ABOUT SALON SMART
Salon Smart is Creative HEAD’s
business education and networking event for salon and barbershop owners and managers, delivering unique opportunities to learn from and spend time with a host of respected industry innovators.
Hosted at a central London venue
look forward to a jam-packed, day-long agenda featuring solo talks, group discussions, topical debates, live Q&A – and a working lunch!
Two decades on
the event is much-loved for its relaxed, fully inclusive and positive energy vibes – and for providing the perfect space for like-minded hair professionals to gather to gain next level insight and support one another.
Plus
endless opportunities to network with others and make valuable connections that could become lasting partnerships.
TICKETS
SINGLE TICKET £150 +VAT
- Access to the full education and networking agenda
- Hot and cold buffet lunch
- Catered refreshment breaks and all-day nutrition stations
- Access to product giveaways and special offers
- PLUS, a complimentary Standard 2-Day/Night Ticket to HairCon the revolutionary trade show, taking place on 14-15 June at the O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. You will be issued an e-ticket via See Tickets, by the end of April. This is non-transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash value
Controlled Attendance Policy
To safeguard the event experience, and in fairness to our event sponsors, Salon Smart operates a ‘controlled attendance’ policy. If you work for a product brand, product distributor or product marketer, please contact laura@theassemblyevents.com before booking. Failure to do so may result in your ticket being refunded and cancelled.
ON THE AGENDA
The key to successful social media engagement (get ready to focus)
Five things you need to know to make a difference to your business over the next 12 months
The secret to an award-winning client experience
New consumer insights – hot-off-the-press intel to help shape services and strategy
Guiding a team to greatness, and reaping the business rewards
The specialist: points of difference in a crowded market
Lost in transition – how to support and retain talented staff, fresh out of training
Live Q&A – your business questions answered
Live polling – share your industry views and business goals and find out what others have to say
New products, services and business opportunities
And much more...
SPEAKERS
Hear from brilliant people sharing real experiences, smart advice, and fresh thinking on business
Stephen Buller
Welsh-born Stephen Buller is the co-owner of Buller and Rice, a sustainable salon business with three locations in North and East London. He has been hairdressing for more than 20 years, 15 of those in London, and for the last eight, he has been growing the Buller and Rice brand together with business partner, Anita Rice. As well as delivering exceptional hairdressing services within a warm, inclusive, community-championing environment, Stephen and Anita have fostered a heartfelt approach to client care that has seen them listen and respond, proactively, to client needs, and which in 2025 earned them the Most Wanted award for Experience.
Jo Dyer
Jo Dyer is a skilled L’Oréal Colour Specialist and trichologist trainee, with more than 19 years industry experience. She’s also co-owner of YOKE, an ethical and sustabinable salon in Plymouth. Passionate to create an inclusive space, wellbeing is key to YOKE’s ethos and environment and Jo’s supportiveness towards her team and customers extends to the local community; she hosts women empowerment activities and promotes charities and creatives through health-focussed initiatives. Dedicated to nurturing talent, Jo and Steve constantly invest in the development and evolution of their employed team, which includes going the extra mile to provide the best support and opportunity for their apprentices, as they transition from graduate to stylist
Steve Dyer
Steve Dyer is a highly skilled hairdresser with more than 20 years’ experience. A specialist in precision cutting, he trained under the likes of Trevor Sorbie and Vidal Sassoon, and he’s worked at some of the leading salons in UK and Australia. In 2018, he and wife, Jo, opened YOKE – an ethical, environment-first salon in Plymouth, which was soon featuring on the ‘top salons’ guides in the likes of The Sunday Times Style and the Telegraph. Dedicated to nurturing talent and resolute in their belief that hairdressing can be a fulfilling and exciting career, Steve and Jo constantly invest in the development and evolution of their employed team, which includes going the extra mile to provide the best support and opportunity for their apprentices, as they transition from graduate to stylist.
Elle Foreman
Winner of two It List trophies in 2025, Elle Foreman is one of the fastest rising talents in British hairdressing. During just six years, she has established herself as a multi award-winning stylist, recognised both for her beautiful editorial work and her modern, client-focused approach, which is redefining the salon experience. As head of education at Tribe Salons, Elle has built a reputation for developing outstanding talent; the stylists she trains progress quickly, raise the standard of work across the business and often go on to earn recognition themselves. Elle’s influence has helped shape Tribe into a respected training environment, grounded in consistency, clarity and care.
Sarah Louise Keane
Sarah Louise is a bleaching expert, educator, mentor and the co-founder of HOST Manchester. She’s also the stylist who’s made scalp bleaching cool, confidence contagious, and honesty her brand. Known for her no-gatekeeping approach, she shares everything – the wins, the mistakes, and the real talk that helps hairdressers feel seen, skilled, and empowered. Through education, entertainment and unfiltered insights, Sarah Louise has built a community of hair professionals – including a combined 306K followers on Instagram and TikTok – who trust her to tell it straight and teach them how to own their craft online and in the chair. Her commendable efforts earned Sarah Louise the Most Wanted 2025 award for Engagement.
Rachael Lomax
With more than 20 years’ experience as a colourist and 17 running her Norfolk ‘copper colour only’ salon, Rachael Lomax – AKA The Copper Queen – is respected industry-wide as an authority on copper hair colour. From beautifully placed Balayage, to mesmerising melts and blazing hot hues, Rachael’s technical skillset is second to none, and she boasts a long history of happy students, flocking to her academy and online courses to learn from her specialist touch and master the nuances of copper tones. In 2025, Rachael scooped the Most Wanted award for Education, which she described as one of her prodest moments.
Emmanuelle Montague-Sayers
Emmanuelle Montague Sayers is the brand manager at Sally Montague Hair Group, a seven-strong (soon to be eight) salon group in the Midlands. After graduating in fashion print design and trend forecasting, Emmanuelle joined the family business, where she has played a key role in evolving the service offering and contributing to the company’s continued growth. Working across all salon locations, Emmanuelle operates behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the business. She oversees business development, human resources, marketing, and day-to-day operations, alongside supporting the future direction of the group.
Sally Montague
Sally Montague is founder of the Midlands-based Sally Montague Hair Group, which is set to open its eighth location in Spring 2026. Established in 1983, the business has earned a reputation for excellence, underpinned by a commitment to continuous education and the long-term development of its growing, fully employed team. Sally is especially passionate about training the next generation of hairdressing talent, championing high-quality apprenticeships and ongoing in-salon education to ensure every team member can thrive and progress within the industry. As the driving force behind the company, Sally leads from the front at the flagship purpose-built salon, spa, and studio in Ashbourne. She works on the salon floor alongside her talented team, ensuring every client receives a consistently exceptional, five-star experience.
Anita Rice
Originally from Tauranga, on the east coast of New Zealand’s north island, Anita Rice has been living in London for the last 15 years and working in hairdressing for 24. In 2018, bringing to the table her passion for green chemistry and regenerative farming, she joined forces with business partner, Stephen Buller, to launch Buller and Rice – now a three-strong, sustainable and inclusive salon group in the capital. As well as delivering exceptional hairdressing services within a warm, community-championing environment, Anita and Stephen have fostered a heartfelt approach to client care that has seen them listen and respond, proactively, to client needs, and which in 2025 earned them the Most Wanted award for Experience.
Billy Ryan
Billy is the co-director at family-run business, Tribe Salons, which he’s helped grow into two successful London locations. As well as overseeing company strategy, operations, human resources, training and the client experience, he has implemented progressive policy, such as gender equal pricing and sustainable practice, and has a sharp focus on structured systems and technology (both of which have helped to keep Tribe profitable). Billy’s leadership style has nurtured a loyal and award-winning team of 26, too; focussed on clarity, consistency and calm decision making, he operates a caring, values-led approach, and has crafted working environments where people can grow, perform and build long-term careers.
Nancy Stripe
Nancy Stripe is an internationally respected colour expert specialising in all areas of colour application, but notably, grey blending. Her signature techniques empower clients to embrace their natural beauty, while her understanding of the psychology and emotion behind hair colour has made her a sought-after industry educator; her lived-in colour and grey blending educational programmes have been so successful, sessions are delivered both in real life and online and she travels the world sharing her expertise with fellow professionals – helping them to unlock their full potential. As well as delivering bespoke colour services and education, Nancy runs Stripe Colour Studio in Cheshire. She’s also a Global Artist for L’Oréal Professionnel.
Carolyn Sweeney
Carolyn has been in the salon industry for more than 35 years, working her way up as manager, then owner of Creations salon in Chichester, where she’s currently looking after a team of over 50. She’s aware of all the challenges her role and responsibility brings, and understands how, in the times we are in, to plan your future business accordingly. A respected educator and mentor providing honest guidance and solutions to business owners, Carolyn loves seeing smaller businesses take on bigger challenges to grow.
Monica Teodoro
Monica Teodoro is the general manager of education and professional development at L’Oréal Professional Products in the UK and Ireland. With a career heavily rooted in the hairdressing industry and an unrelenting passion for supporting its future evolution, she has become an established and trusted voice for all hair professionals. From how the industry can power ahead through first-class education, to nurturing talent and managing online-offline strategy, Monica is dedicated to paving a way for a new era of hairdressing.
Sussan Verghese
With a 20-year career building brands and businesses internationally, Sussan Verghese now leads L’Oréal Professionnel as general manager in the UK and Ireland. At L’Oréal, she led multiple brands into growth and acceleration by leveraging her premium hair and beauty category experience. L’Oréal Professionnel is a brand that has been committed to the hairdressing industry for more than 115 years and Sussan is passionate about helping to empower salons for future success, by not only providing innovative products and educational excellence but also by recognising and scaling trends and co-creating new professional services powered by technology.
Jack Williams-Hirst
Jack Williams-Hirst is celebrated for his expertise in extensions and precision styling and has been working in the industry for more than two decades. He’s also the co-founder of Williams & Hirst, a co-working salon in Soho, London, which he opened with husband Ross in 2024. Billed as “a new model for hair” and built with creativity and connection at its heart, the 3,200sq ft multi-award-winning space boasts design features including a private styling area and VIP dressing room, cleverly named ‘departments’ highlighting the skillsets of the team, and a retail experience to knock others out of the park.
Ross Williams-Hirst
Ross Williams-Hirst has more than 25 years’ experience as a creative director and is known for his refined approach to cutting and colouring. He’s also the co-founder of Williams & Hirst, a co-working salon in Soho, London, which he opened with husband Ross in 2024. Billed as “a new model for hair” and built with creativity and connection at its heart, the 3,200sq ft multi-award-winning space boasts design features including a private styling area and VIP dressing room, cleverly named ‘departments’ highlighting the skillsets of the team, and a retail experience to knock others out of the park.
RELATED CONTENT
Explore more from the Salon Smart archives
BRANDS
Connect with the teams behind the products and services designed to support and elevate your business
HEADLINE SPONSOR
The story of L’Oréal Professionnel began in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, with a disruptive innovation that changed the rules of hair colour. The company has since become the world’s largest beauty group – thanks to its combination of world-class innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Today, L’Oréal Professionnel empowers the professional community and continues to inspire the next generation of hair professionals all over the world, driving the professional difference and creativity, led by ground-breaking innovation and artistry.
ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
Michael Douglas has been in the industry for over 35 years, taking him from salon sessions to catwalk shows with Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, and from celebrity styling with Davina McCall and Dawn French to TV Hair Expert on This Morning and The One Show. In 2022, he established mdlondon to help women feel fantastic about their hair, whether they’re working from home, running errands, or heading out for a night on the town. The high-quality, user-friendly, award-winning hair tools and brushes, combined with practical advice and tutorials, boost hair confidence both for consumer and hair professional.
VENUE & LOCATION
Convene
155 Bishopsgate, Floor 1, London EC2M 3TY
Located in the City of London, a stone’s throw from London’s Liverpool Street Station, Salon Smart’s brand-new home for 2026 is a sophisticated, purpose-built space for meetings and exhibitions. Light, bright and spacious, equipped with modern tech and offering delicious in-house catering, Convene 155 Bishopsgate provides the perfect environment for learning, networking and togetherness. We’re so excited to see you there!
Getting to the venue
By Underground:
Liverpool Street (Central, Circle, Elizabeth, Hammersmith & City or Metropolitan Line)
For exits from all underground lines, follow signs for Liverpool Street mainline station. Once on the main concourse of the mainline station, look for signs for Way Out 1 (Bishopsgate West) located next to platform 14. Take the escalator or stairs up to street level where you will see a Police Station on the opposite side of the road. Turn left and follow Bishopsgate past the entrance to 135 Bishopsgate. Turn left up the external arcade stairs. Enter 155 Bishopsgate, once inside take the escalator on your left up to the first floor. At the top of the escalator turn right and enter the gold double doors into the 155 Bishopsgate 1st floor reception.
By Train:
Liverpool Street Station
Follow directions above for
By Bus:
155 Bishopsgate is served by many bus routes including 388, 242, 149, 135, 78, 48, 47, 42, 35, 26 and 8.
Parking:
There is no parking at the venue.
There is an NCP car park at Finsbury Square (EC2A 1AD).
Please remember the venue sits within the congestion charge zone – for further information visit www.cclondon.com
Click for more venue information visit www.convene.com/locations/london/155-bishopsgate
FAQ
What is Salon Smart?
Salon Smart is Creative HEAD magazine’s annual business education and networking event, providing a whole day of new insight, learning and inspiration, delivered by industry experts and innovators.
Who is the event for?
Salon and barber shop owners, employers, and their teams.
What’s the vibe and format?
Friendly, informal and inclusive. All the main sessions take place back-to-back, in one space, with seating for all, while meeting, mixing, eating and drinking takes place in another. We aim to create an environment where attendees feel comfortable, confident and supported to share their own experiences and ask their burning questions.
What will I learn?
Salon Smart is packed with support, guidance, and fresh thinking on business, to help you build a better one. The agenda comprises a variety of theme-led sessions including, for example, response pieces to changes in business or industry legislation, insight into current and future customer trends, guiding a team to greatness, shaping an award-winning space, crafting the ultimate customer experience, the power and value of providing specialist services, optimising client engagement, and so much more! You’ll also be connected with the hair and business brands whose products and services could revolutionise and support future business growth.
Is food and drink included in the ticket price?
Yes! There’s a delicious hot and cold buffet on the lunch menu, plus drinks and snacks served during scheduled breaks. We also provide all-day nutrition stations for refreshment on the fly!
Do I need to bring anything on the day?
Just you and your smart phone or other smart device (if you have one), to access our digital event guide (don’t worry if you don’t have a smart device, we have printed agendas on site). We’ll provide some note-taking materials, and you won’t need to spend a penny while you’re with us. Ooh, if you carry a reusable water bottle, bring that with you, too!
I’m not a salon owner or manager; can I still attend the event?
The content delivered at Salon Smart is designed, primarily, to support and inform hair business owners, employers and their teams – the workplace decision-makers. But regardless of your status at work, if you are a hair professional and feel Salon Smart’s up your street, then of course we would love to welcome you. Unfortunately, it is not possible to attend Salon Smart if you are a product brand, product distributor or product marketer (unless the product brand has sponsorship affiliation).
I have a question; how do I get in touch?
Please email laura@theassemblyevents.com in the first instance. For urgent enquiries, you can call +44 (0)1277 288315.