There is something uniquely revealing about a professional beauty show. Away from the polished campaigns and finished images, it is where the industry gets to show how the work actually happens. Techniques are dissected, products are put through their paces, trends are interpreted, and talent is tested in real time.
That was the energy that ran through Professional Beauty India Mumbai 2026, held at BEC, NESCO, on 31 August and 1 September. Powered By Beauty Garage, the two-day event saw 20,497 visitors attend, and brought together hairdressers, beauty professionals, barbers, educators, artists, brands, and emerging talent, creating a vibrant cross-section of an industry that is becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse.
Across the stages and competition arenas, one thing was clear: professional beauty is no longer about simply mastering a single skill. Today’s professionals are expected to understand technique and technology, creativity and commerce, artistry and the client experience. PBI Mumbai 2026 reflected that evolution.
HAIR, REIMAGINED
The Hair Stage was perhaps the clearest expression of that creative and technical convergence. Over two days, the stage moved from precision cutting to colour, treatment, styling, fashion, and men’s grooming, offering audiences a window into the techniques shaping contemporary salon work.
Day 1 set the pace with Shane Haleyburton’s French Haircut Techniques, followed by Sumit Malkotia and Atharva Takke’s Saga Collection. Colour took centre stage with Nikisha Bhatia and Atharva Takke, while Anil Kumar Kodnani delivered a K18 look-and-learn session.
The programme moved seamlessly from technique to treatment, with Marcos Viana and Ishwer Sharma exploring the science of smoothening, before Dr Blossom Kochhar and Jas Jhally brought the worlds of hair and fashion together.
There was also plenty of editorial inspiration. Najeeb Ur Rehman and Shirin Merchant presented the Brewlette Hair Collection 2026-27, while Reg Laws and Team brought the energy of New York Fashion Week to Mumbai Salon Ready: The Rockstar Edit.
Day 2 maintained that momentum. Savio John Pereira looked Back to the Future, while Virender Verma and Najeeb Ur Rehman explored contemporary cuts and styling for Vega Professional. Atharva Takke returned with Styling & Microfuel for Beauty Garage, followed by Vikas Marwah’s Beyond the Fade with the VGR Stepless Pro Kit.
Treatment and styling remained central, with Abhishek Harswal presenting Kerafine and Abhishek Malik demonstrating Signature Hollywood Waves for HNK. The stage’s exploration of men’s hair and grooming continued with The Global Stylist Blueprint: La Collection Capillaire Masculine 2027.
What made the Hair Stage particularly compelling was its ability to bridge aspiration and application. These were not simply finished looks to admire. They were lessons in how to create them.
BEAUTY BEYOND THE FINISHED LOOK
If the Hair Stage celebrated the craft of transformation, the Beauty Stage explored just how many layers that transformation can involve.
Glamour, bridal beauty, skincare, nails, and special-effects make-up shared the platform, reflecting a beauty industry that is increasingly expansive in both its services and its ambitions.
Day 1 moved from Aturen’s Luxury Glamour Look and Pratiksha Thorat’s Wedding Glam to Vicky Panchal’s dramatic 3rd Degree Burn Make-Up Effect. Kavita Patel presented a Party Cocktail Look, while Mahima Punni brought a Marathi Bridal Look to the stage.
Skin, too, had its moment. Jyoti Sahni’s Korean Glass Skin Rice Water Facial tapped into the growing demand for skin-first beauty, where complexion preparation is no longer simply a prelude to make-up, but an essential part of the overall service.
The bridal conversation continued strongly on Day 2. Aakash Futane presented a Bridal Look for Secret Beauty, while Priya Vora explored BIAB and trending nail art for Calyx London. Neha Joshi demonstrated the Raaga Professional Bridal Facial with Hydra Machine, and Disha Pandya presented Extreme Stiletto Design with Swarovski Art for Shills Professional.
Kajal Rathod focused on bridal make-up designed to withstand the demands of HD, while Ojas Rajani brought Bollywood bridal glamour to the stage for Malio.
Together, the sessions painted a picture of beauty that is increasingly interconnected. Great make-up begins with great skin; bridal artistry extends to nails and finishing; and technical expertise is what allows creativity to translate into a polished, client-ready result.
THE MODERN BARBER GETS SERIOUS
The Modern Barber Challenge offered another compelling reflection of the industry’s evolution. Barbering today is a world away from being simply about a quick trim. It demands precision, speed, creativity, design, and an understanding of the complete client experience. The competition put all of those skills under pressure.
Day 1 featured Express Fade, The Modern Barber, and Beard & Moustache, with competitors working against the clock to deliver technically precise, and commercially relevant finishes. Day 2 introduced Creative Scissors and Hair Tattoo, demanding another level of control and originality.
The competition was supported by VGR as Gifting Partner, Appronics by ADS as Supporting Partner, and Gatsby as Styling Partner.
At the Awards Night, Milind Prakash Bansode took the Beard & Moustache title, while Avinash Shinde won Creative Scissors. Rajkumar Sisodiya claimed Express Fade, and Robin took Hair Tattoo.
The ultimate title, The Modern Barber, went to Prashanth Inarparthi, with Dablu Sharma as First Runner-Up.
The winners represented the breadth of contemporary barbering, from fades and scissors work to beard design and hair tattooing, reinforcing its place as a serious and highly skilled professional discipline.
SKILL MEETS COMPETITION
While the Modern Barber Challenge celebrated a barber’s expertise, Skillathon put versatility under the microscope. Across two days, competitors were tested in Facial, Mani-pedi, Waxing, Foot Reflexology, Make-up, and Nail Art. It was a reminder that behind every polished beauty service lies a foundation of technical skill, discipline, and attention to detail.
The competition was supported by Recode as Official Make-up Product Partner, Shills as Official Nail Product Partner, and Biosoft as Official Waxing Product Partner.
The final results saw Sarika Rupesh Pevekar named Skillathon Winner 2026, with Vrukshali Vasant Pervi as first Runner-Up and Pratistha Ayonnna as second Runner-Up.
The awards ceremony featured LTA School of Beauty, with Vaishali Shah, Co-founder & Director of LTA, addressing the audience. The jury brought together professionals including Devangi Vala, Hina Khan, Jalpa Rana, Jody Jones, Mahima Gandhi Grover, Neha Joshi, Nisha
Chauthani, Sanjay Thakkar, and Smita Rajendra Narvekar.
Skillathon’s importance extended beyond the competition floor. It celebrated the professionals whose technical excellence often happens away from the spotlight, while highlighting the value of continual learning and multi-disciplinary expertise.
ENTER CHROMÉRA
For Beauty Garage, PBI Mumbai 2026 provided an especially significant platform, with the brand not only serving as the event’s Powered By partner, but also unveiling its latest professional colour proposition: Chroméra.
The launch began with a little theatre. Until 12.30pm on 31 August, the Chroméra colour bar remained concealed behind red fabric. Founders Nikisha Bhatia, Atharva Takke, Gourav Bhardwaj, and Seema Jerajani then unveiled the range to attendees.
At the booth, professionals could explore Chroméra through its colour swatches and real-hair results. Its low-ammonia formula, powered by Shea, was a key part of the product story.
The reveal moved to the stage, where Nikisha Bhatia and Atharva Takke, TMC Artistic Ambassadors, presented the Chroméra TVC/AV before demonstrating the range across six models with different hair textures.
Brown, violet, red, and blonde shades showcased the colour possibilities, while cut and colour-placement techniques transformed the launch into a practical masterclass.
The range also made its way into the Rockstar Success Team presentation, giving professionals another opportunity to see Chroméra in action.
It was a fitting approach for a professional launch. Rather than simply telling the audience about a new colour range, Beauty Garage demonstrated what it could do.
SALON MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE MUMBAI 2026
The Salon Management Conference (SMC) brought the business of beauty into sharp focus across two day. From salon economics and expansion to talent, marketing, technology, franchising, men’s grooming, and education, the discussions examined the systems, skills, and strategies needed to build a stronger, more sustainable industry.
PANEL 1: THE NEW ECONOMICS OF SALON GROWTH
MODERATOR: Vikas Vij, Managing Director, IDEX
PANELLISTS: Prannay Dokkania, CEO, Trufitt & Hill; Priscilla Corner, Director, June Tomkyns Salon & Academy; Ratna Kulkarni, Owner, Le Miroir Salon & Spa; Reginald Laws, CEO & Co-founder, PR at Partners Salon Group & Academy.
Key takeaways:
• Salon growth needs to be measured beyond revenue, with retention, visit frequency, average ticket size, basket size, and customer lifetime value becoming critical metrics.
• Retention can be more valuable than acquisition, but memberships only create real value when customers actively redeem and use their benefits.
• Upselling should be driven by consultation and a customer’s individual goals, making cross-selling about servicing better rather than simply selling more.
• Salons need to reduce dependence on individual star performers by distributing skills, customer knowledge, and responsibility across the team.
• Data and AI can help salons understand customer behaviour, personalise services, and make better operational decisions, while disciplined unit economics remain fundamental to profitability.
PANEL 2: SCALING YOUR SALON BUSINESS: SYSTEMS, STANDARDS & SUSTAINABLE EXPANSION STRATEGIES
MODERATOR: Charlene Flanagan, Associate Editor, PBHJ
PANELLISTS: Himanshu Pal, Founder, Himanshu Pal Salon; Mohit Gupta, Founder, Salon Ministry; Nafisa Afnan,
Founder, Earthy by Ellenza Hair & Skin Centre; Qurat Syed Deshmukh, Director, Lemon Salons.
Key takeaways:
• A salon needs to prove its existing model before expanding, with strong management, an anchor team, structured finances, and systems that reduce dependence on the owner.
• Location selection needs to go beyond property appeal, considering catchment, spending power, rental costs, customer behaviour, and the salon’s positioning.
• SOPs, audits, reporting, and consistent training are essential to maintaining service and customer-experience standards as a business grows.
• Scaling requires businesses to develop talent across the organisation rather than becoming dependent on a handful of star employees.
• Technology can provide visibility across locations, but sustainable expansion ultimately depends on people, processes, financial discipline, and strong management infrastructure.
PANEL 3: SERVING INDIA’S EVOLVING BEAUTY CONSUMER
MODERATOR: Charlene Flanagan, Associate Editor, PBHJ
PANELLISTS: Avani Yashwin, Founder, Happy in the Head; Bala, Founder, Curl Nation; Isha Mahabal, Founder,
Alchemic Beauty Salons; Savio John Pereira, Owner, Savio John Pereira Salons; Shine Janarthanan, Owner, Time Machine Salon & Academy; Zingranwon Shatsang, Co-founder, Zido Salon.
Key takeaways:
• Consumers are increasingly informed by social media, online research, and AI, but digital inspiration can create unrealistic expectations around what is technically achievable.
• Growing demand for specialised expertise, particularly around textured and curly hair, scalp concerns, mature hair, and sensitive or specialised beauty needs, creates opportunities for salons willing to invest in education.
• Consultation needs to become a core part of the service, with professionals understanding a client’s goals, lifestyle, budget, maintenance expectations, and long-term hair or skin health.
• Personalisation means adapting trends and services to the individual rather than simply offering more choices.
• Trust is becoming a powerful retention tool, with professionals increasingly expected to act as advisors who can explain, educate, manage expectations, and say no when something is unsuitable.
PANEL 5: BUILDING A SALON BRAND THAT GROWS: GETTING YOUR MARKETING RIGHT
MODERATOR: Rishabh Shah, Chief Marketing Officer, LUZO
PANELLISTS: Biju Nair, Co-founder & Executive Director, LTA; Vikas Marwah, Owner, Vikas Marwah Salon; Yadhu Krishna, Founder & CEO, Upswing Digital.
SHOW REPORT
PANEL 4: THE TALENT EQUATION: BUILDING TEAMS THAT STAY, GROW & PERFORM
MODERATOR: Vaishali Shah, Co-founder & Director, LTA
PANELLISTS: Leena Khandekar, Founder, Lee’s International Beauty and Spa Institute; Michelle Robert, Owner, Salon Michelle; Natasha Naegamvala, Director, Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon; Vrinda Jhaveri Gada, Owner & Stylist, November Rain, The Salon.
Key takeaways:
• The talent challenge is not simply about finding people, but about retaining and developing the people already within the industry.
• Training should be viewed as a retention and growth investment, giving employees a reason to build their careers within an organisation.
• Clear career pathways, from junior roles through senior, specialist, management, and potentially ownership positions, can make progression tangible.
• Gen Z requires salons to rethink engagement around flexibility, recognition, salary progression, boundaries, and career development without compromising professional standards.
• The industry needs to build talent rather than simply compete for it, with continuous education, apprenticeships, mentorship, and internal development forming a stronger talent pipeline.
Key takeaways:
• Effective marketing starts with a clear USP and positioning, with different salon models requiring different strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Digital discovery is increasingly important, with Instagram and Reels helping generate awareness while Google captures customers actively searching for a salon.
• Marketing does not end with acquisition. WhatsApp, follow-ups, packages, and timely communication are critical to converting enquiries into appointments and repeat business.
• Influencer marketing should be judged by relevance and business outcomes rather than follower numbers alone, particularly for locally driven salon businesses.
• The salon experience itself can become a marketing tool, particularly when services are distinctive, visually appealing, shareable, and memorable.
Day 1 concluded with a fireside chat featuring CK Kumaravel, Co-founder and CMD, Naturals Salon & Spa, and Vikas Vij, Managing Director, IDEX, bringing the day’s conversations to a close with an engaging exchange on the evolving business of salons.
PANEL 1: THE BIG BEAUTY CONVERGENCE PANEL 2: TO FRANCHISE OR NOT TO FRANCHISE: THE SALON INDUSTRY’S MULTI-CRORE QUESTION!
MODERATOR: Oscar Pereira, Founder & Formulator, CodeSkin
PANELLISTS: Pooja Lalwani Tamang, Makeup Artist, Entrepreneur and Founder, The Lipstick Diary & Fit Face; Dr Sharmila Nayak, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Founder, The Skin 1st Clinic; Shirin Merchant, Owner, Kut n Make Salon; Pushkaraj Shenai, Founder & Chief Simplifier, Happiveda.
Key takeaways:
• The boundaries between salons, dermatology clinics, wellness, and aesthetic centres are increasingly overlapping as consumers seek more results-driven and specialised services.
• Consumers are more informed and results-oriented, increasing the need for professional consultation, education, and guidance.
• Education is a major opportunity, with professionals needing stronger knowledge of ingredients, formulations, treatment suitability, contraindications, and when to refer.
• Technology can enhance consultation and personalisation, but it needs to be supported by trained professionals and should complement rather than replace expertise.
• The future lies in collaboration, with salons, dermatologists, wellness professionals, and other specialists understanding their boundaries, referring appropriately, and keeping the consumer outcome at the centre.
PANEL 3: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTER SALON BUSINESSES
MODERATOR: Sachin Kamat, GM, Zenoti
PANELLISTS: Rohan Kant, CEO, Envi Salons; Sanjeev Dhiman, CEO, Naturals; Vishal Solanki, Managing Director, Karvish Enterprise Pvt Ltd | SpalonSoft. Key takeaways:
• Salon owners should start with the business problem they need to solve, rather than adopting technology simply because it is new or fashionable.
MODERATOR: Vikram Bhatt, Founder & Director, Enrich
PANELLISTS: Mukul Pawar, Director, LookWell Salon; Savitha Rao, Business Head, Spin Chain of Salons; Sneh Koticha, Director, JCB & Bounce Salons; Dr Vandana Bhardwaj, Director & Spokesperson, Marie Claire Salon, India; Sachin Kamat, GM, Zenoti.
Key takeaways:
• A salon brand needs to prove its core business, systems, financial performance, and management capability before it is ready to franchise.
• The right franchise partner brings more than capital. Capability, alignment with the brand, operating ability, and clearly defined expectations are critical.
• Brand standards, customer experience, training, and core processes need to remain non-negotiable as a network expands, even where local flexibility is allowed.
• Franchising is not automatically asset-light, with training, technology, audits, marketing support, and franchise management requiring significant investment.
• Expansion should never outpace management capability, organisational culture, or the talent pipeline needed to support the network.
personalise recommendations, and turn one-time visitors into loyal, higher-spend customers.
• AI has genuine potential in consultation, personalisation, and business analysis, but technology needs to demonstrate real value rather than becoming a gimmick.
• Technology adoption depends on people. Tools that teams cannot or do not want to integrate into daily operations are unlikely to deliver long-term value.
• The ultimate measure of a technology investment should be ROI, whether through improved revenue, retention, efficiency, time savings, or fewer costly errors.
PANEL 4: THE NEW AGE OF BARBERING & MEN’S GROOMING
MODERATOR: Prathamesh Sawant, Co-founder, Nomad Barber, Mumbai
PANELLISTS: Dharmesh ‘Dodo Hingorani, Co-founder, Zido Salon; Gourav Bhardwaj, Creative Director, Zion Salons & CHANGE Salons; Sahil Jadhav, Hair & Wellness Coach,
Truefitt & Hill; Wazid Ali, Founder & Owner, Clo & Flo Salon.
Key takeaways:
• Barbering needs stronger formal education and structured training that goes beyond technical skills to consultation, products, client management, and professional development.
• The category has moved towards premium, experience-led grooming, supported by better tools, products, international techniques, and greater consumer willingness to invest.
• Men are increasingly seeking beard grooming, skincare, specialised services, and personalised advice, creating an opportunity for barbers to become trusted grooming advisors.
• Unisex salons can capture more of the male grooming opportunity by integrating specialist barbering, grooming, consultation, and retail into their offering.
• Barbering needs to be positioned as a credible career, with clearer opportunities for specialisation, education, earning, mentorship, personal branding, and progression.
PANEL 5: EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION: BUILDING THE BACKBONE OF A GREAT SALON INDUSTRY
MODERATOR: Roopa Ambekar, Founder & Educator, Beauty Uni
PANELLISTS: Adhuna, Artistic Director, Davines India; Monica Bahl, CEO, B&WSSC; Stuart Skinner, International Development Director, VTCT Skills; Asha Hariharan, Education Director, Enrich AHA.
Key takeaways:
• Beauty education needs to go beyond technical skills, incorporating critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, client understanding, commercial awareness, and individual expression.
• Standardisation is essential for safety, technical competence, and professional practice, but it should provide a foundation rather than restrict creativity.
• Future-ready education needs to connect the classroom with the salon floor through continuous learning, practical experience, apprenticeships, and clear progression.
• Certification needs to have genuine value, demonstrating defined skills while supporting employment, progression, credibility, and professional mobility.
• The industry needs better educators and a stronger train-the-trainer ecosystem, alongside clearer career pathways and collaboration between educators, salons, certification bodies, government, and industry.