About the Expo
Where beauty meets business
Joburg Hair Expo 2026 is being built as Africa's leading professional hair industry exhibition and a year-round business platform — combining trade, education, media, marketplace and B2B networking.
Our story
Not a two-day event
Traditional hair events sell exhibition space, run for two days and end engagement when the doors close. Joburg Hair Expo is designed as a 365-day industry ecosystem that connects stylists, barbers, salon owners, distributors, manufacturers, educators, retailers, investors and consumers across Africa.
South Africa's beauty industry exceeds R30 billion, driven by professional grooming, premium services, barbering growth, rising entrepreneurship and strong demand for education and certification. The Expo exists to give that industry a permanent commercial and creative home.
Vision
To become Africa's most influential hair industry platform.
Mission
To connect, educate, inspire and empower Africa's hair and beauty industry by creating a platform where creativity, innovation, culture, education and commerce intersect.
Core values
- Innovation
- Inclusivity
- Professionalism
- Entrepreneurship
- Education
- Collaboration
- African excellence
The platform
Six pillars of the Expo
Each pillar operates commercially in its own right and feeds the others across the year.
01
Exhibition
A professional trade floor across eight industry sectors.
02
Education
Workshops, technical training, certifications and masterclasses.
03
Media
A permanent digital publication for the African hair industry.
04
Marketplace
Exhibitor directories, product catalogues and business listings.
05
Networking
Buyer programmes, matchmaking, industry lounges and VIP sessions.
06
Sponsorship
Brand partnerships, activations and media collaborations.
Why Johannesburg
Africa's business, fashion and culture hub
Johannesburg is the continent's commercial engine and its trend capital. Hosting at Maponya Mall places the Expo inside Soweto — a township of enormous cultural influence and retail footfall — rather than behind a convention centre wall.
Industry community
Who the Expo is built for
Stylists & colourists
Technical education, product knowledge and certification.
Barbers & shop owners
Barber culture, competitive events and skills development.
Salon owners
Business education, equipment sourcing and staff development.
Brands & distributors
Product launches, buyer meetings and national visibility.
Academies & students
Recruitment, qualifications and student competitions.
Entrepreneurs & investors
Emerging brands, startups and beauty technology.