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At Hairnews we understand the importance of finding the information you need FAST. The Radar is the search tool you need Brand suppliers, academies, learning centres, salons and stylists - all at the click of your finger on your laptop, tablet or mobile. Stay on The Radar. Stay connected. Suppliers, Academies & Pros: Get Twice the Coverage for a single fee with both The Radar and Hairnews Boost your digital footprint with a dual listing on Hairnews and The Radar www.theradar.co.za Double the presence, double the impact Stylists, salons, spas, nail techs, or beauty therapists’ email brad@hairnews.co.za to get listed on The Radar for FREE! How can you miss this opportunity to expand your online presence? We promote The Radar monthly in Hairnews and on our social media to keep your listing top of mind and easily accessible to your target market, stylists, salons, barbershops, spas beauticians and clients in SA. Contact us directly for more info or to get listed: brad@hairnews.co.za or belinda@hairnews.co.za

Bianca Scheun from Nudo Hair Lab shows us how to look after your blonde! You invested in that blonde now let’s keep her looking expensive. Click the image below to see the Instagram post. Stylist: Bianca Scheun Salon: Nudo Hair Lab Products: Schwarzkopf, ghd Follow Bianca on Instagram @bianca_nudo_hair_lab We'd love to feature your work! To get your styles, looks or colour formulas featured in Hairnews, send them either to brad@hairnews.co.za or DM them directly to our Hairnews Instagram page.

LABEL.M has a unique approach to professional haircare, combining high performance with deeply considered choices around ingredients, protection and packaging. Its philosophy is responsible beauty without compromise. You can see and feel results from the first use, demonstrating that sulphate free and vegan haircare can still deliver the performance professional hairdressers expect. Across the portfolio, 94% of LABEL.M is gluten free, 94% phthalate free, 92% soy free, 90% sulphate free and 80% vegan. 84% of the range features UV filters, helping protect hair and scalp from daily environmental stress and sun exposure. The formulas are also paraben free and designed without harsh chemicals. The responsible approach extends to packaging, with LABEL.M using 30% post-consumer recycled plastic and developing a pioneering recyclable pump. The brand also focuses on biocompatible and sustainable choices, while its cruelty free credentials add another dimension to its responsible beauty story. These credentials have received international recognition. In 2024, LABEL.M won eight awards at the Global Green Beauty Awards, which celebrate sustainable and ethical beauty brands. Among its wins were Best Organic Shampoo, Best Vegan Conditioner and Best Recyclable Packaging. Fashion is equally central to the LABEL.M story. As the Official Haircare Product of London Fashion Week, the brand is closely connected to the creativity, trends and technical demands of backstage hairdressing. For stylists, the unique proposition is clear: professional results, fashion credibility and a more responsible approach to beauty, without compromising the end result. To order Label.M for your salon, contact your mhb sales consultant or, if you are a new client, call mhb Telesales on 0860 104 109 and a consultant will be in touch. Product-specific formulation differences apply: the Honey & Oat range, Volume Foam, Anti-Frizz Smoothing Balm and Fashion Edition Styling Cream are not sulphate free, while the Honey & Oat range, Dry Shampoo, Weightless Soufflé, Matte Paste, Deconstructor, Fashion Edition Styling Cream and Radiance Oil are not vegan. FOLLOW LABEL.M Instagram Facebook FOLLOW mhb Instagram Facebook Website

Written by Melissa Eales In the hair and beauty industry, technical skill will always be essential. Precision cutting, advanced colour techniques, skin knowledge, and product expertise form the backbone of professional credibility. However, in a client-facing industry such as ours, emotional intelligence (EQ) is often the true differentiator between a one-off appointment and a long-term, loyal client relationship. Emotional intelligence is not simply a buzzword or a “soft skill.” It is a foundational professional competency that shapes how we communicate, manage pressure, resolve conflict, and build trust both within our teams and with our clients. Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) refers to the ability to perceive, understand, use, and manage emotions in ourselves and in others. The concept was first formally introduced by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer (1990), who defined emotional intelligence as “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions” (Salovey & Mayer, 1990, p.185). Later, Daniel Goleman popularised the concept through his mixed-model approach, highlighting key components such as self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills. In a salon/spa environment, these elements are not theoretical. They are visible daily. Emotional intelligence means recognising when a client is anxious about a dramatic colour change, managing your own stress during a fully booked Saturday, picking up on subtle non-verbal cues, and responding with empathy rather than defensiveness when something goes wrong. It is the ability to remain composed when faced with dissatisfaction and to turn a potentially negative interaction into a trust-building opportunity. Mayer and Salovey later expanded their theory into a four-branch model that includes the ability to perceive emotions, use emotions to facilitate thinking, understand emotions, and manage emotions. Perceiving emotions involves reading facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language, a critical skill when a client says “It’s fine,” but their posture suggests disappointment. Using emotions to facilitate thinking refers to understanding how feelings influence decisions. For example, a bride booking her wedding hair and makeup trial is not simply purchasing a hairstyle or a cosmetic look; she is navigating stress, expectation, and emotional significance. Understanding emotions includes recognising that frustration may stem from insecurity or fear. Managing emotions involves regulating one’s own reactions and positively influencing others’ emotional states, remaining calm during a complaint, and guiding the conversation toward resolution. Research in business consistently demonstrates the value of emotional intelligence in performance and leadership. TalentSmart reports that EQ accounts for approximately 58% of leadership effectiveness, and nearly 90% of top performers score high in emotional intelligence. Meta-analyses further reveal a moderate positive correlation between EQ and job performance, even when controlling for IQ and personality traits. In client-facing industries like hair and beauty, where relationships directly drive revenue, these findings are particularly significant. High EQ professionals are more likely to retain clients, reduce misunderstandings, manage stress effectively, and foster stronger team cohesion. The concept of customer orientation further strengthens the relevance of emotional intelligence in our industry. Richard Saxe and Barton A. Weitz (1982) described customer orientation as a commitment to behaviours that prioritise long-term customer satisfaction over short-term personal gain. In a salon/spa setting, this distinction is critical. A beauty therapist driven purely by commission may push retail products unnecessarily, whereas a therapist with high EQ prioritises suitability, trust, and long-term loyalty. Research by Christian Homburg et al. (2009) highlights the importance of empathic understanding in relationship selling, while Thorsten Hennig-Thurau et al. (2006) found that frontline employees with heightened emotional intelligence can positively influence customers’ emotional states and overall satisfaction. Sales research also supports this connection. Rozell et al. (2004) found that sales professionals with elevated levels of emotional intelligence demonstrate stronger decision-making capabilities during transactions. Given the frequent and personal nature of interactions in hair and beauty services, heightened EQ empowers professionals to manage these engagements more effectively. Sales interactions are inherently emotional, and the ability to discern and utilise emotional information significantly impacts relationship development and performance. Beyond client relationships, emotional intelligence plays a central role in team dynamics. Salon/spa environments are often high-pressure spaces characterised by long hours, creative differences, commission structures, and emotional labour. Employers and managers with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to regulate their own responses, navigate conflict constructively, and create psychologically safe environments. In a salon/spa context, this can translate into reduced staff turnover, healthier communication, and improved morale. Emotional intelligence also protects against burnout. Client-facing professionals are constantly exposed to emotional challenges. Without strong self-awareness and self-management, frustration, fatigue, and compassion fatigue can quickly accumulate. Building emotional intelligence involves intentional self-reflection, stress management strategies, adaptability, and empathy-building practices. It requires professionals to recognise their triggers, pause before reacting, and communicate thoughtfully even in difficult situations. Importantly, emotional intelligence is not a personality trait reserved for certain individuals. It is a set of cognitive and behavioural skills that can be developed. Structured EQ training, feedback systems, mindfulness practices, and coaching have shown to improve team performance and leadership effectiveness. Businesses that prioritise emotional intelligence development often see measurable improvements in engagement, productivity, and retention. In the hair and beauty industry, where appearance is deeply personal, and clients often share vulnerable life moments in the chair, emotional intelligence is more than a professional advantage; it is a business strategy. Technical excellence may attract clients initially, but emotional intelligence sustains loyalty. Clients return when they feel heard, understood, and respected. Teams thrive when employers and managers model composure and empathy. Salons/spas grow as emotional awareness becomes embedded in the culture. Emotional intelligence is not about being “nice.” It is about being perceptive, regulated, intentional, and relationally skilled. In a service-driven industry built on trust and connection, EQ may well be the most powerful tool behind services and or treatment. Ultimately, emotional intelligence ensures that technical expertise is matched with human understanding. It allows professionals to create experiences that go beyond the service itself, fostering loyalty, resilience, and genuine connection. When salons/spas embed emotional intelligence into their culture, they not only strengthen client relationships but also build teams that are adaptable, motivated, and future-ready. In this way, EQ becomes both a personal competency and a collective advantage, shaping the sustainability and long-term success of the hair and beauty industry. For any further information or enquiries please contact the EOHCB representative in your area by clicking HERE. EOHCB Contact Details Web: www.eohcb.co.za | YouTube: www.youtube.com/@eohcbsa7855 Facebook: www.facebook.com/eohcb | Twitter: twitter.com/eohcbsa Instagram: www.instagram.com/eohcbsa

Gorgeous curls and phenomenal colour in this look from Hannah Mejia. Click the image below to view the Instagram post. Stylist: Hannah Mejia Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahdisconnected

Transition of the milk_shake Brand to Twincare International (Pty) Ltd Take Note Trading 188cc is delighted to announce, together with Twincare International (Pty) Ltd, an important development for the South African hair and beauty industry: the sale of the milk_shake brand's business operations to Twincare International (Pty) Ltd. This transition was mutually agreed between both parties, reflecting a shared commitment to the continued growth and success of the milk_shake brand in South Africa. Having had the privilege of building and growing the milk_shake brand within the local hair industry, Take Note Trading 188cc is confident that the brand has found the right new home. We are delighted that milk_shake is passing into good and capable hands, and we are excited to see the brand continue to grow and flourish under the leadership of Twincare International (Pty) Ltd and its management team. Effective Date The effective date of the transition of the milk_shake brand's business operations from Take Note Trading 188cc to Twincare International (Pty) Ltd is 1 October 2026. The last date on which milk_shake orders may be placed with Take Note Trading 188cc is 25 September 2026, with all orders placed directly with Twincare International (Pty) Ltd from 28 September 2026 onward. Salon owners, sub-distributors and agents will be contacted directly by their dedicated milk_shake Sales Consultant regarding this transition. A Note of Thanks Take Note Trading 188cc extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone across the South African hair industry - salon owners, distributors, agents and stylists alike - who has supported and championed the milk_shake brand over the years. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve this industry, and we look forward to watching milk_shake continue to thrive. We warmly wish Twincare International (Pty) Ltd every success as the new custodians of the milk_shake brand. For further information regarding this transition, please contact your milk_shake Sales Consultant, or reach out to either company directly. Warm regards, Marku Branders Craig Watzek Geórg Marnewick Fabrice Tavernier For an on behalf of Take Note Trading 188cc and Twincare International (Pty) Ltd

Lessoan Perfect Curl Mask Curls that bounce back. Frizz that doesn't. Perfect Curly is Lessoan's answer to dry, frizzy, undefined curls - a natural, active formula built on honey, beeswax and hibiscus that hydrates, repairs and defines without a trace of grease or drag. Stronger, shinier, more resilient curls. For any curl type, every time. Give every curl client a reason to rebook. Enquire about becoming a LESSOAN salon today! Contact details: Tel: 021 552 2369 Email: georg@z-one.co.za marku@z-one.co.za Take Note Trading 188cc (Distributor of LESSOAN Cosmetique) 1 Indwe Road, Milnerton, Cape Town

Entries are now OPEN and we can’t wait for you to show us your creativity. Now is the time to submit your awesome work! These awards, which are done online and are free to enter, aim to recognize excellence and creativity throughout our awesome industry! Below are the categories, with their requirements and rules to enter. PLEASE READ THE CATEGORY BRIEF AND RULES CAREFULLY BEST SIGNATURE LOOK: LADIES – Judged This is a judged category where you can enter your own work. In this category, we are looking for a trendy, wearable “Signature Look” for the Ladies: a professionally finished, tailored cut and colour designed specifically to suit your model’s face shape, skin tone and hair texture. Choose accessories and makeup that beautifully complement the hair colour, cut and styling, bringing the whole look together into one harmonious style. Let your unique creativity and skill show through in a polished, beautifully put-together finish. Headshot photos are required but do not have to be professionally taken and can be taken in salon as long as hair and overall look is clearly visible. RULES TO ENTER You must be a resident in South Africa to enter. You may submit a MAXIMUM of TWO (2) entries per category and each entry must be emailed separately. To enter, email belinda@hairnews.co.za with the subject Best Signature Look – Ladies Entries must include your name, contact number, salon name, and town of residence. Entries must include your model’s first name and confirm that you have permission to publish their photos on a public platform. Ensure your email is NOT larger than 3 MB. Please resize photos before sending. You may include up to three photos of your work as well as the information below. Each entry must Include a short description of the technique and what products you used to achieve the look BEST SIGNATURE LOOK: GENTS – Judged This is a judged category where you can enter your own work. In this category we are looking for a trendy, wearable “Signature Look” for the Gents: a professionally finished, tailored cut/colour designed specifically to suit your model’s face shape, skin tone and hair texture. Fading and clipper art are welcome as well as other creative effects! Outfits and accessories should enhance the overall look but not overpower, the hair. Ensure your look is executed with attention to detail and that your overall Gents’ look is well-presented, appealing, and reflects your talent and creativity. Headshot photos are required but do not have to be professionally taken and can be taken in salon as long as hair and overall look is clearly visible. RULES TO ENTER You must be a resident in South Africa to enter. You may submit a MAXIMUM of TWO (2) entries per category and each entry must be emailed separately. To enter, email belinda@hairnews.co.za with the subject Best Signature Look – Gents. Entries must include your name, contact number, salon name, and town of residence. Entries must include your model’s first name and confirm that you have permission to publish their photos on a public platform. Ensure your email is NOT larger than 3 MB. Please resize photos before sending. You can submit up to three photos of your work as well as the information below. Each entry must Include a short description of the technique and what products you used to achieve the look. Entries will close on the 25 September, and judging will start at the beginning of October 2026. BEST HAIRNEWS BRAND – Voting This year, we've introduced a slightly different approach for the Best Hairnews Brand Award. Hairnews will be compiling the official list of nominated brands. Any brand that has advertised with Hairnews from October 2025 onwards will automatically qualify for consideration. Once the nomination list has been finalised and announced, the public will be invited to vote for their favourite brand. This process recognises the brands that have actively supported Hairnews and the South African hairdressing industry, while giving the public the final say in choosing this year's winner. Nominations will be announced at the end of September 2026, and industry voting will open at the beginning of October 2026. The Hairnews Team wishes you all the best for your entries!

PEACHY PINK PERFECTION Soft, dimensional colour paired with those effortless curls = the prettiest combination. Click the image below to view the Instagram post. Stylist: Taleisha du Plooy Salon: Hair by Tilly Follow Taleisha on Instagram @hairbytillysa @hairocity_sa We'd love to feature your work! To get your styles, looks or colour formulas featured in Hairnews, send them either to brad@hairnews.co.za or DM them directly to our Hairnews Instagram page.

Hairnews is thrilled to announce that VARIS Professional Tools is coming on board as one of our official sponsors of the Hairnews Industry Awards 2026. We are incredibly excited to welcome VARIS to this year’s awards and to have the brand supporting our celebration of the creativity, talent, technical skill and passion that continue to drive South Africa’s professional hair industry forward. Tools Created Around Creative Energy VARIS is a professional styling tool brand created with one thing firmly in mind - the stylist. Part of the Kao Salon Division, VARIS describes stylists as artists, craftsmen, psychologists and visionaries, and its tools are designed around the creativity and technical demands of the professional behind the chair. That philosophy makes VARIS a fantastic fit for the Hairnews Industry Awards, where we celebrate the very same creativity, artistry and technical ability that make professional hairdressing such an exciting industry. VARIS tools incorporate Hydroionic Crystal technology, combining negative ions and far-infrared energy to support faster drying and help leave hair looking conditioned and shiny. The technology features throughout the VARIS collection, alongside ergonomic details designed with professional stylists in mind. VARIS was introduced to South African stylists through Kao South Africa / Kao Salon Division, bringing its range of professional tools and brushes to the local market. The 2026 Hairnews Awards Prize Packages As one of our official awards sponsors, VARIS is providing an exceptional lineup of premium professional styling tools for this year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category. Gold Winner Package: VARIS Curling System Featuring a versatile multi-barrel design, digital temperature control and constant heat technology, the VARIS Curling System allows stylists to create endless texture variations - from loose waves to defined curls - with maximum shine and minimal thermal stress. Silver Winner Package: VARIS Smoother Engineered with ceramic plates infused with hydro-ionic crystals, this high-performance flat iron helps seal the cuticle, eliminate frizz and create a smooth, glass-like finish in a single pass. Bronze Winner Package: VARIS Trimmer Compact, lightweight and incredibly precise, the professional VARIS Trimmer features ultra-sharp micro-blades and an ergonomic grip, making it ideal for detailed outline work, beard shaping and clean hairline finishing. We are proud to have VARIS join our growing group of official Hairnews Industry Awards sponsors, each helping us make the 2026 awards a special celebration of the people, brands and businesses that contribute to our incredible professional hair industry. A huge thank you to VARIS and TWINCARE for coming on board and supporting this year's awards. We are thrilled to have you as part of the Hairnews Industry Awards 2026. For more information about VARIS Professional Tools and the complete product range, visit VARIS Professional Tools. Varis is part of Kao Brands, distributed by Twincare International. Media Contact: Email: gina@twincare.co.za Tel: 011 305 1600 TWINCARE International Socials: Varis Instagram: @varissouthafrica Varis Facebook: @Varis South Africa Twincare International Instagram: @twincareinternational Twincare International Facebook: @Twincare

Comments from Tracey Ann Smith, Artistic Director at MOOD The summer months is when we truly see blondes coming alive! Brunette clients look to update their look with sun kissed streaks and muted blondes opt to go lighter and brighter updating their hair to reflect the change in seasons. For summer 2026, we are moving away from platinum and icy tones, and instead, are shifting towards warmer, more dimensional lighter blonde hues including creamy, buttery vanilla tones and beige and bronde tones like teddy bear blonde – shades that are softer and more natural but still look beautiful and expensive. Below are some of my favourite blonde tones for summer 2026 and my must have products for keeping them looking their best throughout the warmer weather. Butter Blonde – just as it says in the name, butter blonde resembles that of butter – it's a super creamy, golden blonde hue that sits between platinum and honey blonde, infusing beautiful butter-yellow tones through a lighter, platinum base, to give it a more natural, sun kissed affect. This shade is beautiful for those with warmer skin tones, really radiating their complexion, and it has such an expensive, luxe feel to it. With this shade, you want to maximise the high shine, elegant feel that the colour has, therefore, using products that will add further shine to the hair and allow the sunny glow of this colour to stand out is key. Two of my favourite products for extreme shine to enhance the look of the colour are the MOOD Hairstyling Bodyguard Wonder Coat, which can be sprayed through towel dried hair and blow-dried in to deliver extraordinary shiny, smooth hair and the MOOD Hairstyling Bodyguard Protect and Glow Serum that can be applied to damp or dry hair to protect hair from humidity, tame frizz and add shine. Blanche Blonde – a new trend for 2026, Blanche Blonde, is a creamier, more ethereal take on platinum blonde. This near white shade is super bright and high impact, but also has a slight softness, not being as icy in tone and instead having a slight creamy edge to it. A foiling technique like highlights is best to achieve this look over a period of time, ensuring the colourist doesn’t add too much warmth or cool tones to the hair. Instead, Blanche Blonde should be right in the middle between warm and cool – deliciously vanilla toned. With this shade, using a silver shampoo and conditioner like the MOOD Silver Specific Shampoo and Conditioner are key to ensure the hair does not have too much warmth. However, it should not be used too regularly – I would say every 2 weeks, alternating this with a colour shampoo and only leaving the silver shampoo on the hair for a minute to avoid it becoming too ashy toned. Teddy Bear Blonde – for those looking for a warm, cosy, more ‘bronde’ hair colour, Teddy Bear Blonde, will be very on trend this summer season. This is great for clients who want a lower maintenance blonde, that features a soft, natural root, and that prefer warmer tones of toffee and toaster brown instead of ashy or creamier blonde tones. This look is best achieved with balayage to create that more lived in feel where these more natural shades can freehand painted throughout the hair. Alternatively, a mixture of highlights and lowlights can also be used to create a teddy bear blonde look. Glossing services are also great to give this colour further shine and a more luxe feel. I always advise clients with this shade to use a good quality hair treatment/mask every week to keep the colour looking its best in between appointments, allowing all the colour tones to truly pop from the hair being kept conditioned, nourished and full of shine. One of my favourite treatments is the MOOD Ultra Care Mask which is particularly for those with colour treated and bleached hair. Apricot Blonde – for those looking for a richer, warmer blonde hue for the summer season and a blonde with a bit of edge, apricot blonde is one of the must have blonde hues for the season. We are also seeing this colour trend pop up as ‘Cherry Blonde’ which effectively is a more golden blonde hue with a wash of apricot/cherry/soft peach. This colour is less red than traditional strawberry blonde and is best achieved by using a peach coloured toner on a lightened blonde base or by infusing copper and golden tones on a golden base. As this is a higher fashion colour, using a colour saving shampoo and conditioner that will provide colour longevity is key. My favourite duo is the MOOD Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner.