With Salon International fast approaching (4-5 October at Excel London) it’s time to start thinking about planning your time at the show
From live education to networking opportunities with brands, competitions and business guidance, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
And with Sassoon bringing its technical excellence and creative vision to Salon Live, it’s set to be one of the must-see moments of the event – and you can book your ticket here.
What is Salon Live?
Salon Live is an inspiring programme of education led by some of the most influential figures in hairdressing, including the Sassoon International Creative Team. Taking place in a 750-seat auditorium just off the show floor, you’ll be taken through live demonstrations that will provide you with first-hand insight into the techniques, trends, and business conversations driving the industry forward today.
Sassoon’s Salon Live 2026
For those of you who are yet to secure your ticket, we caught up with Mark Hayes, Senior International Creative Director, and Richard Ashforth, International Creative Director, to learn more about what you could be missing out on…
HJ: How long has the team been planning the Live?
Mark Hayes: The planning starts months in advance. It isn’t simply about deciding which looks to present; we consider the overall message, the techniques we want to share and, importantly, what will be most relevant to hairdressers now.
HJ: What is the theme for the Salon Live, and what inspired this?
Richard Ashforth: The theme is about taking the Sassoon principles of precision and using them as a foundation for creativity. We want to show that technique isn’t restrictive once you truly understand it; it gives you the freedom to explore, adapt and create something individual.
HJ: How many looks will be featured?
Mark Hayes: We’ll be presenting a carefully edited selection of looks rather than trying to show too much. The important thing for us is that each look brings something different and gives the audience a clear idea or technique they can take away.
HJ: What skills will attendees have the opportunity to learn? Are there any particular cutting or colour techniques being showcased?
Richard Ashforth: There will be a strong focus on shape, balance, suitability and the relationship between cut and colour. We’ll explore precision cutting alongside more progressive approaches to technique and demonstrate how colour can enhance and change the perception of the shape rather than simply decorate it.
HJ: Who is the Live aimed at? Will there be something for both newer and more experienced hairdressers?
Mark Hayes: Absolutely. Sassoon education has always been built around principles that can be understood at different levels. A younger hairdresser might take away a clearer understanding of technique, while someone with more experience may see a different way of approaching shape, proportion or suitability. The objective is to inspire both.
HJ: What does Sassoon hope viewers will take away from the session?
Richard Ashforth: Ideas. We don’t want people simply to reproduce what they see on stage. We want them to understand the thinking behind the work and then interpret those principles in their own way, for their own clients and their own creative development.
HJ: What does live education offer that you don’t necessarily get from watching a pre-recorded tutorial?
Mark Hayes: There’s an immediacy to live education that you can’t completely replicate on screen. You see the decisions being made in real time, how the hair responds, how a technique develops and how we adapt along the way. You’re experiencing the process, not simply seeing the finished result.
HJ: Why should hairdressers make time to attend Sassoon’s Salon Live?
Richard Ashforth: Because education is ultimately an investment in yourself. Stepping away from the salon and surrounding yourself with new ideas can completely change the way you approach your work. If you leave with one technique, one idea or even one question that makes you look at hair differently, then it has been worthwhile.
Sassoon’s Salon Live will feature members of the Sassoon International Creative Team, including:
- Mark Hayes, Senior International Creative Director
- Richard Ashforth, International Creative Director
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Zsolt Nagy, Creative Director
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Silvia Salerno, Senior Creative Director
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Lina Ryan, Senior Creative Director
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Caroline Spencer, Senior Colour Director
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Matt Carroll-Grubb, Senior Colour Director
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Pink Grubb, Senior Colour Director
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Aaron Keegan, Assistant Creative Director
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Rudi Rizzo, Future Creative
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Aris Intzes, Assistant Creative Director
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Paola Vrijheid, Future Creative
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Reece Jackson, Future Creative
Don't forget to book your ticket to Salon International here!
