The evening welcomed an inspiring line-up of industry talent, including Sam McKnight, founder of Hair by Sam McKnight; Charlotte Mensah, founder of the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil range; Josh Wood, founder of Josh Wood Colour; Melanie Brown MBE; and celebrity hairstylist Rory McPhee, Michael Douglas, Founder of mdlondon and Joseph Grigsby, CEO of Philip Kingsley.

While British hairdressing is celebrated internationally for its creativity and expertise, its impact reaches far beyond the salon chair. Hairdressers and barbers are employers, entrepreneurs and trusted members of their communities, helping to sustain local high streets while creating spaces for human connection and conversation.

The event explored the role of hairdressing and its importance , drawing on the British Beauty Council’s latest report, The Impact of Beauty: Revealing Its Social, Cultural and Economic Value, compiled by Oxford Economics and supported by L’Oréal Groupe. 

Baroness Luciana Berger, Member of the House of Lords, joined the celebration and shared insights on the beauty industry’s wider social and economic impact, the importance of recognising the sector’s value beyond the services it provides and its contribution to community wellbeing. 

The Impact of Beauty report highlights this contribution. Consumers spend an average of £27 a month on personal care, while more than 55% of personal care appointments take place on the high street. For 86% of these visits, the appointment is the primary reason for leaving home, and half of visitors go on to spend at neighbouring shops and cafés.

On social impact, the report found that 44% of frequent personal care users have meaningful personal conversations with their service providers, highlighting the important role salons and barbershops can play in fostering human connection and everyday wellbeing.

The importance of the sector is echoed by The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, who recognised the value of hairdressing businesses to individuals and local economies.

“I love a chat with my local barber, and this report is a good reminder that these businesses are about much more than the services they provide. For many people, they’re places to catch up, have a chat and feel good about themselves. They help keep our high streets busy and support local jobs in every corner of the country, and I want to make sure the industry has the backing it needs to keep growing.”

The event reinforced the British Beauty Council’s commitment to championing the sector and ensuring its social, cultural and economic contribution is recognised by policymakers, businesses and the public.

“Hosting A Celebration Of British Hairdressing in Manchester signalled the British Beauty Council’s commitment to considering the entire workforce of hairdressers and I was thrilled to have so many working hairdressers in the room representing many areas in the UK from the Midlands and London up to Scotland. By highlighting the importance of our industry on community and society, specifically the reverence held by so many people for their relationship with hairdressers and barbers, we promote a positive face to the government. We remind and inform on the need to support, safeguard and invest in hairdressing and beauty.”

Nicky Pope – Publisher Tribu-te Magazine UK, Owner of IHAA Ltd media company and Chair of the Hair Committee at the British Beauty Council.

Discover the findings of The Impact of Beauty: Revealing its Social, Cultural and Economic Value here.