AUTUMN SHOWS

THAT’S A WRAP

A glimpse of what went on at our leading trade shows Professional Beauty North and Autumn

Taking place in September and October at Manchester Central and Excel London respectively, Professional Beauty North and Professional Beauty Autumn saw over 24,000 salon owners, spa professionals, aestheticians, nail techs and beauty therapists uniting to discover the latest trends, technologies and treatments in the industry.

Big conversations

One of the defining features of any Professional Beauty show is the calibre of live education on offer – and this year’s PB North and PB Autumn events were no exception. Visitors to both shows were treated to a packed programme of expert-led talks, thought-provoking panel discussions and inspiring live demos across the stages.

Live recordings of the Pro Beauty Pod also made a return, with big names such as facialist Teresa Tarmey, makeup artists Buster Knight and James Mac, and aesthetics expert Andrew Hansford all set to appear in the upcoming third season.

PB North saw the introduction of a new format for discussion – the Networking Round Tables. These intimate sessions led by leading industry pros provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and learn from successful business owners, exploring topical issues such as regulation and staff retention.

Meanwhile, over in our Salon and Spa Owners Club at PB Autumn, Ryan and Hollie Power, co-founders of Salonology, hosted sessions on “The 5 keys to growing your beauty business” and “Fearless selling in your salon”, providing business owners with actionable strategies to increase profits, strengthen client relationships and futureproof their businesses.

Jodie-Leigh Davidson-Joyner, owner of home-based business Come Spa With Me, shared, “I loved my day at Professional Beauty North. The free ticket and app made it so easy to plan my visit and the VIP area was a lifesaver for a sit-down and refresh (especially being pregnant). So many friendly faces, helpful staff, lovely freebies and zero pushy sales. Just genuine chats and loads of inspiration. Perfect for any beauty or holistic business owner.”

Alison Haynes, director of Alison Haynes Skin Clinic, reflected on PB Autumn, telling us, “There’s a lot of variety in terms of technology and products, and it’s been really insightful and informative – especially with the two stages.” The buzz from the stages carried across the show floor, with visitors leaving not only inspired, but armed with ideas they could take straight back to their businesses.

“We always love being part of these events,” said Jason Downes, managing director of Vagaro. “As headline sponsor, it’s such a joy to connect with our amazing customers and partners in so many ways – before, during, and after the show. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to welcome new faces into the Vagaro family to share how our technology supports business growth and hear firsthand how our tools are helping professionals.”

Exciting launches

Beyond the stages, innovation was everywhere. Professional Beauty North and Professional Beauty Autumn once again proved to be the go-to destinations for brands to unveil their newest product launches and technologies to thousands of beauty professionals.

This included CACI with its Micro-Pro portable device; Gelish & Morgan Taylor, which showcased its new Gelish True Wireless e-file; Endospheres, which launched its sister brand Sphera Aesthetic Technologies; Thalgo which debuted the Hyalu-Procollagène line; and Zemits, which showcased its new multi-platform device.

Discussing her experience at PB Autumn, Rachel Stevens, owner of home salon Skin Health Studio, shared, “I love the Professional Beauty shows. I think working as a solo therapist, it’s a great way to really feel the buzz in the industry, find out what’s new and to meet people and make connections.”

Meanwhile, Ellie Barnard, owner of exhibitor Cuticle Co, said, “We were able to meet so many people we’ve connected with online, so it was nice to meet them in person. And of course, we were able to meet lots of new professionals too, and with the launch of our new gel system, this was perhaps the best show we’ve done so far.”

Competition time

While PB North saw the return of our makeup and nail competitions (more about these on pages 69 and 64), PB Autumn once again hosted Nailympia and the National Massage Championship.

Nailympia – the world-renowned global nail competition – returned with 214 competitors hailing from an impressive 39 countries. You can check out the winners from all 20 categories by visiting professionalbeauty.co.uk/nailympia25.

Meanwhile, the National Massage Championship provided competitors with the platform to showcase their skills in everything from facial massage to advanced/ medical massage. You can find all of this year’s winners by visiting professionalbeauty.co.uk/nmc25.

What’s next?

Mark Moloney, managing director of the Professional Beauty Group, commented, “Both shows were a success, but Professional Beauty Autumn in particular was a good omen for October 2026, when Professional Beauty London joins Salon International to create Europe’s largest beauty event in the autumn. In the meantime, however, I’m looking forward to the PB Salon Growth Summit and our Regional Summits, which will continue to promote innovation and advancement throughout our industry across the UK.”