Toni and guy celebrate a fabulous 50th with knebworth festival

TONI&GUY's 50th anniversary celebrations hit a high note this weekend with their very own - and hairdressing's first ever - festival. Over 4,000 guests from across the globe descended on Knebworth House in Hertfordshire for the event, which featured two stages, campsites, food trucks, fairground rides, bars and pampering pop-ups from Essie, ghd and L'Oreal Professionnel. Headline acts for the spectacular included Labrinth, Iggy Azalea and Tinchy Stryder, with beatboxer Beardyman making a surprise appearance under the guise of a colour chemist from Stuttgart as a gift from Wella Professionals. But while the music might have got the party started, the celebrations were really all about hair and guests were treated to some seriously spectacular presentations that proved just why TONI&GUY have stood the test of time for the last 50 years. [gallery ids="31041,31043,31042,31044,31046,31047"] A marching band kicked off proceedings, leading festival-goers into the big top where an enormous catwalk dominated - and designer Giles Deacon was poised behind the decks to soundtrack the evening. After the Mascolo family welcomed the crowd - with Toni revealing that they might be celebrating their 50th, but that they'd, "only just begun". it was on to the TONI&GUY awards before the creative shows got started. Guests were treated to fashion week presentations from Giles and Jean-Pierre Braganza - just two of the many shows that TONI&GUY style as official sponsors of London Fashion Week. There was also a look back in to the archives, with some of the most memorable TONI&GUY hairstyles from over the past half-century presented; from Anthony Mascolo's 1978 Veil to outstanding creativity by HJ's reigning Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year, Indira Schauwecker. [gallery ids="31072,31071,31069,31065,31066,31067"] Indira also shared her latest avant-garde work in a breathtaking laser show, which saw models bending light, sending shattered rays of red light across the catwalk and into an awestruck crowd. The evening also provided the chance for guests to enjoy a first look at the brand new TONI&GUY collection, 50/50. These ten cuts and colours will go on to shape work in salons across the globe over the next twelve months - and clients are in for a treat, as the strikingly fashion-forward collection featured references to looks from the archives, as well as inspiration from the fashion week frontline. Flagbearers representing TONI&GUY's global dominance took to the stage to close the evening, accompanied by the marching band and the fantastically talented team who had made hairdressing's first ever festival such an inspiring success. Don't miss your chance to see the TONI&GUY 50/50 collection in full with their show at Salon International 2013.