Hair Festival 2024 was held at Sydney’s ICC from June 30 to July 1, marking a notable shift in both schedule and venue. The event experienced significant growth, attracting over 6,000 attendees—a 30% increase from the previous year.
Renita Collins, Festival Director, expressed enthusiasm about the turnout and feedback:
“It’s been fantastic to watch Hair Festival grow every year. We knew changing not just the venue but dates was going to be a risk, one that was well worth it. This year truly showcased the diversity and the very best of the exceptional hair industry.”
Highlighting camaraderie, creativity, and innovation, Hair Festival 2024 united the hairdressing community through product showcases, demonstrations, and competitions that energized the show floor, education sessions, and beyond. Renita added, “The vibe was electric and it was thrilling to be a part of. Stay tuned for 2025 dates, to be announced soon.”
The heart of the event, the Festival Hub, offered free entry and served as a focal point for attendees, featuring over 90 brands showcasing the latest in business, technology, hair care, color products, extensions, tools, salon furniture, and more. The hub included specialized areas such as the Barber Hub, Business Hub, and THE STAGE., sponsored by Artègo and Pivot Point, which hosted bite-sized educational sessions and the Hair Festival competitions throughout the weekend.
Guests were welcomed with complimentary attendee bags containing products from sponsors like NAK Hair, Pure and Juuce, and Hair Aid, while Paul Mitchell sponsored the lanyards.
The educational component underscored the industry’s commitment to growth, with 20 sessions covering topics ranging from business strategies, color trends, and hairstyling techniques to barbering and beyond. Sessions featured insights from both local talents and international experts, providing inspiration and practical knowledge.
The REALtalk Business Forum, a highlight of Sunday morning, fostered discussions on innovation, sustainability, social media, holistic salon practices, and salon management, encouraging open and transparent conversations among industry leaders.
The live Hair Festival Competitions, held in a new timeslot on Monday morning at THE STAGE., sponsored by O&M, introduced new categories, cash prizes, and a revised awards structure that culminated in crowning the Hair Festival Champion. The competitions drew large crowds, showcasing the creativity and skill of participating hairdressers.
Gary Prigge from O&M emphasized the event’s focus on nurturing new talent: “We are investing in the next generation, it’s about being clean and kind in everything that we do. Sponsoring the live competitions with new hairdressers and new energy was really important and there was a great success in what we saw unfold, with beautiful work, new faces and new names. It was really nice to have it on the floor, so it created a vibe and hype and attracted attention.”
In the evening, Wonderland, hosted at The Establishment bar, offered attendees a vibrant experience amidst metallic decorations and a glowing, multi-colored archway perfect for Instagram photos. Celebrating Rogue Beauty’s tenth anniversary with a festive atmosphere, the event featured live music, canapés, interactive stations, and ample opportunities for socializing and networking.
Chris Hammond, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Rogue Beauty, expressed gratitude for the collaboration: “Teaming up with Wonderland was an ideal match for us as we mark our tenth anniversary at Rogue Beauty in Australia. There couldn’t have been a better occasion to express our gratitude to the Australian hairdressing industry than at one of the year’s most prestigious events. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Hair Festival and Wonderland for many years ahead.”
Sustainability remained a core focus throughout the event, with initiatives such as sustainability pledges, recycling programs in partnership with Sustainable Salons and Waste Free Systems, and dedicated sessions at REALtalk and within the Festival Hub.
Having the 2024 AHIA Gallery, showcasing all of the award finalists within Hair Festival covering a whopping 56 metres in total added to the event and showed the support that both mocha group and intermedia have for each other over this iconic hair weekend. Finalists and fans enjoyed looking over the incredible work by the talented stylists from Australia, New Zealand and internationally confirming that through the creative hair fashion forward thinkers, the industry is in very safe hands.Looking ahead, dates for Hair Festival 2025 will be announced soon.
For more information, please visit www.hairfestival.com.au
