30 Years Strong Education at the Heart of TONI&GUY.

By Louise May

TONI&GUY Australia was launched in 1995 by the late Dennis Langford, a respected leader in the hair industry who is greatly missed. Today, under the dynamic leadership of CEO Sara Langford, TONI&GUY Australia continues to thrive and has maintained status as a leader in Education. As they approach their 30th anniversary this November, with 19 salons nationwide, their focus is firmly on future-proofing the business, driving innovation and evolution through education.

Sonia Lyon’s 11-yr history with TONI&GUY isn’t just part of her career, it is her greatest professional achievement. Spending 6yrs with the Australian team, she had the privilege of leading the team as the National Artistic Director heading all education and events, before relocating to London. Sonia joined the global team as an International Artistic Director/LABEL.M ambassador in 2008, an experience that transformed her and made her ultimate hair dream a reality.

Working full-time educating at the Flagship Academy, running the gauntlet of London Fashion Week for 10 seasons and representing the brand globally in over 10 countries at hair shows cemented her unshakeable love for the industry. After over a decade of giving her all, a wrist injury cut the journey short.

Returning to Australia, Sonia spent 8yrs in the commercial space with luxury brands, further developing her skill set and gaining a deeper understanding of the business and haircare sectors.

Now, she is proud to return to TONI&GUY Australia and LABEL.M as National Education Manager, and she looks forward to leading the team to continued success as they navigate the evolving hairdressing landscape together.

Louise May, Editor of Mocha Hair, chats with Sonia...

How has TONI&GUY’s education philosophy evolved over the years, and what sets it apart from other education providers in the industry today?

For over 60 years, TONI&GUY has built its legacy on a philosophy where learning is not just part of our foundation - it is the foundation, driving everything we do. Here in Australia, that philosophy is embraced and delivered with dedication, ensuring the legacy is not only represented while continually evolving to the unique needs of our industry. Those needs are met through our education portfolio, which offers the full spectrum - from styling, editorial, and avant-garde to advanced colour techniques and barbering.

The platforms through which these programs are delivered are key to fulfilling the demand for bespoke education our industry requires. From online demonstrations and webinars to insalon tailored programs designed to meet every skill level, we ensure flexibility and relevance. As a salon-based company, our educators are highly skilled, delivering education that remains salon-relevant, consultation-driven, and always with client-focused intention.

Our internal education, combined with the ability to tap into industry evolution as part of a global company, sets us apart from other providers. From apprentices to our Artistic Team, upskilling never stops - driven by both internal programs and the encouragement to engage in external education. With a large team of expert educators to draw from, we harness their diverse strengths to ensure every external student experiences the very best our industry has to offer across every pillar

What does internal education look like for TONI&GUY salon teams in Australia?

The foundation of TONI&GUY’s education lies in our internal Vardering Program. Derived from the word ‘Varder’ - meaning to watch carefully with intent - it is an intensive immersion in either styling or colour, undertaken by every team member

when joining the company or transitioning from apprentice to senior hairdresser. Participants can choose styling, technical, or both, with the structure designed to ensure mastery in one craft — cutting or colouring — before adding the other discipline to their skill set. In recent years, the program has evolved, becoming more personalised to each individual and embracing the demands of multi-skilling across all facets of hairdressing.

Once Vardered, our team members become eligible to attend Art Team, a bi-monthly program offering advanced education across technique, presentation skills, and product innovation, designed to refine both artistry and educator excellence.

Each year, our Artistic Team attends an accelerated bootcamp at our Flagship Academy in London. Over the course of a week, the team absorbs updates to education delivery, hones presentation skills, aligns with the company’s direction for the year ahead, and showcases our annual collection in cut, colour, and editorial - shaped by Fashion Week and global trend influences. This commitment not only sets our education apart but ensures our offerings go above and beyond industry standards.

What role does ongoing education play for established TONI&GUY stylists, are there clear pathways for career progression, from apprentice to leadership roles, education roles, and even business ownership?

The Varder framework creates a progressive roadmap for our Education Team, offering career pathways to become Varder Educators and progress through our in-salon tier system - from Stylist/Technician to Art Director/ Technical Director.

For those with ambitions to become Academy Art Directors (platform artists) and represent our brand nationally and internationally, opportunities span Fashion Weeks, editorial shoots, hair shows, facilitating external education and the ability to mentor within our 19 salons alongside educators of that calibre.

For stylists who are more business-driven, there is a defined pathway into assistant management, salon management, or even salon ownership, supported by our internal Management Program.

Can you tell us about the external education offerings, what kinds of courses and workshops are available to stylists outside the TONI&GUY network?

With the demands of our industry and an ever-evolving landscape, we review and refine our education offerings each year to align with requests and deliver a clear, accessible education calendar.

Our program includes a range of pre-planned courses covering classic cut and colour, texture and curl, editorial, and barbering. Each course combines live model demonstrations with interactive workshops, adaptable on the day to meet the specific learning needs of participants. For a more personalised approach, we offer private, bespoke courses that are fully customisable in both length and content. Prior to booking, we conduct a thorough consultation to identify key focus areas, ensuring the right educator is matched to the skillset required. Demonstrations, workshops, and theory can be blended as needed to create a tailored learning experience for salons and stylists.

For those ready to push boundaries and unleash their creativity, we also offer specialised courses in avant-garde, backstage at Fashion Week, and photo shoot insights - designed to inspire, challenge, and take your craft to the next level.

How has TONI&GUY embraced digital or blended learning in education, and how do you see technology shaping the future of training?

Internally, our digital adaptation within education is strong, allowing us to share information instantly across the globe. This is centralised in our online portal, the Learning Hub, which all team members have unlimited access to. Here they can explore step-by-step techniques, indepth education across cut, colour, and product knowledge, along with the latest updates on our LABEL.M haircare. A favourite feature is the collection of tips and tricks on using our products to create a variety of looks - both in-salon and backstage.

For external students, online education is currently available on request. This enables us to connect with regional areas and support busy salons where time constraints make bite-sized, tailored education essential. Looking ahead, this will become a stronger focus in 2026 and beyond, as the demand for flexible, blended learning continues to grow.

One of the most significant technological advances has been in utilising digital record keeping - from reporting to capturing live and pre-recorded educational content. This enables a single education session to be repurposed and shared repeatedly, exponentially extending its reach and influence.

Additionally, collaborations with our colour partner, Wella Professionals have been greatly enhanced through digital platforms, enabling education sessions to be hosted simultaneously across states. This approach allows for seamless product launches and artist-led sessions that are more interactive for our team, while also ensuring consistency of information - whether experienced live or through recorded playback. It will continue to evolve alongside ongoing advancements in technology.

Technology will play an even greater role in shaping the future of education, redefining some of the traditional staples of kinaesthetic learning. That said, no matter how advanced technology becomes, nothing can replace the power and impact of in-person education.

Looking ahead, what is TONI&GUY’s vision for education in Australia, what innovations, partnerships, or new directions can we expect to see in 2026 and beyond?

TONI&GUY Australia is built on reinvention and relentless evolution. Being a heritage brand and going from strength to strength, we continue to innovate, strengthen both existing and new partnerships, and expand our scope year after year. While education remains at the core of everything we do, as of late, we have also placed a strong focus on elevating our salon partners’ businesses - with outstanding results.

Next year, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we have an exciting calendar ahead: collaborations with international talent, LABEL.M expanding its haircare presence, and an elevated transformation of our Education and Artistic team. So many exciting projects are on the horizon, and we look forward to sharing more following our upcoming bootcamp in London next month.

@toniandguyau