2026 | Starting at €990The creative retreat
A two-day reset for hairdressers who want to think deeper, create better, and reconnect with why they started.
The Creative Retreat isn’t about learning another technique.
It’s about reconnecting with your creative instinct,the part of you that knows why you do what you do.
Hairdressing is more than skill.
It’s vision. Storytelling. Sensitivity. Culture.
But somewhere between clients, content, and keeping everything running, that connection can dull. The work becomes automatic. Safe. Repetitive.
The Creative Retreat is a pause button and a reset.
Hosted by Candice McKay, this two-day immersive experience brings hairdressers together to step out of routine and back into curiosity, confidence, and creative flow.
WHAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON
Mindset, focus & creative sustainability
We begin by slowing things down. Creativity needs space to function properly. Through guided moments of reflection, single-tasking and focused creative work, you’ll learn how to reduce noise, avoid burnout, and reconnect with the part of you that creates with clarity rather than urgency. This sets the tone for everything that follows.
Creativity-boosting workshops
Learn how to overcome creative blocks, draw inspiration from unexpected places, and reawaken your artistic voice. We’ll work on techniques that help you spark new ideas, define your aesthetic, and build a creative mindset that can support a long, evolving career, not just the next project.
Mastering the art of collection shoots
Avoid the costly mistakes many of us made early on. This section breaks down how strong imagery is actually created, from idea to execution.
You’ll learn:
How to conceptualise, style and execute your own PR or collection shoot
The step-by-step process of planning, budgeting and building the right team
How to collaborate effectively with photographers, stylists and art directors
The do’s and don’ts of shoot execution from inspiration through to delivery
Trend forecasting, PR & social media strategy
Understand how fashion, beauty and cultural movements influence hair and how to use that insight intelligently.
You’ll learn:
How to use trends as guidance, not instruction
How to position your work with clarity and intention
How to create content that supports PR, marketing and long-term visibility
How to build an authentic digital presence that reflects your work rather than performs it
Hands-on creative activities
Creativity isn’t passive. You’ll actively work through:
Storyboarding and sketching
Moodboard development
Group storytelling and idea exchange
Creative challenges designed to shift perspective and unlock new ways of thinking
Live cutting, editorial styling & direction
Using the forecasting and moodboard work as a foundation, Candice demonstrates how a concept moves from idea to execution. Live cutting, editorial styling and model direction reveal how to shape hair, guide movement, and collaborate with a photographer to create intentional, editorial imagery.
Why attend
This isn’t just a workshop.
It’s a shift in how you approach your work.
Whether you’re looking to move into editorial, strengthen your personal or salon brand, or reconnect with the part of hairdressing that once excited you, the retreat is designed to meet you where you are and move you forward with clarity and intention.
You’ll leave with:
A clear shoot blueprint you can put into action
Renewed creative confidence
A stronger sense of direction and purpose
A small but meaningful creative network
Practical tools to elevate both your professional and creative work
Who it’s for
The Creative Retreat is designed for hair professionals who are:
Ready to elevate their artistry and thinking
Interested in planning and producing professional shoots
Keen to develop stronger branding, content and visual direction
Looking for education that goes beyond technique
day one
The first day is about arriving into the space, the group, and your own way of thinking. We begin by slowing the pace and shifting out of autopilot. Through moments of mindfulness and single-tasking, attention is brought back to focus, allowing you to tune into your own aesthetic, instincts and creative voice before moving into concept development.
Opening session
Creative mindset, focus and intention setting
We ground the group, introduce the creative framework, and begin shifting attention away from distraction and into clarity.
Lunch break
A shared pause to refuel, connect and let ideas settle.
Creative workshop
Storytelling, moodboarding and concept development
The afternoon is dedicated to exploration, building visual language, shaping ideas, and beginning the creative development that will carry through the retreat.
day two
Day two brings ideas into form. Creative development from day one is translated into real-world application,moving from concept to execution with clarity, intention and confidence.
Live cutting, editorial styling & direction
Using the forecasting, references and moodboards developed earlier, we move into execution. Live cutting, editorial styling, model direction and collaboration with a photographer reveal how ideas become images.
Lunch break
A moment to pause, reflect and reconnect before the afternoon sessions.
Creative application & refinement
Reflection, discussion and group feedback
We refine thinking, clarify direction, and focus on how to carry this work forward beyond the retreat.
Closing session
Building a practical toolkit for future creative projects
The retreat concludes with reflection and intention-setting — anchoring what you’ve learned into your ongoing creative practice.
Our locations
The Creative Retreat is hosted in carefully chosen locations around the world.
Each edition is shaped by its setting, the pace, space and structure may shift slightly depending on where we are, while the core creative experience remains the same.
Residential · Accommodation included
Set among vineyards and open space, the Stellenbosch retreat is slower in pace and deeply immersive. With time to disconnect from daily noise, this edition offers space for reflection, creative reset and meaningful connection.
Stellenbosch 8-9 March south africa
Belgium
Residential · Accommodation included
Hosted in a design-led urban setting, the Liège retreat is focused and intimate. Ideas are sharpened through conversation, observation and structured creative work, with evenings designed for connection and exchange.
Liége 29-30 March 
Non-residential · Day sessions
Set within the energy of New York, this first US edition unfolds inside a fast-moving cultural environment. The city acts as a visual and conceptual backdrop, adding momentum and contemporary context to the creative work.
New York 26-27 April usa
Residential · Accommodation included · 4-day retreat
Set in nature just outside Vienna, this four-day Creative Retreat offers a deeper, more spacious rhythm. Co-presented with Carmen Subota, stylist yoga instructor and journaling coach, the retreat weaves creative practice with movement, reflection and conscious presence.
Vienna 6-10 June austria
United kingdom
Non-residential · Day sessions
Hosted in one of the world’s most influential creative capitals, the London retreat draws on fashion, media and image culture. The setting offers a strong editorial backdrop for focused creative development.
London 26-27 July
germany
Non-residential · Day sessions
Hosted at Davines House, the Düsseldorf retreat takes place in a purpose-built creative environment. The setting supports clarity, intention and thoughtful execution, allowing ideas to be developed with focus and care.
Dusseldof 8-9 NovemberLooking for a retreat closer to you?
Additional locations will be announced soon. Join the waiting list to receive updates as new retreats are released.
If you’re curious about hosting a Creative Retreat in your city and collaborating as a partner, feel free to reach out, each edition is shaped thoughtfully around its location.
