Salon International 2026 saw some of the biggest names in British hairdressing take to the HJ Stage for two packed days of creativity, education and live hair.
From commercial and editorial looks to cutting, colour, styling and boundary-pushing creative work, the stage brought together leading artists and teams to showcase their latest techniques and share plenty of inspiration with the crowd. There were also milestone celebrations, competitions and emerging talent taking their moment in the spotlight.
Whether you missed a session or simply want to relive the action, here’s everything that happened on the HJ Stage at Salon International 2026.
Sunday 4 October
10.30 - 11.10 Alex Thaddeus
11.15 - 11.55 Jake Unger and Demetri Deacon-Jones
Jake and Demetri represented Dyson with a series of glamourous looks, embracing soft texture and natural movement.
12.00 - 12.40 Sophie Gibson and Jonathan Turner
12.45 - 13.25 TONI&GUY
British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, winners and finalists recreated some of their winning looks, joined on stage by British Hairdresser of the Year. Sharp shapes, fluid movement and eye catching colour transcended commercial and creative hairstyles
13.30 - 14.10 Rick Roberts and Zoe Roberts
14.15 - 14.55 Akin Konizi and the HOB Artistic Team
Haircutting at its best, the current Artistic Team of the Year HOB Academy artistic team, cut directional but beautiful shapes on stage. Led by Nestor Sanchez, they showcased strong classic techniques with a creative twist, partnered with powerful outfits and wearable textures. Talking about the importance of technique, fringes took centre stage with softly curved, asymmetric and inverted triangle shapes to emphasis cheekbones and face shapes.
15.00-15.40 Goldsworthy's
Celebrating 65 years in business, Goldsworthy's took to the stage to showcase hair through the ages, with seven models each sporting a unique, decade-inspired style.
15.45 - 16.05 Fellowship FAME Team 2026
16.05 - 16.25 Fellowship FAME Team Final and Presentation
16.30 - 17.10 HJ's Extensions Competition, sponsored by Remi Cachet
HJ’s Extensions Competition of the Year, sponsored by Remi Cachet, returned to Salon International 2026, putting the skills and creativity of some of the industry’s talented extension specialists in the spotlight.
A huge congratulations goes to Melanie McDonald, who was crowned the winner of HJ’s Extensions Competition of the Year 2026, sponsored by Remi Cachet.
The competition celebrated the skill, precision and creativity involved in professional hair extensions, giving the finalists the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise live in front of the Salon International audience.
Head here for a deeper catch up!
17.15 - 17.55 Tracey Ann Smith
Tracey introduced the French & Ivi team to showcase a collection of editorial, vivid looks. From colour blocking on long locks to bold panelling, the presentation captivated the audience's attention.
Monday 5 October
10.30 - 11.10 Melissa Timperley, Sara Williams
While on the HJ Stage, Melissa created a pixie cut, with a focus on adding softness and ensuring femininity. Her top tip when cutting? "Really let your clients feel their hair. They can point out any bits that they don't think sit quite right, or perhaps aren't the right length. This approach helps them to feel like they have more of a say in the appointment – something that can keep them coming back to you."
Meanwhile, Sara worked on a curly cut, removing some weight, adding a fringe and incorporating some freehand personalisation at the end.
11.15 - 11.55 Sanrizz
12.00 - 12.40 Steven Smart
12.45 - 13.10 Darrel Starkey and Emma Simmons
13.30 - 14.10 Jack Howard
For his Next Gen Masterclass, Jack emphasised the importance of mastering the basics – in particular, sectioning, dexterity, consultation and colour theory.
Jack showcased his colouring techniques live on stage, before also sharing his advice on a plan to succss: Mastering your skills must come first, which will help you build your confidence second, and then your reputation will develop over time.
14.15 - 14.55 Adam Reed
15.00 - 15.40 Giuseppe Di Rosa, Edward Taylor, Laszlo Roman, Dean Lawton-Taylor, Natasha Robertson, Troy Boyd, Kymberly Holmes & Shanalise Coope
Members of the L'Oréal Professionnel ID Artist Programme showcased some of the skills they have learnt while taking part in the two-year talent development and mentorship initiative. On stage, each member created distinct looks, from Edward's red carpet-inspired pony with added sparkle, to Kymberly's autumnal cherry cola, and Natasha's statement shape updo, chosen to make the most of her model's colour.
15.45 - 16.25 Ky Wilson
16.30 - 17.00 Dylan Jack McConnachie
