BarberNV Issue 16

B arber N V I s s u e 1 6

BARBER

NV Chaps & Co Corneliu Crihan Street Thug Barbers

SPRING 2018

CONTENTS

I S S U E 16 News

06

50

SKILLS by Barber Mo

BarberSociety Live

08

52

Akin Barber & Shop

Braw Beard

10

56

Art by NZ

60

Street Thug Barbers

62

Drewry’s

64

Fat Tony’s

70

Bluebeards Revenge

Moustache Championships

Dave Brown Photography

18

Products

24

Rizor Fire Step-by-Step

34

Step-by-Step Mohair Barber School

38

84

Rebel Rebel x Glasgow

Corneliu Crihan

42

Kelvin College

Chaps & Co

46

86

Dr Nestor

Editor’s Comment Dubai. A truly sensational city, somewhere that needs to be seen to be believed. It was great to head over there and pop into Chaps & Co personally for this issue, a brand that will surely be coming to the UK sooner rather than later.

The industry in Dubai is expanding rapidly and it won’t be long before

barbershops and now with Mohair’s own academy up and running

they’re creating some real waves on the international scene. So read

and Rebel Rebel linking up with Glasgow Kelvin College to offer

on to find out about some of our favourite shops in the desert jewel.

courses in modern barbering, the health of the industry here has

From Vancouver, Canada, we’re delighted to highlight the work

never looked brighter.

of the Street Thug Barbers who have given up their Sundays every

If you’ve been looking for tips on how to earn more engagement

week to help the local homeless community in one of the most

on Instagram with your cut pictures, then look no further. Top

deprived areas in the country.

barbering photographer Dave Brown has given us his top tips, or if

Closer to home we have spoken with two top barber training schools right here in BarberNV’s home city of Glasgow. Mohair and Rebel Rebel have long been two of the city’s best known

Enjoy!

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you want to really impress and get your work in BNV, hire him for a professional photoshoot – you won’t regret it!

Enjoy the issue.

Sr

NV

SHOWCASE

Sknhead Hair: Adee Phelan Clippers: Babylliss Pro Scissors: Quartered Steels Styled: Sknhead

Credits Founder Joanne Reid | Editor Simon Ritchie | Head Graphic Designer Ross Stewart | Sales & Marketing Executive Megan Mowles | Graphic Designer Cara Scott | Editorial Support Matthew McLaughlin Design & Marketing PrintNV | Columnists Alan Findlay | Thanks Essence PR, Vivid PR, LWPR, Red Hot Products, Red Mane Media, B TheAgency, Fellowship of British Hairdressing, National Hairdressers Federation, Barber Council, British Barbers’ Association, Sknhead, BarberSociety Live, Braw Beards, Dave Brown Photography, Neocape, Rolando Saez Sanhueza, Mohair, Corneliu Crihan, Skills by Barber Mo, Akin Barber & Shop, Chaps & Co, Art by NZ, Street Thug Barbers, Drewry’s, Wayne Anthony, The Bluebeards Revenge, Kyle Ross, Jamie Wilson, Glasgow Kelvin College, Rebel Rebel, Andis, Dr Nestor Cover Image: Hair and Concept: Thom Robins, Photography: John Bello, Makeup: Jane Mallonga, Wardrobe: Freddy Sim Published by Gallus Print & Digital Media, 132 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2RQ | Email contact@salonnv.co.uk | Tel +44 (0) 141 212 5525 Copyright All work in this publication is copyright BarberNV Magazine and Gallas Print & Digital Media Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. © Information and product prices are correct at time of printing. Some products may not be available in all stores.

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sknhead Hair:

Adee Phelan Clippers: Babylliss Pro Scissors: Quartered Steels Styled: Sknhead

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I N D U S T R Y NEWS First Turkish barbershop for Stratford-Upon-Avon Colliers International is opening the first traditional Turkish barbershop in StratfordUpon-Avon, as the town joins the growing list of places getting behind the popular service.

Located at 27 Wood Street in the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon, First Class Traditional Turkish Barbers will offer affordable hair grooming as well as addition services for men which traditionally include: a facial steam clean and massage; eyebrow threading or trimming; ear-flaming and a customary straight razor shave.

Emel Ahmet, Associate Director in Colliers International’s Retail Agency team, said: “Where gents have been opting for the ‘no frills’ treatment of the high street barber for some time now, the Turkish Barbers have entered the market offering something different.

“Entrenched in tradition and history, the art of Turkish barbering is a much more luxurious experience and celebrates a skill that has been passed down from generation to generation, however still at the affordable price point that you would expect from a high street barbershop.”

Bright day for Brightwell

A BarberNV favourite and former Educator of the Month, Alison Brightwell, has had her brilliance recognised as the prestigious TES Further Education Teacher of the Year.

Alison, who teaches barbering and hairdressing at East Durham College, was presented with the accolade at the TES FE Awards annual ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, beating outstanding teachers from across the UK. Alison said: “I’m utterly thrilled and shocked! I couldn’t have done it without my amazing team and support from my managers, I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years and especially Suzanne Duncan, the principal of East Durham College, for nominating me.

“Teaching is my passion, so to be recognised for it with an award like this is amazing. It’s a night I will never, ever forget.”

We asked Alison what her secret is?

“I don’t really know! I’m very passionate and always have a good rapport with my students. I try to inspire them and motivate them, I think that’s the main thing.

They know how much I enjoy my job, that comes across.”

Three for LSB Opening their first barber academy outside of the capital, London School of Barbering has announced their third training centre will be based in Manchester.

Offering everything from NVQ 2 Diploma beginner course to NVQ 3 Masters advanced course, the new facility offers free haircuts to models meaning that students can cut hair on up to six live models daily.

This has been key to the success of LSB courses, with a much higher percentage of LSB students going on to full-time barbering employment compared to many other courses.

Shave finalists The seven regional winners joining last year’s champion Elvis Gjokaj in the final of Britain’s Best Shave 2018 have been announced.

Enver Yeshilbulut, Kevin Voyse, Sophie Collins, Jamie Crawford, Yucel Olmezkaya, Jack Jenkins, and Allan Stone will be fighting it out with Elvis in the BBA and The Bluebeards Revenge boxing ring at Barber UK. The finalists will need to impress judges on a range of criteria, including preparation, razor technique, and post-shave routine to win the title at the Birmingham NEC on Sunday May 20th.

This year’s Britain’s Best Shave winner will walk away with £500 worth of The Bluebeards Revenge grooming products and merchandise, and a chance to work with the brand – as well as the much-coveted title of Britain’s Best Wet Shaving Barber.

Nick Gibbens, spokesperson for The Bluebeards Revenge, said: “Each year we’re blown away by the level of talent out there,

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and this year we’ve had a record number of entries. What this shows is that competitions like this, along with the good work of the British Barbers Association, help to drive up standards in the barbering industry – that’s the overall objective.”

Trevor Studd, director of the British Barbers’ Association, suggested that the everflourishing trend for men’s grooming was showing no signs of slowing down.

He said: “Men are looking after themselves a lot more and have finally realised that the barber or a dedicated male grooming operation is the best place to go to get a decent haircut. There is also rising demand for hot towel shaves and beard trims, and barbers have fully tapped into offering these types of services.”

I N D U S T R Y NEWS

WOMEN ENTERING COMPS Statistics from The Bluebeards Revenge male grooming brand and the British Barbers’ Association found that women, who have been notoriously shy when it comes to entering competitions and demoing on the stage, are now starting to take the plunge and showcasing their impressive barbering talents.

The figures, released ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8th, show that 23 per cent of the entries to this year’s prestigious Britain’s Best Shave were female, up from just 8 per cent back in 2014. The

numbers have been increasing year on year, with 10% of the entries being female in 2015, 11% in 2016 and 17% in 2017.

Nick Gibbens, spokesperson for The Bluebeards Revenge, said he was delighted with the findings, adding it showed how far the industry had come over the last five years.

He explained: “Making an impact on the barbering world has always been easy for women. I even remember the days when men would refuse to sit in the barber chair because she was a woman. The industry has grown up since then and it’s great to see so many female barbers entering this year’s Britain’s Best Shave competition.”

Next Gen The AHT (Association of Hairdressers and Therapists) Finals took place in Blackpool in March, with a number of young barbers displaying their talents in competitions including Male Fashion Look and Men’s Cut and Finish.

With support from the likes of the MHFed, with Adam Sloan among the judges, the day highlighted the level of talent and creativity coming through the industry.

Nathan Ryan, pictured above, came second in the Male Fashion Look with his Afro inspired flat top with skin taper. “The standard was really high and they were all good competitors,” said Nathan who is making the move from college to starting in his first shop. Congratulations to Nathan and all who took part.

Cut and colour course

Dr Nestor takes a leap

Two BarberNV favourites are coming together for a day of education in Glasgow this May. Last issue’s cover star Sam Wall is teaming up with SHABA Barber of the Year Grant Carr for a men’s creative cut and colour course at Grant’s Mr Blonde shop on May 6th.

BarberNV columnist Dr Nestor is taking to the skies this April in a bid to raise money for Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children and The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

Tickets are limited and come with a complimentary American Crew gift bag. To book either a hands-on full day session for maximum learning or to book a morning observation ticket call 0141 230 0524.

On Sunday 22 April 2018, Dr Nestor will leap out of a plane in St Andrews, descending 10,000ft to the ground in a terrifying display of charitable generosity. Dr Nestor, having worked with hundreds of young patients during his time at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, has seen first-hand the good that The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity does, and is passionate about supporting this all-important charity.

Dr Nestor hopes to raise £3,000 to support the charity’s essential work in treating children with life-threatening injuries and ailments. If you would like to donate to this fantastic cause, please visit: https://echcharityskydive.everydayhero.com/ uk/dr-nestor-s-fundraising-for-edinburgh-ssick-kids

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Five Things to do in Amsterdam Now, while we are perhaps the most international barber magazine there is, with a unique section on a different barbering country in each issue, we don’t usually give travel advice. But this is a special occasion. BarberSociety Live hits Amsterdam for the third time this month, and while it’s an amazing chance to network and spend time with other talents barbers from around the world, it’s much more than that – you can soak up and enjoy the unrivalled atmosphere of Amsterdam over the weekend as well.

BarberSociety Live.

5/ Anne Frank Museum The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most important and widely read books of the 20th century. It gives a glimpse into the life of a normal Jewish girl whose life is turned upside down by the Second World War. For two years, Anne wrote about her life, hidden in the attic of a house in Amsterdam to evade the Nazi forces. The house remains to give visitors historical context and indepth information of what Anne and her family went through. It’s a truly incredible experience and a must on your cultural to-do list when you visit Amsterdam.

4/ Heineken Experience Fancy getting to know the city through a tour of its most famous brewery? For beer lovers, this is the pinnacle of beerbased knowledge and thrills, culminating in a couple of pints of Heineken to wash it all down with. You can even upgrade your tour to include a VIP behind the scenes tour if you don’t think your thirst for beer knowledge will be quenched by the normal experience!

3/ Jordaan One of the most upscale neighbourhoods in central Amsterdam, this is where to go for Instagram photos that will pop! With many a small and interesting museum and stunning restaurant situated by the beautiful

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canals, you’ll feel a world away from the rat race and able to relax and enjoy a real taste of Amsterdam.

2/ De Wallen, Red Light District We know what you’re thinking… But no visit to Amsterdam is complete without taking in one of its most famous attractions. Safer now than the seedy, salacious sight it used to be, De Wallen has become an enticing area even for those not intent on sampling the more unusual offerings. Whether you are looking for a sex museum, coffee shop, or night club, the Red Light District is certainly one of the most interesting parts of the city for a tourist to visit.

1/ BarberSociety Live Well, what else? With Mikey Henger flying in from the USA, Chris Foster hosting, American Crew All Star winner Sam Wall and International Barber Awards winner Kevin Boon among the number of fantastic on stage barbers, it’s sure to be the best event yet. Now in its third year, BarberSociety Live has expanded to two days to ensure you can make the most of a fantastic weekend in Amsterdam. The on stage talent has increased, the education seminars are better than ever, and as always it’s a fantastic opportunity to network and chew the fat with fellow barbers from around the world. What are you waiting for?

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T

Glasgow’s feeling Braw

here was no room at the inn for freshly shaved faces as the Braw Beard and Moustache Championships returned for a second round of facial fuzz fun at the Drygate Brewery in Glasgow.

Following on from their successful first attempt last year, the team at Braw Beard Oils, led by owner John Jackson, went all out to make it even bigger and better. A rotating panel of judges including Mohair owner Tony Wright and ICW wrestler Jack Jester had a strict eye for detail as entrants competed in 10 categories.

With some unbelievable facial hair on display it was hard to pick a favourite but Russell Bristow, featured in last month’s BarberNV, taking home first prize for Best Moustache was certainly a highlight.

The best moment of the night took place away from the competition however, when two competitors from the USA got engaged. The surprise proposal was engineered with the help of John and the team, ensuring the night will live on long in the memory of everyone in attendance.

Russel Bristow

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Owner John Jackson

Judging Panel

Christian Feicht

...She said yes!

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P&L barberia Hair: Roberto Moreno Instagram: aseadoymasculino

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The F.A.M.E Team

The Deviants This F.A.M.E. Team are the Fellowship’s ‘jewel in the crown’. This year’s four bright talents, Ellie Bond from Spargo Hairdressing, Katie Prescott from Toni&Guy, Peter Mellon from Medusa Hairdressing and Paddy McDougall from Rainbow Room International, took centre stage as a unit for the first time at Pro Hair Live at Manchester Central this year, presenting their first creation, ‘The Deviants’.

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I

nspired by the underground nightclub scene from the 1980’s, ‘The Deviants’ is eccentric but raw and real, reflecting a fashion statement and way of life.

“On the first day that we got together as a team, Karine Jackson invited us to the Basquiat exhibition at the Barbican in London,” explains Ellie. “We were so inspired by the art and Basquiat’s life in the early 80’s downtown New York art and club scene that we decided to use this as a theme for our first collection.”

In the early 1980s, people were beginning to experiment with their clothes to define their personalities and the importance of individuality was a defining element of the decade. Basquiat and his work was at the forefront of the movement, inspiring the F.A.M.E. Team to take this and depict it into four looks reminiscent of the era with an up to date twist inspired by the latest fashion movements of today. ‘The Deviants’ collection features a male model look inspired by Basquiat’s own identity, featuring dreadlocks with plenty of structure and texture.

“I think it’s important to use both male and female models in our work,” says Katie. “Over the last few years, male grooming and fashion trends have had an important shift and have adopted a more abstract approach. Incorporating male looks is more relevant than ever, as designers are currently raising questions of gender identity and the post-modern male.”

The team stormed the Pro Hair Live stage with their creations, making their onstage debut as a team, representing Fellowship talent.

“Being on stage as a team was such a buzz,” reveals Paddy. “We gelled perfectly when creating our collection behind the scenes and also on stage. It has set the tone for the year and now we are more focused and driven than ever. Seeing our vision come together in front of us, topped off with the styling and make-up, was an indescribable feeling.”

Next up for the F.A.M.E. Team? They have a busy few months in the pipeline, soaking up and experiencing everything on offer during their year on one of the greatest platforms in the industry.

Peter says, “We’ll soon be heading to Melbourne, Australia to represent the Fellowship at Hair Expo and collaborate with BaByliss PRO. What an opportunity! We’ve been putting a lot of energy into the collection that we’ll be showcasing out there, which is such a fun process. Watch this space!”

The Look Inspired by Basquiat’s own personal style, the team embraced the model’s natural hair texture whilst emphasising the shape. The dreadlocks were hairpieces made from synthetic hair and were sewn into the model’s natural hair. They were then sculpted into shape using irons, finished with plenty of texturizing.

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Cameron Connolly Photography: Liam Oakes Ruger Spotlight Tour

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Carlie Firth Photography: Liam Oakes Ruger Spotlight Tour

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Sid Sottung

CUTS ON CAM Da v e B r o w n Photography

JM Photography

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From fighting fires to taking photos, Dave Brown has went through quite a career change.

After over 30 years in the fire service, Dave turned his hobby for photography into a new business venture and he’s helping barbers make the most of their talents.

Through his work with the likes of Dan and Robert Rix at The Master Barbers Shop, and shooting the likes of Julius Caesar and Schorem’s The Bloody Butcher with The Great British Barber Bash, Dave has built a reputation of getting the best out barbering portraits and collections. His images capture the essence of the subject with a gritty authenticity, although no style or technique is beyond Dave’s magic touch.

With more and more barbers looking for photo shoots to show off their work, not to mention Instagram allowing barbers to take

and upload images instantly, Dave’s services are being called upon more and more. So what does a shoot with Dave involve – how can you get the best possible result? Here’s what Dave says you should consider.

“When a barber contacts me I’ll ask them to have a think about what they are going for and what kind of cut they are doing on the model.

Is it retro? Avant garde? Futuristic? Do they have a specific look they’ll be dressing the model?

“Rather than having someone turn up and say ‘just take some photos’, it’s better to have a client with a definite image they want to put out and knows how they want to be perceived.

They’ve got a vision and it’s down to me to come up with the goods that fulfils their ambition for that.”

Advances in technology means that on the day it’s easy to change and adjust minor things which can make a big difference to the finished product.

Dave says: “It’s not like you have to send a film off to be developed, you get an instant shot you can show on the laptop and say ‘is this what you’re after, yes or no?’ And we can alter the composition of the photo to get the right result.”

If you want Dave and his expertise to help showcase your cuts to the world and perhaps even feature in BarberNV, then check out davebrownphotography.co.uk

D AV E ’ S T O P T I P S Just executed a trim that Instagram needs to see?

Here are Dave’s top tips for ensuring maximum quality for maximum engagement.

Composition – don’t be in a rush to bang off five images of your cut. Take your time and go for quality.

Watch the background –

They’ve got a vision and it’s down to me to come up with the goods that fulfils their ambition for that.

no bins or bits and bobs from your workstation lying about please. Get a plain, solid background.

Remove the gown – take a minute, get your customer out of the chair, and get them standing up against a background.

Ignore the megapixels – just get a phone that can take a good picture, don’t judge it on megapixels.

Good lighting – the more lighting going into the sensor of the camera, the less stressed the sensor is the

Matt Vurley

better the result.

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DAN RIX 20 | BarberNV Magazine

Photography: Dave Brown

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USED BY PROFESSIONALS SINCE 1919

THE MID FADE POMPADOUR WITH MICHAEL DAMIANO CREATED USING THE CORDLESS SENIOR, CORDLESS DETAILER & FINALE

facebook: wahlprofessionaluk instagram: wahlprouk Stylist: Michael Damiano Model: Robert Dawe (@lifeofremedy)

step 1

step 4 Put in first guideline with the Wahl Cordless Detailer, following the natural curve of the head. Create a second guide line with the Wahl Cordless Senior grade 1 up to the temple peak, bringing it low at the back beneath the occipital bone.

step 2

Use the taper arm of the Wahl Cordless Detailer to blend away between the 0 and 0.5, switching between open and close.

step 5 Finish the edges of the haircut with the Wahl Finale using paintbrush motions, ensuring a smooth blend. If lines persist to show, try using the finale with the grain to get a softer finish over those hard to blend areas.

Use the 1.5 grade of the Wahl Cordless Senior and erase the top line by using a rubbing technique with the blade flush to the scalp.

step 3

step 6 Use the 0.5 grade of the Wahl Cordless Senior to erase the bottom line, opening and closing the taper arm. Work on this line only all the way round.

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Taper the sides and top of the haircut to desired shape with clipper over comb, then blow dry and style as required.

CORDLESS DETAILER

Introducing the NEW Cordless Detailer as part of the Wahl 5 Star Series - the specialist range of powerful, dynamic clippers and trimmers created to bring state of the art technology right to your barbershop or salon.

EXTENDED WIDE RANGE DETAILING

UNIQUE ADJUSTABLE TAPER LEVER ENABLES TRIMMING, BLENDING AND TAPERING OF THE HAIRLINE

EXTRA WIDE TSHAPED BLADES

PRODUCE FASTER CUTTING RESULTS THAN STANDARD TRIMMER BLADES ENABLING SUPER CLOSE TRIMMING, OUTLINES AND ACCURATE DETAIL WORK

CORDLESS

TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM OF USE WHEREVER YOU ARE

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PRODUCTENV Y

Editor’s Choice

E D I TOR ’ S C O M M E NT When the man behind some of the most famous haircuts to ever go beyond the industry and truly make the mainstream sit up and take notice – David Beckham’s Mohican, anyone? - releases his own product range then it’s certainly something we should all take a look at. Sknhead London is here.

Wahl 5 Star Boar Bristle Shaving Brush Made of 100% boar hair, it boasts a firmness that means it helps to lift the hair so your clients get a proper close cut. £12.99 + VAT salonsdirect.com

Dear Barber Shampoo (250ml) A healthy sheen for both your hair and beard. £6.95 dearbarber.co.uk

L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum Gift Set Offer your client a higher standard of gift box to take away with them this year, especially with Father’s Day around the corner. Cartier’s aftershave and deodorant set will certainly set you apart. £84 cartier.co.uk

Sknhead London Adee Phelan is back with a bang. His new Sknhead range consists of seven products five-years in the making. The one to watch? Gamechanger, a literal gamechanger that’s a skin moisturiser and hairstyle controller all in one. sknhead.com

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PRODUCTENVY

Snip A Man Beard Oils Two new tasty beard oil fragrances from our favourite German brand Snip A Man, Grapefruit & Mint and Cashmere Wood depending on which takes your fancy! €19.50 snipamanshop.de

Reuzel Astringent Foam Fast drying, foaming formula that’s ideal for controlled application on your client with a bald head after a fresh shave. £12.99 reuzel.co.uk

idHAIR BLACK Range A ‘masculine range for real men only’ apparently.

This range should get the testosterone in your barbershop pumping even more than usual. Or at the very least get your customers looking sharp, which is the main thing. tradehairsupplies.com

Swagger & Jacks Classic Beardcare Gift Box Set With a Classic Beard Oil, Argan Oil Beard Shampoo, and Beard Balm, it’s the all in one set to cleanse, maintain and protect any beard. £45 swaggerandjacks.com

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PRODUCTENV Y

Grooming

Swagger & Jacks Premium Beard Oil For men more experienced with their beard care, treat them to this Premium Beard Oil that will make a nice change from their regular routine. £18.95 swaggerandjacks.com

TIGI Bed Head For Men Mo Rider Moustache Crafter Firm hold way for doing your mo, your way. £4.95 salonsdirect.com

AlterEgo We love this beard balm for softening beards to the touch, but if you need to get rid of it, the Alter Ego Shave Oil is up to the task as well.

Alteregoitaly.com

Gents of London Structure Cream The best choice for a simple, classic look. Chevron, English, handlebar, or imperial style. £16 gentsoflondon.com

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Regardless of the length of hair, this adds texture and hold with a natural matte finish.

PRODUCTENVY

Mojo Defining Paste

£9.95

Structure Transfoamer Bodifying Blowdry Creme

mojo-style.com

For adding weightless volume, this transforms from a lightweight airy form into a luxurious crème that also conditions the hair. £14.40 structurehair.com

Ouai Texturising Hair Spray Like dry-shampoo and hairspray had a baby, this ultra-lightweight product builds incredible volume and texture. £10 theouai.co.uk

Hair for Men Clay Extreme hold matte clay for that short-textured look, but soft and easy to use. £19.50 hairformenproducts.com

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PRODUCTENV Y

Furniture & Equipment

Takara Belmont Dover Unit

Talc Spray Brush

A showpiece station that delivers a fully functional shampoo station and storage unit with the option integrate a hot towel cabi for traditional shaving services if required.

Add a little extra to your clients’ experience. Just press the button and talcum powder is applied while you brush, giving a nice, smooth smelling finish.

£2,150 - £2,400 takarahairdressing.co.uk

£11 + VAT barberequipmentcentre.co.uk

Morgans Beard Brush A traditional shaped men’s military brush that will untangle and tame even the toughest of beards. barberblades.co.uk

Menspire Cutthroat A cutthroat razor you can rely on from one of the best educational teams in the business. £15 menspireshop.bigcartel.com

Nicholas Barber Chair A strong and stylish barber chair that would look at home in a contemporary or vintage styled shop alike. £391.50 livingitupsalon.co.uk

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PRODUCTENVY

Hercules Sägemann Scalp Brush Featuring soft, rounded pins made of high-quality nylon, the Scalp Brush glides through even the most knotted hair without tugging or pulling, placing less stress on both hair and scalp.

Available in three sizes. hercules-saegemann.de

Uppercut Deluxe CT7 Tortoise Flip Comb Fold-away comb that’s ready to style wherever and whenever it’s needed. £4.50 barberblades.co.uk

Andis SupraZR Heavy duty and now cordless, a two-hour run time on a two-hour charge will keep you working all day. £250 barberblades.co.uk

Matakki Toya Set Perfect for all levels of stylist, a great quality scissor set with thinning scissors made from Japanese steel. £135 + VAT matakki.com

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PRODUCTENVY

PRODUCTENV Y

Apparel

Neocape Pinstripe Unigown Reuzel Old School T-Shirt Respect the classics in this old school cool t-shirt from the scumbags at Schorem.

Featuring the neoprene seal that ensures no hair or liquid falls down your customer’s back, it’s no surprise Neocape has become a quick favourite. £24.95 neocape.co.uk

$19 reuzelpomade.com

BarbersRide 2017 T-Shirt On sale now from our favourite guys at Hard Grind, celebrate last year’s successful Barber’s Ride charity journey and prepare for the next one. £12.50 hardgrind.co.uk

Barburys Mascul Barber’s Apron Smart and practical with six pouches for scissors, combs, or whatever you need, this is a great value synthetic leather option that can be washed easily. £16.49 coolblades.co.uk

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Captain Fawcett Nickel Badge A beautifully crafted antique nickel effect pin badge. £6 captainfawcett.com

HIGH QUALITY

. NEOCAPE .

Hair Products

The Evolution of The Hairdressing Gown

Our soft and supple Neoprene collar creates a comfortable seal against the skin that stops hair and liquids from going down the neck. This is more comfortable during and after your cut.

Available from various barber suppliers or direct from us

w w w. n e o c a p e . c o . u k 01243 573417

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ADAM O’CALLAGHAN Hair: Adam O’Callaghan | Photography: Dominic Chan | Models: Seungmin Kim, Jarvis Bushido

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R IZOR FIR E

S T E P - B Y- S T E P

Spanish stylist Rolando Saez Sanhueza brings us the step-by-step process to recreate his Rizor Fire haircut.

3

2

1 Before.

4

Nape and sideburns shortened with clippers at number 1.

5

Sides and nape designed with razor setting stripes diagonally.

7

6

Cut the top bob style, in a single piece, asymmetrical at the front.

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Lighten and thin ends with a razor.

9

8 Work deep streaks with bleach.

Cut the outline in increasing lengths, including the visible area, with seamless graduation through to the occipital area. Set the full outline.

Directly apply the colour.

Blowdry, creating the right amount of volume at the root. Fringe straight, directed over the face.

Hairdresser: Rolando Saez Sanhueza Photographer: Joao Galia Makeup Artist: Janire Lopez Model: Juan David Ceballos

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INTERIORNV

Trend For Men Interior Case Study Inspired by industrial, minimalist, and clean looking interiors, Trend for Men barbershop is located down a busy suburban road in Hornchurch, Essex.

A unique contemporary brand with an innovative modern interior, its design sets Trend for Men apart from your traditional barbershop. A sleek grey and white colour scheme and sublime interior choices give it a fresh, new look. With its concrete and stainless steel finishings, its industrial yet polished interior style is masculine and hardwearing. Their philosophical approach is focused on premium precision cutting techniques tailored to the individual, offering a relaxed and more personal experience.

Priding themselves on good quality equipment and premium haircuts, they offer a range of barbering services with their most popular being their scissor cuts. This requires greater manoeuvrability from a grooming chair so small and flexible interior furnishings are a necessity. Featuring three of Takara

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Belmont’s Dainty grooming chairs, the strikingly attractive and versatile grooming chair features 360º (lockable) rotation and a reclining backrest to ease your client into the most comforting position for their service. As a classic from Takara Belmont’s Traditional Collection, the Dainty also features an adjustable and removable headrest, upholstered padded armrests and a footrest. Aesthetically timeless, adding a premium touch to your barbershop, choose from a range of upholstery colours and customisable options including contrasting piping for a truly distinctive look. Upgrade to hydraulic or motorised base options to enhance the overall experience and assist in providing client services.

Trend for Men owner Jordan Stead says: “The Dainty chair is stylishly designed and well proportioned, perfect for a smaller barbershop. Its great manoeuvrability and supreme comfort make it a great piece of equipment for every barbershop’” Discover more at: takarahairdressing.co.uk wwww.trendformen.co.uk

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FIND YOUR STOCKIST AT FUDGEPROFESSIONAL.COM BarberNV Magazine | 37

MOHAIR

BARBER SCHOOL Mohair owner Tony Wright swung by the BarberNV office to chat with us about his new barber school, how he’s developed the pillars of his Mohair method and why it’s so rewarding to raise up the next generation of home grown talent.

“There’s too much bullshit in this industry in regards to training and it’s time to stamp that out and just focus on getting the job done.”

It’s safe to say he’s not messing about and Tony is steadfast in his vision of the Mohair method raising training standards in the industry. As he tells us: “I want to do my part for whoever goes through my school. That they get the best of what I can offer them through my years of experience.”

Like any good educator Tony would tell you that the best feeling is being able to use all of the knowledge you’ve developed throughout a stellar career. Admitting that it’s the transformation in his students that proves to be the real reward, he says: “For me just watching someone develop like that is incredible. It’s better than…” Tony pauses for a brief moment before continuing: “I’m not going to say sex but it’s better than standing

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and slugging it out all day. It’s nice to watch someone achieve something and better themselves.”

Tony has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, beginning his career as a women’s hairdresser before making the jump to becoming a barber. Tony tells us about his decision: “When I first started cutting guys’ hair I had no idea what to do because of my ladies hairdressing training. Basically picking up a set of clippers was alien to me.”

Clearly, he made it work. Opening in 2004 Tony grafted his arse off to establish Mohair as one of the busiest and arguably one of the best barbershops in the west of Scotland. Add the barbering school into the formula and things are looking brighter than ever in the Mohair camp.

On their six week course students will be introduced to the trade and constantly motivated to make the most of it. As Tony says: “You’re going to learn a lot of new skills, a lot of new methods and techniques that are going to push you quite far out of your comfort zone, in fact there’s nae comfort zone. You’re definitely going to be challenged.”

Tony places great importance on learning through practical means and he runs us through his method: “We kinda look to flip that year in college, theory based learning on its head and give it a massively practical

approach. Obviously we’re still covering the theory behind it but, from day one you’ve got scissors and comb in your hands. There’s not two, three, four weeks of just sitting.”

Students will be beginning with cutting long hair before covering major hairstyles and moving on to the elaborate and branching out with their creativity.

When it comes down to the students they will get back what they put in and Tony seeks to give the Mohair students the personalised education that bring out their talents.

“Personally I strive to bring out the best in each person in that class so I work very closely with them. It’s a very direct approach from my point of view and I’ll tell people exactly where I think they’re at, where they can improve, and there’s nae bones about that really.”

In recent years social media savviness has been key to many modern trades, with some barbers garnering hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram. Tony recognises the important of these platforms and students will be encouraged to start social media pages from day one with seminars being worked into the program to give the Mohair students the tools and skills in all areas of the industry to be able to make the most of their career and to be able to present themselves professionally.

Tony takes time to describe to us what separates Mohair’s method from the rest: “We

There’s too much bullshit in this industry in regards to training and it’s time to stamp that out and just focus on getting the job done.

work closely with photographers who teach them how to present themselves in a barber page on whatever social media they choose.

They get taught how to take the best shot, the best use of light, the best way to market themselves as a person, and the best way to market the company that they work for.”

Tony has no intention of ending relationships with students once the six weeks are up. He

wants to foster a culture where those coming through his school can continue to get positive advice and help in their careers long after they’ve graduated. He says: “The focus for us is getting an individual from start to finish and pointing them in the right direction and not only getting them to go through my course but giving them aftercare. Give them help and advice, a wee forum at the end where people

can come and share their experiences, see where they’re at for advice and all that positive stuff.”

Tony has made a few tweaks have been made to Mohair’s education offerings since its inception last year, including the addition of night classes. These bespoke business to business focus classes are geared toward those looking to sharpen their skills or make the transition from hairdresser to barber.

Something Tony is in the perfect position to teach, being able to tailor their lessons around his own experiences.

“I think that kinda puts me in good stead to teach that transition. I’m teaching some people now who have been my idols in the hairdressing industry since I started twenty odd years ago. To be able to work at that level for me is a massive, massive achievement and showing them what I’ve learned and how I’ve learned it and breaking it down from the point of view of a hairdresser.”

Finally, we asked Tony if the barber school was going to eventually become a full time venture, he tells us: “Definitely it’s been an idea for years. The Mohair method that’s been developed from lots of different classes, lots of different tutors and ideas. The idea is to have that running as a full time business complimenting what we do downstairs also.

“So, aye, watch this space.”

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CIARAN O’SULLIVAN KiwiCutz

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CORNELIU CRIHAN Some veterans of the industry look down on YouTube. ‘There’s no substitute for serving time in a shop as an apprentice’ they say. And in general it’s easy to agree with them. Then someone special comes along and blows everything out of the water. Enter Corneliu Crihan.

An artistic child, Corneliu never found a true outlet for his creativity until he saw Alan Beak perform on stage.

“I said to myself that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Corneliu tells us. “I wanted to push myself to create art into the hair and to be a future example for all the new barbers.”

A bold aim for someone with no training whatsoever in the industry. With no one to turn to for help and advice, Corneliu turned to the internet. Following tutorials on YouTube and persuading his friends to let him try his

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S PR E AD I NG T H E W E ALT H

As founder of the Romanian Barber Association, Corneliu is dedicated to bringing top educational talent to his home country. fledgling skills on them proved the ideal way for Corneliu’s talents to blossom. Not being constrained by the typical apprentice/barber relationship allowed his creativity to flourish and the result is staggering.

We watched as Corneliu was narrowly beaten at last year’s Scottish Barber of the Year Award

by Hard Grind’s Vincent Quinn – a result in which there is no shame.

Even in the past year though it’s clear to see how much the Romanian has improved. He has a broad range of skills but when his creativity flows he’s at his happiest.

Corneliu says: “I like classic and modern cuts, but I really enjoy when I’m doing abstract things into people’s hair and I think that’s why the crowds love me. I call this style ‘shape and shadow’ or just ‘art.’”

His shop, Jackie’s Barbershop, is located in Coatbridge on the outskirts of Glasgow and despite not being the trendiest of areas, Corneliu hasn’t resorted to offering quick cuts on the cheap. Customers are willing to pay for quality, even in lower income areas, and he offers 50 minute appointments at a minimum to make sure he gives each client the time and

Following a successful first event last year in Bucharest, he has set up a new Monster Barbering Show with Tiberiu Stanciu that will feature some huge industry names.

Josh Lamonca, Sharpfade, Notorious, Jarred Liddington, Josh O’MearaPatel, Sid Sottung, Hard care they deserve.

“We never rush, we do everything from the heart,” he says. However, with his own name earning more and more recognition, it’s time for Corneliu to work on building a new empire.

“I’m working hard now on my own brand so Jackie’s needs a new image. HA:CK is coming this year with a great line of quality products and clothes. The shop will be refurbished in a modern, futuristic theme. Can’t wait!”

Grind, Reece Beak, Liam Twist, and others will be on the lineup for a show that could match anything held in the UK.

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It began with oil…

Dubai doesn’t do things by half. In a generation the city has gone from desert backwater to cosmopolitan metropolis.

From tents to the biggest buildings in the world.

The growth of the city has been “unparalleled in human history”, with the rate of construction changing the face of Dubai year on year. This is a city that, despite having almost unlimited desert to expand into all around it, chose to build man-made islands on the water in the shape of a palm and of all the continents on Earth. It is truly unique in its complexity and creativity. While it’s a city that many associate with oil wealth, it has expanded to the point where oil only makes up 5% of its revenues now.

So naturally we said, well what are the barbers like? Like the rest of Dubai, its barbering industry is booming. Over the past couple of years the barbering boom has hit Dubai in a big way and there are now multiple shops that are of a quality and standard to make a name for themselves on the global scene.

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Chaps & Co. There’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Chaps & Co despite its three shops all being located in Dubai. The style and glamour it exudes that makes it a natural fit for Dubai Design District (d3), have helped its reputation grow beyond the borders of the United Arab Emirates.

U

pon choosing Dubai for this issue’s barbers abroad feature, we asked around and Chaps & Co was the first name out of everyone’s lips, so we made it our first stop. Co-founder Jordan Davies started the brand in 2015 and progression has been quick.

The contrast between outside the shop and inside is stark. From the bright light of the blazing sun, to the sleek, dark, signature Chaps style, you are instantly more comfortable and relaxed. Two key elements define this style – the lightbulbed Chaps & Co signage and the floating razor walls. Common to each branch, it gives Chaps a unique flair, albeit one that has since been copied around the world.

“The brief for the architect was very simple,” Jordan explains to us. “We wanted to create a sort of gentlemen’s club feel but where even younger customers would feel happy here.” Motioning to the large screen TV, he says: “We have the Playstation.

In the afternoon, after school, all the kids are playing FIFA. So anyone is welcome but you still have to cater to that masculinity.”

Despite the ultra-modern setting and sleek surroundings, Chaps isn’t an unaffordable option.

Jordan says: “We’re middle of the road. We look expensive, that’s one of the things our customers all say. First timers will come in and say ‘oh can I afford this?’ But that was the whole proposition – we’re affordable luxury. That’s our competitive edge over other barbershops who charge the same but don’t look anywhere near as nice. Effectively they still get the same haircut but then what the difference is is the environment you’re in.”

Quality was an important aspect to consider when Jordan and his colleagues set up Chaps in 2015.

To create a high-standard barbershop required a high standard of barber, but with the scene barely developed in the Middle East, this was easier said than done.

“People who wanted to get their cut who travelled a lot would honestly wait until they travelled to the UK or another country to have a haircut because it was that bad a standard,” says Jordan.

“There was literally three barbers who we had identified to be very good and had a natural flair for it. They hadn’t been taught the way that conventional barbers should be taught but with 10-15 years’ experience they were able to master the craft to an acceptable level. So we found these three guys and we hired one from the UK so we had a mixture – two Filipinos, an Arab, and a Brit. That’s what we started with and that has been the Chaps language in terms of recruitment, just being as diverse as possible.”

It was a necessary decision in a city where only 10% of the population are locals. Ex-pats and tourists are the lifeblood of Dubai so naturally a variety of different barbers are needed to cater for a diverse customer base. As we’re speaking a blonde haired boy walks in with his mum.

Jordan says: “We’ve seen a British boy walk in so

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hence he’s with the western barber. You’ll see an Arab walk in in half an hour and he’ll want the Arab barber. You don’t get that so much in the UK. No matter where you’re from originally, you are British.

But here we have to be able to cater for everybody.

“We probably have as many nationalities as there are to have in this shop so you obviously get different trends per nationality. You’ve got a wide group of people so it does bring a bit of flavour. I keep talking about this flavour because it’s such an important part of what we do.

“We’re not trying to be a British barbershop, it’s too strong a statement to say that, but certainly British owned so we have our stamp on it, you can see the elements, the little glimpses of the UK that resonates well with the international crowd, but the reality is we’re open to everyone.”

As well as being one of the first higher-standard barbershops in the country, Chaps has led the way in another industry first for the Middle East – female barbers. While we chat a woman walks by, the first female barber in the country?

“That’s the second,” Jordan tells us. “And we have the third! The first female barber came last year.

Sammy [Samantha Lloyd] was working in Ireland when she came over and she’s been a massive hit.

In terms of barbering skills she’s fantastic, she really gets on with the customers. Arabs like having their

hair cut by women, it’s something different for them.

“They’re not allowed to work in the other two shops because of licensing laws, they’re allowed to work in this one because we have a pardon from the government to allow new things to happen here.

This is the fashion district so they’re trying to do something here and the first thing was to hire a female and see what happens, and it was such a success we got another one. Now we have more women than men here! Just literally to see how we could disrupt things and offer something different to people.”

It’s not hard to see why the women hired by Chaps & Co were willing to be trendsetters – higher incomes, tax free, fantastic weather, and little crime make Dubai a fantastic proposition for any barber looking to make the move. While Jordan and his team may have struggled in terms of getting barbers when they first opened, with the Chaps reputation blossoming and training workshops with the BBA and the Great British Barber Bash that has seen the likes of Alan Beak and Ryan Cullen head to Dubai, there’s no reason a move to Dubai should see your career progression stall, far from it.

With a fourth Chaps & Co opening in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and eyes set on a potential UK branch in the near future, it’s a great time to be one of the Chaps.

D

3 is Dubai’s creative hub.

Walking around (in 30° heat in February!) you can instantly feel a different energy. It’s not tourists in shorts and ex-pats in suits you spot, but artists and designers discussing ideas over lattes. Here you’ll find Chaps & Co’s third barbershop.

Niall Keegan The best way to find out about a brand is to sample it firsthand so we popped into the JLT branch of Chaps & Co for a cut and beard trim from one of their staff. Niall Keegan, an Irish barber with almost a year under his belt in Dubai, took the plunge and has never looked back.

“I ended up working in Chaps & Co when I came across their Instagram account and noticed they were looking for British/ Irish barbers. I applied for the job and within a week I found I had it – the power of social media!

“The positives to working in

Dubai compared to Ireland is that there are so many different nationalities in Dubai and different hair types so it really broadens my skills as a barber.

And of course the weather helps!

Chaps & Co

One of the Chaps

“I really enjoy working for Chaps & Co. It’s a high end barbershop with a different concept and standard than I was used to back in Ireland.

It’s so much more than just a barbershop, it’s a brand, and I’m glad to be a part of the brand and everything they do.

“I would recommend Chaps & Co to any British/Irish barber thinking of making the move to Dubai. Chaps & Co has been the highlight of my career and the opportunities here really are limitless.”

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Chaps & Co

Treatments Dubai has different treatment requirements than the UK. A hot climate 12-months a year and flip-flops as the shoe of choice for many customers, mani-pedis are a big part of what Chaps & Co offer.

“Yeah it’s big for Arab customers in particular,” says Jordan. “Now the trend is starting to catch on and British customers are trying it.

“And then we just revamped our whole massage treatment therapy services as it’s resonated more with people who have back injuries or muscle tension or a skin condition. It’s not just relaxation, it goes down well with people who have sports injuries. Then facial massage for dry skin in the dry weather – it’s fixing people rather than relaxing.”

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Where to find them Now firmly entrenched in three separate areas of Dubai, each Chaps & Co is different in terms of catchment and also design.

1. Jumeirah Lake Towers - November 2015 – The first Chaps & Co was an instant success. Set in amongst a number of skyscrapers that include half residential and half commercial tenants, there were plenty of customers looking for a worthwhile barbering experience.

2. Dubai Marina - October 2016 – The second barbershop opened up near Le Royal Meridien Hotel and Spa, and just a stone’s throw from the famous Palm Jumeirah artificial islands. A hugely residential area popular with ex-pats, the Marina shop has stations for massage and mani-pedi on a smaller scale than d3.

3. Dubai Designer District – opened June 2017 – the newest shop, located near the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world by quite some distance.

Located in the heart of the design district with the likes of Louis Vuitton and other fashion houses having offices nearby, it’s their biggest shop yet. With two treatments rooms and four manipedi stations, it offers much more than a strict barbershop experience.

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SKILLS

by Barber Mo Dubai’s high-end barbershop

I

n downtown Dubai, a stone’s throw from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, there’s a barbershop that caters to the elite. With the likes of Will Smith, Jay-Z, and countless footballers all making sure to stop by for a trim when they’re in the city, quality, and discretion, is guaranteed.

Enigmatic owner Barber Mo is a second generation barber originally from Syria. The award-winning stylist travelled extensively around the Middle East from the tender age of 13 before eventually settling in Dubai. His stay has so far been an extremely successful one, his professional style and talent catching the eye, turning SKILLS by Barber Mo into a must-visit barbershop for the discerning customer who values their time and wants a refined experience.

Barber Mo

What led you to setting up SKILLS?

Why did you go for the very clean, white aesthetic?

Barber Mo: I have always been passionate about the service that I provide the people, I always feel bad about rushing my clients especially when all the shops I’ve worked with focus more on the quantity rather than the quality and I understand because that is business, and, as a barber, I don’t just see myself as here to cut hair and make money, but I see myself as an artist and each work that I do is my very own masterpiece thus that is the vision that I have when I opened SKILLS.

Barber Mo: Well because I believe that most people who needs a haircut/grooming always feels as though they look tired and sick, so my vision is whenever they come to my shop they can just unwind, relax, and feel good about the white interior/aesthetic and the service that they are going to receive in so I assure that they will be feeling better once they leave the shop feeling fresh and new.

What sets SKILLS apart from other barbering options in Dubai?

Barber Mo: What SKILLS offer over the rest of the Barbershops here in Dubai is that we focus more on the quality aspect and satisfaction of each client thus we always go the extra mile to ensure that all their needs are met and I trained my team the importance of appreciating every client and make them feel that the dirham that they spend inside our shop is more than worth it.

Also, we are the only barbershop here in Dubai that is based on the 15th floor to provide a much added privacy and comfort; especially we deal mostly with celebrities and VIP clients who always want to feel exclusive.

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What is the most popular treatment?

Barber Mo: We have the SKILLS Signature Facial, using the best and natural ingredients from Dr. Renaud. It starts off as a consultation on what type of skin that you have before the specialists will do anything. The highlight for this treatment is that we do everything in a natural way, from extraction to the application of all the products, contrary to other facials which is much more invasive and direct.

Can you tell us about the team you have built?

Barber Mo: I built my team based on the clients’ need and my overall barbering experience. I trained my team on how to properly serve each client, especially as Dubai is a city with different type of

D U B A I

nationalities and each nationality has their own background and hair texture and I see that a lot of people struggle on how to deliver the service based on the classification.

You’ve had a large number of celebrity clientele, why do they choose SKILLS by Barber Mo? Barber Mo: They chose SKILLS because not only we offer their privacy and exclusivity, as most of the celebrities don’t want extra attention but also my reputation and my work quality that whenever they have a service with me they can just relax and leave their worries behind, because I always guarantee and assure each of them that they will get the best grooming service.

Do you have any plans to open up more SKILLS barbershops in the future?

Barber Mo: My vision for SKILLS is to not just limit it as a barbershop but as a brand, in the future definitely I am looking to expand to all types of business and market, not just the hair grooming industry, for now I am working to open a female salon and a spa very soon as well as new branches. So we are slowly getting there as we speak.

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M

ore than a barbershop, Akin Barber & Shop is truly a lifestyle experience. Drawing on the modern barbering experience where quality and customer service entwine, Akin offers something extra to their cosmopolitan customers.

Owner Leith Matthews, an Australian ex-pat, has created the type of on-trend shop proving so popular in cities around Europe, but that was sorely lacking in the Middle East. Acknowledging that barbering has always been a part of Dubai’s culture, he looked to take it further with Akin.

akin /@'kIn/ adjective

of similar character.

"what they had was

akin to brotherhood”

“Dubai has a rich history of barbering and barbershops,” he tells us. “Street level barbers have been servicing the Emirati market in Dubai for decades, however the style and customer service was very functional rather than delivered with any style of individualism. Akin focused primarily on creating a shop that suits a type of guy, a Dubai resident, expat, or local, who appreciated style and independent spirit.”

There’s no doubt that in Dubai you are just as likely, if not more, to be dealing with an expat or tourist as a local. Leith says that “cool independent businesses are becoming increasingly important in the make-up of the fabric of the city.

Akin Barber & Shop was established to provide a style and consumer experience that wasn’t available previously in Dubai.”

To that end, Leith called upon a varied group of international barbers to make up the Akin staff, and he says that “what is consistent with all of them is their passion, creativity, and independent spirit.”

Opening in 2015, Akin instantly filled a gap.

Leith explains: “Akin was one of the first to change the face of men’s grooming

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D U B A I

Photography: Gerry O'Leary (Copyright of ANARCHITECT ©)

in the city and the region. The scene itself is still very young here, but more options are being opened now. Akin will continue to dedicate itself to great customer experience delivered in a venue of hip independence.”

To help establish themselves in the marketplace, Leith aligned Akin with other trendy brands that would help it flourish. He says: “We launched Akin with a period of pop-up events, introducing our brand and concept at relevant events and venues across Dubai. This allowed us to build awareness with established communities in Dubai including art, surfing, motorcycles, coffee, etc. Nowadays we continue our pop-ups, sometimes for marketing purpose or sometimes we are paid to participate to add value to the event for the organiser.”

Away from the pop-ups, Akin Barber & Shop itself is a sight to behold. Leith called upon young, up and coming, local firm Anarchitect to help get the look spot on. The contemporary style is masculine but relaxing with a mixture of modern and industrial approaches.

With the unit housing both a traditional shop and a barbershop, it’s a mix that works well. To complement the barbering side, Leith handpicks and carefully curates the items they’ll be selling.

He says: “We sell hair and beard products of course, however we are sourcing top quality brands from around the world, thus providing products that are not available locally. We also sell light fashion items and some other cool pieces. All from cool, independent brands. The shop elements contributes its fair share to the overall business concept.

The plan with Akin is to continue to scale and grow the business with more shops opening the future. Maybe the UK will soon see an Akin Barber & Shop?

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Fudge Professional Hair: Sid Sottung and Jordan Tansley for Fudge Professional Photographer: Rob Smalley at Scene photography studio Videography: Dan Lord at Forecast Designs Grooming: Leah Charlotte Roper

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Something for the walls, sir?

Can you tell us a bit about your background in art, how you got started?

You have a very distinctive style for the barbering work, and clearly it works! Why did you choose to go that way?

I was constantly drawing as a child and that has never stopped, I would say I am self-taught to a certain point. I went on to take advanced higher art at high school (but left before I finished) I also attended a few night classes at Glasgow School of Art.

I don’t really remember choosing to go this way, it was more of a natural progression. It comes from my love of pin up girls, old school, barber shops, and tattoos. I also love pop art and bright colours. I would say my style is inspired by all of those things fused together. As an artist, I want my work to be recognisable and I hope I have achieved that.

Obviously you are married to a barber, Tony, is that how you got into the barber art side of things?

Yes, I’m married to Tony, who has been a barber for over 10 years. This has definitely been a massive factor in me going down the barber art route. It started when he asked me to draw some artwork for the walls of his shop. I got to work and from that, my first ever Barber Art drawing was created ‘Close Shave’.

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What was the reception like to your first barber set?

My first ever barber art set had a brilliant response on my Etsy shop and continues to do so. It still remains the most popular collection. They were also the first art prints I have ever sold in my life!

You’ve now done four sets I believe? Are they continuing to be popular?

ART BY NZ

Natasha Zelen is better known as Art by NZ. The artist is married to a barber in Glasgow and she has found success selling her bright and distinctive barber art at local fairs and to barbers around the world on Etsy.

I have four sets and I have just released my fifth, which is more pin-up girl inspired, with some serious old school vibes. The sets continue to be popular and I have some very loyal barber customers around the world to thank for that!

What’s next in terms of barber art, and where do you get your ideas from?

I would like to think this is just the tip of the iceberg. I am going to continue working hard and create more barber shop art collections. I’m just so inspired by the whole old school barber scene! Ideas can come from being around Tony’s shop, to seeing an awesome fade on Instagram, or just some badass vintage tattoos.

You do custom art for barbershops, what do you offer and how popular are these?

Yes! I offer one of a kind barber shop commissions. I hand draw them in my usual style and I add their barbershop name along the top of the drawing. I always work in mixed media on large a3 size paper. It’s very easy for the customer to order, I just need a couple of good clear photos of the person emailed to me and then I get started immediately. These are definitely one of my favourite things to draw and have been very popular in my Etsy shop. I also offer this option on wooden boxes, the artwork is drawn onto the lid and sealed with clear varnish. Many of my customers use these for storage of things such as razor blades in their shops.

What’s it like seeing barbers post pics of your work in their barbershops on Instagram?

It blows my mind! To see barbers from as far as Australia and America with my art up on the walls of their shops just simply makes me so happy and proud and without sounding too cheesy it’s something I have dreamed of since I was a wee girl. My children love it too, my wee boy Max often comes with me to ship my art orders and him and his wee sister Mila like to sit and draw with me.

Will you be showcasing your work in Tony’s?

Absolutely! I am going to have my first ever art exhibition in my husband Tony’s Gentlemen’s Barber Shop, in Dumbarton. All 20 of my barber art drawings will be up on display! There will be free drinks and it should be a great wee night, well worth dropping by.

An ArtbyNZ commission

We’ll be there! You can purchase Natasha’s art yourself at https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbynz

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Thug Life

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A gang has infiltrated Vancouver. Covered in tattoos, wearing hooded tops and snapbacks, they cut about the city with bladed instruments, targeting the homeless.

M

eet Cameron Sterling, Josh Malcolm, and Farzad Salehi. Better known as the Street Thug Barbers. Okay, so they aren’t your typical gang, instead they are a group of barbers who have taken it upon themselves to bring a bit of light into the world through their cutting skills.

5,000 haircuts later and the effect they have had on the homeless population in Vancouver is immeasurable.

It started with Josh, Cameron, and a former partner heading to the deprived downtown east side’s community to lend a helping hand – Canada’s poorest postal code. That was 31 months ago and the Street Thug movement has went from strength to strength since. The name is a tongue in cheek reference to Cameron’s own trouble with drugs and the law in the 90s, something which undoubtedly helped inspire his motivation to help others. In the time since they have seen numerous barbers join them for a day’s cutting, including the likes of Schorem’s Bloody Butcher and Matty Conrad. Cameron’s wife Jennifer also joins the team every week to offer deep flow chair massage to people after they get a haircut.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, the Street Thugs are at the shelter. For the team it was important they try and build the same barber/client relationship over time that they love to establish in their shops as the bond grows.

All the Street Thug Barbers say that there volunteering has never felt like work or charity. For them it’s all about looking forward to seeing old faces and

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new every week. Each of the barbers who helps out with the Street Thugs has done so of their own volition and because they wanted to give back to the community.

If anyone would like to get involved in their own communities with or without Street Thug Barbers, they can contact the guys through their social media or email for advice getting started, and they have embroidered shirts and capes for sale with their logo, in which all proceeds go back into equipment, supplies, and extending their reach to many different communities!

Before

“Our stories vary from week to week with all the people we work with, we’ve had days of tears and days of laughter but the big reason we go back every week is to touch base with friends of ours that we’ve watched grow and change. We’re not there to judge or give advice but to listen and be a friend.”

Follow them at streetthugbarbers@gmail.com @streetthugbarbers @farzadthehappybarber @coolerthanelvis @streetthug josh

After

Bloody Butcher lends a hand

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Manx Power Drewry’s is the jewel in the Isle of Man’s barbering crown. As the only award-winning barber on the island, it brings a new standard of quality and customer service to an industry that had been sorely lacking.

It’s clearly bearing fruit, with the shop that currently has three barbers finding three-hour queues every week for their services looking to expand further to keep up with demand. Ben Drewry, the man behind the brand, is Manx raised and although he considered staying in London where he trained in barbering at LSB, eventually he was convinced to come home and give the Isle of Man the barbershop it deserved.

“I wasn’t going to come back to the Isle of Man,” Ben tells us, “but there was such an opportunity for me to come back and show off what I could do.”

Within a few weeks of setting up in another shop he had a client base ready to take to his own barbershop, and after saving up for eight months, Drewry’s was born in the island’s capital, Douglas.

Ben says: “The response has been insane. When I opened the shop it was booking only – I had a problem in finding staff of the standard I needed and had to do all the training myself. The only hair training they do on the Isle of Man is the hairdressing course with a two-week barbering

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Drewry’s Team Ben Drewry – Owner and founder of Drewry’s, Ben turned away from a career in tree surgery to become a barber.

Having trained at London School of Barbering and spent a couple of years working in shops in the capital, improving his skills, Ben returned home to set up Drewry’s.

Louis Lord – The shaving expert at the company. Having arrived with no knowledge of shaving, he has quickly outclassed even Ben in this department and is Drewry’s go-to barber for a shave. Louis has made it into the final of the Britain’s Best Shave at Barber UK. Jessica Charmer – Ben believes Jess to be one of, if not the, finest female barber he has ever seen. He puts her up there with the likes of Sofie Pok and other top barbers who have made a name for themselves in the industry.

stint in it.”

Fortunately he has put together a solid team now with Ben on bookings and his staff Louis and Jessica dealing with walk-ins.

“Even with three of us in there’s still a three-hour queue on Thursday and Friday. We don’t want that as it doesn’t help the reputation that we’ve built if people are waiting that long. But we say quality over quantity every time. People appreciate us taking the time.”

While the Isle of Man may have been nowhere near the UK in terms of barbering just a few short years ago, Ben is determined to change that.

“We’re trying to bridge the gap between the UK and Isle of Man. We want to open the public’s eyes to what is possible. I stick strongly by the standards and Isle of Man should be catching up. That’s the reason I came back because I wanted to push what I learned over the two years.

“We want to help promote local people that wouldn’t have the opportunities before.”

With the shop currently under expansion, Ben is looking for at least another two barbers to join the team in Douglas, but his plans go much bigger than that.

He says: “I feel like we could be doing more, I hate settling for what we’ve got. Isle of Man is split into a few main towns and it would be cool to get another shop on another part of the island. That’s the natural progression as long as I get the right people coming in staff.

Having maintained links with the LSB where he’ll be judging their senior students, Ben is making his contacts in the industry work for him. He’s also brought Great British Barber Bash workshops to the Isle of Man to further his staff’s skills.

It’s all the signs of a local shop done well.

Drewry’s Make-up: Lime Studio IoM Photography: Jewell IoM

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Galway Gem Fat Tony’s is an Irish barbershop chain with five shops across west Ireland. The latest shop in Newcastle (not the Geordie one) has just opened so we got in touch to learn more about their history and how they’ve been so successful.

The beginning Fat Tony’s Barber Shop was established in 2003

by Catriona Herron and John McGuire. John and Catriona had worked together for a number of years in various other barber shops in Galway, they saw an opportunity for a higher end, comfortable, accessible barbers that offered more of an experience than your average chop shop. As a result, they decided to open their own shop.

“We wanted something different, bigger premises, more floor space, more comfort and better services.

Anything but the small, cramped barber shops that were traditionally located on the High Street.”

We chose a unit in a light industrial retail park just outside of the city centre. As traffic is a major problem in Galway – due to it being a largely urban area - Liosban Retail Park on the Tuam Road had everything we were looking for; convenient, easy access and lots of free parking and more floor space than would be available in the heart of the city.

Why Newcastle?

We opened Fat Tony’s because we saw the demand there was for our service. We had built a large clientele and listened to what they wanted.

Our latest shop in Newcastle was opened as we did not have a presence that side of town. The shop is located beside the National University of Ireland, Galway and our regional hospital. Due to its location, the foot fall is huge and it’s a great shop location.

We were actually approached by a group of shop owners in the area who asked us to open a Fat Tony’s Barber Shop as they felt our brand would be a great addition to the area and they knew the demand was there for the services we offer.

We were extremely flattered by the invitation and saw the opportunity to grow our already strong presence in Galway.

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What’s special about Fat Tony’s?

Our locations are quite unique in comparison to other barber shops.

The team

using products specifically designed for men.

Fat Tony’s is made up of twenty-eight barbers, one beauty therapist, two front of house staff and three marketing and administration staff between our five shop locations. We have an extremely diverse work force; including males and females of all ages, from 6 different nationalities.

Our Groom Treatment Room offers facial cleanses, massages, waxing, and manicures, all carried out by our experienced therapist.

Our staff has a big mix of personalities who all bring different styles, techniques and opinions to the shop floor. We have good staff retention; many of our barbers have been with us for over ten years and from when we first opened the shop.

We always try to involve the crew with decisions in the shops; such as products to stock, shaving routines and customer experiences. Our barbers are the ones interacting with our customers daily, they are building the relationships and we feel it’s vital they get their say and are happy with how the shop works because without them, it simply doesn’t work.

What they offer Fat Tony’s is a traditional barber, who offers haircuts, cut throat hot towel shaves, classic cuts, beard shape and trims.

About six years ago we expanded and set up our Groom Treatment Room, the only men’s-only grooming room in Connacht (an entire region in the West of Ireland), which offers services for the complete male grooming in a relaxing environment,

This is an appointment-only service which the client can book themselves into through our website.

We also have our front of house staff and barista serving up free, smooth coffees and our craft beer of the month for our customers.

The Great British Barber Bash training day Neal Toner and Mikey Graham were in recently for a group training day in our largest shop.

We try and get guest barbers in at least once or twice a year as we find it motivates and inspires our barbers.

It also a great opportunity for us all to get together as a group and talk about what we are all passionate about, bounce ideas off each other and see what we can learn from one another and our guest barbers.

We feel that education and training days allow our staff and brand to stay fresh, up-to-date and inspired, meaning higher job satisfaction and a great environment for our clients to come into too!

The Great British Barber Bash crew are super and allow us to get big, well-known and respected names over to the West coast of Ireland and we are looking forward to hosting them again in the very near future.

We have one located in the heart of the city, just off of the high street and the rest are all located in industrial areas surrounding the city with great access, convenience, and parking facilities.

The majority of our shops are spacious; our Liosban shop is 2000sq ft. and this allows us the luxury of comfort and space.

Some of our shops have eight or nine barbers working on weekends, we offer a walk-in service only for barbering services and this allows the customers short waiting times and less pressure for our barbers.

We are very proud of the atmosphere in all of our shops - friendly and inviting - we want customers to feel at ease and hang out with their friends, fathers or sons in our shops. We feel it should be an experience for them, every time.

More shops to come?

Never say never! However, we are happy with where we are at the moment.

We are now focusing on perfecting what we have and seeing how far we can go with it.

Our current projects include developing our own product line and discovering the possibilities of expanding our own clothing line which is all available on our online shop.

We are constantly looking at ways of improving both our customer and staff experience, it’s something that will always be evolving and adapting to current climates but for right now we are extremely happy and proud of the brand, our staff and each of our locations.

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BA R B E R E Q U I P M ENT CENTRE BRINGS YOU

BARBER SHOP Originals

OUR PRODUCTS ARE NOT COPIES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS. BUT HUNDREDS OF OLD AUTHENTIC BARBER SHOP GEMS. This old original framed advert is from 1915 and bought out by Clemak during the First World War. The pictures and words are deliberately aimed at attracting sales from the British troops.

With the British bulldog, army marching by, Union Jack…all stiff upper lip. Great piece of history.

For this and more follow our daily Instagram @barbershoporiginals.

Barber Shop Originals…. Keeping the history of the barbering trade alive.

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Bronx www.barberequipmentcentreuk.co.uk Call us on - 01455 660 120

BEC A division of SEC Leicester Road, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HF www.salonequipmentcentre.co.uk BEC Catalogue 2016_40-84.indd 4

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11/05/2016 13:28

Wayne Anthony hits top gear

With over 30 years’ experience in the barbering game, Wayne Anthony has seen it all and done it all. Well, almost…

To match the old school cool of his shop, Wayne Anthony’s Executive Barbers in Halifax, Wayne has imported and refurbished this vintage American classic and is set to offer a truly one-of-a-kind ride to special occasions. Imagine it – heading to Wayne Anthony’s Executive Barbers with your best man and

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groomsmen, relaxing with a top shelf whiskey while Wayne and his team work their magic to get you looking your best, then heading to the church in a hot rod!

Wayne has poured his heart and soul into the car, with hundreds of hours of his own hard work helping create something truly special. Collaborations with other barbers for photo shoots and other opportunities are already in the pipeline so we can’t wait to see what they come up with.

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HOW TO CREATE A HIGH AND TIGHT HAIRCUT

S T E P - B Y- S T E P | T H E B L U E B E A R D S R E V E N G E The Bluebeards Revenge has teamed up with award-winning barber and founder of The Lions Barber Collective Tom Chapman to help you create a contemporary high and tight hairstyle.

With its high-faded sides and slightly longer top, the classic high and tight look has always been a favourite among military men. But that’s not to say you have to enrol in the forces and don army fatigues to make it work for you.

Below, Tom gives his tips on how to create a high and tight look that allows for a little more personality!

ABOUT THE STYLE Tom says: “The classic high and tight look is often incredibly short on top. However, the version below has evolved thanks to modern trends and creative barbers. The tight sides are taken all the way up to keep the style clean, crisp, and easy to maintain, while some length is left through the top to give the look more texture and versatility.”

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CREATE THE LOOK 1. Start by washing the hair with The Bluebeards Revenge Shampoo and Conditioner. This helps to ensure the hair is clean and sits true to its natural fall for best results.

6. Now that the hair is dry, use clippers to establish the shortest grade nice and high on the head. Then work through the grades blending into the previous length on top.

2. Dry the hair with a towel before creating a horseshoe section to isolate the hair on top.

7. Tidy up the edges of the cut with trimmers. Then use The Bluebeards Revenge Cut-Throat Razor to sharpen up the neck and hair line.

3. Remove the bulk of the hair on the sides to create a blank canvas for the high-fade.

8. Remove hair debris with the Bluebeards Revenge Talc for Men and a neck brush.

4. Release the top and blend it into the sides and back, then point-cut to the desired length which will create texture and movement on top.

9. Finish off with a small amount of volumizing powder and a little more matt clay.

5. While the hair is still damp, apply a small amount of The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Clay as a pre-styling product. Blow dry with The Bluebeards Revenge Vent Brush for a textured look.

And there you have it – a modern example of the popular military high and tight cut. For more expert hairstyling videos from The Bluebeards Revenge and master barber Tom Chapman, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bluebeardstv

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Top shaving tips from master barber Luigi Caterino

Bluebeards Revenge Shave Training with Luigi Caterino

• Wear tight-fitting gloves while shaving to improve how much you can feel your client’s face for a closer, smoother shave.

If you haven’t yet added shaving to your barbering repertoire then you have no excuse now that the team at The Bluebeards Revenge have started their own expert one-day shave course.

course is a real return to their roots and with the expert hand of Luigi guiding the training days themselves, barbers are sure to walk away with a wealth of knowledge.

• Hygiene is of the upmost importance, so make sure you use a sharp, new replaceable blade in your cut-throat razor for every shave. Change the blade in front of your customer to make them feel safer as well.

Taught by Britain’s Best Wet Shaving Barber 2015, Luigi Caterino, the course promises to get you and your team up to scratch in just a single day meaning you can instantly start earning more money through additional services.

To create a premium service that fits around the busy schedules of hair and beauty professionals, The Bluebeards Revenge Training courses are hosted in the most convenient locations possible for customers – their own shops – and can be booked on any day of the week for maximum flexibility.

• Incorporate a face scrub to exfoliate your customer’s skin and remove dirt and grime. This will also add an extra pampering element that will set your shave apart from the competition.

• Pinch the hairs on your shaving brush to reduce the surface area of the bristles and easily coat the moustache area without covering your client’s mouth.

• Finish the shave by dusting a little talcum powder to remove excess moisture that might still be sitting on the face.

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“Traditional wet shaving is a service that is once again experiencing incredible growth in barber shops and unisex salons,” says Luigi. “It’s a service that I have offered my customers for decades and is a skill that I am proud to say I have. It generates a lot of extra revenue in my shops and is something I encourage everyone working in our industry to learn.”

When you think of The Bluebeards Revenge, you think of shaving, so despite how the company has branched out in recent years, this training

In order to encourage the same high standards that the course teaches, every customer that participates is awarded with a certificate of achievement and a complimentary shaving bundle worth £100.

For more information and to book a course with The Bluebeards Revenge Training service, please visit www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk/training.

t us i s i V tand at s - W2! ber m u N

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GRA E M E M I LN E Photography: Ian Lam Styling: Dystra Model: Jingyu Zhu Shop: Rebel Rebel

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GRANT C ARR Photography: Ian Lam Model: Sean Colthart Shop: Mr Blonde

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M R H AND S O M E Hair: Yvonne Kok

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Hair: Huntsman Make-up: The Academy of Makeup Photographer: Richard Frew Products: Hanz De Fuko

G E M M A W I LLO C K - S M I T H

Model: JP Macdonagh, Ian Lam Photographer: Ian Lam Make-up: JP Macdonagh

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@miles_swyd @@kyrangibsonbarber

INSTAGRAM Showcase Tag @barbernvmagazine to feature your work in our next issue!

@vwhitmarshhair @betweenshears 80 | BarberNV Magazine

@michael_purviss33 @muj_the_barber

@figaro_maenneken

@edwardstylesyou

@jaderogersbarbering @abbott_and_co BarberNV Magazine | 81

Barbering is no longer just about cutting in the shop for your regular customers. Although that will always be your bread and butter, the opportunities for barbers to take their skills elsewhere are growing every year. We spoke with two barbers who have recently taken their scissors and clippers to two very different events, to see what else is out there.

Conference Cutting On the back of a successful year for Aberdeen based stylist Kyle Ross that saw him take home the prize of UK’s Best Barber at the International Barber Awards and his Huntsman barbershop go from strength to strength, Kyle was asked to perform on the men’s stage at Pro Hair Live Manchester.

It’s another example of how you can leverage your barbershop skills to help take you to places you may never have imagined. For Kyle, a background in hairdressing before he took the leap into barbering means he was no stranger to performing on stage.

“Having done things like this before, I wanted it to be relatively educational rather than just a fashion show. I wanted to get away from things like skinfades so I went for an example of someone growing out a skinfade and what you can do to keep it looking good as it grows out,” Kyle explains.

“One of the reasons I wanted to something like that is because there are loads of barbers who are great at barbering but struggle with longer styles.”

Despite having some on stage experience at other events including the International Barber Awards in Nuremberg, Kyle admits that it’s

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impossible to get rid of feelings of anxiety before you go up there.

He says: “You always feel slightly nervous as soon as you speak to a crowd of people but once I got going I was fine. It was nothing in comparison to being in Germany and having people watch my every move.”

The nature of cutting at exhibitions such as Pro Hair Live is having a fluid crowd that aren’t all seated and ready to listen to you when you start. Rather you need to adapt your performance for latecomers, stragglers, and people just taking a look.

“More and more come over as it’s going on,” Kyle tells us. “So once you get halfway through you have to bring them up to speed as the amount of people you are speaking to grows.”

Despite the challenges, Kyle was happy with how it went.

He says: “I think it went relatively well. On a personal level I’d still want to get better at it but a lot of people came up to me afterwards and said they enjoyed it. I did give myself too much to do though, I should have precut more beforehand. When you are stopping and speaking, a 30 minute cut in the shop becomes a 60 minute cut on stage.”

Blood, sweat, and beers.

Oh… and some sweet haircuts.

In a cramped backroom of famous music venue, the O2 ABC, Jamie Wilson is struggling with a professional wrestler while the fighter’s friends watch on. Fortunately it’s not a typical Glasgow ‘square go’ rather Jamie is preparing the entire Insane Championship Wrestling team for tonight’s ICW Square Go event.

It’s a home town venue for the organisation and will see over 800 raucous fans packed into the top floor of the ABC to watch a variety of spandex strapped, muscle bound men and women suplex one another every which way. Naturally the guys want to look their best.

“I always came to the shows as a fan,” says Jamie. “Some of the boys were regular clients for me and someone said ‘why don’t you come to the show and cut hair?’ I asked Mark Dallas who runs the ICW and he was up for it.”

That was it. Using his connections and friendships, Jamie had picked himself up a side job working backstage at an event he enjoys. Working around his schedule at Urban Funk barbershop in Glasgow, it was a winwin situation.

Jamie explains: “What I did was cut the boys a deal. I do it pretty cheap as I’m not doing a full service.

They’re not getting a blow-dry or styling, it’s more just a tidy-up before they go out.

“It’s not costing the ICW anything for me to be here and I’m getting to work with the lads I like. Everyone looks better and a bit sharper on camera with their hair done and I get to make a bit of money out of it.”

Although he enjoys being backstage with the wrestlers he used to pay to watch, hearing them discuss their upcoming bouts – “I only tell them to shut up if they’re talking about who’s going to win, because I want to see that bit!” – it’s not a complete walk in the park.

Jamie says: “If I was working in Urban Funk on the day I finish a bit earlier so I can get up here and set up. Those days are long though. Last time I started in Urban Funk at half 10 in the morning and didn’t finish cutting hair until about half 10 at night.”

As wrestling continues to grow in popularity, Jamie has had some great exposure of his Bad Guy Brand from his clients at the ICW tweeting about it, and with some of them moving on to the bright lights of the WWE, it’s only getting better for him. Maybe we’ll see those international superstars coming to Jamie for haircuts in the near future…

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Pioneers of modern barbering education The coolest collab of 2018 is coming. No, not Drake x Adidas or the latest range of Yeezys. It’s Rebel Rebel and Glasgow Kelvin College.

As a college that prides itself on keeping up with current trends and offering the best possible career choices to their students, Glasgow Kelvin College identified barbering as a massive growth sector that needed a constant flow of new talent – something they could provide.

The result is a 15-week course in collaboration with Alan Findlay’s Rebel Rebel chain, one of the most renowned in the industry. Students will have access to a state of the art training academy and industry placements with the Rebel Rebel team among others, resulting in an industry recognised City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Barbering.

Liz Breckenridge, Head of Commercial at Glasgow Kelvin, was part of the team that spotted the need for a true ‘modern barbering’ qualification. “Our colleagues in the curriculum area know Rebel Rebel. They exactly echoed what we thought: it’s difficult to get people with the right skills and the right training that’s relevant to the current market. It’s not just learning individual craft skills, but how you build a client base, how you market a business, and a high standard of customer service.

“They are getting industry experience throughout the course so they are ready to go and earn.”

The bespoke training academy is truly top notch, with 12-seats, one for each student, meaning every potential barber spends their time working on their practical skills, rather than simply watching someone else do it. Part of this involves ensuring the students bring their own models so they are learning to market themselves and build their own customer base from the moment they start the course.

Structured, designed, and taught by Rebel Rebel’s own barbering staff and fully supported by Glasgow Kelvin College, the intensive 15-week programme contains a minimum of 360 hours of guided teaching and learning, with 120 hours of additional self-directed learning, and up to 90 hours of work experience with industry barbers outside of the classroom.

If you’re looking to make barbering a full time career, there’s few options better for ensuring you come out at the end of it fully trained and ready to start.

At £5,990 it’s a serious investment in your future but the potential rewards are there for all to see.

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Top Dog: Alan Findlay

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AestheticNV

Highway to Health Medical check-ups can fall by the wayside when it feels like too much time and effort to see a doctor - but there is a new route to take Packed NHS surgeries, difficulty making appointments with GPs and waiting times that take up too much time are all common complaints from many of the general public trying to book an appointment with their doctor these days. Reports of an increasing shortage of family doctors regularly hit the headlines, which suggests the problem will only get worse. NHS resources are overstretched and despite heroic efforts from NHS staff, the system finds it difficult to keep on top of patient demand.

I

n the last five years, Scotland has seen a rise in the number of private GP practices setting up which offer an alternative to lengthy waiting times and appointment delays. They also offer a more flexible approach to seeing a doctor at a time that is convenient to you. With appointments available in the evenings and at weekends, there is greater scope to see a GP at a time that fits in with a busy lifestyle. It is a solution that appeals to an increasing number of time-poor individuals, which is why – as a direct result of our current clientele asking for the service – that we have decided to open a private GP practice here at our award-winning New Town clinic.

For the past 18 months, we have specialised in aesthetic procedures, women’s health, and hair restoration, but because our existing patients have been asking us to consider this offering since we opened, we will now also provide a private GP service, which I believe will be incredibly well received.

The simple fact is that we can be more flexible in meeting patient needs. Our patients are time poor: they often can’t fit standard GP appointments around their busy working days and, as a result, put their health to the bottom of their priorities – which obviously isn’t good. As lives get busier and we all try to pack more into our day, health check-ups and concerns can slip to the bottom of the to-do list. It becomes a Catch-22 situation for busy people – they need to be healthy to keep operating at the level they are used to, but they can’t find the time to make sure they are as healthy as they should be.

The solution is appointments at times when NHS practices are busy or closed, which is what we can offer our patients. We can also offer investigations and treatments that are not available on the NHS such as prenatal screening and detailed medicals, which provides greater scope for keeping on top of health concerns.

Joining our team is the highly experienced and well-respected GP, Dr Jane Sweeney, who has practiced in NHS Lothian for many years and also has several years of experience in private GP practice. Dr Sweeney will be our clinical lead here at the clinic.

My rough estimation is that approximately 1,000 appointments will be made to see our team of GPs in 2018. We are in the heart of the New Town, so popping out of the office to see our GP at a time and day convenient to you is exactly what our patients want.

Anyone already familiar with our clinic will know that the environment here is stylish, relaxed and professional, but welcoming. Our front-of-house team is award winning, and they make all of our patients’ time with us as smooth and enjoyable an experience as possible.

The emphasis here at the clinic is always on being the very best you can be.

Our aesthetic treatments are intended to help you look as good as you can for the age you are. Our hair restoration clinic treats hair loss issues that can be incredibly detrimental to self-confidence and well-being if not addressed. Now our private GP service will offer a top-to-toe health check for whatever health concern you may have – however big or small. And we can do it all at a time that fits in with patients’ very busy lives.

Consultation prices start at £125 for a 20-minute consultation with patients paying £220 for a 40-minute appointment. The surgery will accommodate both late nights and Saturday opening. www.drnestor.co.uk

Words: Dr Nestor

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