TOP HAIR

What TOP HAIR does

TOP HAIR International GmbH is a German publishing and events company headquartered in Ettlingen, Germany, that serves the professional hairdressing industry across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The company operates a multi-channel B2B media platform built around the TOP HAIR trade magazine, which covers industry news, business management, legal/financial topics, techniques, trends, and professional knowledge for working hairdressers and barbershop owners. The portfolio extends beyond publishing into the annual TOP HAIR Messe trade fair in Düsseldorf, the TOP HAIR Masterclasses paid workshop program, the TOP Salon business competition, and the Club der Besten industry networking group.

The company's core technology consists of a digital magazine publishing platform with ePaper applications distributed through Apple App Store and Google Play, enabling individual issue purchases and digital subscriptions with DRM protection and multi-device (up to three devices) download support. The website (tophair.de) runs a content management system with Koko Analytics for privacy-compliant usage tracking, and the company maintains an active presence on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp as audience engagement channels. Affiliated companies KOSMETIK international Verlag GmbH and KOSMETIK international Messe GmbH share the same Ettlingen headquarters, indicating an integrated beauty-industry media group structure.

TOP HAIR's business model combines five revenue streams: recurring print and digital magazine subscriptions, display advertising (with named brand partners L'Oréal Professionnel, Babyliss PRO, GLYNT, and Belludio featured on the homepage), individual digital issue sales through ePaper apps, transaction-based event and masterclass ticket sales (processed via Stripe), and classified ads. Primary customers are SMB professional hairdressers and barbershop owners, with hair product manufacturers and brands serving as the secondary enterprise advertising segment. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, operates with 11-50 employees, and is led by Managing Director Fabio Schoch.

Name

TOP HAIR

Legal name

TOP HAIR International GmbH

Website

https://tophair.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TOP HAIR International GmbH is a German B2B publishing and events company serving professional hairdressers in the DACH region through its trade magazine, ePaper apps, the annual TOP HAIR Messe trade fair in Düsseldorf, masterclasses, and the TOP Salon business competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaggenau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions (Print & Digital): Recurring subscription revenue from professional hairdressers subscribing to the TOP HAIR International magazine. Includes both print and digital (ePaper) subscription options with various billing frequencies.
2. Advertising & Display Ads: Revenue from display advertisements placed in the magazine and on the website. AGB documentation outlines advertising contracts, placement terms, and digital advertising tools.
3. Digital Content Sales: Individual digital issue purchases through ePaper apps on iOS and Android platforms. In-app purchases for single magazine editions with one-year re-download window.
4. Event & Masterclass Tickets: Revenue from TOP HAIR Messe trade fair events and paid Masterclass workshops featuring industry experts. Ticket sales processed via Stripe payment platform.
5. Classified Ads (Kleinanzeigen): Revenue from small classified advertisements published in the magazine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TOP HAIR is a German B2B trade media company that publishes Germany's leading trade magazine for professional hairdressers, distributes it through print and digital ePaper channels, and operates the annual TOP HAIR Messe trade fair in Düsseldorf. The company also runs the TOP Salon business competition, masterclasses, a digital content platform with sections covering hair inspiration, styles, tools & products, salon ownership, and business topics, plus a regular newsletter for the professional hair care industry.

Product overview

TOP HAIR is a publishing and events company serving the German-speaking hairdressing and beauty industry. The core offering is the TOP HAIR Magazine (print and digital subscription), providing trade-specific editorial content covering industry news, business advice, techniques, trends, and professional knowledge. Digital distribution is enabled through dedicated ePapers/eMagazines Apps for iOS and Android, which provide mobile access to magazine editions via in-app purchase. The portfolio extends to events: the annual TOP HAIR Messe trade show in Düsseldorf featuring exhibition floors and educational stages, and TOP HAIR Masterclasses providing hands-on professional workshops. TOP Salon is the company's annual business competition for salons, forming the Club der Besten network. The company also publishes industry-focused content through category sections (Branche, Business, Wissen) addressing salon operations, legal/financial topics, and technical knowledge areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TOP HAIR Magazine

Quantifiable outcome

• The TOP HAIR Messe attracts thousands of industry professionals annually to Düsseldorf

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amazon (DTM8 Distribution Center)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026Sponsor of Barbersride Germany 2026 charity motorcycle tour. Amazon facility in Krefeld serves as starting point pit stop for the event.
• MÜHLE RasurkulturminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026Sponsor of Barbersride Germany 2026 charity motorcycle tour. German shaving/premium grooming products brand supporting the charitable cause.
• WAHL ProfessionalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026Sponsor of Barbersride Germany charity motorcycle tour. Professional hair clipper manufacturer supporting the event.
• Louis MotorradbekleidungminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2026Sponsor of Barbersride Germany 2026 charity motorcycle tour. Motorcycle apparel retailer supporting the charitable cause.
• L'Oréal ProfessionnelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand advertising partnership. L'Oréal Professionnel featured as exclusive brand on TOP HAIR homepage, indicating advertising/sponsorship relationship for brand visibility to professional hairdresser audience.
• BelludiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand advertising partnership. Belludio (KM Logo) featured as exclusive brand on TOP HAIR homepage.
• Babyliss PROminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand advertising partnership. Babyliss PRO featured as exclusive brand on TOP HAIR homepage with referral tracking (utm_source=tophair).
• GLYNTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand advertising partnership. GLYNT professional hair products featured as exclusive brand on TOP HAIR homepage.
• KOSMETIK international Verlag GmbHcoreOthersAffiliated publishing company sharing the same address (Am Hardtwald 7, 76275 Ettlingen). Data sharing occurs between companies for marketing purposes with customer consent.
• KOSMETIK international Messe GmbHcoreOthersAffiliated trade fair company sharing the same address. Data sharing occurs between companies for marketing purposes with customer consent.
• Creditreform Karlsruhe Bliss & Hagemann KGminorOthersCredit reporting agency used for creditworthiness checks on customers during initial and larger follow-up orders. Full company name and address transmitted for verification.
• Make-A-Wish DeutschlandcoreOthersCharitable beneficiary of Barbersride events. Organization grants wishes to seriously ill children. TOP HAIR coverage supports awareness and donations for the cause.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Estetica Magazine: International B2B trade publication for professional hairdressers, published in multiple languages and editions. Directly comparable to TOP HAIR as a specialized hairdressing trade magazine with parallel content, advertising, and audience monetization models.
• American Salon: US-based trade publication for salon owners and stylists offering editorial content and digital subscriptions. Comparable to TOP HAIR as a national-level trade title serving professional hairdressers with similar advertiser-supported media economics.
• Salon International (HJ Media): Major UK annual trade fair for the professional hairdressing industry, organized alongside Professional Beauty. Comparable to TOP HAIR Messe as a national trade show franchise attracting exhibitors, stylists, and brands in the hairdressing vertical.
• Beauty Forum (Health and Beauty Germany): German-language trade publication for the beauty industry including professional hairdressers, with associated trade events. Directly comparable to TOP HAIR as a DACH-region competitor in B2B beauty/hairdressing publishing and events.
• Hairdressers Journal International: Long-established UK-based trade publication serving professional hairdressers, with both print and digital editions and event-adjacent activities. Closely comparable to TOP HAIR as an English-language counterpart targeting the same professional audience with similar editorial and advertising offerings.
• Professional Beauty (HJ Media): Trade publication and event organizer for the beauty and hairdressing industry operating in the UK, Australia, and beyond. Closely matches TOP HAIR's integrated print/digital publishing plus event business model targeting salon professionals.
• Modern Salon: US-focused trade media brand for salon professionals, combining editorial content, digital subscriptions, and industry events/competitions. Directly comparable to TOP HAIR in product structure (magazine + digital + events + community) for the professional hairdresser audience.

Broad incumbents

• Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna: One of the world's largest B2B beauty trade fair networks held annually across multiple geographies. Comparable to TOP HAIR Messe as a major beauty/hairdressing industry exhibition, though operating at significantly larger global scale and broader beauty category scope.

Emerging players

• Behindthechair.com: Digital-first media platform for professional hairdressers offering online education, editorial content, and video. Comparable to TOP HAIR's digital content and masterclass offerings as an alternative channel hairdressers use to consume professional education and trends.

Others

• Schwarzkopf Professional / Henkel Beauty Care: Major professional hair product brand and advertiser within the same industry that TOP HAIR serves. Comparable as an ecosystem participant — a key hair product advertiser whose marketing budgets fund much of the trade media category, including publications like TOP HAIR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TOPHAIRVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/TopHairInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/tophair_mag
• Xx.com/TOPHAIRIntern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/top-hair-international-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TOP HAIR