Technology and AI
AI and digital tools are moving from hype to the salon floor, changing booking, marketing, consultations and operations. This hub tracks the technology relevant to UK beauty businesses — practical AI, automation, apps and the bigger tech shifts in retail and services — with a clear eye on what actually helps owners rather than what merely sounds futuristic. We cover the opportunities and the cautions. If you want to use technology to save time and grow, without being sold a gimmick, start here.
52 articles
LANEIGE Seoul Store: AI Personalises Beauty Retail
LANEIGE's new flagship store in Seoul uses AI to offer personalised beauty experiences, raising questions for smaller UK businesses.
AI Content Tools Need Your Brand's Personal Touch
AI tools require specific brand training to avoid generic content, with a personal website remaining the core digital asset.
Color Cosmetics: Performance, Trust, and Sustainability Key for 2026
Colour cosmetics in 2026 will prioritise performance and reliability, with transparency and sustainability as key consumer expectations.
Leeds Summit Tackles Salon Profitability and AI
Leeds Regional Growth Summit on June 8, 2026, features experts discussing salon profitability, team retention, marketing, and AI integration.
Leeds Summit Hosts AI and Growth Strategy Roundtables for Salons
Salon and spa professionals can attend free AI and business strategy roundtables at the Leeds Regional Growth Summit on June 8, 2026.
Leeds Growth Summit Tackles AI, Profitability for Salons
Leeds Regional Growth Summit on June 8, 2026, offers salon owners education on AI, profitability, and marketing, featuring expert-led sessions.
Insider One buys Bluecore to boost AI customer engagement
Insider One acquires Bluecore, integrating AI-driven customer engagement tools and data from over 400 retail brands.
Leeds Summit Hosts AI and Growth Strategy Roundtables
Salon and spa owners can attend free AI and growth strategy roundtables at the Leeds Regional Growth Summit on 8 June 2026.
Amorepacific Unveils AI-Powered Flagship Store in Seoul
Amorepacific's flagship AMORE YONGSAN store in Seoul has reopened, featuring AI diagnostics and personalised beauty experiences.
Douglas Q2 Sales Climb 1.1% Amid Omnichannel Push
Douglas Group's Q2 sales rose 1.1% to €949.7 million, driven by e-commerce and loyalty programs, as investments shift to digital.
Chanel Tops Brand Finance List Amid Industry Slowdown
Chanel leads Brand Finance's Cosmetics 50 2026 ranking amid a sector slowdown, with Hugel and APR reporting record earnings.
Birmingham Growth Summit Offers Salon Business Boost
The Birmingham Regional Growth Summit on 11 May offers salon professionals practical advice on profitability, team management, and AI.
Coty Integrates AI for Content Across CoverGirl, Rimmel
Coty will use Pencil's AI platform for content creation across CoverGirl, Rimmel, Sally Hansen, and Max Factor, starting July.
AI Now Drives UK Beauty Business Operations
AI is now actively integrated into UK beauty and personal care businesses, impacting operations from development to retail.
Major Brands Report Q1 Growth Amid Geopolitical and Economic Pressures
Major cosmetics groups saw Q1 growth despite geopolitical pressures, with AI and M&A driving innovation and expansion.
BarberEVO Issue 49 Highlights Brand Legacy and Modern Practices
BarberEVO Issue 49 features iconic brand Rolda, discusses traditional vs modern barbering, and explores sustainability efforts.
Novo Nordisk Integrates OpenAI AI for Drug Discovery
Novo Nordisk partners with OpenAI to integrate AI for drug discovery, aiming for full implementation by end of 2026. AI will support scientific staff.
AI Strategist Marnie Wills to Keynote Salon Growth Summits
AI strategist Marnie Wills will speak at the Birmingham and Leeds Regional Growth Summits 2026, focusing on AI integration for salon leaders.
Phorest Salon Software Drives Green Initiatives
Phorest Salon Software implements reforestation projects, waste reduction partnerships, and digital tools to help salons operate more sustainably.
Investment and AI Drive Beauty Sector Shifts in March 2026
March 2026 highlighted beauty sector shifts with SEMCAP's investment strategy launch and AI-driven retail expansion by Sephora.
Sephora Integrates AI Chatbot for Personalised Beauty Shopping
Sephora's new AI shopping tool within ChatGPT offers personalised beauty advice and product recommendations, initially piloting in the US.
BASF price hikes, APR India launch, L'Oréal AI push highlighted
BASF raises prices, APR launches in India, and L'Oréal expands AI partnerships, reflecting ongoing industry shifts.
Glasgow Summit Targets Salon Profitability and Growth
Glasgow Regional Growth Summit on 27 April 2026 offers salon owners practical insights into profitability, team building, and marketing.
Birmingham Growth Summit Tackles Salon Profit and AI
The Birmingham Regional Growth Summit on 11 May 2026 will cover AI, profit strategies, and team building for salon owners.
L'Oréal Uses NVIDIA AI to Speed Up Product Discovery
L'Oréal is now using NVIDIA's ALCHEMI AI framework to simulate ingredient behaviour and speed up product discovery by up to 100 times.
Salon Apps: Automation is Key for Efficiency and Client Loyalty
Salon booking apps streamline operations, reduce no-shows, and enhance client loyalty through features like 24/7 online booking and automated reminders.
Amorepacific Integrates Shopping App with ChatGPT
Amorepacific launches Amore Mall, an AI-powered shopping app, directly on OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform, reaching over 900 million users globally.
John Lewis Embraces AI and TikTok Shop for Future Sales
John Lewis invests £800m in AI shopping tech and pilots a TikTok Shop, featuring luxury beauty brands, aiming for younger customers.
Skin Care 2026: Consumers Demand Proof Over Promises
Skin care's 2026 growth hinges on proof, trust, and measurable value as consumers demand science-backed efficacy and transparent brand stories.
Unilever's New CIO Signals AI Push in Beauty Business
Reema Jain's appointment as CIO at Unilever highlights the company's accelerated push for AI integration in its beauty and personal care operations.
Salon Growth: Data Shows 67% Saw 30% Rise Last Year
67% of salons saw over 30% growth last year, driven by smart strategy and digital tools, not luck.
UK Beauty Retail Shifts: Experience Over Transaction
UK beauty retailers are re-imagining physical stores as experience hubs, integrating wellness and AI to move beyond simple transactions.
Beauty Giants Shift Gears: AI, Legal Battles, and Ownership Changes Dominate
Beauty giants are integrating AI, facing legal scrutiny, and restructuring ownership and operations across global markets.
AI Nail Tech Enhances Disney Shanghai's Lunar New Year Offering
Disney Shanghai featured an AI nail art machine by Umia Beauty in February, applying themed designs for Lunar New Year shoppers.
Coty Adds AI Consultation to Hong Kong Fragrance Store
Coty's new My Scent Edit store in Hong Kong features AI-powered consultations, aiming to boost customer engagement in fragrance retail.
Clarins AI Shade Finder achieves 96% foundation match accuracy
Clarins introduces an AI Shade Finder using spectroscopy, boasting 96% foundation match accuracy across 100+ locations.
J&J Neutrogena Skin Scan Case Settled for US$4.7m
Johnson & Johnson settles US$4.7m lawsuit over Neutrogena Skin360 facial scans, highlighting risks of AI data collection without consent.
Phia Secures $35M Series A for AI Shopping Agent Platform
AI shopping startup Phia raised US$35 million in Series A funding, reaching a US$185 million valuation to scale its intelligent shopping agent platform.
Amazon Considers US$50 Billion Investment in AI Firm OpenAI
Amazon is reportedly in discussions for a US$50 billion investment in AI developer OpenAI, underscoring the rapid global competition in artificial intelligence.
Coty taps OpenAI for AI integration across teams
Coty is collaborating with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT Enterprise across select teams, enhancing AI use with advanced models and security.
VTCT Launches AI English Test for International Beauty Learners
VTCT launches an AI-powered English language test, VELA, for international beauty learners, assessing skills with industry-specific content.
Medical Scheduling Software Market to Reach $879 Million by 2031
The medical scheduling software market is projected to nearly double from $469.61 million in 2025 to $879.32 million by 2031, driven by AI integration and mobile self-scheduling.
Beauty Tech Integration Accelerates Beyond 2026
Beauty tech innovations at CES 2026 demonstrate technology now leads the industry, influencing everything from product design to consumer trust.
Salon Booking Software Market Set for 15% Growth to $4.88 Billion by 2029
The resource booking software market will grow 15.2% in 2025 to $2.81B, driven by hybrid work and AI scheduling. Forecasts reach $4.88B by 2029.
AI Assistants Set to Transform Healthcare Operations
AI-powered virtual assistants in healthcare are set for rapid growth, driven by system pressures and workforce shortages, with US$29.63 billion projected by 2032.
Conversational Marketing Tools Market to Reach $4.5 Billion by 2033
The global conversational marketing tools market is set to reach $4.5 billion by 2033, driven by AI adoption and rising consumer demand for instant engagement.
2025: AI Dominates Beauty Tech Amid Stricter Rules
2025 saw AI, immersive commerce, and automation become core beauty industry infrastructure, while regulation and cybersecurity risks grew.
AI to actively assist healthcare teams in 2026
By 2026, AI will transition from supportive tool to active healthcare partner, handling tasks and easing clinician burden.
Valerie Health Secures $30M Series A for AI Doctor Front Offices
Valerie Health secured $30 million Series A funding to scale AI front offices for independent physician practices.
RPA Market to Surge to $247 Billion by 2035
The global robotic process automation market is set for explosive growth, expected to reach $247 billion by 2035.
AI's Growing Role in UK Hairdressing: Opportunity or Threat?
UK hairdressing leaders debate AI's role, seeing potential for efficiency but fearing a loss of authenticity and craft.
AI and Online Sales: A Black Friday Wake-Up Call for UK Salons
AI's role in boosting US online sales highlights the need for UK salons to adapt to evolving consumer expectations and digital trends.