Dubai is set to welcome what organisers describe as the UAE’s first family-focused festival dedicated entirely to curly, coily, and kinky hair this October. The Dubai Curl Festival will take place on October 10 at Cornelia’s Craft Kitchen in Dubai Internet City, bringing together families, beauty brands, hair professionals, and the wider natural-hair community for a day centred on texture, styling, and hair care.

Photo: Getty images

The one-day event, running from 10am to 6pm, is organised by Oh My Knots, a UAE-based community-led platform created to help families navigate natural hair across curl patterns ranging from 2B to 4C. What began as an online space for sharing advice and discovering suitable products is now moving into a physical setting with a festival designed to bring that community together.

Visitors can expect brand activations featuring products for curly, coily, and kinky textures, alongside live styling demonstrations and opportunities to explore products through sampling stations.

The family focus extends to younger attendees, with activities planned specifically for children throughout the day. Each ticket also comes with a goodie bag featuring products from participating brands.

For those managing textured hair in the UAE, the festival also arrives against the backdrop of the region’s demanding climate. Heat, humidity, and hard water can influence how curls behave and how frequently certain routines need to be adjusted. Oh My Knots has built its community around addressing some of these everyday challenges.

Photo: Pinterest/@Han

According to organisers, the Dubai Curl Festival is expected to become an annual event, with plans for more brand participation and a special guest in future editions. The first edition therefore offers a starting point for what could become a recurring gathering within the UAE’s growing natural-hair and beauty community.

Tickets are currently available, with limited early-bird options and family passes covering two adults and two children.

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Dubai has become an increasingly prominent destination for beauty technology, with international brands and specialist clinics bringing AI-powered skin and hair diagnostics into physical locations across the city, these tools use imaging, sensors and data analysis to examine concerns that may not always be visible to the naked eye, giving clients a more detailed starting point for skincare and treatment decisions.

Shiseido Skin Visualiser -Dubai Mall

At Shiseido’s flagship store in Dubai Mall, the Skin Visualiser offers a touchless approach to skin assessment. First introduced globally in 2021, the device uses imaging technology to provide an instant reading without requiring a beauty advisor to physically examine the skin.

The assessment gives shoppers a closer look at their skin before they choose products, bringing a technology-led element to the traditional beauty consultation.

Clarins AI Skin Observer – Clarins Boutique, Dubai Hills

Photo: Groupe Clarins

Clarins has introduced its AI Skin Observer at a select group of stores worldwide, including its Dubai Hills boutique. The technology combines biophysical sensors with facial imaging under different lighting conditions to assess up to 22 skin parameters.

The results are then used by a Clarins advisor to shape the consultation and recommend products based on the individual’s skin profile, rather than relying solely on a visual assessment.

Dermalogica Digital Face Mapping – Multiple Dubai Locations

Photo: Instagram/@shiseidomiddleeast

Dermalogica’s Digital Face Mapping combines professional skin analysis with image recognition technology to examine concerns such as dryness, dehydration, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and oil production.

The service is available at several Dermalogica locations in Dubai, including Mirdiff City Centre. Trained skin therapists guide clients through the results, adding professional interpretation to the technology-generated assessment.

Dr Batra’s – AI Skin Pro

Photo: Saloncentric

Dr Batra’s clinics in Dubai Healthcare City and Jumeirah Lakes Towers use AI Skin Pro, a skin-analysis system incorporating Korean imaging technology. The device combines four medical-grade polarised lights with ultraviolet illumination and a 20-megapixel camera to assess a range of skin concerns, including acne, melasma, premature ageing, hyperpigmentation and dermatitis.

The resulting report is reviewed by dermatologists, who use the findings when developing personalised treatment plans. Follow-up assessments can also be compared with earlier scans, allowing changes in the skin to be monitored over time.

Medical Village – VISIA Skin Analysis

At Medical Village on Jumeirah Beach Road, the VISIA system uses multi-spectral imaging to examine a range of visible and underlying skin characteristics. The technology measures spots, wrinkles, texture, pores, ultraviolet damage and brown-spot distribution.

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Dubai has one of the most developed beauty retail markets in the region, with major international names available through Sephora, department stores, specialist retailers and online platforms. Yet some brands with strong followings in the US, UK and other markets remain difficult to access in the UAE. In some cases, the brands do not ship directly to the country; in others, there is no established retail presence, leaving shoppers to look overseas or rely on independent sellers.

Rhode

Photo: Instagram/@divatheebawse

Founded by Hailey Bieber, Rhode has built its identity around a focused range of skincare and makeup designed to simplify everyday routines. The brand is known for products including the Peptide Lip Treatment, Peptide Glazing Fluid and Barrier Restore Cream.

Rhode’s current shipping list covers the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and a selection of European countries, but the UAE is not included. The brand’s own FAQ also lists its authorised in-person retail markets, which currently include Sephora in the US, Canada and UK, as well as selected retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

Rhode does not currently ship directly to the UAE, and its listed physical retail partners do not include the UAE

Merit Beauty. Given the brand’s popularity and tightly curated product range, a UAE retail presence would make its most recognisable products considerably easier to access.

Merit

Photo: Suzanne Saroff/Merit Beauty

Merit takes a minimalist approach to makeup, focusing on products that can be used across a streamlined routine. Its range includes the Signature Lip, Flush Balm and The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, with skincare also forming part of the brand’s offering.

The brand’s official shipping policy currently lists the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia, France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Spain and Italy as its shipping markets. The UAE is not among them, and Merit does not ship to freight-forwarding addresses.

Merit products can nevertheless be found through some UAE-based third-party sellers, including listings on Noon and Dubai-based beauty retailers. Those options are different from having the brand available through an official UAE distribution channel.

Cécred

Photo: Cecred

Founded by Beyoncé, Cécred focuses on haircare, with formulations developed around hair strength, moisture and overall hair health. Its range includes the Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual, Moisturizing Shampoo and Moisture Sealing Lotion.

Cécred ships to the UAE, but it does not currently have an established retail presence in Dubai.

Naturium

Photo: Naturium

Naturium has built its reputation around ingredient-led skincare at accessible price points, with products covering concerns such as hydration, exfoliation, pigmentation and skin barrier support. Its range includes the Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum, Niacinamide Gelée Cleansing Gel and The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash.

The brand is widely available in the US, including through major retail chains, but its international distribution is more limited. UAE shoppers may encounter individual Naturium products through online sellers, although availability can vary by product and retailer.

EADEM

Photo: Amazon

EADEM approaches skincare with a focus on products designed for diverse skin tones and concerns. The brand’s range includes the Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum, Cloud Cushion Airy Brightening Moisturizer and Le Chouchou Exfoliating Pimple Patch.

EADEM does not currently ship directly to the UAE, meaning shoppers may need to seek out individual products through online channels rather than encountering the collection as part of a permanent retail assortment.

EADEM’s emphasis on pigmentation and skin tone makes it particularly relevant to shoppers looking for targeted products that work across a wide range of complexions.

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