How an event led by Denis Vidović became an institution of the hairdressing profession and an internationally recognised platform
In an industry where trends change from season to season, only a few projects manage not only to survive but to grow and remain relevant for more than two decades. The international hairdressing festival Hairstyle News is one of those rare examples.
Held in Opatija, the festival marked twenty years of continuous operation earlier this year and is today recognised as a relevant professional platform within the European context, as well as an important meeting point for education and knowledge exchange within the hairdressing community.
From its very beginnings, Hairstyle News has been dedicated to the development of the hairdressing profession, its public promotion and the creation of a strong and successful professional community. Over the years, the festival has become a place where careers are shaped, a domestic educational scene is developed, and hair professionals connect and build long-lasting friendships. This unique combination of education, inspiration, business opportunities and genuine love for the profession has become the foundation of the festival’s identity.
Today, the festival takes place as a two-day professional event bringing together hairdressers from across Croatia, neighbouring countries and the wider European hairdressing scene. Participants include salon owners and managers, employees, students and teachers of vocational schools, as well as representatives of numerous hairdressing brands, all with the shared goal of growth and further professional advancement. The event offers professional education and workshops, business lectures, panels and round tables, as well as a trade fair area for salon equipment and products.
From an Author’s Idea to an International Festival
The origins of Hairstyle News date back to the early 1990s, when the hairdressing event Hairline News was first held in 1994 as part of a broader trade fair concept that also included Fashion News and Cosmetic News, during extremely challenging wartime and economic circumstances.
The author of the original project, Katja Restović, recalls those early days and her collaboration with Denis Vidović.
– I have known Denis Vidović for a very long time. We met at Fashion News, where he helped me greatly with the organisation. From the very beginning, I knew he was an exceptionally valuable, reliable and capable organiser – Restović emphasises.
Due to wartime conditions, inflation and major financial challenges, Hairline News was discontinued after its first edition, and the continuation of the project was not possible at that time. Ten years later, Denis Vidović took over Katja’s original idea of organising a hairdressing event and, in 2004, launched the first Hairstyle News – a festival that would eventually grow into an internationally recognised platform for the hairdressing profession.
– It was always important to me that projects continue to live and develop. I recognised Denis’s abilities and talent and was certain he would turn the festival into what it is today. I am extremely proud of that – says Restović, adding that she follows the festival with pride year after year.
Relevance on the European Stage
Festival director Denis Vidović highlights that Hairstyle News has grown into a respected European event over the years.
– We are proud of our story and of the educators who come from many countries, and especially of our domestic educators who have grown into recognised names in the profession through the Hairstyle News platform. While preparing the celebration of the festival’s twentieth anniversary, we realised that only four events in Europe have a tradition longer than two decades, which makes our anniversary particularly significant – Vidović points out.
He adds that the festival is still in a phase of growth and continues to contribute to the profession.
– Events like this allow colleagues to socialise, exchange experiences and learn new techniques. Hairdressing is a fashion-driven profession – trends, techniques and technologies are constantly changing, which is why it is essential to stay in step with global innovations.
He also emphasises the importance of Opatija as the host city.
– Hairstyle News was born in Opatija. We have strong support from the Tourist Board, the City of Opatija, local hoteliers and our hosts at the Gervais Centre, for which we are extremely grateful. The festival is highly demanding in terms of production, and this support means a great deal to us. – Our goal was never just to organise a festival, but to create a platform that would continuously raise the standards of the profession in the long term – Vidović adds.
Looking to the Future
Today, more than twenty years after its foundation, Hairstyle News stands as an example of how vision, perseverance and one man’s love for the hairdressing profession can be transformed into an internationally recognised event – and as proof that the hairdressing profession has the knowledge, creativity and strength for further development.
Hairstyle News 2025 – After Movies
