More than 3,000 barbers, hairstylists and industry pros gathered on June 22, 2025, for Hairfest Chapter III and Barber Expo.
Presented by Iconic Men Grooming Co., the third annual event was held at the Universal Event Space in Vaughan, Ont., and was jam-packed with high-energy education, artistry and competition.
“We’ve been doing the Expo for the past three years, and this year we wanted to do something different and bring in the hairstylist,” says Anna Choti, CEO and owner of Iconic Men Grooming Co. “There are not a lot of hair shows here in Ontario, so we thought why not combine the two and bring the two cultures together since they go hand in hand; a lot of hairstylists do have fading and barbering skills, and they have an interest in [learning more about] barbering as well, and vice versa—barbers who want to learn more about scissors and how to cut. To combine the two was a great idea.”
Throughout the day, industry artists and experts took to the education stage to share their talent. Brandi Lashay, Hawk the Barber, and SeanCutsHair kicked things off, followed by U.K.-based barber OP Josh Patel with a deep dive into his game-changing D.F.S formula.
Chris Bossio of Tomb45 delivered powerful insights on business and mentorship. A Tomb45 power hour was also hosted by Papi Beam, CJ Da Barber and Nate Galan.
Philip Wolff bridged barbering and hairstyling with his stage demonstration featuring shag cut and curtain-fringe tips and tricks.
Barber A-ROD made his Canadian debut with a high-impact session about standing out on social media. International barber and educator Andrea Amighetti also kept the momentum going with his stage presentation.
Alexi Michaels, Mr. Official, Justine and Mat Fekete closed the event with expert advice and smart strategies for long-term success in the industry.
Simultaneously, the barber battle stage delivered non-stop action with eight high-energy categories including Creative Design, Tag Team Fade-Offs, Under-21 Fades, Beard Battles and Stylist Hair Artistry. Timed challenges were judged by top industry names as barbers pushed their skills to the limit. Highlights included the Fade Queen showdown, the flawless fade championship, and the crowd-favourite final battle featuring overall cut and style where precision and creativity took centre stage.
In addition to all the haircutting action, we caught up with Don Wyatt, director of shows and education for BaBylissPRO Canada, and the Dannyco Professional team including general manager Vincent Lemieux, marketing director Andrea Barbieri and marketing manager Barbie Greiss.
Iconic Men Grooming Co. has already announced its next Barber Expo / Hairfest Chapter IV, which will be on June 28, 2026, at the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto.
“It’s very important to us because hairstylists and barbers are so talented, so it’s an opportunity to showcase themselves while learning and mingling with their colleagues,” says Choti. “Next year, you can expect a lot more. Barbers and hairstylists will be happy because we’re already in talks with some of the industry’s biggest influencers.”
See more photos from this year’s event.
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