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Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2026 open for entries

The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards are back for 2026 and are now open for entries.

With 13 categories in total, the gala ceremony will take place in Dublin on Sunday, 19 April 2026, as part of the Professional Beauty & Hair show weekend.

The Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards are unique because they are judged by the industry, for the industry. An independent and autonomous judging process ensures complete fairness and transparency to ensure only the very best make it to the shortlist.

Winning one of these prestigious awards can have a hugely positive effect on both your business and career, enhancing your reputation, boosting team morale, unlocking new opportunities, and bringing you unrivalled recognition in a very competitive market.

The categories for the Beauty, Hair & Spa Awards 2026 are:

• Aesthetic Clinic of the Year, sponsored by Creagh Aesthetic Distribution

• Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year, sponsored by Dermapenworld Ireland

• Beauty Salon of the Year

• Salon and Spa Team of the Year

• Business Director of the Year

• Colour Technician of the Year

• Educator of the Year

• Hair Salon of the Year

• Irish Hairdresser of the Year

• Make-up Artist of the Year

• Nail Salon of the Year, sponsored by The Gel Bottle

• Spa of the Year

• Therapist of the Year

For more information on the categories, and to enter, visit professionalbeauty.ie.

Government’s auto-enrolment pension scheme delayed until 2026

The Irish Government’s auto-enrolment pension scheme is set to be delayed by a number of months.

The retirement savings scheme for employees who do not already have a workplace pension scheme, or an additional pension arrangement was due to be introduced on 30 September.

All employees who are not already in an occupational pension scheme, and are aged between 23 and 60 and earning over €20,000 across all of their employments, will be automatically enrolled under the new legislation.

Auto-enrolment will have significant implications for employers, with businesses being urged to prepare for it in advance of its introduction. An employer who fails to fulfil their obligations under the scheme will be subject to penalties.

Among the reported reasons for the delay is the amount of administration the scheme requires.

Mark O’Keeffe takes over as Irish Hairdressers Federation president

Mark O’Keeffe took over as the new president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) at the industry body’s recent AGM.

O’Keeffe is the owner of hair and beauty group Sugar Culture, which operates nine locations across Dublin. He succeeds outgoing president Lisa Eccles, who he thanked for her time and service.

“I wouldn’t feel prepared for this role without the privilege of learning from Lisa,” he said.“Every day brought valuable lessons, and beyond being an inspiring leader, Lisa has become one of my closest friends and confidantes.”

O’Keeffe’s father Frank served as IHF president almost 40 years ago. “It’s a great honour for me to follow in my father’s footsteps. As president, my focus will be on advocating for initiatives that support the industry’s growth, and creating pathways that provide valuable opportunities for aspiring professionals.”

Meanwhile, Nicola Lawless has been announced as the new IHF vice-president. Lawless co-owns The Hair Company Broadstone in Dublin.

The IHF’s AGM also saw the launch of the new IHF Art Team, led by Steven Kelly. According to the organisation, this initiative brings a creative dimension to its ongoing work.

Hairdressing project in Irish towns to empower climate change discussion

A new hairdressing project designed to support climate change communication has received funding at University College Cork (UCC).

A Brush with Climate is an initiative that will see hairdressers in four chosen towns across Ireland provided with training materials about climate change, and the role that local communities can play in addressing it.

The training materials will be co-developed by UCC, The Environmental Forum and hairdressers, based on the Discourses of Climate Delay research, which highlighted the pervasive and complex ways in which the need for climate action is downplayed.

Workshops with hairdressers will co-develop role play methodologies to assist in conversations on local climate mitigation and adaptation actions.

The project is being led by Dr Maria Kirrane, from the Office of Sustainability and Climate Action, working with the Research Ireland MaREI Centre at UCC. It received €63,000 in funding under the Research Ireland Discover Programme.

“The grant will allow for engagement and activation of an influential profession that exists within every town, but has heretofore been untapped in Ireland,” said Dr Kirrane.

“Hairdressers and barbers not only provide a service for people; they are a real hub for conversation and social spaces within a community. Their reach is broad and gives the possibility of reaching a cohort of people who may not be involved in local environmental groups, and the usual pathways of climate conversation and action. The relationship between client and hairdresser is a deeply personal and trusting one.”

There will be a specific focus on towns that have negative experiences from climate-related extreme weather events. The project, inspired by a hairdresser-led initiative in Sydney, Australia, will evaluate change in knowledge, attitude and behaviour in the participating hairdressers through pre-surveys and post-surveys, and focus group discussions.

“We will co-create role play exercises with hairdressers, which will be tested and implemented in salons,” added Dr Kirrane.

Survey finds 54% of people believe SPF products are too expensive

A new survey has found that over half of respondents (54%) believe that SPF is too expensive, and 60% of them are influenced by the price of the SPF product when purchasing it, and not by the quality and ingredients.

The study by tanning brand TanOrganic also found that while most people apply SPF daily, some 40% of respondents said they do not reapply it throughout the day, even though it is recommended that SPF is reapplied every two hours, particularly when swimming or sweating.

Just 18% of respondents said they consider the UV index when applying SPF, as most are influenced by sunny weather in their decision. A further 59% didn’t know the difference between mineral and chemical SPF – mineral acts as a barrier and reflects the UV rays away from the skin, while chemical SPF absorbs UV rays and converts them into heat, which is then released by the body.

Meanwhile, 30% of people admitted that they are ‘not sure’ of the early signs of skin cancer.

TanOrganic founder Noelle O’Connor has joined healthcare professionals and advocates Kelsey O’Donnell and Professor Shirley Potter to campaign for a change in how SPF is taxed in Ireland. O’Donnell is a skin cancer clinical nurse specialist at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, and Professor Potter is a consultant plastic surgeon and melanoma specialist at Blackrock Clinic in Dublin. The group is asking people to sign an online petition, which they will present to the Dáil Éireann Health Committee.

“I believe SPF should be classed as an essential product and should be VAT-exempt,” said O’Connor.

“Renal transport patients are the only cohort that can get SPF on a medical card, so the removal of VAT on SPF would be a major step for the Government to take in encouraging the use of SPF in our country.”

Dublin City Council historian charts changing face of hairdressing

A Dublin City Council project has been looking at the history of hairdressing in the city, and how it relates to women’s lives.

The study is the brainchild of historian-in-residence Katie Blackwood, who has been working on it for about a year. “At first, I was just reading and researching, but I now have a talk called Perms, Updos, Bobs and Shaved Heads: A History of Women’s Hairstyles in Ireland, which I have been doing in libraries and for community groups around Dublin,” she explained.

“The talk explores how women’s hairstyles have changed over time, alongside 20th century women’s political and social history. I hope to continue the project by talking to hairdressers about their working lives, and to women about their past hairstyles.”

For her research, Blackwood’s primary sources have been women’s magazines and women’s pages in newspapers, along with photographs, and women’s writing in the form of autobiographies. She has also looked at the folklore around hair in the National Folklore Collection.

Blackwood believes that a lot can be learned about women’s lives and experiences by examining the hairdressing industry. “It is a profession that combines design skills and care work, both of which are central to many women’s lives. And hairdressers work with fashion and the prevailing ideas of a time period. New hairstyles often mark wider cultural shifts.

“A good example of this is the bob, which was radical when it first appeared in the 1920s. Previously, women wore their long hair up, and it was a sign of femininity. The bob was androgynous, easy to maintain and suitable for pastimes such as cycling and dancing. It was the preferred style of flappers and modern girls, who were interested in having fun after a long period of war and conflict.”

Blackwood is interested in talking to hairdressers about their work and hairstyles they remember. Any documentation such as old magazines or hairdressing notes that could shed light on past practices would also be welcome. She can be contacted at northcentralhistorian@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie.

Co Sligo-based Voya wins at SFA National Small Business Awards 2025

Irish brand Voya was honoured at the recent Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2025, which took place at the RDS in Dublin.

The company was named Overall National SFA Small Business Winner 2025, and it also won the Exporter of the Year category.

The awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses in Ireland, and recognise the important and vital contributions of this sector to the Irish economy.

Based in Co Sligo with a team of 43, Voya was founded in 2006 by Mark and Kira Walton, who initially launched a retail seaweed bath product, before going on to develop a skin and body care line. The company has since evolved into a global lifestyle brand, and its products can be found in over 42 countries worldwide.

According to the SFA, Voya has “redefined luxury skincare on a global level, combining ethical sourcing with a commitment to sustainability”.

“Our overall winner, along with all finalist and category winners, deserve recognition for their outstanding innovation, creativity and invaluable contribution to the Irish economy,” said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.

The Spa at Dunboyne Castle Hotel reopens following refurbishment

The Spa at Dunboyne Castle Hotel has reopened following an extensive refurbishment.

New facilities at the Co Meath estate includes a thermal suite, which features six wellness areas, where guests can tailor their visit to their own individual points of focus. There is also a manicure and pedicure salon space, and an upgraded reception and retail area.

Meanwhile, The Spa at Dunboyne Castle Hotel has introduced two new beauty and wellness brands. According to spa manager Lisa Devlin, Ground Wellbeing and Comfort Zone were both selected for their shared ethos surrounding sustainability and authenticity.

“The Spa at Dunboyne Castle has always been a blissful cocoon of tranquility and treatments for our guests,” she said. “We’re incredibly excited and proud to be taking our offering to the next level of luxury, providing our guests with an even greater choice.”