Nieves Almaraz @howtofadehair
• Jamie DiGrazia @jamiedigrazia

Editorial Stylist of the Year:

• Maggie Semaan @maggiesemaan
• Lukas Press @Lukaspress_ – nominated for 2 categories
• Rusty Phillips @rustyphillips13 – nominated for 2 categories
• Vernon Francois @vernonfrancois – nominated for 3 categories
• Ruth Roche @ruthroche – nominated for 3 categories

Educator of the Year:

• Nina Tulio @ninatulio
• Adrienne Dara @adriennedara
• Chrystofer Benson @cbensonhair – nominated for 2 categories
• Candy Shaw @thebalaylama
• Bryant Murphy @dezignedbyb

Haircolor:

• Tina Casciato @tinacasciato
• Janelle Eyre @jeyre.hair
• Sean Godard @seangodard
• Breanne Gershon @glam.breanne – nominated for 2 categories
• Danielle Waterman @daniwatermanhair – nominated for 2 categories

Haircutting:

• Gilad Goldstein @myguiltycrown
• Austin Eric Lopez @AustinEricLopez
• Evie Johnson @contactevie
• Daniel Benoit @benoit4955
• Manda Ziegelman @mandaziegelman

Hairstylist of the Year:

• Dana Lyseng @danalysenghair
• James Abu-Ulba @method_education
• Nicole Pede @nmpede
• Allen Ruiz @allenruizstyle – nominated for 2 categories
• David Barron @barronslondonsalon – nominated for 2 categories

Inspiring Salon of the Year:

• Freddie Dean @carousel.tattoo.barber
• Leah Tressler @salonboutiqueacademy
• Amber & Chet Pope @salon27az
• Martino Cartier @martinocartier @martinocartiersalon @wigsandwishes
• Vee Vargas @beherewithvee

Makeup Artist of the Year:

• Erin Hensley @erinhensleycolor
• Angela Balbon @mzbartistry
• Natalia Farahmand @desideriobeauty
• Nohemi Capetillo @noamyphotographer
• Ericka Brannon @erickabrannon

Master Hairstylist of the Year:

• Allen Ruiz @allenruizstyle – nominated for 2 categories
• Cassie Carey @cassiecarey.hair
• David Barron @barronslondonsalon – nominated for 2 categories
• Anna Pacitto @Anna_pacitto_pure
• Matthew Morris @matthewmorriscode

Student Hairstylist of the Year:

• Abby Bruneel @hair_byabbyy
• Zion Schwartz @zschwartz.artistry
• Dexter @cauldron_of_color
• Genevieve Holdeman @turquoisetouch_
• Imelda Mercer @maneimelda

Styling and Finishing:

• Galyna Poczciwinski @ufirami
• Danielle Waterman @daniwatermanhair – nominated for 2 categories
• Vernon Francois@vernonfrancois – nominated for 3 categories
• Breanne Gershon @glam.breanne – nominated for 2 categories
• Veronika Shurunova @shurveronika

Team of The Year:

• Cult Salon @cult.salon.co – Vanessa Whitmarsh, Lindsey Hutchings, Gia Segundo, Cheri Cooke
• Valentinis @derrick_rutherford @juliocolor – Derrick Rutherford & Julio RodriguezEunoia Collection – Danielle Keasling, Pekela Riley, Anthony Negron, Bianca Donahue, Gilad Goldstein, Justin Tove s-Vincilione, Reva Haga
• JCPenney Salon @hairbyjsmith @beautiesbybee – Jaimee Harris Smith*, Brittany Brown, Charly Williams* nominated for 2 categories
• PHOTON @ruthroche – Ruth Roche*, Jill Leitz, Erica Wright, Wendy Belanger, Jackie Litscher *nominated for 3 categories

Texture:

The 36th annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) winners will be unveiled during

a glamorous awards ceremony on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Premiere Orlando. This highly anticipated event will unite industry professionals, influencers, and beauty enthusiasts to celebrate the exceptional talent and groundbreaking work of these standout artists.

“The Professional Beauty Association is thrilled to honor the 2025 NAHA finalists, who represent the pinnacle of creativity and skill within the beauty industry,” shared Leslie Perry,

PBA Executive Director. “These artists showcase extraordinary vision, passion, and innovation that inspire their peers and elevate the industry.”

The winners for each category will be announced during Premiere Orlando on June 1, 2025. You can purchase your tickets to be part of the excitement by visiting probeauty.org/naha.

With 2025 marking a new perspective on male grooming, Keune is shifting its focus from traditional barber-centric offerings to a more inclusive approach, aiming to serve all hair professionals worldwide.

1922 by J.M. Keune is a tightly edited collection of premium grooming staples, made in the Netherlands, enriched with homegrown ingredients, and perfected by science. Among opening new horizons for men’s hair care by broadening its perspective, Keune features a modest yet impactful 25ml increase in all jar-packaged products.

This move isn’t just about offering more value for money – it’s also about reducing its unnecessary impact to the environment and economy by switching to jars made from 100% recycled plastic.

ALL GROOMING NEEDS SATISFIED

The 1922 by J.M. Keune range offers a complete hair care portfolio for men:

Care: The foundation of every routine with essential cleansing and nourishing products.

Style: Powerful styling tools that cater to every hair need, from classic to cutting-edge looks.

Beard: Elevates the grooming game with refined fragrances, and much more!

Richard Finney, founder of Captain Fawcett Ltd, travelled to Windsor Castle where he was presented with the prestigious Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

Richie has been awarded an MBE in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to International Trade and to Charity. 

After attending the ceremony on 12th February, Richie said: “It was a particular delight to meet His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who happens to be cultivating his own truly top notch beard. As a fellow Norfolk boy, I found him a most charming, and indeed, discerning fellow. Suffice to say, beard care tips may well have been shared!”

In his acceptance of this prestigious accolade, Richie is quick to emphasise that such esteemed recognition is in fact a tribute to extraordinary team work. 

“In the guise of Captain Fawcett, I am but truly honoured to have been awarded ‘Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ — Huzzah! However, I am but the conductor of an orchestra of talent, proud to work with a simply remarkable collective of people who strive for excellence every day. This is their achievement as much as it is mine.

“Furthermore, I believe international trade has always been more than simply business. For centuries, traders have carried ideas as well as goods, forging friendships where there might have been conflict and creating incredible opportunity. Amicable trade is simply one of our oldest and, perchance, greatest forces for understanding. Every product shipped is a testament to the notion that prosperity grows when nations work together.

Founded in 2010 at a kitchen table in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, Captain Fawcett has grown to become a beacon of British quality and craftsmanship in Gentleman’s Grooming and Hair Care, exporting to 45 countries and earning a reputation for its award-winning products and distinctive character.

Beyond business, Richie has driven Captain Fawcett’s commitment to social responsibility, with initiatives like ‘BarbersRide’, co-founded with Xavier Berrell and Colin Petrie, becoming a flagship of the brand’s charity mission. After this truly auspicious start to 2025, the next adventure awaits. Richard Finney MBE and the crew at HQ are currently preparing for Captain Fawcett’s ‘Great Expedition USA’, a 6 week solo motorcycle road trip through the heart of America.

College Star – Denman’s Big Blowout Competition opens TODAY!

College Star – Denman’s Big Blowout Competition launched last year and attracted an amazing response of over 500 entries from hairdressing students up and down the UK.

The simple online only competition asks students to upload their details and four images of their very best blow-dry for the chance to win £1000 cash.

Last year the winner was Yasmin Ainsley of East Durham College who took home the big prize. Denman CEO Kevin McNamee said: “We were absolutely overwhelmed with the response last year and so grateful to all the amazing college tutors who encouraged their students to get involved. Brilliant blow-dry skills are essential for young professionals and we wanted to create a competition that inspired and celebrated students as they master those skills. Last year’s entries set the bar high, so we are really looking forward to seeing 2025’s entries. Good luck everyone!”

Here’s what every College and student needs to know:
Competition opens: February 17th
Competition closes: March 21st
Winner announced: April 11th

How to win: Just upload images of the front, sides and back of one blow-dry look. For full entry requirements and T&C’s please follow the link College Star | Denman Brush – Denman UK.

Prize: £1000 for the student and a hamper of tools valued at £200 for the
student’s College department. PLUS, there’s a little something for the tutor too – the tutor whose students enter the most number of entries wins £250 AND the tutor of the winning student also wins £250! T&C’s apply

By Alyssa Cink

How you deal with criticism can impact your bottom line. According to a poll of 1,000 Americans commissioned by Toni & Guy, one in 10 clients has been so disappointed by a haircut, they’ve refused to pay for it. One percent even threatened to sue.

Here are 7 ways to handle barbershop complaints with ease.

1. Don’t ignore an unhappy client.

If you receive a harsh customer review, withdrawing is not the answer. Don’t ignore the flustered voicemails or simply delete the inflamed comments from your Instagram post.

Harvard Business Review’s study of more than 400,000 customer service-related tweets found that customers who received any kind of customer service response were willing to pay that company more. It didn’t matter if the customer was happy, furious, or sad. All of them were willing to recommend a brand for at least six months after their interaction.

Takeaway: Respond to all feedback, good and bad. Engaging with even the most confrontational, difficult hair clients can positively impact their brand loyalty.

2. Respond fast.

Harvard Business Review observed that, after 20 minutes of waiting for a reply, customers saw the brand as $3 more valuable. After waiting five minutes or less, many customers were willing to pay almost $20 more (an increase of 85 percent).

Takeaway: The sooner you reply to a barber shop complaint, the more value your brand captures.

3. Stay calm.

In his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie says customers can “hear” your smile through your voice.

So remind yourself to smile—yes, even if you can’t see your client’s face, and even if you don’t feel like smiling. By acting happy, you’ll influence your inner thoughts and change how you respond to unhappy clients.

Takeaway: Don’t match an upset client’s emotions. Instead, stay calm and smile.

4. Adopt HEAT.

Another trick is to adopt the HEAT model: Hear, Empathize, Apologize, and Take ownership.

First, people who feel heard, feel better. The 2020 National Customer Rage Study reported that one percent more active listening can yield 14 percent more gratitude from customers. Furthermore, one percent more empathy can yield up to 90 percent more gratitude.

So listen actively to upset clients. Use their names. Don’t interrupt. Give verbal cues over the phone, like repeating information to show you’re paying attention.

Takeaway: Hear and empathize.

Additionally, tell clients how sorry you are for the inconvenience or the trouble.

Don’t admit fault. Do present possible solutions, set expectations, and follow through.

Takeaway: Empathize and take ownership.

5. Rethink the refund.

In lieu of refunds, solutions like gift cards give you the opportunity to provide a stellar second experience and earn an unhappy client’s loyalty. In other words, it allows you to make things right at your salon, not someone else’s.

Takeaway: Instead of refunds, invite them back.

6. Learn from your mistakes.

As Carnegie writes in his book, learning from the past is way more productive–and fun–than getting defensive.

Takeaway: Never miss an opportunity to learn.

7. Set and practice your protocol.

Before complaints happen, set a complaints policy for all kinds of barbershop conflicts: in person, over the phone, and online.

Furthermore, give every customer-facing employee an opportunity to practice. Giving them pretend Google reviews or roleplaying stressful scenarios in-person keeps everyone calm and confident during real conflicts.

Make insurance part of your procedure.

If a barbershop complaint turns into something serious, like a lawsuit, make sure you have an insurance provider who’s in your corner.

Visit their our website and start your coverage journey with WellnessPro.

Among the VIPs flocking to New Orleans this week, Jahmyr Gibbs was spotted getting ready for Big Game weekend with a fresh cut and style by celebrity barber Vince Garcia on behalf of American Crew.

The leading men’s grooming brand has partnered with Athletes First in a luxury hospitality activation, called “The Block”, just outside the sports arena ahead of the Big Game.

As part of the American Crew Grooming Lounge, Vince is utilizing American Crew’s top styling products and franchises – Fiber, Forming, and Boost – to help athletes & VIPs get ready for Big Game celebrations and recreate this year’s hottest grooming trends.

NFL Wide Receiver, Braxton Berrios and Barber, Vince Garcia attend A1 x House Revlon with American Crew, John Varvatos and Juicy Couture in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The leading men’s grooming brand has partnered with Athletes First in a luxury hospitality activation, called “The Block”, just outside the sports arena ahead of the Big Game.

As part of the American Crew Grooming Lounge, Vince is utilizing American Crew’s top styling products and franchises – Fiber, Forming, and Boost – to help athletes & VIPs get ready for Big Game celebrations and recreate this year’s hottest grooming trends.

Following the incredible success of the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards (SHABA), the UK’s hair, beauty, and barbering industries are set to welcome an exciting new event – the British Hair, Beauty & Barbering Awards (BHBABs).

This highly anticipated awards ceremony will take place in England for the first time, shining a spotlight on the country’s most talented professionals and businesses. With registration officially opening on 1st February, the BHBAs will provide a prestigious platform to honour the skill, creativity, and dedication of those shaping the industry.

The event will take place in Liverpool in 2025, the event will bring together leading hairstylists, barbers, beauty therapists, makeup artists, aesthetics specialists, and rising stars from across the UK.

A National Celebration of Talent
Building on SHABA’s 13-year legacy, the BHBAs will elevate industry recognition to a national level, creating an inclusive and inspiring event for professionals at all stages of their careers. With a range of categories covering hair, beauty, barbering, and aesthetics, the awards will celebrate both established names and fresh talent making waves in the industry.

Founder Joanne Reid said:“After years of success with SHABA, we knew it was time to expand and bring a new platform to England. The British Hair, Beauty & Barbering Awards will honour the best in the business, providing well-deserved recognition to those who work tirelessly to push the industry forward. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone in Liverpool in October”

How to Enter
Entries will open on 1st February, with industry professionals invited to submit their applications via www.bhbabs.co.uk Categories will cover a broad spectrum of expertise, ensuring recognition for all aspects of the industry.

This is set to be the must-attend event for anyone passionate about hair, beauty, and barbering, offering an unmissable opportunity to network, celebrate success, and gain industry recognition.

For more information and to register, visit www.bhbabs.co.uk 

Have you ever wanted to add another string to your bow, or team up with another creative in a different field to create a multifaceted business? Barbershop X Cocktail Bar, or a Barbershop X SMP studio, or even a Barbershop X Coffee Shop… we have seen it all. But how do you practically manage two businesses at once?

Well, the best person to speak to is OC Junior IV Thomas, owner of Rich In Flesh Barbershop X Tattoo X Music Studio in Livermore, CA. So, that’s just what we did in our most recent Vagaro X EVO Live on Instagram!

While running three businesses simultaneously may seem like a huge task… OC Thomas has a secret weapon. Vagaro.  

“I got into the industry as a tattoo artist. I opened a studio, and knew I wanted to diversify my business. So, I invested into a barbershop with one of my best friends, and I took time to learn the industry. It’s very similar to the way tattoo studios work – with independent contractors making their own schedules. It’s the same free-spirited environment, so, I thought it would be perfect to combine the two.”

But how can diversifying your business help set you up for success?

OC told: “I feel like diversifying helped a lot, because it broadened our demographic. Some people who would never walk into a tattoo shop now do, because they’re getting a haircut, and they feel a little more welcome – vice versa. Barbering and tattooing are both forms of self-care, and so to have more than one reason to come to the studio… it builds a community and therefore a better business,” OC Thomas said.  

Find this, even more, in the full live down below.