With so many stylists making the move to a more flexible way of working as a freelancer, it’s great to see the industry embracing this shift, continuing to offer events for these solo workers aimed to inspire and educate. One such event is The Freelance Hairdresser’s Association (FHA) highly anticipated Inspire event, which took place on Sunday, 9th June and was a vibrant celebration of talent, creativity, and the latest trends in the hairdressing industry.
Be Inspired
Attendees from across the UK gathered for a day filled with dynamic presentations, insightful demonstrations, and valuable networking opportunities. It began in the bustling shopping village, where freelance hairdressers enjoyed exclusive discounts, complimentary products, and in-depth discussions with leading professionals, enriching their knowledge and expanding their professional toolkits.
The main stage show commenced with an inspiring video of FHA founder Sheila Abraham’s recent MBE investiture. Sheila, addressing the audience, attributed her achievement to the unwavering support of the freelance community, declaring, “Receiving an MBE wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
Presenting…
The first brand presentation was led by Claire Turner, @thehaircolourlibrary from Wella, showcasing their latest collection, “Colour Crush,” which emphasises the summer take on the colour-blocking trend. The Wella team demonstrated how freelancers can incorporate these vibrant looks into their services, highlighting buttery blondes and warm rosy tones.
Next, Olaplex delved into their brand’s history and cutting-edge technology. They provided valuable insights on integrating Olaplex into freelance services, emphasising the financial benefits and how it can enhance your services and bring in more income without compromising client relationships.
In the spotlight
The spotlight then turned to L’Oréal, with Marlon Hawkins, Liberty May, and Kara Sanderson from Brooks and Brooks. Their presentation featured the evolution of the bob, the Pantone colour of the year, and innovative cutting and colouring techniques. Marlon then talked about his journey into the creative side of hairdressing, what it took for him to get there and his creative process.
GoSalon followed, demonstrating how selling retail products has never been easier for freelancers, with Indola’s ambassadors, Andy and Abbey Smith, closing the show with their global street style-inspired blonde story. Highlighting diverse textures, shapes, and styles inspired by blondes from across the globe. We saw mob-wife volume with a bespoke balayage, advanced bleaching and toning techniques, two-tone blending, root smudges into a global colour and graphic vibes and textured shapes using precise colouring and cutting methods.
On to the awards…
The event culminated in the prestigious Elite Hair Awards, celebrating the crème de la crème of the freelance hairdressing community. Congratulations to the winners:
Colour Specialist: Porsha Lewis
Vivid Colourista: Kirsty Innes
Prestige Hair Up: Kirsty Innes
Avant Garde: Nikki Smith
Barber’s Chair: Sarah Smith
Diva of Texture: Phie Kirk
Style Creator: Kirsty Innes
Commenting on the day the FHA founder Sheila Abrahams said; “It was a fantastic day. Our sponsors Wella, L’Oréal and Indola pulled out all the stops with the stage presentations and everyone that attended left inspired with new ideas to take back to their clients. Our exhibition village was bursting with fabulous offers and we welcomed new brands, Glowwa and Olaplex and of course the legendary goody bags. The raffle raised funds for the Hair and Beauty Charity which we have always supported and have donated more than £3000 over the years. Inspire! is a standalone event which gets better year on year! Why not join us next year all are welcome!”
The FHA’s Inspire event once again highlighted the incredible talent and innovation within the freelance hairdressing community and the importance of forming a community, getting together and continuing to be educated and inspired. Amen to that!
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