The Pixie: The trending haircut for autumn 2026

The cut that’s short, fresh, but full of personality? The textured pixie. This cut is making its way onto the salon floor this autumn, bringing a softer and more versatile take on the classic short cut. Rather than creating sharp, solid shapes, this modern pixie cut brings layers, movement, and, of course, texture. The result is short and edgy, but with enough length through the crown to create lift, curl and movement that can be styled in different ways. Style icon and ultimate trendsetter Zendaya has been seen flaunting this trendy cut on the red carpet, and we couldn’t be more obsessed!

Hair Tools Your Salon Needs

Within the hairdressing industry, Christmas is the ideal time to up your salon’s retail game by stocking presents that are perfect for clients to gift to their friends and family. With the gift-giving season approaching, there’s no better way to give your clients the ultimate gifting solution - luxurious, professional-approved hair styling tools that your clients can enjoy on every occasion. Let’s dive into these must-have salon retailing styling tools that your clients are going to love you for…

A Deep Dive into Quif Trend:01 – Money Shot

Introducing “Money $hot”, featured as part of the Quif Trend:01 collection from The Quif Art Team. A picture perfect cut with invisible internal layering to give that extra volume with added babylights for a soft light face frame, this blonde bombshell will always be a winner.

Introducing Quif Professional X Little Princess Trust: The Importance of Raising Awareness within the Professional Hair Industry

In collaboration with Alan Howard, we sat down with the amazing team from the Little Princess Trust, Phil & Wendy, to talk about their journey, the impact of their work, and their exciting new collaboration with Quif Professional. Through this collaboration, Quif have redesigned their foils, gowns and aprons to create a limited edition bundle of salon essentials, so professionals and clients can embody the cause in their salon every day.

Celebrity Hair Colour Formulas To Recreate In Your Salon

If there’s one thing celebrities know how to do, it’s be the ultimate inspiration for your clients' next hair appointment. With Margot Robbie’s red-carpet-worthy champagne blonde and Hailey Bieber’s iconic glossy brunette, celebrity hair continues to influence what clients are asking for.

Bondi Sands

Bondi Sands Professional Spray Tan Solutions are enriched with aloe vera, infused with the fresh scent of coconut and may be washed off 2 hours after application.

Olivia Garden

Olivia Garden is a renowned brand specializing in high-quality hair care tools, including brushes, combs, and styling accessories.

How To Prepare Your Salon This Christmas Time

With the busiest holiday season approaching, the earlier salons start to prepare for Christmas, the better. With clients eager to book their appointments ready for their Christmas parties, family gatherings, and New Year celebrations, your salon is likely to be as busy as ever. It’s important to note that to make the most out of the festive rush, salon owners and hairdressers need to be prepared! From updating your service menu to stocking up on retail gifts, here’s how you can get your salon ready for the Christmas period…

Hair Care 101: Protect Your Locks from Winter Damage

The cold winter months are upon us, and unfortunately it's when our hair becomes brittle, broken and dry. As salon visits tend to be quieter in the new year, we have the perfect winter hair care routine so your clients don't suffer in silence.

Allergy Awareness Week: Patch Testing

Today marks the start of Allergy Awareness Week, and we are teaming up with Colourstart to raise awareness around the topic of patch testing, and why this is crucial step when taking on new clients. Let's take a deep dive into the importance of patch testing alongside the allergy experts at Colourstart, and why it is so important to raise awareness of patch testing throughout the industry.

How To Achieve Caramel Brownie Brunette

With summer just around the corner, it's likely that your brunette clients are craving to add some brightness to their everyday hair look. Luckily we have the perfect trending shade that will satisfy your client's craving: 'Caramel Brownie Brunette'. With warm and golden hues that add instant brightness to your client's hair for a sun-kissed look, Caramel Brownie is the perfect hair colour for those clients who can't decide between blonde or brunette. Indulge in this deliciously stunning shade for the ultimate summer glow-up and sprinkle some sweetness into your client's new hair-do.

Spring Hair Trends of 2026: The Shades Set To Take Over Your Salon

Is there a better time of year than spring to have a colour refresh? Clients will be flooding into the salon for the ultimate change-up; most likely wanting to brighten up their locks or wanting to completely reinvent their colour. And for spring, we’re seeing a shift into bright, luxurious finishes that come with a hint of warmth. Including rich brunettes that look like liquid silk, to creamy, warm blondes, we have the spring hair trends that your clients will be asking for all season long.

Lash FX

Lash FX supplies professional and retail lash and brow products worldwide with brands Lash FX, Hi Brow, Brow FX, and Magnetise.

Social Media 101 For Hairdressers

Staying relevant and engaging with your audience is the key to salon success, and social media is a powerful tool that can help you connect with clients, showcase your skills, and grow your business. But with so much competition, how do you stand out? This guide, featuring insights from Ben Lifton, the hairdressing industry's top content creator and founder of marketing agency ‘Content Kweens’, will walk you through everything you need to know when elevating your social media presence—from content creation ideas to the best apps and equipment for hairdressers. Let’s dive in.

The toxic cocktail of black henna tattoos and hair colour

The topic of black henna tattoos might not be top of your list when thinking about potential holiday dangers, but anyone having their hair dyed following a black henna tattoo could pose a higher risk to having an allergic reaction.

About Us

About Alan Howard – the partner of choice for hair & beauty professionals. Our Vision, our mission and our history.

Collection from Alan Howard

Discover the simplicity of Alan Howard's collection services: Call + Collect or Click + Collect. Order conveniently, pay securely, and collect swiftly from our stores. Learn how our streamlined process ensures a hassle-free experience.

The Trending Hair Colour of 2025: Mocha Mousse

With 2024 coming to a close, Pantone has revealed its 2025 Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse, and it’s already making its debut in the world of hair colour. This rich, neutral, yet cool-toned brunette is a sophisticated blend of beiges and chocolate browns, that create a refined, harmonious look. For clients looking to embrace a luxurious shade in 2025, Mocha Mousse is the ultimate choice. We’ve teamed up with our Alan Howard Educator, Sara Simspon, to discuss how colourists can create the trending Mocha Mousse with their clients using Quif Professional Let’s dive into the colour of 2025…

Trend Alert: Muted Shades with Goldwell

Goldwell’s iconic muted collection with Topchic combines warm earthy clay colours and stone-grey inspired tones, which plays heavily into one of the key trends for the season – perfect for your client's shift into Autumn. Discover how to create the ultimate muted colour look with Topchic...

Eyelash Emporium

Eyelash Emporium offers a full range of eyelash products for both consumers and professional lash techs, including eyelash extensions, adhesives, false lashes, lash lift & brow lamination products, aftercare and tools.

OSMO

OSMO is a leading professional haircare brand known for delivering innovative, salon-quality products that empower stylists and individuals to create and maintain exceptional hair.

Nanokeratin System

Nanokeratin System is a leading brand in the professional hair care industry, known for its innovative and high-performance hair treatments.

The Benefits of Retailing In-Salon

As a professional hairdresser or salon owner, your hairdressing expertise goes beyond cutting and colouring your client's hair; you also have the power to enhance your client's hair once they’ve left the salon floor. Retailing and selling professional hair products to your clients can ensure your client's hair remains in good condition whilst also being a key strategy for salon growth, client satisfaction, and long-term salon success! If you’re not already prioritising retailing in your salon, we have all the reasons why it’s time to start.

Hair Loss Awareness Month 2025: Hair Loss & Thinning Solutions with Nioxin

August marks Hair Loss Awareness Month, and it’s an important reminder of how much our hair can impact someone’s confidence, and how vital your role as a hair professional can be in supporting their journey. Hair loss and thinning affect a huge number of people, and whether it’s temporary or more permanent, a hairdresser’s insight, expertise, and empathy can make a world of difference. Let’s take a look at how you can better understand, support, educate and guide clients who are facing hair loss while offering real, professional solutions.

Hair Colour Trends in 2024

With a new year comes new trends, and we have been dying to see what hair colours will be on the roster for the year ahead. While some familiar shades will remain this year, we'll be taking it back to Y2K as well as taking a look at the 'colour of the year'. Keep scrolling to stay up to date with all the trending hair colours that your clients will be eager to try this year.

Andis

Andis is a leading brand in professional grooming tools, renowned for delivering high-performance clippers, trimmers, and grooming accessories.

Sienna X

Sienna X are a well-respected and established business within the tanning industry. A pro-level beauty brand with advanced formulations combined with the highest quality of ingredients to provide products to both professionals and direct to consumer.

ghd

A monthly trip to the salon is no longer the only way to have a good hair day - this can be achieved every day.

Procare Foil

Procare Foil is a trusted name in the professional hairdressing industry, known for delivering high-quality foils and dispensing systems that streamline the colouring process.

A Guide to the Best Scissors for Every Technique

The Perfect Scissors for Every Haircut and Hairstyle. Whether you’re an aspiring stylist or an experienced professional, selecting the right scissors for the right style is essential. This can make a significant difference in the quality of your cuts, the comfort of your styling sessions, and the overall outcome of your client's finished look. In this guide, we’ll explore the key features of the Alfa Italia Rosa, Nero, and Platino Collezione scissors and how each collection is perfectly suited for different cutting techniques and hairstyles…