Hairtopia Ibiza: A Sun-Soaked Celebration of Hair, Community & Creativity
From September 28 to October 1, milk_shake, DEPOT and Medavita (all under the Beautynova Group umbrella) turned Ibiza into a playground for hair professionals, hosting an unforgettable four-day experience that merged education, spectacular hair and pure connection. There were runway shows, brand activations, parties and even a David Guetta concert (yes, really).
To learn more about each brand and get exclusive access to everything the event had to offer—read on.
Click here for an in-depth recap of our time at Hairtopia.
Meet the Global milk_shake Team:
Leading the charge for milk_shake’s runway show were Global Artistic Ambassadors like Shelley Lane (@shelleylane_inspires), Gianluca Grechi (@gianlucagrechi) and Andrew Smith (@andrewsmithhairstylist). These stylists brought valuable industry insight and trend forecasts to the prep room, along with technical precision and creative flair to the stage.
BTC got to sit down with this team of stylists to chat things like Fall 2025 hair trends, pre-show rituals and personifying Ibiza. Keep scrolling to hear their hot takes.
Shelley Lane, Gianluca and Andrew pictured here:
Where are you from, and what hair trends are you seeing for Fall 2025?
GIanluca, Italy: A huge trend in Milan is coming from the U.S., which is Sabrina Carpenter’s fringe. Everybody is obsessed with it.
Andrew, UK: One trend I see a lot in the UK this fall is warmth. We’re staying away from those cool tones in blonde hair, so your creamy baby blondes or even caramel blondes. Which is perfect timing because in the UK milk_shake is launching our The Gloss Warm Shades.
Shelley Lane, UK: Things are definitely getting a lot warmer…lots of copper blondes—the transition is really beautiful. We’re also seeing lots of mahoganies as well. As far as haircuts…bobbin’ it.
Products Used
How important are client consultations behind the chair? Any strategies your peers could benefit from?
Gianluca: Consultations are crucial. I think one thing we need to remember is to have that balance between leading and guiding the clients, because of course, we are the professionals so we should know whats best for them.
…As well as balancing their hobbies and what they do. For example, if they wear glasses at work—details like that could ruin a haircut you did. Or for example, if she goes running every morning wearing a ponytail and you layer the front too much and now she’s going to have trouble. All these little details but always with guidance and leading.
Shelley Lane: I teach bridal hair and one of the things is the consultation—so many people get it wrong. Something really important to ask is ‘Do you ever wear your hair up?’ Because then they come to the trial and they have their hair up and say ‘I don’t feel like me.’ So it’s getting to the root of that and just asking as many questions as possible.
…And the other thing I like to do is sit down with the client, I don’t talk in the mirror, I sit facing them. You bring yourself down to their level, it’s a lot more comfortable and you’ll get a lot more answers out of them.
See the ambassadors’ runway looks in progress—plus, other prep room content here:
If Ibiza were a haircut, color or style, what would it be?
Gianluca: A color made by all the colors…bright, bright, bright violet.”
Andrew: The color that screams to my mind would be red. Red can be sexy, it can be energetic, it can be vibrant. That sums up Ibiza to me.
Shelley Lane: Ibiza for me would definitely be styling—braids, dreads, all those beautiful natural textures.
If a milk_shake product were an Ibiza DJ which one would be spinning all night long?
Gianluca: My DJ is the Texturizing Spritz. Something that gives you the right texture to party all night long.
Andrew: So my milk_shake DJ product would be the Powder Pop and that is because it will keep your style for days. You can literally party all night, you can sweat all night and it will keep your hair in shape.
Want more interview content? View our event recap Instagram stories here.
The Runway Hair That Gave Main Character Energy:
The runway hair shows were theatrical performances that embodied what it would look like if you combined a hair show with a music festival like Coachella. The show wove this narrative with hair innovation to create a visual journey leaving audience members inspired, challenged and ready to translate new visions into salon-ready work.
Here’s a look at some of the show’s highlights:
Want more exclusive content? Click here for all of the highlights packed into 60 seconds.
Community, Connection & After-Hours Vibes…
Over 1,200 hair professionals from around the world showed up to Ibiza to watch the runways and immerse themselves in the pool- and beach-side activations, yes, but also to connect with other stylists.
Evenings were dedicated to connection: sunset dinners, beachside gatherings and parties that channeled Ibiza’s nightlife and made the weekend standout amongst typical industry events—including a David Guetta concert at the legendary venue Ushuaïa.
Attendees also had time to explore the island, soak in inspiration from local architecture, light and culture, and recharge between sessions—blending work and leisure with seamless flow.
