As 2026 dawns, industry leaders anticipate significant evolution in the hairdressing sector. Benjamin Shipman of The Hair Movement, a business with seven years of consistent growth, highlights a shift towards scalability and a re-evaluation of leadership, time management, and team culture. He notes clients are more informed and values-driven, demanding continuous refinement to maintain relevance and exceptional service. Shipman advocates for the co-worker model, offering stylists autonomy with structure.
Shipman's key advice for 2026 centres on a thorough financial audit. He urges owners to examine every cost, asking if it aids business growth, improves standards, guest experience, team culture, or profit. Adjustments, including cuts or smarter reallocation, are necessary if the answer is no.
Billy Ryan of Tribe Salons observes that businesses focusing on fundamentals rather than superficial marketing tactics are now being rewarded. He predicts the gap between well-managed salons and others will widen. Ryan suggests that salons relying on a single personality struggle to scale sustainably. He advises owners to control what they can, define business objectives clearly, and set priorities accordingly. Effective planning, he states, shifts focus from firefighting to forecasting.
Sean Hanna, a salon entrepreneur, believes tough trading conditions will push more owners to become business-focused alongside their creative pursuits. He suggests reviewing 2025 performance as a baseline. Hanna recommends dedicating time to a strategy meeting to plan improvements in four key areas: team motivation and education, client experience, financial controls, and marketing. He stresses that consistent small improvements are valuable, and repeating last year's methods will yield similar or worse results.
Harry Andreou of Studio U anticipates 2026 will see a continued shift towards self-employment, with stylists seeking flexibility and autonomy. His new venture, Studio U, aims to provide an environment where artists can shape their own success. Andreou advises businesses to remain open to new working methods and embrace evolution over clinging to outdated systems. He cautions against confusing comfort with progress, suggesting that even small changes can create space for better work-life balance.
