More than 7,600 hair and barbering professionals attended HairCon 2025, nearly doubling its attendance from the previous year. The event brought together artists, barbers, salon owners, educators and brands from across the industry.
HairCon took place on 22 and 23 June at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. The format combined live demonstrations, panel talks, product showcases, networking and evening performances.
The event opened with an invitation-only night featuring the International Hairdressing Awards, held live in the UK for the first time. Four exclusive shows were also presented. “This year has been so tremendous on so many levels, the education has been unbelievable,” said Errol Douglas MBE. “Meeting your friends from all over the world… it’s a destination place.”
Organisers said the format was designed to move away from traditional trade shows, offering curated content and more integrated partnerships. “We wanted to rethink and breathe new life into the traditional trade show model,” said Michael Dynan, Co-Founder of The Assembly Events. “With three stages of content, immersive experiences and a more bespoke sponsorship package, we made sure the event provided commercial results for all the participants.”
Evening programming included live DJs, dancers and performers throughout the venue. “It feels like it’s business when you go to other shows. When you come to HairCon, it’s got kind of an artistic edge to it,” said David Thurston, Founder and CEO of Danger Jones.
According to event director Jane Galpin, the aim was to create a platform that reflects current industry needs and supports collaboration across generations. “Seeing over 7600 professionals under one roof, collaborating and learning, confirms that HairCon is more than just an event. It’s the start of something transformative for our industry,” she said.l
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