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SEARCHIn an exclusive interview with Dr. Dominic Pratt, Global President, Kao Salon Division, we hear how the much-loved professional brands Goldwell and Oribe are forging ahead while staying true to their roots (pun intended).
Kao Salon Division, part of Japan-based Kao Corporation, includes well-known professional beauty brands including Goldwell, Oribe, KMS, Kerasilk, and Varis.
Whether in-person at a large gathering, inside intimate ateliers, or on a digital forum, Kao Salon Division regularly brings together salon professionals to share knowledge, showcase new products and trends, and foster networking and learning opportunities.
One such upcoming get-together is the Kao Salon Global Experience, kicking off in Chicago on September 24. As the brand teams prepared to greet their beauty family from around the world, MODERN spoke with Dr. Dominic Pratt, Global President of Kao Salon Division about some major milestones for the brands, as well as programs and initiatives ongoing and coming up.
Dominic Pratt is the Global President of the Kao Salon Division, which is one of the global
leaders in the $20 billion Professional Hair industry with a portfolio of iconic professional
salon brands. Dominic Pratt became the
company’s President on September 1st, 2021.
Goldwell, the stylist-centric brand known for innovation, inspiration, and partnership, is celebrating a visionary 75 years.
“It’s a big year for us, and it’s a number to be very proud of,” Pratt says. “We’ve taken this time to look back at our company history and to focus on some important pillars.”
Goldwell was founded in 1948 by the husband-and-wife team of Hans Erich Dotter and Edith Dotter in Darmstadt, Germany. The brand developed and manufactured hair care and styling products, equipping salon professionals with high-quality shampoos, conditioners, and treatments.
“This was post-war Germany and the society needed beauty,” Pratt says. “Hans got together with a stylist and introduced the world’s first cold perm. Right from the start, Goldwell was built on being stylist centric, with an authentic, eye level partnership with the stylist.”
A turning point in the company’s history came in the 1960s when they introduced professional hair color and became a leader in the field, becoming known for their innovative hair color solutions and advanced technology.
“Goldwell is the home of our color, which is our pride and joy, and we continue to celebrate this with dozens of inspiring shows and activities,” Pratt says. “We’ve also concentrated on our Goldwell Color Collective, which is our online social community of up-and-coming colorists, giving them a global platform to share their inspiration and their creativity.”
At the heart of Kao Salon Division lies a deep-seated sustainability ethos. Goldwell has been educating salons and stylists to make thoughtful choices around their product and energy use and has awarded those going above and beyond.
With the new “Climate Neutral Salon” program in partnership with ClimatePartner, a globally acclaimed enthusiast of the carbon neutral world, Goldwell is building on the continuous success of Kao Salon Division to improve the sustainability of its production.
“Sustainability is very close to our hearts,” Pratt says. “This year, we’ve accelerated our efforts to empower salons to operate their salons more sustainability, and to offset carbon emissions and reduce the environmental impact of their business by becoming CO2 compensated salons.
“It’s a partnership and shared journey with the stylists, with the salons, and with our 270 thousand business partners,” Pratt continues. “We’re investing heavily in programs and activities that inform and encourage them to make the right decisions. When we amplify these efforts, the positive impact is significant.”
The haircare brand Oribe, inspired by and developed in collaboration with editorial stylist and hair legend Oribe Canales, has inspired a cult-level following among session hairdressers, celebrities, models, and beauty editors since its founding 15 years ago.
In 2017, Kao acquired Oribe, and has continued to maintain the brand’s identity and commitment to luxury haircare.
"Fifteen years sounds quite short compared to Goldwell’s 75, but in 15 years, Oribe has become a runaway success. We have been seeing Oribe wowing salons in Asia, and we want to build on this success.
“One of the keys will be Oribe the Journey to Mastery Education. It’s built on the philosophy of learning and offering best-in-class education. We utilize 80 diverse global artists to teach these classes. We're also looking forward to the opening of the first European Atelier in Copenhagen, led by Nicci Welsh.”
Journey to Mastery, “education of the hair obsessed,” includes instruction in the foundations of cutting and styling, and also dives into the specifics of setting, bridal, runway and even retro.
“It’s about taking Oribe truly global for the future. We also see sustainability top-of-mind for Oribe; we launched a microsite to explain the 360’ approach (from products, to partners, to people).”
At the Kao Salon Global Experience, hairstylists and salon owners will get firsthand exposure to new offerings from the brands. Pratt says that Goldwell will be unveiling new products and innovations in the professional haircare and styling industry.
“The big one will be ammonia-free Topchic Zero which will be launched in the US in autumn. This is a perfect Goldwell combination—50 years of haircolor and performance along with our passion for sustainability. You’ve got color perfection but also a formula that is drain-safe, ammonia-free, vegan, and free of ethanol, and the packaging is 100% recycled. There will be 27 shades at the initial launch.”
Other updates and innovations will include those from Goldwell Stylesign products which will incorporate Marine Bamboo Technology. The bamboo proteins help to keep the style natural and flexible.
KMS will be featuring Seaweed Technology in its products which takes a problematic raw material and turns it into something very beneficial.
And in the Oribe portfolio, Pratt says fans can look forward to an expansion of the Gold Lust and Hair Alchemy Collections
At the Kao Salon Global Experience in Amsterdam, October, 2022, the finalists and their models celebrate the moment.
MODERN will be onsite at Kao Salon Global Experience, which will include the Global Creative Awards, a hairstyling competition with country finalists competing and showcasing their skills and creativity.
“I joined the very first community inspiration live event that we did –20 years ago—it was called Trend Zoom and then Color Zoom,” says Pratt. “As a young scientist, seeing what these super talented stylists could do with our technology and our products—it soon became my favorite time of year.
“There is so much energy and it’s such an amazing experience for all of us taking part. Seeing these talented artist and ambassadors, or that next generation of emerging talent, the raw emotion of the winners and even those who don’t win. How can you not love that?”
This year’s awards centered around the Monochromatic trend, which is rooted in minimalism and intentional by design.
Haircare brand The Doux has launched “My Salon Empire,” a free-to-play salon management game on Roblox, helping the next generation celebrate the diversity of textured hair and explore salon entrepreneurship.
The show reported 30% attendance growth. It felt that way. This event for the southwest professional beauty community had heart, spice, and something for everyone.
Wella artists presented the Monochromatic trend movement, introduced new Pure Perfection color and Sebastian styling innovations, while the Wella team created interactive fun throughout Wella Studio in Los Angeles.
Dominique LyVar, an influential educator and artist, is remembered by those who loved him for his significant impact on the industry and contributions to the community.
Known for his buttery blondes and a technique for highlighting hair with more precision that he called chunking, Brad Johns died on August 27. His friend and fellow colorist, David Stanko, shares thoughts on his talented colleague and close friend.
As technology evolves at an accelerated rate, you want to make sure you have the best in your business toolkit to help you grow sales, motivate your team, communicate with your current and future clientele, and streamline your managerial tasks. The 2026 SALON TODAY Technology Solutions Guide is designed to help you navigate today's growing landscape of salon and spa technology. In this guide, you'll find a curated look at more than 50 of the latest software platforms, digital solutions, and innovative features to help you compare options and identify the best fit for your business.
The Davines Edit reflects the brand’s passion for people and planet.
RÜTE Wash introduces a shower cap designed specifically for crown washing, helping clients with hair extensions cleanse the scalp while protecting the lengths from water.
Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.
One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.
Hairstylists and barbers can showcase their creative and technical vision in two global categories with cash prizes and a chance to represent in Portugal.
The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.
The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai
