Money Saving Tips with Alan Howard

As a small business owner, every penny counts towards your bottom line. Finding ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality or growth can make the difference between just surviving and truly thriving.

How To Save Money Without Sacrificing Salon Quality

With the unpredictable circumstances 2025 may bring, running a successful salon can be tough work, and providing top-tier service while keeping costs under control can be a serious challenge. Fortunately, we’ve discussed some smart strategies that can allow your salon to cut expenses without compromising the quality of your client's salon experience. We’ve explored some actionable tips and tricks on how your salon can save money while maintaining (and maybe even elevating!) the standard your clients expect. Let’s jump in…

Introducing Qiqi: The Art and Science of Hair Control

Qiqi has launched at Alan Howard, and we’re bringing your salon a transformative and inclusive salon-grade hair care product that gives your clients total control to transform the hair without compromise. With no harmful ingredients, no outdated processes and no ineffective formulas, there are no limits to what your hair can do with Qiqi. Developed with groundbreaking science, premium ingredients, and proprietary manufacturing processes, Qiqi delivers exceptional, lasting performance that will ultimately change the texture of the hair. Whether your clients dream of super sleek, straight hair or hydrated curls, Qiqi offers customisable solutions without sacrificing your clients' hair health.

Elumen

Elumen is a cutting-edge brand in the world of hair color, offering a revolutionary approach to vibrant and long-lasting hair dye.

It’s time to take allergy seriously!

It’s Allergy Awareness Week and we have a special gift for you. Today marks the start of Allergy Awareness Week, and whilst we are all in the business of making our clients feel fabulous, there’s also a huge responsibility that comes with hair colouring, and that’s managing risks of serious allergy.

Celebrating International Women’s Day in the Professional Hair & Beauty Industry

The professional hair & beauty industry has long been a space where women are are empowered to thrive, lead, and excel in their profession. From female salon owners and hairstylists to educators and wholesale workers, women continue to shape the industry. At Alan Howard, as a leading professional hair & beauty wholesaler, we believe it’s important to celebrate the women who contribute to this wonderful community.

The Hair Colour Trends of 2026: What Our Quif Educators Predict For The Year Ahead

As we move into 2026, professional hairstylists are already searching for the ideas, techniques and trends that are going to shape the creative space within the new year. To get ahead of what’s to come in the professional world of hairdressing, we’ve sat down with our Quif Education Team - Jennie & Aish - hair experts with a depth of knowledge and passion for colour. Together, they have shared their predictions on what 2026 has to offer, and we can’t wait to see it unfold into the new year…

5 Ways To Increase Client Retention In Your Salon

Within the competitive world of professional hair & beauty, client retention is key to long-term salon success. While attracting new clients is obviously essential, building a loyal customer base with strong and trusting relationships is where the true growth happens. Your loyal clients not only become regular returners but also hold the power to recommend your salon to others through word of mouth, which can actually be the most valuable promotional tool. We’ve dived into five strategies to help salon owners and hairdressers increase their client retention, to overall boost their bottom line. Let’s make 2025 the year of salon success!

Biolage

Biolage is recognised worldwide as a leader in the professional hair care field, and that reputation continues to grow.

The Year Of The Lived-in Blonde

2024 IS THE YEAR OF LIVED-IN BLONDE… and Schwarzkopf’s new Global Ambassador, Actress & Producer Sofia Vergara is now wearing the on-trend colour service. Re-writing her hair story with excitement, Sofia goes from her brunette look to a new natural-looking, customised Lived-in Blonde, that brightens her mid-lengths and ends, bonded by Schwarzkopf Professional products.

Meet The Quif Art Team: Vicki Lord

Introducing Vicki Lord - salon owner, multi-award winner, and avant-garde artist joining the Quif Art Team. Join Quif as we explore her journey through the industry. Let’s dive in and get personal…

New Year's Resolutions for your Salon in 2024

With 2024 finally here, it's the best time to reflect on what we want to accomplish in the year ahead. If you're a salon owner or freelancer, it's key to set goals throughout the year to keep up with the ever-evolving hair & beauty industry, so we have just the New Year's resolutions that will give you all the inspiration for making 2024 a successful one!

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.

How To Achieve The Iconic Sabrina Carpenter Blonde

Sabrina Carpenter's signature blonde has quickly become one of the most talked-about hair colours online, and it’s not hard to see why. Known for its seamless dimension, colour layering and precise application, it has become one of the most iconic looks of 2025. With her recent collaboration with Redken, we’re breaking down how to recreate the ‘Sabrina Carpenter Blonde’ in your salon, including the products and techniques that can help you achieve this coveted look.

Hair glossing: The Secret Salon Service Your Clients Will Love this Season

With the Christmas season packed with colour appointments, cuts and festive blow-dries, it can be easy for salons to lose touch with the services that deliver impactful results while still ensuring your clients are satisfied. That’s where Quif’s Magi:gloss comes in: a glossing service that’s more than just hair colour, it’s a luxury add-on service every salon needs this Christmas time.

NXT

A brand crafted exclusively for trade professionals. Offering a complete range of permanent and demi-permanent hair colours, toners, and accessories, NXT empowers salons with limitless creative possibilities and professional-grade results.

5 Christmas Nail Trends

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Meet The Quif Art Team: Brooke Evans

Introducing Brooke Evans - salon owner, multi-award winner and hair artist joining the Quif Art team this May. Join us and get to know Brooke and her journey through the industry as we are so excited to have her join the team at Quif. Let’s dive in and get personal…

The Midi Chop: The Haircut That’s Taking Over Spring

This spring, clients are either letting their bobs grow out or giving themselves a much-needed haircut. And this is where the Midi Chop takes centre stage. The Midi Chop balanced cut is the perfect option for clients who want that “short, but not too short” haircut, and it’s quickly becoming a salon favourite. Seen everywhere from London Fashion Week to the likes of Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber and Miley Cyrus, this cut is having a serious moment, and it’s easy to see why.

Andis

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

Recycle MY Salon

Recycling waste materials reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials, all of which create substantial air and water pollution.

Glitterbels

Glitterbels was launched in 2017 by Annabel (@nails_by_annabel_m) and Elliott Maginnis. Annabel started her journey in the nail industry, working from her mum's kitchen doing nails. As her skills grew, so did her following.

Trending Bridal Hairstyles This Wedding Season

Wedding season has approached the salons, and 2025 is all about elevated simplicity, vintage-inspired glam, and a fresh take on some hairstyle classics. If you’re a hairdresser ready to style your clients hair for their big day, we’ve dived into the trending bridal hair looks for the year, as well as some inspo you can bring to their consultations.

Clear Glossing: The Salon Secret to High-Shine Hair

When your clients want healthier-looking, shiny hair, a full colour transformation doesn’t have to be the answer. Sometimes, clients just want their colour but better! And that’s where Quif’s Magi:gloss comes in. Being a part of the Magi:gloss Demi Permanent Liquid glossing range, the Magi:gloss Clear shade is designed to give hairdressers greater control over their colour result, while enhancing the overall appearance of the hair. It’s perfect for easily softening strong tones to create polished, high-shine finishes. Plus, it’s another service to add to your salon menu! In collaboration with our Quif Educator, Sara Simpson, let’s take a deep dive into why Magi:gloss Clear is a salon essential and how to use it with your clients…

Mental Health Awareness Month: Supporting Your Clients

It's Mental Health Awareness Month, a time for individuals and industries to reflect, educate, and advocate for mental well-being, and there's one profession that holds a unique position in the mental health conversation: hairdressing. For hairdressers, recognising the signs of distress and knowing how to respond empathetically can make a world of difference in your client's life. Here's how professionals in the hair industry can raise awareness for mental health and provide meaningful support during their appointments. ​

The Winter Hair Edit: How To Prep Your Clients’ Hair For The Colder Months

Winter is not too far ahead of us, meaning cold mornings, central heating, cosy knits and a little more time with the hairdryer. And as winter has its perks, our hair doesn’t always agree. As the temperature drops, our hair can start to feel drier and look a little duller, becoming more prone to tangles and breakage. So, as hairdressers, it's the perfect time to revisit your clients’ routines and help them make a few seasonal swaps. We caught up with our Shed artists, Darcey Clarke and Charlotte Singleton, for their go-to tips on keeping their clients’ hair hydrated, healthy and manageable all winter long. Let's jump in!

A Deep Dive into Quif Trend:01 – Rose Quartz

Boost the feeling of self-love with this stunning rose quartz inspired look that will help your client to feel their best self. ‘Rose Quartz’ celebrates the perfect combination of Quif Blast colours to achieve the fun, playful colour that you and your client desire.

Christmas Nail Trends of 2024

The Trending Festive Nails of the Season...It’s finally time to start bringing festivity to your appointments, and for some clients, finding inspiration for the ultimate Christmas mani can be challenging. Luckily for you, we have this year’s Christmas nail trends that are versatile, chic, and perfect for every aesthetic. Here are the top Christmas nail trends for 2024 that every nail technician should know to inspire their clients this festive season.

6 Autumnal Hair Colour Trends with VelvaPro

As the seasons change, so do our clients' hair colour cravings. Summer’s brighter blondes and sun-kissed highlights turn to richer brunettes, glossy reds and warmer, more luxurious tones. We’ll begin to see deep cherry hues, honey-kissed mochas and expensive-looking brunettes that catch the autumn sunlight stunningly. This season, there’s no surprise that we’re seeing colour that feels rich and dimensional, so if your clients are looking for a little more warmth or want to embrace a deeper shade, there’s a hair colour to suit every mood.

Expensive Bronde: How To Achieve This Trending Summer Hair Look

If there’s one hair colour that’s dominating summer’s trend radar, it’s going to be something luxury, something low-maintenance, and something sun-kissed: it’s Expensive Bronde. This luxurious blend of brunette and blonde gives your brunette client an effortless, expensive, and dimensional look perfect for the summertime. This trend is all about soft, seamless blending that gives a lived-in colour with subtle sun-kissed ribbons throughout the hair, almost reminiscent of an iced vanilla latte. Perfect for a brunette client (even luckier if they have virgin hair!), this will be the ultimate summer transformation that will leave your clients glowing. Let’s dive into how to achieve the trending look for the summer.