At Professional Beauty India Mumbai 2026, the Salon Management Conference (SMC) closed out its two-day run. Day 2 was dedicated to the bigger structural questions facing the industry: convergence, expansion, technology, grooming, and education. Day 1 had focused on the fundamentals of running a salon business. In contrast, Day 2 looked outward, at how the industry is evolving, connecting, and professionalising.
The Big Beauty Convergence
The day opened with The Big Beauty Convergence. This session examined how the boundaries between salons, spas, wellness businesses, and aesthetic clinics are blurring, and what that means for how beauty businesses operate.
Oscar Pereira, Founder & Formulator of CodeSkin, moderated the discussion. He was joined by Pooja Lalwani Tamang, Pushkaraj Shenai, Dr Sharmila Nayak, and Shirin Merchant. The conversation centred on today’s consumer, who no longer distinguishes between beauty, wellness, and aesthetics. Panellists also explored where businesses should invest first, whether that’s people, training, products, technology, or treatment innovation, to deliver a more seamless client journey.
To Franchise or Not to Franchise
Growth strategy returned to the agenda next. To Franchise or Not to Franchise: The Salon Industry’s Multi-Crore Question was one of the day’s most anticipated sessions.
Vikram Bhatt, Founder & Director of Enrich, moderated the panel. He led Mukul Pawar, Sachin Kamat, Savitha Rao, Sneh Koticha, and Dr Vandana Bhardwaj through a candid look at franchising as a growth model. The discussion weighed the pros and cons of company-owned expansion versus franchising versus a hybrid approach. Panellists also unpacked what it really takes, beyond capital, to build strong, long-term franchise partnerships without compromising brand consistency or service quality.
Smart Technology for Smarter Salon Businesses
Technology took centre stage next in Smart Technology for Smarter Salon Businesses. The session explored which innovations are genuinely transforming salons and which are simply passing trends.
Sachin Kamat, GM, India, Middle East & Southeast Asia at Zenoti, moderated the panel. He was joined by Rohan Kant, Sanjeev Dhiman, and Vishal Solanki. Speakers discussed how AI and automation are reshaping client experience and operational efficiency. They also addressed how salon owners can approach digital transformation without overwhelming their teams, a timely conversation as more salons look to technology to drive productivity and retention.
The New Age of Barbering & Men’s Grooming
The programme then turned to barbering with The New Age of Barbering & Men’s Grooming. This session tracked the category’s evolution from a basic service to a premium, experience-led business.
Prathamesh Sawant, Co-founder of Nomad Barber Mumbai, moderated a panel of Dharmesh “Dodo” Hingorani, Gourav Bhardwaj, Sahil Jadhav, and Wazid Ali. The discussion explored what today’s male clients want beyond a haircut. Speakers also covered the growing role of education in raising barbering standards, along with the retail and service opportunities opening up within men’s grooming.
Education and Certification
SMC’s second day closed with Education and Certification: Building the Backbone of a Great Salon Industry. This session placed structured learning at the heart of the industry’s long-term growth.
Roopa Ambekar, Founder & Educator of Beauty Uni, moderated the panel. She was joined by Adhuna, Artistic Director at Davines India; Asha Hariharan, Education Director at Enrich AHA; Monica Bahl, CEO of B&WSSC; and Stuart Skinner, International Development Director at VTCT Skills. The panel discussed whether current training models are preparing professionals for the realities of modern salons. They also explored what role certification plays in raising service standards, building client trust, and creating clearer career pathways.
A Day of Bigger-Picture Thinking
Day 1 was about the internal mechanics of running a salon. In contrast, Day 2 was about the industry’s place within a wider, converging beauty and wellness ecosystem. From convergence and franchising to technology, grooming, and education, the day’s conversations reflected an industry maturing beyond individual salons. Instead, it is moving into interconnected, professionally run businesses.
Together, the two days of SMC 2026 gave salon owners, managers, and entrepreneurs a comprehensive view of what it takes to build, grow, and future-proof a salon business in India. Ultimately, the conference closed with a clear message: the future of the salon industry lies in stronger systems, smarter technology, deeper education, and a willingness to grow beyond traditional boundaries.
