INSPIRING UK & IRELAND BARBERING SUCCESS
Issue 3. December 2015/January 2016.
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POP-UP SHOP KINGS
The Blind Barber, Quality Cut
PAUL HEWITT & BR A DLEY COWEN
Johnny Baba and Dale Ted Watkins @BarberNV_Mag
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Jamie Dunning
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Welcome MERRY CHRISTMAS BARBER BUDDIES ANDREW BREWSTER We’ve been getting right into the festive spirit at BarberNV HQ and our beards and barnets have never looked better thanks to an abundance of festive goodies, including a Barber Oil advent calendar. Christmas is very much the season for giving and amongst our features on barber inspired gifts in this issue, we meet a man who has given his time and talent to helping others, as we find out about Ian, aka Champ, who runs Champs Barbers. I was in awe of his fascinating tales of bringing the barber community together in Columbia and I’m sure you will be too. As always in BarberNV, the talent in the industry never ceases to amaze me and getting an insight into the world of the incredibly talented Jamie Dunning. Flying the flag for the females in this edition; we have Rebel Rebel star Gemma Willock-Smith, who is fast becoming not only a leading light in the barber world, but also an accomplished educator. Did you take part in Movember or Decembeard? We find out why these charity ventures have become so important and how they continue to flourish and raise vital funds for charities close to so many of our hearts. We take a look into shop openings in the New Year from Sherif Mehmet’s Covent Garden stylish male grooming salon called ENVY to Sid Sottung’s little piece of New York brought to the heart of Nottingham. It’s be a whirlwind year for the likes of The British Barber Association who have recently just
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF re-launched their website giving it a cutting edge new look. We also recap on this years events from The British Master Barbers, MHFed, Barber Council and The Fellowship and also what’s to come from them in 2016. Darren from the Blind Barber, Quality Cut tells us about his 1920’s inspired barbershop and the highs and lows since opening it in July this year. While Johnny Baba and Dale Ted Watkins are creating double trouble in their interview. We dive into their past, present and future and have came out the other side eyes wide open and very inspired! Pop Up Kings Paul and Brad talk tattoo conventions, Brighton seafront , the gamble of investing in outdoor events and their no regret attitude to life. Training is a massive part of the barbering industry and NV readers will not be disappointed in this month’s highlights of the best in business. Always keen to stay ahead of the rest, this month we look at the world of trend predictions and what is going to be big in 2016. I’ll see you then to chat more about New Year, new looks, but till then; grab a mince pie, some mulled wine and get tucked into this festive edition of BarberNV. Have a very merry Christmas and a partyfilled, till busting New Year. Till next year...
Stay sharp, Andrew Founders Andrew Brewster & Joanne Reid | Editor-in-chief Andrew Brewster | Sales Manager Jenna McIntosh | Sales & Marketing Support Connie Neil | Sub Editor Laura Boyd | Creative Director Marc Ross Design Support Ross Stewart | Design & Marketing PrintNV | Features Writer Ken Hermes, That Little Barber Shop | Columnists Rob & Dan Rix, Larry the Barberman, Sid Sottung Thanks The Lions Barber Collective, The British Barbers Association, Adam Sloan, Anthony Copeland & The British Master Barbers, The Hair Council, The MHFed, Garry Spencer, The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, NHF, Myles Lewis, Liz McKeon, Salon Evolution, Kevin Hamm, Spencer Scissors, Stephen Farrar, Vivid PR, Pickle PR, Seven Publicity, Alison Jameson Consultants, Johnny Baba, Dale Ted Watkins, Bradley Cowan, Paul Hewitt, Jamie Dunning, Chris Moon, Vikki Harrison-Smith, Steven Thomas Green, Captain Fawcett, Gemma Willock-Smith, Karl Foster, David Hildrew, Su Clark, Joshua Kane, Slade Edwards, Daniel Davies, The Blind Barber - Quality Cut, Jamie Stevens, Andis, Salon Equipment Centre, Akito Scissors, Neo-Cape, Spencer Scissors, Champ, Guerrilla Barbering, Pat Barry, The Lions Barber Collective, The Irish Barber Alliance Cover Image Ricki Hall, Tim Collins Photography | Pictures Shutterstock, Terry Boyd, Mark Shirley, Iain Crockart, Amanda Clarke Photography, The Dude Abides Photography, Andrew Gilbert Published by MediaNV Ltd, 132 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2RQ | Email contact@salonnv.co.uk | Tel +44 (0) 141 212 5525 | Web www.barbernv.co.uk Copyright All work in this publication is copyright BarberNV Magazine and MediaNV 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.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 3
News
INDUSTRY NEWS 06 IRISH BARBER ALLIANCE 09 CHARITY NEWS 10 INDUSTRY BODIES 12
Products
EDITOR’S CHOICE 14 STYLING 16 SHAVING, BEARD & MOUSTACHE 18
ELECTRICAL 20 COMBS & BRUSHES 21 SCISSORS & THINNERS 22 FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT 24
Business MAN BEHIND THE BRAND 40 TIS’ THE SEASON TO BE BUSY 42 3 STEPS TO RETAILING 43 THE CALM AFTER THE 44 CHRISTMAS STORM! BARBERS - DO YOU 45 UNDERSTAND THE RISKS LEADING THROUGH 47 INNOVATION LICENSES - MR BARBERS 48
Features 28 FESTIVE HAIR & GIFT GUIDE 30 LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PAST 31 LONDON LOOKS COLLECTION 32 BARBER OF THE MONTH: JAMIE DUNNING 34 BARBERSHOP OF THE MONTH: THE BLIND BARBER QUALITY CUT 36 SCOUNDREL MEETS GENTLEMAN 50 MOVEMBER/DECEMBEARD 53 RICKI HALL’S BOOZE & BACCY BEARD OIL… 54 FASHION: THE BARBER CUT 55 JOSHUA KANE 56 RISING STAR: GEMMA WILLOCK-SMITH 58 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE POP-UP SHOP KINGS 60 ROBERT RIX 62 SID SOTTUNG 64 EDUCATORS OF THE MONTH: HAIRBOND ARTISTIC TEAM 66 SB BARBERING ACADEMY
Contents ISSUE 3 | DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016
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Industry News.
INDUSTRY NEWS. BARBER SHOPS REMINDED TO ENSURE SEASONAL STAFF ARE COVERED BY INSURANCE As with many businesses taking on extra staff to accommodate the festive season rush, barber shops need to make sure that they have sufficient and valid insurance cover. Additional employees need the right training for the job, even if they will only be working for a short period of time, and it is still essential they have the right to work in the UK. Employers liability – a type of insurance that covers a barber shop owner for any claims made by your staff or injury or illness caused by their workplace – is a good option for business cover as most policies of this type are likely to include casual workers and seasonal and temporary staff.
FAIRYTALE OF NOTTINGHAM International barbering educator, and regular NV columnist, Sid Sottung is bringing an authentic American barbering experience to Nottingham this month. The opening of his eponymous barbershop caps an impressive year for the New York native. In the last 12 months alone, he has relocated his barbering academy to a new two-storey premise and travelled 68,000 miles across the globe educating. The exclusive barbershop, located next to Sid’s barbering academy, will offer services based on traditional barbering methods. Gents can indulge in a cut, shave and shoe-shine
in a setting reminiscent of the old-school barbershops in Sid’s homeland. “I wanted to bring a unique, high-end grooming experience to Nottingham,” explains Sid. “More barbershops are opening with a traditional theme, but I wanted the influences to run deeper.” Antique display cabinets will adorn the walls of the barbershop, displaying the finest grooming products from across the world. You can book an appointment at the Sid Sottung Barbershop by calling 0115 837 2401
WAHL ANNOUNCES BRITISH BARBER OF THE YEAR 2015 WAHL has crowned Jamie Dunning of Savills Barbers as its British Barber of the Year 2015. After demonstrating his talents in front of a team of judges, Jamie was presented with a trophy and £500 worth of WAHL products. He said of his title, “I’ve waited a year to get back on this stage and now I’m sat with all my heroes.” Simon Shaw, European Artistic Director of WAHL UK, added, “Over 100 barbers entered the competition this year and the talent was exceptional. Jamie is a deserving winner. His outstanding barbering skills stand out to me and I can tell he has a promising future.”
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EUROPE’S LARGEST BARBER EXHIBITION IS BACK FOR 2016!
Now covering two days, Barber Connect will see over 5,000 professional’s descend to The Celtic Manor in South Wales on the 26th and 27th of June 2016. With over 100 brands attending and exclusive product launches, it’s the go to place for any barber passionate about their field! It offers a unique opportunity for barbers to share new ideas and showcase their work with exciting live competitions taking place. Along with the exclusive show prices and free informative seminars it’s pretty obviously why this show is such a success! Barber Connect will also see the return of their annual Barber Awards where barbering professionals will be rewarded for their hard work throughout the year. The highlight of the awards is the iconic Barber of the Year Award where four finalists will battle it out live for the prestigious title and amazing £3000 prize reward. Votes will be cast live by attendees through the Barber Connect app making it a nail biting competition indeed! To avoid disappointment book tickets now at - www.barberblades.co.uk or call 0800 644 0231
Industry News.
JACKS OF LONDON LAUNCHES NEW PRODUCT RANGE AND CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS
SCOTTISH BARBERS MAKE A HIGH-STREET COMEBACK AS MEN GO RETRO AND ABANDON SALONS
Jacks of London is celebrating its 20th year on the British high streets by launching its own True Gent range of male grooming products – while also becoming the ‘official men’s grooming partner’ to England football star Jack Butland. The new True Gent range of products are made in the UK and have been developed by Jacks’ team of top barbers and industry professionals and on Jacks’ loyal customers. The men’s grooming chain celebrated the launch and its two decades in business at a party held at its Guildford store on the evening of 26th November. The True Gent range consists of seven products, all suitably branded for the modern man, with names such as Hassle Free, Bulk Up, and Head Strong.
The nation sees a 15% surge in the number of barbershop openings in past year. Business is booming for Scottish barbershops as they make a return to high streets across the country – and it’s all thanks to men going back to their roots in search of a more traditional grooming experience. Research conducted by the British Barbers’ Association and premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has revealed a surge of 15% in barbershop openings over the past twelve months, with the total number of those trading on Scottish high streets now standing at 1,345 – an increase of 175 compared to this time last year*. The return of the short-back-and-sides hairstyles made popular by the likes of celebrities Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Gareth Bale has sparked a rise in the number of men paying frequent visits to their local barbers, with such high-fashion looks requiring regular maintenance to keep them in shape. With men now willing to put a greater level of trust in their barbers thanks to the rising standards driven in part by the British Barbers’ Association, many are also choosing to part with cash for more indulgent treatments such as the hot towel shave. It seems that Scots are now even willing to pay more to maintain their improved image too, with the average price of a haircut now standing 90p higher than a year ago, at £12.05*. Mike Taylor, director of the British Barbers’ Association, suggested that the ever-flourishing
ENVY BY SHERIFF MEHMET MAKES CENTRAL LONDON MOVE
One of the country’s most influential figures in men’s hairdressing will be opening a new barbershop in Covent Garden early January. Skillfully combing the very best of everything you would expect from the latest men’s grooming salon and an old-fashioned barbers, it is being launched by Sheriff Mehmet, whose name is synonymous with top-class technique, quality and dedication to his profession. The new salon is called Envy by Sheriff Mehmet and is part of his well-established Envy Barbers chain.
Sheriff was only 14 when he was introduced to the world of barbering through a family route at his uncle’s barbershop in London. His career in the years since has seen him learning his craft and honing his skills at London’s Truefitt & Hill of Mayfair, the oldest barbershop in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records, and he has been a consultant to prestigious men’s grooming brands Castle Forbes, Denman’s Jack Dean, Rooney Brushmakers, Molton Brown and
trend for men’s grooming was continuing to add fuel to the fire. “Men are looking after themselves a lot more and have finally realised that the barber is the best person to cut their hair, rather than a hairdresser. There is also a rising demand for hot towel shaves, and salons fail to offer this service.” To coincide with the new findings, the British Barbers’ Association and The Bluebeards Revenge have joined forces to launch an exciting new competition this week, in a true celebration of the nation’s outstanding barbering talent. Launching today, Scotland’s Best Barber will see a search the length and breadth of the nation to track down the ultimate skill in men’s hair cutting and styling, with Britain’s Best Shave 2015 winner Luigi Caterino, of The Italian Job barbershop in Galashiels, preparing to take his place on the judging panel. Luigi, who was crowned king of the wet shaves earlier this year in a competition run by the same duo, has since been named official barber for Rangers FC - and his success is a testament to the honour that comes with receiving such an industry-respected accolade. The competition is open to anyone currently practicing their trade on Scottish soil, with the top 25 barbers facing an online public vote where examples of their work will be under scrutiny. The three highest-scoring barbers will then go on to perform in the national final at the 2016 Scottish Barber trade show, held at Edinburgh’s RHC over Sunday 24th and Monday 25th April.
Clarins, as well as salons renowned for equal superiority: Gentleman’s Tonic, The Refinery and Selfridges. Already a State Registered Hairdresser for over four years, Sheriff was recently awarded his Master Craftsman Diploma in Men’s Hairdressing, an accolade held by only a few. In 2000, Sheriff opened his first barbershop, Envy Barbers in Chingford, encompassing the elements of the perfect barber as well as his reputation for being a master of the art of close shaving. Outside his salon and the exceptional education he offers, Sheriff is a prominent figure in the British Barbering Association and is deeply passionate about the education and quality of the growing number of barbers in the UK and indeed around the globe. A solid reputation for his creative skills in all areas of traditional, modern and unique barbering cutting as well as his expertise in traditional shaving has seen him travel the world, sharing his knowledge with like-minded professionals. Now he is looking forward to bringing his wealth of expertise and creativity to his Envy by Sheriff Mehmet barbershop, based in a prime position, on Chandos Place, just off the market area of Covent Garden. BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 7
Industry News.
SCOTTISH BARBERSHOPS NEED TO PREPARE FOR DEVOLVED INCOME TAX RATE, WARNS NHF Scottish barbershops are being advised to speak to their payroll provider or administrator to make sure they are ready for a change in income tax rules in Scotland, which is due to come into effect in April 2016. HM Revenue & Customs says it will begin sending out letters about the change to anyone it has identified as being a Scottish taxpayer as early as this week. A new Scottish rate of income tax is due to come into effect from 6 April 2016, as part of Scotland’s greater devolved powers. The move will not change how salons report or make payments for income tax or affect National Insurance Contributions but it will mean employers will have to apply a new “S” tax code to employees classed as Scottish taxpayers. All Scottish taxpayers will be sent a new tax code prefixed by an “S”, and so HMRC has recommended businesses make sure their
payroll software is up to date and that they apply the new tax codes. Employers will not be required to show the Scottish rate separately on P60 forms or payslips, but they will need to show the Scottish tax code, HMRC has said. NHF chief executive Hilary Hall said, “This change should not have a huge impact on most barbershops on a day-to-day level, but it is something barbershops need to prepare for.
SCIENCE FINALLY EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY MEN HAVE RED BEARDS, BUT NOT RED HAIR Most people think the collar and cuffs automatically match up, but hair is more complex than that so says Petra Haak-Bloem, specialist at the Dutch national information centre for genetics and hereditary traits. “The genes that determine hair colour are socalled ‘incomplete dominant hereditary traits.’ This means that there isn’t one single gene that’s dominant over the rest, but all genes influence each other,” This allows for the hair on your head, your facial hair, and your pubes to differ in colour. Madness right? “Generally speaking, people inherit hair color not only from their parents, but also from their grandparents and earlier ancestors. So it’s entirely possible that one distant ancestor had a hair colour that suddenly appears again though a certain combination of genes—and that can be quite unexpected for parents,” Haak-Bloem continued. But why all the annoying red hair coming through in men’s beards?
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“More than a decade ago, researchers discovered that one gene (MC1R) on chromosome 16 plays an important part in giving people red hair. MC1R’s task is making a protein called melanocortin 1. That proteine plays an important part in converting pheolmelanine into eumelanine,” Haak-Bloem tells us. “When someone inherits two mutated versions of the MC1R-gene (one from each parent), less pheomelanine is converted into eumelanine. The feomelanine accumulates in the pigment cells and the person ends up with red hair and fair skin.” So the unexpected red beards are a mutation in the MC1R gene. When you only have one mutated MC1R, red hair can appear in certain often unwanted places. While it definitely won’t kill you, having some stray red hairs creeping through into your beard isn’t a look most men want. Sadly though, genes are genes, and there just ain’t no fighting it. Sorry gents.
“If employees do not have the correct code, they could end up paying the wrong tax on their wages, which can cause administrative headaches to sort out later on. “Barbershops should also be aware that, depending on the level at which the Scottish Parliament decides to set income tax, it could mean Scottish employees are paying a different rate of income tax to workers in the rest of the UK. “But even if the Scottish rate remains unchanged, barbershops employing Scottish taxpayers will still have to apply the new S code. “It is also a good idea to explain this change to your staff and emphasise it is even more important between now and April 2016 that they inform HMRC if their address changes so as not to end up paying the wrong tax,” Hilary added. Detailed advice on the change can be found at: gov.uk/scottish-rate-income-tax
THE BRITISH BARBERS ASSOCIATION LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE
The BBA is very excited and proud to finally announce the launch of its new website. The very modern-looking site is set to transform many platforms for the the barbering industry. The new features of the website include LIVE gamification competitions and scoreboards, BBA Newsroom, Education Webinars & Calendar, Industry Blogs, Accredited Zone (Trip BarberAdvisor) with Location look book capabilities, Hall Of Fame, BBA TV & the list goes on…. Mike Taylor said, “As the association was growing to over 8500 we saw the need to provide a strong industry platform that would be of great benefit to the industry. There a several other elements still to come in phase-two but we encourage all of our current and new members to visit the site and try out some of the features.”
Industry News.
ABOUT THE IRISH BARBER ALLIANCE The Irish Barber Alliance (IBA) was established to advance and promote the interests of our members in every possible way. We are dedicated to enhancing skills, standards and traditions of barbering in Ireland. Barbering is a proud tradition of skills that have been handed down through generations. The IBA’s mission is to refine and re-enforce these traditions to protect them into the future. Our aim is to help standardise the approach to barbering, through compiling and sharing information, to encourage, highlight and reward best practices in our industry. It is our belief tha becoming truly excellent at the art of barbering requires passion, commitment and experience. The latter, we believe, can only be gained over time! The Alliance lends us all a united voice to level the playing field, providing access to many practical business solutions including reduced insurance, accounting and legal fees, crucial advice and support, and HR. Membership of the Irish Barbers Association(IBA) is FREE and open to all barbers in Ireland. Our mission is to provide advanced education and training to further barbering and related professions through education, professional development, participation and networking to meet the needs of our members. We will be looking to enhance and maintain standards in the barbering trade. As the representative organisation for the Barbers in Ireland, the IBA, aims to provide an extensive service to its members. These services include representation, advisory, networking and support, training and education, competitions, and, very importantly, social events to help each another consolidate our industry. These services are not limited to Ireland, but take account of worldwide events and development within the profession. Our network is global and our co-founders Gary Devane of Portland Barbers in Port Laois, and Pat Barry of The Gentry Barbershop in Limerick,are very well known in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Pat has been working with many international industries for these last few years on a variety of initiatives. Gary has also worked very closely with many Irish Barbers at a variety of levels previously, which can only enhance The Irish Barber Alliance, giving it a dynamic that few, if any, organisations in our industry can offer. Our website will offer a variety of helpful features to our members. Included in this will be a Jobs section that will enable our members to advertise vacant positions they may have within their business. We will
also be working with other partnered organisations in many countries to offer an International Barber Exchange for our existing members to sample and experience working abroad. This will be a unique opportunity, like many things happening within our group, and will be the first of its kind... We also are partnering with affiliated companies to offer discount offers on Shop Insurance, Payment Gateways, Online Product Discounts, Graphic Designers, Brand Managers and many more initiatives to help our members run their day to day businesses with more direction. The Irish Barber Alliance are proud to be partnering with such large organisations. We have already tied in with BarberNV magazine and Pat Barry will be writing for BarberNV. I will be featuring the very best talent we have to offer, and some amazing up and coming talent also. I would like to thank Andrew and crew for this fantastic opportunity to build The Irish Barber Alliance Platform. The I.B.A. Has also partnered with Adam Sloan’s MH Fed, otherwise known as The Mens Hairdressing Federation, Anthony and Tony Copeland’s British Master Barbers, two amazing organisations qith big plans for 2016. We have also partnered with the great Garry Spencer of the Great British Barber Bash. We have some amazing news regarding worships and two big Bashes in Ireland next year. You will, however, need to keep an eye on our Facebook pages to keep up to date. We have secured two big workshops in Dublin’s Cut And Sew, and The Gentry Barbershop in Limerick in February, with Alan Beak, Reece Beak, Pat Barry, Darren Jones and Gary Devane. We also hope that our Alliance members will join us in for the Schorem event in The Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. This event is on Sunday February 27th. You can go to our website www.irishbarberalliance.com to find out more about securing tickets from Garry Spencer. The I.B.A will be in attendance working the event, so I would love if we could have a get together to discuss our plans with you. We would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us on all social media platforms with their great support. We can only be as strong as those that want to make this a success. e can help guide it in the right direction, but ultimately our destination will be determined by those who join our journey and give their input, which we will be so grateful for. Let’s work together, until next time.... “Let’s Make it Happen”. Pat Barry
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Charity News.
CHAMPS BARBERS BY NAME AND CHAMPION BY NATURE Some might say it is cliché to call Ian aka Champ, who runs Champ’s Barbers, well, a champ! However, on his recent visit to Columbia he spent what should have been a two week holiday giving back to the poorest of the poor in an extended, four weeks of hard work. Though Champ was born in the UK, his parents originate from Columbia and he holds a very high interest and respect for his culture. His visits usually have him bringing his barber tools to give his family haircuts. This time, they ended up helping him bring the spirit of barber love and brotherhood to those in need. “A lot of them start on the top of the valley, up in the mountain, when they come to Columbia for a new life or to start over, and that’s where the poorest live. There’s not great electricity or water there, so that is where I basically started.” He tells me this as he relates his incredible story: “I started out in those slums, basically going wherever I was needed. The first place was a churchyard and the priest went out and told locals that there was someone willing to cut their hair. I had so many kids coming in. It was challenging, of course – like I said, there was a poor setup for the electricity and with the sun beating down on me, and all I wanted was water.” Champ pauses and smiles a little before he adds, “But it was all about making the kids smile, so of course I had to keep going.” There is no doubt the experience was one that was memorable and touched his heart. Champ recalls the haircut he remembers the most vividly and how it touched him: “There’s this area under a bridge where there are some 1500 homeless people living. No one really talks to them. I headed down there for a solid day and I remember working on this man who hadn’t had his hair cut in 15 years – he had so many incredible stories to tell. The people were all banding together to help, and that’s a big part of the culture in Columbia. Even in the disparaged area, even with the violent gang activity right outside your door sometimes, everyone was still trying to band together to help my effort.” Not surprisingly, gang activity occurs even between the various barbers in Columbia. When 10 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
Champ redoubled his efforts to get the other local barbers on board with his idea, many revealed that they were not allowed in certain areas due to rival gangs. “I told them let me take their apprentices, then.” Champ explains, “-and I took the apprentices and got them helping me out. The barbers in Columbia aren’t really up on social media outside of using their Facebooks for personal reasons, maybe. So I showed them some sites to get them more on board with the idea of barber love, life and brotherhood, you know? It’s crazy how successful it was – I had two barbers who hadn’t worked together in two years in the same place, talking and planning with me!” A Columbian television channel even came out on the last day Champ was in the area and took him to one of the bigger schools in the area. It goes without saying that his efforts and kindness are being recognized more and more. Champ even tells me that barbers in Columbia are
starting to take it on themselves to keep doing what he started and it has taken off. The question is, are there any plans for something like his unofficial program in the UK? “We have something in the works for a similar idea in the UK, definitely!” Champ laughs. “I’d like to get more barbers on board: hit the streets of London and Brighton, maybe, and get some friends on board.” Perhaps the only setback is that Champ doesn’t have an official name for his program or the charity at the time – it hardly seems to need one, though. Might I suggest “Barber Champs”? I’m sure he’ll come up with something more creative soon enough! “I’ll be heading back to Columbia soon, actually. There’s a big barber battle scheduled and they wanted me to be there.” He grins a bit. “A friendly battle, of course!” It wouldn’t be barber life if it was anything else! From his touching, impromptu experiences in Columbia, Champ really shines through his own nickname by continuing to pursue this charity idea. His commitment to his vision of what he sees as the meaning of the barber life, barber love and barber brotherhood has become so strong that it not only has inspired would-be enemies to come together but for barbers from all different walks to jump on and come to the aid of those in need. The lesson here is simple: those that put their energy into what they love the most can make a huge difference. To follow the Champ’s charitable journey, follow him on Instagram @champsbarbers or me @larrythebarberman for other barbering content. You can also email me at info@larrythebarberman.com.
Charity News.
GUERRILLA BARBERING PHASE 2 Since the last time we published in BarberNV a lot has happened! We have two new ambassadors and we would like to introduce them to you all in the Barber World Nathan Bradbury - Nathan has been cutting hair for a while now and runs his own shop in Welwyn Garden City called After Image Men’s Hairdressing. He reached the final of British Master Barber Live recently and is one of the HOTTEST talents about to blow up on the scene. Keep your eyes peeled. Greg Mcerlane - As many of you know, Greg is already very established in the industry, with an amazing following and the skills to back it up. He has two shops in Bedfordshire and is one of the greatest technical Barbers in the country. We also would like to reveal EXCLUSIVELY to BarberNV readers that we have confirmed the dates for our next Guerrilla Barbering Charity events which will be held in London 2016. The first is April the 29th 2016 and the second is August the 19th! The venues are yet to be confirmed but the dates will not be changing. This event we will be raising money for Centrepoint - Giving young people a future, an absolutely amazing charity who help less fortunate youngsters. Since our last event (see issue 2) we seem to have been EVERYWHERE, spreading the word of what we do and what we hope to achieve! We have met some amazing people over the last few months and hope we can continue the positivity our movement is receiving. Phase 2 is the second chapter in our approach to help others using the barbering community as our backbone, we have been spreading the word of Guerrilla Barbering throughout our beautiful industry through various different events. We were at the Great British Barber Bash run by Mr Garry Spencer, where we collaborated with Dapper Dan styling products. We were also demonstrating alongside Jack Pullen on the MBA stand at Salon International and we even managed to get an hour stage time at Master Barber Live showing you all abit about us, who we are and how we do what we do! A big thank you to Anthony and Tony Copeland. In Phase 2 we also had the opportunity to work alongside the Homeless FA at their International Street Football tournament at the Victorian Warehouse Hotel in Manchester. We were there cutting hair for all the players from all of the national teams (England, Mexico, Holland, Scotland and the Portuguese officials) on the night before the games. We met some truly incredible people who shared a lot and really gave us an incredible boost, reminding us why we do what we do. Improving the
image of the less fortunate never felt so real! From now until the events next year we will be recruiting BARBERS to volunteer for the events. We have massive names coming down to work with us again, along with great support from other parts of the industry. If you would like to be involved in any of our events and would like to showcase your skills along with helping an amazing cause then we would love to hear from you! The April Event - This will be a very similar event to our original pop-up shop we had in Shoreditch in August 2015, offering free haircuts to the general public and asking for donations which all go to our chosen charity... but this time there is a twist! We will be having two competitions on the day as a way of us and our sponsors thanking you for your time! We will hold Guerrilla Barbering’s Best Barber award and we will also have The Best on the Day award. Votes will be taken for the Best Barber Award via our social media pages and the Best on the Day will be judged by ourselves and sponsors. This event will also feature DJs and other forms of entertainment to keep the 12 hours running smoothly! The August Event - If you were at our first pop-up shop on Bethnal Green road then you know the deal... We are setting up a minimalistic contemporary 1 day Barber Shop in the heart of busy Shoreditch, with an amazing atmosphere and a brilliant cause to support. We work hard and then we play hard all in aid of raising the awareness and funding for our chosen charity, Centrepoint. We have a waiting area for customers and a number of work stations for us guys to get busy cutting and making the people of London look even more dapper than they already are. If you are interested in participating at these events then please find us on Facebook and drop us a message and we will get back to you ASAP! We will be at many of the upcoming events but we have so many dates flying around we cannot yet confirm exactly where and when we will be at these amazing showcases. Keep your eyes peeled online and I am sure we will see you all very soon. Much love and keep happy, Guerrilla Barbering.
SUICIDE
It’s a horrible word. It sends shivers down your spine and brings up barriers in most people. It is the single biggest killer of under 45s in the UK. By Ken Hermes A staggering 80% of them are men. Statistics show that somebody takes their life every 120 minutes in the UK. I lost my dad to suicide when I was 15. I haven’t felt comfortable to speak out until now… until the Lions Barber Collective. When I heard that barbers were raising awareness of suicide, I knew I had to link my loss with my passion of writing and get involved. I didn’t know how involved I would get, or how big this project would become. I was asked to film a short vlog explaining my loss and why I (a non barber) will be on board with a group of barbers. It had 13k views in 7 days and showed me that speaking out not only helps me, but others that have lost, or are going through depression themselves. The founders, Tom Chapman of Tom Chapman Hair Design UK and Pat Barry of The Gentry Barbershop Ireland, have brought me on board as Press Director. The truth is that men will speak to their barbers about things they wouldn’t tell anybody else. Firstly, we are raising awareness by producing a ‘Look Book’. Each member of the Lions’ artistic team have submitted images to fill a page in the book. Each page is sponsored by a brand or company. This sponsorship, along with the sales of the book will not only help our partner charities, but allow us to make a start with the #BarberTalk training. The artistic team includes barbers from the UK, Ireland and Holland. The #BarberTalk program is being developed alongside top charities Papyrus and Pieta House to train barbers how to Recognise, Talk, Listen and Advise their clients. On Monday the 30th of November, Pat, Tom, Gary and I met with both organisations in Dublin at a landmark meeting, joining forces to put in place plans to initiate #BarberTalk. “Other people go through what my dad did and they don’t kill themselves. He had no one to talk to, no one to help him” (Professor Green) We all know that men talk, but it’s being able to talk to those that are close to us to ask for advise or help, that needs to change. That’s why we see our BarberTalk Training Program helping to break down the barriers, and show how strong we really are by expressing ourselves in a way where we are not judged. Talking about suicide does not make it more likely to happen. By breaking the taboo and allowing conversation, we could save a life So, why not talk to your barber? Twitter: @thelionsbarbers Facebook: facebook.com/ thelionsbarbercollective BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 11
Industry Bodies.
2015 The Year of the RAW. As the nights draw in and the frost greets your windscreen every morning, we want to take a minute now to reflect on a 2015 that’s been packed full of new friends, new work and new inspiration. From the packed out master classes to the packed out photographic studios, 2015 has been full of creativity, passion fun and learning. The MHFed, on its mission to inspire the industry to be better together, has seen a number of unparalleled successes. Who could forget the Young Feds’ debut, all fresh faced and innocent on that January evening performing in front of the Fellowship they made fans from the beginning such as Hair godfather Errol Douglas and Lee Stafford, they have gone on to wow crowds all over the country. Fast forward to the shows Pro Hair Live Manchester, Barber Connect Cardiff, Salon London not to mention the popular Barber Bashes & inaugural BMB live. MHFed & Young Feds had presence at all of them. With so many highlights it’s hard to pick a favourite, but for me MHFed RAW was just that. An editorial photo shoot that took place in a renovated swimming pool. Whose aim was to create a style guide of Men’s hair. Photographed by Desmond Murray & Martin Fox, the book includes over forty head shots of all hair types, styles and lengths. Was a celebration of the best of UK Barbering. It really captured the imagination when people from all over the UK got together in East London in aid of Prostate Cancer UK to put forward there ultimate look for 2015. RAW was born and so far has raised awareness and thousands of pounds towards an amazing cause that effects 1 in 8 men in the UK at some point in their lives. ICYMI you can still get a copy via www.mhfed.com it’s an ideal Christmas present for the barber in your life. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everybody that came together to help out on that day.
The Barber Council is making great strides in its quest for promoting state registration for all Barbers in the UK. Successful roadshows have taken place and, despite some negative banter on social media, support continues to increase. An exciting event on 1st December shows two registered Barbers Chris Foster and Gary Machin shaving off ‘Movember’ moustaches from MPs across all parties. This event not only helps a great charity but enables lobbying of the MPs during their shave! With the backing of other famous industry names such as Simon Shaw (Wahl), Erik Lander, MK, Chris Moon – manufacturers such as Denman, Hairbond - organizations such as the British Barbers Association, the Men’s Fed and Barber Shop chains such as Mr Barber, the campaign to raise standards is forging ahead. The Barber Council is the voice for industry with the added bonus of being the only organization backed by a statutory body. The media has also been extremely supportive of barber registration, with promotion in both BarberNV and Modern Barber magazines. Promoting registration at exhibitions throughout the year has resulted in new members coming on board and the BBA and Denman both added additional Barber Council branding to their stands. 12 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
Inspiring others in the industry is certainly the main passion behind the rise and rise of The MHFed. One of the best ways to provide that is through the number of master classes held throughout 2015. From Desmond Murray to Joe Sloan there is always something happening to help you up to next level. It just leaves me left to say thanks to everyone that took part and helped 2015 be such a great year. Many thanks to the team at BarberNV for their continued support and we shall look
Remaining pro-active, the Barber Council recently organised a ‘night in with the barbers’ – a special event hosted by Macclesfield College. The evening featured live demonstrations in male grooming from top experts Gary Machin, Chairman of the Barber Council, and Erik Lander, International Barbering Educator. The event was one of four being held across the country by the Barber Council to raise the
forward to doing it all again next year. Keep your eyes open as The MHFed shall be collaborating and involved in projects throughout 2016 that we may need your help on. Also we have a comprehensive year of education opportunities. Full 2016 Master Class calendar will be available on www.mhfed.com Invest in yourself. You’re worth it. Peace & Barber love to all. Merry Christmas and Have a great New Year. Aaron Dorn MHFed @hair_did
professional profile of the barbering industry. Macclesfield College was chosen as a venue due to its strong reputation for hairdressing and barbering training, and its excellent facilities. The event, held in the College’s Silk Room Restaurant, was also broadcast across the world via Periscope, Twitter’s live-streaming video app. Along with an audience of over 80 in the room, people tuned in around the globe from countries such as the USA, Russia and Australia, to see the two on-stage experts run through a series of live barbering demonstrations in shaving, cutting and finishing. There was also the chance for attendees to sample grooming products by Dapper Dan, who also donated a range of products, network with other industry professionals and learn more about the Barber Council’s aims to help those working in the trade to become state registered barbers. The College’s catering and hospitality students treated guests to tasty fish and chip cones, Simon Shaw from Wahl donated 2 sets of clippers for the raffle and local brewery Red Willow kindly donated a keg of draught beer for the event. Over £350 was raised and will be donated to the Movember Foundation, which promotes male health and prostate cancer research. For all Barbers, registration is an important accolade to their career CV – to find out more visit www.haircouncil.org.uk
Industry Bodies.
The British Barbers Association is one of the leading associations for the barbering industry in the UK. Supporting barbers, male grooming salons and men’s hairdressers across the country, the BBA works with governmentappointed organisations and agencies to ensure the development of high-quality training and qualifications that meet the industry’s needs. On 27th October the British Barbers Association (BBA) launched its first BBA Networking event at the historical Barber Surgeons Hall in London. The event saw barbers travelling far and wide to attend an event that in the morning gave them the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers on how to create a successful retail environment to social media, and how to raise your profile and increase your business. Mike Taylor gave an update on the BBA’s activities this year so far, as well as the launch of the BBA competitions and that the BBA will be on tour throughout 2016 travelling around the country to network with its members. The afternoon session was an opportunity to network around the room speaking to influencers in the barbering industry and experts in business and social media, the BBA members had the opportunity to share their views and ideas, which will be used to shape the barbering industry going forwards The room had a buzz for over two hours of barbers sharing good practice and everyone taking away good ideas and much food for thought to start and make a difference for 2016 The networking events for 2016 will travel around the country and dates will be announced via the BBA newsletter.
The British Master Barbers would like to announce the Winner of The British Master Barbers, Barber of the Year 2015 : Kieron Price of Baldy’s barbershop, Aylesbury. The first British Master Barber of the Year Sponsored by Hairbond was announced on the British Master Barbers main stage at The Master Barber Live Show on the 1st November 2015 at the Arora Hotel In Crawley West Sussex. With over 50 entrants in the the first competing stage the judging was a long hard process and given to the founders of the British Master Barbers Alliance to pick the top three finalists who would compete on stage in the live final. The quality of work by all the contestants was nothing short of amazing and showed incredible barbering talent from all around the UK. The Master Barber Live Show exploded into life with pumping music and commentary by The BMB founder Tony Copeland. Cheered on by the 200-plus attendees of the show, the three final contestants created amazing creative styles which were closely judged by The British Master Barbers Ambassadors and the highly skilled Hairbond Artistic team. The winner Kieron Price received the Barber of the Year 2015 trophy plaque along with host of
The last month has been a busy one for The Fellowship for British Hairdressing with two highly attended events taking place, including Fellowship Fringe and Project X and Colour Project Finale Evening. Both hugely successful evenings and you can find out more on the NEWS section of their website. In November, Fellowship Fringe welcomed a sold out audience to Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms. Alongside a brilliant line up was ‘Master Barber’ Alan Findlay, from Rebel Rebel and the B.O.M.B. Squad, who showcased his skills and expertise. 2016 is another action packed calendar for The Fellowship for British Hairdressing. In March, Glasgow will welcome the renowned Masterclass event which will see eight masters taking to the stage to showcase their skills. This event is always incredibly popular and allows you to get up close to the amazing work they are creating. It is an exciting time for Scotland,
prizes including the latest cordless hair clippers and hair grooming products supplied by this years main sponsor Hairbond. Anthony Copeland, organiser of the Master Barber LIVE Show and ambassador of the British Master Barbers Ambassadors said: “This is an amazing achievement that has been very hard earned. Just to get to the final is outstanding and to perform under the pressure of live competition and produce the highest quality of mens haircutting is to be commended.” Daren Heywood Aka Baldy, owner of Baldy’s Barbers Aylesbury, Lynndy Rolfe, Gareth Clark & Jon Bourne of the Hairbond artistic team along with Kevin Vorley from K Barbers were separately awarded the official high status of British Master Barber by the British Master Barbers Alliance for their continued contributions and educational teachings within the barbering industry. We are also very pleased to announce that Adam Sloan, the main man behind the MHFed, and long term barber, Tony Roberts, were both awarded the BMB’s highest status of Grand Master Barber as both of these have been a huge inspiration, supporting others and achieved so much within the craft.
as the Fellowship expands outside of London. This year the Men’s Hair Workshop was another sold out evening with 2016 welcoming two dates. The Fellowship will be bringing this event back to London in January, with the addition of Stockport in February. Get up close and personal with experts in this personal mentoring day and learn from some amazing industry experts. President Bruno Marc said, “The Fellowship Workshops are such a popular event and they always boast a rather large waiting list. We had a fantastic evening this year, and we look forward to another line up of fabulous mentors for 2016” Make sure you don’t miss out on the upcoming events by keeping up to date with the latest news and information then visit www.fellowshiphair. com. Membership is a great opportunity to receive the events flyers hot of the press so to become a member contact Carol on carol@ fellowshiphair.com BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 13
ProductNV.
Tis’ the season to be jolly! This month at NV Towers alongside our barbering experts, we have tried and tested some amazing products and equipment. From “The Man Reviver” to “The Beard Brush”, we really have been spoiled for choice. Here are some of my favourite picks ...
Harvey Nichols The Man Reviver
London Grooming Beard Moisturiser
The ultimate kit for the modern man; when the night before catches up with you, we’ve got the quickfix products to wake up to. Apply a reviving Scaramouche & Fandango peppermint body wash and skin hydrator, combine with a drop of Dr. Jackson’s renewing face oil and a slick of Lock Stock & Barrel wax, then pour yourself a large coffee and whip up an excellent breakfast (from Milton Crawford’s aptlynamed cookbook) to face the day ahead. £150 -
Formulated to effectively cool, refresh and soothe your skin and beard at the same time. The soothing balm helps to protect the beard and skin, as well as providing a rejuvenating, restorative, antiseptic and regenerative effect on both beard and skin. From £9.95 -
www.harveynichols.com/hampers
www.londongrooming.co.uk
Lumberjack Inc. Spruce Up Beard Oil Spruce Up Beard Oil. In a 30ml Pump Spray Container. A fine blend of Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, and Aloe Vera. Provides the masculine male with a woody scent. Ideal for working men or otherwise. £18.99 - www.lumberjackinc.com
Heaven Skincare by Deborah Mitchell Cooling & Soothing Hydrogel This ultra lightweight gel automatically desensitized the feel of uncomfortable irritation from a recent shave. With the use of cooling peppermint oil and it being lipophilic (easy readable to skin) irritation is addressed quickly. No one at Christmas will be calling you Rudolph the red nose reindeer this year. £19 - www.heavenskincare.com
Dear Barber Fibre Dear Barber Fibre is a great professional male hair product that offers a strong, long-lasting hold. The Dear Barber Fibre contains mega-elastic fibre technology that shapes and sculpts the hair to support even extreme styles. Let your creativity run wild with this product, perfect for barbers or hair salons looking to increase their male client base. £9.99 - www.dearbarber.co.uk
Salon Equipment Centre Chester Sofa The Chester is a traditional dark brown sofa, with a low back style and deep buttoned arms and back, it would be perfect for any waiting area. £497 salonequipmentcentre.co.uk
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ProductNV.
WWW.LONDONGROOMING.CO.UK
Celebrate your empire with a look that screams elegance. Cornerford timepieces look to lead the way for success with an elegant throwback to the 1920s prohibition era mixed with modern British innovation. Cornerford commits to a style that defines class and demands respect. Using an exquisite leather band and an exclusively detailed eye-catching face, Cornerford creates the opportunity to wear a look that matches high-quality ambition. The Familia must take the right steps to build their empire. They should feel part of something special. Strong believers of the mantra ‘When you look good, you feel good’, Cornerford satisfies the desire for success with a simplistic yet refined luxurious design. The timepiece can be used to perfectly compliment a total style of dignity and sophistication. Cornerford aims to accentuate a look of the well-groomed and professional male with finite details within this wrist
wear. With a lot of self-worth valued in the impression they give off, Cornerford looks for people that conduct themselves with pride and strive for quality. Although still in its infancy, Cornerford is devoted to promoting an accomplished style of success. It seeks to be a part of a cultural awakening for a breed of versatile and prosperous gentlemen. In times gone by, men defined themselves with their look. They relished their versatility and carried with them an understated cutting edge to ensure they set themselves apart. Cornerford seeks to carry this gratification into a contemporary context. Cornerford commits to the identity of the message that is being conveyed. With this in mind The Familia is always being catered to, and more cultured designs are always being developed.You can form yourself with a Cornerford, and your empire can always be built upon. #JoinThisThingOfOurs
Cornerford British Timepiece Brand
www.cornerford.com BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 15
ProductNV.
Styling Hairbond Gripper New Hairbond Gripper Professional Hair Pomade is flying off the shelves. The much anticipated new product Gripper has had so much interest and customers cant wait to get their hands on our terrific new product. The Gripper has a 4 out of 5 strong hold and has a gorgeous Blood Orange fragrance. Works fantasticly well on extremely curly hair, course hair and thick hair to create high elevation hairstyling that requires an extreme hold. £15.99 - www.hairbond.co.uk
KEVIN.MURPHY DOO.OVER KEVIN.MURPHY DOO. OVER Dry powder finishing hairspray, is a revolutionary styling product that utilises the attributes of a styling powder and a flash drying hair spray. Providing volume, texture and a lasting hold. Unlike many sprays, DOO.OVER uses a powder technology that won’t create a web of resin – allowing users to recreate and reform new looks and shapes. Ideal for all hair types and lengths. £20.00 -
Scaraouche + Fandango Hair styling cream A non-sticky, matt finish and light hold styling cream. Perfect for a natural look. £12 www.scaramoucheandfandango.com
London Grooming Clay London Grooming Clay is a versatile shaping paste which adds great texture and definition, providing a dry matt finish for enhanced thickening and control of the hair. Clay provides a medium to strong hold and can be applied to dry hair to dress or applied through damp hair and blow dried in for a stronger hold and more natural hold. £14.95 - www.londongrooming.co.uk
Davines Medium Hold Finishing Gum
www.KevinMurphy.com.au
A texturizing hair gum that creates a mat looks with medium hold. The gum is formulated without the use of parabens and no added colourings. Ideal for all hair types, medium and short. The dry texture gives medium hold and helps to create defined shape without greasing the hair. Hair will appear mat and natural. £19.30 - www.davines.com
Pomp & Co. Hair Cream Pomp & Co. Hair Cream is a lightweight hair paste that gives a strong, flexible hold with a sharp matte finish. This water-based formula is easy to apply and rinses out leaving no residue. Pomp & Co. Hair Cream carries a masculine scent that acts as a cologne for the hair. Barber Shop Size £52 - www.pomp.ie
men-ü LIQUIFFLEX LIQUIFFLEX offers a solution to both of these issues. It liquefies easily & disperses evenly through the hair and hands are left dry to the touch. LIQUIFFLEX is great for a flexi-hold & suitable for all hair types & styles. The practically weightless product thickens the hair and is great for extra body & volume. £13.95 - www.men-u.co.uk
GO24·7 Control Spray At BarberNV we are loving the GO24·7 range and the Real Men Control Spray is a Classic, heavy hold, hairspray. Real men hold 6 to 8 inches away. Spray as much as desired to create the well groomed man. £14.95 - www.go247men.co.uk
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ProductNV.
Quality, craft and heritage
Pomp & Co. Originally envisioned and created by master barber Sammy Donnelly in Dublin, Ireland in 1947. The original pomade was formulated in the barbershop basement and was renowned for its fragrance, which was reportedly the result of blending his personal collection of colognes into every batch which still to this day the exact blend is a closely guarded secret. To pay homage to this and the timeless craft of quality grooming goods 64 years later Pomp & Co. was relaunched and is now owned and operate by his grandchildren also master barbers. Craftsmanship and skill went into every single aspect of making our products perform and exceed expectations. It’s taken over 4 year to develop and formulate Pomp & Co. The pomade is great for pomps, slick-backs & classic styles with high shine finish. The Hair Cream is perfect for natural, textured styles which result in a naturally matte no-shine finish.
Our concentrated formulas mean that for lighter hold and more natural looking hairstyles, only a small amount of product would ever be needed. Because both the Pomade & HairCream are water based they’ll wash out easily from the hair without any residue.
The Supreme Beard & Stubble Balm will soften, control and condition hearty beards & short stubble facial hair. Whilst also acting as a moisturiser to soothe and hydrate the skin. It can also be used as an ultra-light leave in conditioner for the hair or as a moisturiser for dry hands too, leaving a Non-greasy non-shine matte effect. The function of the scent was extremely important, as we wanted to give a subtle fragrance to the hair. With over 1 year alone being spend just to blend the fragrance it was exclusively blended for us by a perfumey house in Belgium. Which ultimately resulted in the release of our No.17 Signature Scent which is a true Eau De Perfume.
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.POMP.IE
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ProductNV.
Shaving, Beard & Moustache Captain Fawcett Ricki Hall Booze & Baccy Beard Oil & Moustache Wax Gift Set Captain Fawcett is delighted to have collaborated with the World renowned Dandy & Gentleman about town Mr Ricki Hall in concocting this simply delectable bespoke Beard Oil and Moustache Wax. A rich and complex blend of essential oils which combine the luxurious base notes of honeyed fresh tobacco leaves, dusty aromatic frankincense, maple-like benzoin, woody oak moss and warm exotic vanilla bean, layered with mid notes of fresh hops and sweet bog myrtle finished with the top notes of spice from the bay rum tree and zesty orange. £44.00 - www.captainfawcett.com
The Brighton Beard Company Extra Firm Moustache & Beard Wax Jevington Jigg’s Mandarin & Cedarwood Extra Firm Moustache and Beard Wax comes in The Brighton Beard Companies signature scent of Mandarin, Cedarwood & Juniper. Providing a firm hold to tame even the most unruly of beards and ‘staches allowing you to shape, style and twizzle to your heart’s desire. £9.95 - www.thebrightonbeardcompany.co.uk
Percy Nobleman beard Comb Fed up of inadequate, pocket-sized combs that are too small to cope with your immense beard hair? This large comb is hand carved from Thai Tropical Pud Wood – a wood that is considered by the native Thai population to bring luck and prosperity. £9.00 www.barberblades.co.uk
Neville Moustache Wax From 26th October 2015 - 30th September 2016, Neville's are donating £3 from every Moustache Wax sold to the Movember Foundation. A dapper Movember ‘tash requires upkeep and this unfragranced wax is just the ticket! £10 - www.neville.co.uk
Pomp & Co. No.17 Signature Scent
Kent brushes BRD2 Handmade in the UK, this fantastic wooden beard brush has specially cut and shaped boar bristles to improve brushing performance so it can handle the coarsest of facial foliage, whilst still being gentle on your skin. £20.00 www.kentbrushes.com
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The scent used in Pomp & Co.’s styling goods has became known as their signature scent, with a blend of the fragrant oils of lavender, lime, sandal wood musk and crystal amber bergamot. £50 - www.pomp.ie
Mariner Jack Navigator Beard Balm The Mariner Jack Navigator Beard Balm’s organic, unrefined shea butter will cling to each hair and increase the density of your beard whilst organic beeswax lightly holds everything in place. £15.95 - www.marinerjack.co.uk
men-ü PRO BLACK shaving brush men-ü has launched a new generation of shaving brush for a new generation of user. The difference is in the black bristles which are men-ü exclusive and manufactured to be smooth, solid and non-absorbent. The shaving brush helps generate a low aeration, creamy lather as well as stimulating the skin and raising the beard for a closer shave. £19.95 - www.men-u.co.uk
ProductNV.
Electrical Ego Professional Trimmer It’s official; beards are here to stay and you can now achieve stylish stubble and tidy trimmed hair with the Ego’s latest male grooming gadget. Instinctively easy to use, Ego Trimmer comes with two optional comb lengths to put you in total control and ensure complete versatility when grooming and shaping your facial hair. £59.99 - www.egoprofessional.com
Andis ProFoil™ Lithium The lithium Titanium Foil Shaver; the ultimate tool for fade finishing and removing stubble that leaves skin smooth and clean-cut every time! Individual gold titanium hypoallergenic foils house two rows of cutting blades, engineered to maintain their shape and performance to the optimum standard. www.andis.com
Cloud Nine Micro Iron At just six inches in length, the Micro Iron is the perfect size for styling fringes or shorter hair while on the move, abroad or at home. Featuring our famous floating mineral-coated ceramic plates and international voltage, this tiny treasure styles hair with the utmost care and delivers lust-worthy results. £54.99 - www.cloudninehair.com
Wahl Academy Hair Dryer Endorsed by Wahl’s European Artistic Director Simon Shaw and Part of the Wahl Academy range, great power for a great price is no longer academic Packing a whopping 2,500-watts of power from its Italian-made motor, the Wahl Academy Chrome has highclass, professional performance from the moment you turn it on. Despite its power though, it makes remarkably little noise and weighs in at an armfriendly 624 grams. There are 3 heat settings, 2 speed settings and an instant-action cold shot button that give you great control and make the Academy Chrome wonderfully versatile. £51 - www.barberblades.co.uk
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Barber Pro MINI Hot Towel Steamer Kit BeautyPro launches second brand to target the fast growing barbers market. BeautyPro’s innovative hot towel steamer is now available to Barbers in the form of BARBER PRO. A sleek, black unit with black towels that get steaming hot in 15 minutes. This must have accessory is ideal for the new trend in wet shaves being offered by Barbers. £59.00 - www.barberpro.com
ProductNV.
Combs & Brushes Wahl Kent Comb Limited Edition Wahl (UK) Ltd, in collaboration with Kent Brushes have created an exclusive, hand-made barber comb. These combs are limited edition, only 1000 have been made. The combs are completely handmade using sheet acetate. The comb shape is cut by hand on a jig and then every tooth is hand cut and polished, this means there is no mould line which can scratch and damage the hair follicles. This exceptional attention to detail cannot be replicated by a moulded plastic comb. £10 - www.wahlstore.co.uk
The Jack Dean Pompadour Comb The Jack Dean Pompadour Comb shapes as it combs and is great for creating the perfect lines in the hair to achieve the classic pompadour style in male grooming. This high quality comb has 8 widelyspaced teeth to create this look as well as distributing wet products through the hair.’
Apothecary 87 Man Club Barber Comb It is every mans dream to be in #TheManClub – now you can flaunt it with the Apothecary 87 Barbers Comb. Made purposely for all #TheManClub members. £12 - www.apothecary87.co.uk
24 piece box £32.00 www.barberblades.co.uk
Kent Headhog Brush Kent Headhog Brush has a cushion base and nylon ball tip quills for ultimate comfort. This brush improves circulation by stimulating the scalp and encourages the production of essential oils, keeping hair healthy and nourished. Ideal for brushing and styling hair. £7.50 - /www.kentbrushes.com
Jack Dean Gentleman’s Military Brush From the moment your hand closes around the chunky handle of the Jack Dean Gentleman’s Military Brush, you can feel the quality that generations of men who care about their hair have sworn by. The classic design fits the hand beautifully and the soft grooves on either side give you fingertip control. £4.70 - www.coolblades.co.uk
Evo Chad Neck Brush The Chad Neck Brush from Evo allows the gentle removal of loose hair. Made from sustainable hardwood with an ergonomic handle for easy use. Features ultra long nylon bristles to protect the face and neck. £23.10 - www.astonandfincher.co.uk
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ProductNV.
Scissors & Thinners Excellent Edges ‘Fish Kit’ scissors One of the most popular of the Excellent Edges ‘Fish Kit’ scissors, the Barracuda is the ideal hybrid thinner and texturiser, Featuring 30 specially designed radial teeth which give the cut a softness with no lines, and long lead in prongs which position the hair precisely guaranteeing maximum control. The finger rest on each handle enables a wide variety of techniques and finishes.
High Quality
NEOCAPE Hair Products
POA - www.spencerscissors.co.uk
Glamtech Ultra Ceramic You need to feel it to believe it. For the first time you can experience the ultra sharp and controlled feel of cutting with ceramic and the tough reassurance of steel at the same time. Cannot be shattered or chipped like regular ceramic blades. The new Ultra is a high grade Hitachi steel scissor coated with a super fine layer of polished transparent ceramic. The ceramic leading edge of the blade slices into each hair with acute precision leaving the polished steel to power through the cut. Nothing feels better.
COMPETITIONNV #1
BARBERNV GIVEAWAY!
£240 - www.glamtech.co.uk
Matakki Antique Bronze Dragon Razor The Matakki Antique Bronze Dragon Razor is perfect for hairdressing and barbering to add a different dimension to your cut. All Matakki razors feature superb sharpness and cutting durability thanks to the Japanese surgical steel blade installed. Unique in design and ergonomic means the Dragon fits perfectly in your hand. Be different, be creative and be unique with the new Matakki Dragon Razor. Available in 2 colours: Antique Bronze and Rose Gold. £50 - www.matakki.com
Exclusively for readers of BarberNV, Spencer Scissors and Neocapes have teamed up to offer a winner chosen at random the amazing prize of a scissor and cutting cape! The scissor up for grabs is the most popular scissor Excellent Edges produce, the Edges Kingfisher (BK) in either left or right handed model, and in the following sizes 5”, 5.5”, 6”, 6.5” – in the winner’s choice! The BK has a lot of fans and rightly so – it is a fabulous all-rounder, allowing stylists to employ a variety of techniques thanks to its clamshell edge.
COMPETITIONNV #2
AKITO SCISSORS GIVEAWAY! WIN A PAIR OF BLACK AKITO XT-5B SCISSORS WORTH £160. Shape the future with the XT-5B, in black titanium finish, a powerhouse of the thinning/texturizing scissor with offset design for maximum hand comfort. To enter, simply follow BarberNVMagazine on Instagram and regram our Akito Scissors Competition Post. Competition closes at 6pm on Sunday 31st January 2016. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Instagram Monday February 1st 2016.
Made of Japanese steel, this drop-forged scissor, with proper care and maintenance, will last many years. RRP £195 The Uni-Gown is the “All-in-One” hairdressing gown. No cutting collar needed! The special neoprene seal prevents hair or water going down the neck also protecting customer’s clothes from stains and eliminating the need for towels or tissue around the neck area. Made of a supple fabric, the Uni-Gown is extremely comfortable to wear and replaces a standard hairdressing gown. RRP £18.95 What you need to do: follow @BarberNV_Mag and Tweet us a picture with your copy of BarberNV and the hashtag #CompetitionNV
From more info on the Akito XT-5B visit www.akitoscissors.com
22 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced inside issue 4. Although there can be only one winner, all entrants of the prize draw will be entitled to buy this fantastic scissor for a BarberNV special price of £175 until the end of Januray 2016.
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BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 23
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Furniture & Equipment Custom Belmont Signature customised Belmont dainty barber chair, recovered in lush walnut vinyl detailed with symmetrical caramel diamond stitching really is a thing of beauty. From £1000 - www.custombelmont.co.uk
Hair & Beauty World - Salon Ambience EXECUTIF Barbers Chair The EXECUTIF barbers chair is Salon Ambience’s best selling barber chair if 2015. It is a traditional style fully reclining chair with removable headrest and fully locking hydraulic base. Even more exciting is that it is now available in ANY of the 47 different colours in the range and the stitching on the seat and backrest can either be the same colour or contrasting colour also from the full range! £1695 www.salonalternatives.co.uk
Albert Ewan Design Pahi Barcelona Eyre The Eyre reclines and has and adjustable headrest for extra comfort. Ideal if you want away from the traditional barber chair look. The Eyre is available in a choice of blacks and all the Pahi fabrics making them that little bit more special, from a leather hide look to crocodile. £799 www.albertewandesign.com
Clippercide® Clippercide® is the original unsurpassed 5-way protection for hair clipper blades. Disinfects and lubricates hair clipper blades while it cleans, cools and prevents rust. EPA-registered bactericide, fungicide, virucide. Kills HIV-1 (AIDS virus) and TB. £8.99 www.salon-services.com
Takara Belmont Legacy 95
REM Kaiser Barber Chair A Classic design from REM emphasised by the New 2016 padded upholstery. Kaiser is available in Black upholstery with Dark grey piping and Silver Grey stitching on a robust Hydraulic Base, reclining action and adjustable Headrest. £825 - www.rem.co.uk
24 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
FROM £2995.00
A barbering classic by Takara Belmont has been refined to mark 95 years of global furniture innovation and provide the most advanced range of equipment options for modern barbers. Superseding the Legacy 90, which marked Takara Belmont’s 90th anniversary in 2011, the new Legacy 95 features an upgraded footplate including a stylish new ‘grille’ and refined foot-rest to make the chair customisable with or without a heel-rest. Its luxuriously padded reclining back-rest, headrest and cushioned seat ensure optimum comfort for your clients. www.takarahairdressing.co.uk
ProductNV. Inspiring UK & Ireland Barbering Success
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INSPIRING UK & IRELAND BARBERING SUCCESS
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16:23 BARBERNV03/12/2015 MAGAZINE | 25
Barbering Specialists Serving barbers for over 20yrs
SEC was established in 1993, originally located in a small shop unit in Leicester selling used furniture. They would pick up barber chairs, strip them down, fix them and sell them on- which is a far cry from where they are today! BarberNV’s Andrew Brewster was lucky enough to meet with John Wright – the Director at SEC. Here’s what he had to say about his time in the industry…
Hi John, what do you think has made your business so successful?
dedicated to the barbering industry.
Our success has come from two things: one, our people and the service they provide. Second is the furniture. These things combined have made us who we are today.
is branded BEC; you might have even
After visiting your showroom, which I have to admit, is pretty impressive… I couldn’t help but notice you offer a wide variety of furniture – not just used! Can you tell us how you made the transition to selling new furniture, including your own designs?
customers.
It was actually in 1997 that we were approached by two major UK manufacturers and asked if we would consider selling their barber range and at the point we introduced new furniture and never looked back. 20 years later we are specialists in barber furniture and equipment and are now designing our own range.
the country to see them and the feedback we’ve
So when did you move to these larger premises?
We have purchased another van which spotted it out on the road! And we have redesigned the showroom to accommodate the barber rooms; these are all themed to inspire our
Wow, you have been busy! Are customers visiting the showroom to view the new barber rooms? Yes, we have customers travelling from all over had has been phenomenal. People are not only wanting to buy our bespoke furniture they are also wanting to purchase our showroom accessories as well– people want to recreate our look and they are asking about everything from the flooring to the wall paper! Well it sounds like you know what you’re
A few years ago we recognised that we needed to pull it all under one roof. This gave us two massive floors of showroom, a workshop and a distribution centre.
doing and you’re a key player in the industry!
Two floors?!
product range. We’ve recently added the
Yes, two floors! The first floor is cram packed with preloved furniture and the second floor is totally dedicated to new furniture, which includes our well known barber rooms. With the barber industry rocketing, how do you make sure you are always ahead of the game? As there are always new competitors coming onto the scene. We offer the full package, we buy unwanted furniture, and we also offer to trade in furniture as part exchange. I am also pleased to let you in on a trade secret. Such is our success within the industry, we are about to launch a brand new division, which we have aptly named Barber Equipment Centre or BEC for short. BEC – we like it! Tell us more… BEC will trade alongside our well known SEC logo, so SEC (Salon Equipment Centre) is dedicated to the salons and BEC will be
26 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
With all that going on, what’s next for BEC? Thanks, that’s what we aim to achieve. We will continue focusing on expanding our BEC Bronx Barber Units and the Chester sofa to the collection which have been a big hit with the barbers but it doesn’t stop there, very soon we will be launching even more of our own designs and we will be exhibiting at Barber Connect show in June! Not forgetting, we are in next month’s edition unveiling the barber rooms, so readers make sure you keep your eyes peeled! So there is still much more to expect from SEC! Thanks for your time John, it is great to meet you and see how far your business has grown over the years and good luck with BEC!
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Christmas gift Guide
Christmas is not only the busiest time in the barber shop; it also provides the perfect opportunity to up-sell extras to your clients who are looking for the perfect presents for friends and family, or a little treat to ensure they themselves look on form throughout the festive season. So here at BarberNV, we’ve been taking a look through Santa’s sack to pick out the hottest male grooming gifts around, sure to put a smile on your clients’ faces. 1
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1 The Bluebeards Revenge ‘Classic’ Kit (Gift Boxed) £29.99
5 Percy Noblemans -
A luxury collection of contemporary shaving products for the modern man. Featuring a shaving cream, post shave balm, the ‘doubloon’ bristle shaving brush, and a deodorant. Look and smell good this Christmas!
Hand crafted from the finest African Rosewood, this unique one of a kind Grooming box is an ideal present, fit for a King! Perfect for storing Percy’s best selling range of products, leaving a little room for extras.
2 Dapper Dan Cuban Cigar Box contact Dapper Dan for pricing info.
Contents: 1 x Percy Nobleman Beard
Authentic Dapper Dan Cuban cigar box, holding the full Dapper Dan styling range. Great for Christmas gifting or instore displays.
3 Christmas Beard Oil Advent Calendar £29.99 Even Santa could do with this in his life: The Bearded Man Co Christmas Beard Oil Advent Calendar comes crammed with enough beard oils to see him right through to well after Christmas! Behind each door is a scented beard oil, including Black Coffee and Spanish Orange. Look good, smell good and ensure your facial fuzz is mistletoe ready.
4 Aveda: men pure-formance™ grooming clay set £59.00 Clinically proven to leave scalp feeling calmer, healthier, less irritated and less itchy. Pure-formance shampoo and conditioner soothe and relieve the scalp while cleansing, conditioning, moisturizing and adding shine to hair. The light-weight clay in this set gives a strong hold without adding shine. 28 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
Ultimate Grooming Box £155
Conditioning Oil RRP: £19.99 (scented), 1 x Percy Nobleman Beard Wash RRP: £16.99, 1 x Percy Nobleman Moustache Wax RRP: £10, 1 x Percy Nobleman Beard Balm RRP: £16.99, 1 x Percy Nobleman (Gentleman’s Styling Wax) Hair & Beard Wax RRP: £11.99, 1 x Percy Nobleman Beard Comb RRP: £11.99 and 1 x Percy Nobleman Beard & Moustache Scissors RRP: £10.99
6 Acqua di Parma Barbiere Collection: Revitalizing Face Serum £50 Ensuring skin is ready for any mistletoe antics; this is a serum with an elegant and ultra-light texture, which is quickly absorbed and leaves the skin incredibly smooth and compact. Conceived for the specific needs of the male epidermis, it is enhanced with groundbreaking properties that act in synergy to provide an even more effective anti-oxidizing and antiaging action. Ellagi-C, a special vegetal extract, stimulates the absorption of vitamin C, aided by the innovative complex Nikkol VC-IP.
7 Murdock London Rejuvenation Set £75 This luxury gift box is a complete set to revitalise and refresh a gentleman. Containing Exfoliating Facial Scrub, Cleansing Facial Wash, Daily Facial Moisturiser and Anti-Ageing Eye Serum it has everything a man needs to restore his skin in preparation of life’s adventures.
8 Uppercut Deluxe - Christmas Gift Set Wash Bag £50.00 Combining an epic motorbike-inspired bag with a selection of shave and wash products, the Uppercut Deluxe Filled Wash Bag is an ideal gift for someone important. Filled with shave cream, moisturiser, our signature bamboo toothbrush and goats milks soap, you can’t go wrong with this gift, so go ahead and reward yourself.
9 Captain Fawcett Eau De Perfum, Moustache Wax & Beard Oil Gift Set £100 The Captain’s Parfum, Wax & Beard Oil Gift Set is a stunning presentation of 3 of the Captain’s extremely popular first class grooming requisites. Ideal for the Gentleman of all seasons, de rigueur for the modern day Dandy who is intent on ‘keeping a stiff upper lip, regardless!’ Contents: Beard Oil (CF.332) private stock 50ml / 1.7 fl.oz, Eau De Parfum (CF.8836) original 50ml / 1.7 fl.oz, Moustache Wax Cornucopia x3 15ml / 0.5 fl oz Lavender, Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang Scents.
Christmas Party Season
Hair Looks for Men
Just because ‘tis the season to wear bad novelty reindeer jumpers does not mean that you can get away with bad novelty hair, quite the opposite in-fact. With party season well under way, your social calendars are probably bustling throughout December.
W
hether it’s the annual office Christmas party, a night out with friends, family gatherings or the New Years Eve party you’ve been planning, it’s not just our outfits that need to look on point, but our hairstyles too. Men’s Hairdresser of the Year Jamie Stevens is here to tell you the best options to go with so your hair is looking great from the start of those under the mistletoe moments and still to long after you’ve finished singing Auld Lang Syne. Most of the people who will be at these annual festive celebrations may have never seen you in a social environment before and it is more than likely everyone will be going the extra mile for such big events; therefore it’s the perfect time to get adventurous and try something different. So with this in mind, what hairstyle should you opt for? Or which styles should you be suggesting to your clients? For the kind of Christmas party that requires a formal black tie, aim to style the hair in a more dapper way to compliment your suit or tuxedo. A trio of fail proof timeless hairstyles for a formal occasions are: the side parting, a side-swept quiff and, for those with long length on top, slicked back hair. Suffice to say the Mad Men inspired tight barbering finish is still here. Apply a high-shine product like a Pomade to add a polished and refined look or perhaps try moving away from the severe side parting and going for a softer messier look that remains both contemporary and classic.
If the Christmas party is less formal you can go for a more relaxed look. Long hair is definitely staying and men are continuing to grow their hair and play about with longer length. A shoulder length hairstyle is a great choice for a more relaxed yet smart and stylish look during the Christmas season. The shaggy hairstyles, the messy hairstyles and the wavy hairstyles can look really cool and yet simultaneously maintain a gentlemanly appearance. For ultimate versatility, opt for a classic cut that can be worn in different ways, just wear a hairstyle that will suit your face shape. Men opting for fringed looks are really embracing texture and going for messier choppier finishes. This hairstyle gives you a more informal, casual and natural appearance. Curtain Time. The 90’s are back with a bang and as a result an option for mid length hair is a mini revival of the 90’s favorite the curtains. It can be tough to pull off but can look awesome. You need the haircut really short on the sides then long on top with the center parting. Now, go forth and celebrate! You may be wearing your hair in a different style than you usually do and although it’s important to feel comfortable, don’t be afraid to make an effort for events at this time of year and most importantly, have a fun night, and stay away from the photo copier. Merry Christmas! BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 29
Predicting upcoming trends is big business. Drawing upon compiled observations and intuition, forecasters across all industries attempt to hone in on our adjustable attitudes towards what’s in and what’s not.
A
ccording to renowned trend forecaster, Lidewij Edelkoort, ‘trend forecasting is much like archaeology but to the future’. All trends have their roots in what has come before, but few have the ability to spot the common threads that shape the future. For all their complexities, trends are controlled by nothing more than human nature. Trend curves are underpinned by the desire of individuals to either fit in or stand apart from the crowd. At the head of the curve we find the ‘innovators’. The onus is on these forwardthinking individuals to lead future trends. The perhaps harshly dubbed ‘laggards’ gravitate towards already popularised styles in their masses, propping up the curve. Hair trends differ slightly from others inasmuch as a barber’s perception of what is old, current or new directly impacts on the client’s view of hair trends. The responsibility, therefore, lies with barbers to stay ahead of the curve. When attempting to identify upcoming hair
trends, we must consider the natural synergy between the fashion industry and our own. Fashionistas are taking design prompts from the 70s – only ten years early if we are to believe Laver’s Law: a trend does not become appealing again until 50 years after its time. By the 1970s, the once counterculture hippie style had been adopted into mainstream American culture. Hair was worn longer and emphasis was placed on the natural waves and movement of the hair – think Lennon and Jagger, although admittedly both British. Over the coming season, we will begin to see the fashion vanguard opt for modern adaptations of ‘hippie’ classics – bad news for the self-proclaimed ‘hippie-slaying’ barbershops. Expect more rounded structures, shorter in the front and longer in the back. Expect fringes. Mid-length styles will fall onto the face, creating that gentle centre part through the fringe. Recent trends have dictated pinpoint precise finishes: each hair is perfectly manoeuvred and combed into place. Upcoming trends will
Over the coming season, we will begin to see the fashion vanguard opt for modern adaptations of ‘hippie’ classics – bad news for the self-proclaimed ‘hippie-slaying’ barbershops. 30 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
Andis Launches its London Looks Collection
instead favour more textured looks, finished with the hands using more natural products. We are already witnessing a shift to more subtle, matte finishes from the high shine looks that have recently dominated. As previously discussed, there is always latency with trends. The latest styles take time to trickle from the runways to the high street via the trendsetters. Filling the void during this period of transition will be the popular cuts of the here and now. The 50s and 60s inspired looks that have facilitated the pomade boom will remain for the time being. And of course, to the relief of Instagram, it’s not time to relinquish your fade game just yet. It’s been suggested that we are about to witness the death of the divisive ‘man-bun’, partly due to celebrity endorsers Leto and DiCaprio recently opting out, but I wouldn’t be so sure. Gents are unlikely to relinquish their newly cultivated locks after months of determined growth, and I wouldn’t suggest doing so. They will be in prime position to sport the upcoming, longer 70’s inspired looks. And now for the question on the tip of everybody’s chin: Will the ‘beard boom’ ever end? Hirsute gents have scoffed at the term ‘peak beard’ since it was first uttered, but is the end nigh for the bearded brethren? The beard has already engrained itself as the defining facial hair of this generation, but is now the time to reach for the straight razor? If we are to observe the principles of trends, then yes, it is. For the past couple of years, every gent capable of nurturing a full face of hair has seemingly done so. What was once seen as cool and unique has undeniably passed into the mainstream, making it a prime target for an imminent backlash. Predicting trends is a perilous task; what I’m trying to say is it would be unfair to attach any blame if I’m incorrect. I think the styles that have dominated the last couple of years will always be remembered somewhat fondly. After all, they have coincided with a great time for the industry, and perhaps in some ways even contributed it. Something about these styles has captivated the male population: For the first time, Google searches for men’s hairstyles outnumbered women’s. I, for one, am excited to see if that attention is retained as we gradually transition away from those much loved styles. But don’t worry, if all else fails, we can welcome their return in 50 years time.
It’s London 2015 and Andis embark on a mission to define the London Look with a host of trailblazing barbers, models, crew and, of course, Andis tools. Andis’s International Manager of Education and Style, Aileen Nunez, travelled from the company’s Wisconsin HQ to lead the New World Barbers team and create the latest on-trend styles including the Textured Caesar and Sidepart Pompadour. Cameras were rolling from their arrival at the Gents of London Barber Academy to capture every style, every groom and every cut before moving location for the photo shoot. Andis Educators Darren Kenny and Kieron Price from Baldy’s Barbershop,
Ruger Barber’s Alan Beak and Danielle Corbett along with Jon Bourne from Barbertown and Gregory Max Barbers Greg McErlane joined forces for a day of grooming inspiration. Using their favourite Andis tools - including the UsPRO and Fade clippers, and the T-Outliner, Slimline Pro Li and Ionica trimmers - the team, collectively known as ‘New World Barbers’, got to work and produced stunning results. Following a highly enjoyable and creative day, Andis is delighted to officially launch its London Looks collection along with videos that capture the passion, creativity and barbering expertise of the team, and the precision of Andis tools.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 31
BarberNV.
An interview with Laura Boyd
Jamie BarberNV.
Jamie Dunning 32 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
BarberNV.
BARBERNV BARBER OF THE MONTH Jamie Dunning was crowned WAHL Barber of the Year and his work at Savills is taking the barbering world by storm. Who better to feature as this month’s Barber of the Month?
J
amie’s journey into barbering wasn’t exactly straightforward. In fact, he says it’s one to be discussed over a stiff drink (we’ll take you up on that, Jamie). In short, he started sweeping hair in a barber shop at the age of 13. After going to university to study Business and Management, he found himself in the barber shop to support his student lifestyle, but after his studies he realised the barber shop was where he belonged. He told Barber NV: “I owe everything I’ve achieved today to the man and his daughter who gave me that apprenticeship all those years ago, a Barnsley Barbers, called David Fletchers. They gave me the starting point I needed and my basic way of cutting that is still at the heart of a lot of work I do today and I have the up most respect and thanks to Dave and Jane for what they did for me.” Jamie is one of the most in-demand barbers in the UK and his work at Savills has seen him also diversify into education. “I work for Savills barbers based in Sheffield UK. I have been with Savills 5 years now and recently, along with Savills owner Joth Davies, have started delivering both shaving and cutting courses at our Savills Academy, which sees people come from as
Dunning far as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States to name only a few. We are known for our classic style haircuts while incorporating modern cutting techniques.” Jamie has achieved some incredible accolades but being crowned WAHL Barber of the Year this year was something truly special. “The best simile that I can compare the feeling to would be, you know the scene in the film when Charlie gets to the end of the chocolate factory and ends up winning the whole factory? Like that. Except I spent the last few years working my butt off for it. “WAHL being number one in this industry, I think in my own and many other barber’s eyes that this competition is seen as one of the most prestigious in the UK. To be amongst the level of talent that was on the stage that day was an achievement to me in
itself, and to come away with the win was by far the highlight of my career so far.” While he admires many of his fellow barbers, Jamie actually looks to hairdressers for inspiration. He explained: “I take a lot of my inspiration from hairdressers, as opposed to barbers. I see a lot of barbering work in my workplace and I seem to find new ideas and look from things I don’t see everyday, such as women’s haircuts. A lot of women’s techniques can be brought over into barbering and this is where I find I get my most creative cuts. “One of my favourite current men’s hairdressers is a guy called Jody Taylor. I saw this guy cut at one of his “art of barbering” courses. Jody puts his own taste and flair into his haircuts and you can really notice when he has put his trademark on a haircut. I have never seen a hairdresser work with such
precision either and his demos have had a huge influence on the way I cut hair.” With that in mind, what are Jamie’s favourite styles to create? “My favourite styles are ones with a lot of movement and texture. I have developed a texturizing technique that I have called “The Broken Leaf”, which is a three-length layering technique I plan to demo this year at Pro Hair Live, Barber Connect and Barber UK. I try to keep my haircuts as free flowing as possible so the cut emphasizes natural movement.” The tools he used to perfect his looks are, unsurprisingly, WAHL! “I have three sets of clippers and one trimmer and I do 90 percent of my cuts with just these, no scissors. I have the old faithful super tapers for fading, the new lithium pro 2 for clipper over comb and cutting the top, the chrome styles with the all in 1 blade for thinning and texturizing and the T cuts for edging and detailing.” He may love to cut but Jamie feels it’s going to be a year for long hair in 2016. “We are seeing a lot of guys growing their hair out and going for longer looser styles. This is why I think it’s the perfect time for barbers who are only doing short cuts to develop their skill sets and experience with longer hairstyles.” Jamie is relishing every opportunity that comes his way in an industry he loves, but he does have a goal for the future. What is it? “If I get there I am sure it will be in another BarberNV interview in the future! That’s all I will say for now.” We look forward to that interview, Jamie. BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 33
BarbershopNV.
BarbershopNV.
The Blind Barber Quality Cut An interview with Ken Hermes
Photographs Jarek Duk Photography www.jarekduk.com
BarberNV’s Ken Hermes caught up with Darren from The Blind Barber, seeking to understand how Darren’s shop, which has only been open a few months, has gained such exposure and such a brilliant reputation, in such a short time.
D
arren explained, “The Blind Barber Quality Cut opened in July this year. I’ve been building up to this project for a couple of years, being in the industry for 20 years. Although the shop is new, the men’s work I had been doing was in a unisex shop. My business went from 50/50 men and women, to 80% men, to eventually making the transition across to running a barber shop.” So where did the name come from? What is a blind barber? Surely it’s not literal… “I can see,” laughed Darren. “I’m really into Americana from the 20’s and 40’s, which has really inspired my shop. A blind barber, was a barber that had a speakeasy at the back of the shop. If you went to a new town, you’d find out who the nearest blind barber was, where you could go and have a drink and play cards. The name meant that he didn’t see you come in, or come out. You dropped him a little tip and that was it. It was great for us, as we have a back room and a tattooist. We don’t advertise the tattooist though, it’s our secret, only the guys that come in the shop know about her. When we first opened we were giving beers and alcohol away, which caused a lot of controversy, which put us in the press. We were in a few of the national papers and television programs because a rival barber shop reported us to the local council. The council deemed it to be illegal, but it did us a huge favour in gaining footfall as the punters liked the fact we were being a bit naughty. We can’t serve beer anymore, but customers bring their own. We have a card table and from 6pm we have a late night, three nights a week. It’s a proper social atmosphere. We have a record player and a piano, and it really gives it the feel of a social club, rather than a barber shop. It’s like working in a pub for 9 hours a day without getting a hangover in the morning!”. I asked Darren if the shop was as popular before all of the press…
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“We hit the ground running as I already had a great client base, with a strong back bone of the business. I took on Craig, who is our head barber and second in command. He had been barbering locally for the last five years, so he brought along his customers too. Because of the way the shop looks and because of our attitude, people know they will get great service and be treated with respect. There’s everything that they want here, the environment is perfect. We don’t have any girls working in the shop. We do let girls in but we don’t cut girl’s hair. Our slogan on the door is ‘Gentlemen and Rogues’. It sums us up, as we have a lot of bankers and insurance workers, mixed with builders and tradesmen. We get a real eclectic mix of guys in the shop.” If you have been on the Instagram or Facebook pages of the shop, you will see lots of posts about Dorset Tea. I wanted to understand what the relation is. “When we hit the news about the beer, they contacted us to ask if they could send us some Tea to give away. We are in Dorset too, and their head office is only 2 or 3 miles from us. We help push their brand, and the guys love it. We do herbal (girl’s) tea too,” Darren explained. “We didn’t realise how strong we were on social media. The MD of Uppercut Deluxe made an effort to visit our shop on his trip to the UK from Australia. That was amazing! We think that is because of the atmosphere of our shop, which is made up of the two B’s… Barbering and Bullshit!” Darren explained that everything is unisex nowadays, and equal, but he really wanted to run a traditional barber shop for men. He explained that this was challenging but he had to stick to his guns, similar to Johnny BaBa. If you have seen Darren, you won’t forget him. He has a striking two tone beard, which he has toyed with trimming, but his wife had advised him that he is part of the brand, and it would be like Ronald Mcdonald becoming a vegetarian!
BarbershopNV.
I asked Darren if he was associated with any particular brands. “We aren’t associated with any brands in particular. We only buy in Uppercut and Layrite for our styling ranges, we use Mariner Jack and Bear Face for our beard care, but in terms of our clippers, we use Andis liners, and Wahl Supertapers and Magic Clips. In 2016, I want to mix the barbering industry with the hairdressing industry, as it is in my heritage. My plan is to get us into some hairdressing salons and show people how difficult it can be to be a barber, and to teach them the craft of using clippers and scissor over comb, compared to the artistic side of hairdressing.” Darren told me. “I would love to work with a particular brand to do this, and endorse their brands to the hairdressers during the training.” It’s clear that Darren lacks no motivation or direction when it comes to his business plan. But he is not alone in his venture. “We had a big visit from The Wessex Beardsmen and The Beard and Moustache Club, which made for an awesome photo on our Facebook. In terms of our barbers, we have just employed a new lad called Charlie (Prospect). He is in a transition from hairdresser to barber, gradually involving clipper work. He cuts a lot of the surfers’ hair. Another guy is starting this week, called Cockney Lee. He just works weekends as he is moving from London. He helps ease the pressure of queues. I mean, it’s not a bad thing having a queue - it shows new clients that we are busy for a reason - but more barbers means shorter queues. Then there is Craig and myself,” Darren explained to me. “We like to ensure all our gents get a straight razor treatment, advice on products and time to talk. We charge £15.00 for a haircut, which takes half an hour. I mean, you can go to a shop down the road and pay £9.00 for a 10 minute haircut, but if you value a haircut at a pound per minute rate, we are better value. I mean, there’s a market for a cheaper haircut, but that isn’t the service we offer.” Darren told me that a lot of his clients are sent in by their girlfriends and wives, which is something that he would have never expected. I asked Darren to explain to me the difference between his shop and the others. “We are called The Blind Barber, Quality Cut. It’s all about the quality haircut that you leave the shop with, it suits you and is best for you!” So, if you want a place where you can play piano, drink beer and rum, play poker, drink tea, have a shave and a haircut, get yourselves down to Dorset. Darren has sold it to us here at NV!
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 35
BusinessNV.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Gilbert
BusinessNV.
In interview with Larry “The Barberman” Campbell
This time, it’s double trouble Johnny Baba and Dale Ted Watkins sat down with me, as gentlemen and scoundrels, to discuss their journey, views and wisdom. We’re sitting in the glamourous downstairs lounge of Johnny’s new shop, ‘Barber Barber’; bulbs shining softly over the bar. The attention to detail is eminent, here in the trendy London location of Spitalfields market.
Which Are They?
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J
ohnny got his start at a very young age, going to barbershops as a child and falling in love with the atmosphere. “It was a totally different time back then,” he explains. “Barbering wasn’t cool then. It wasn’t attractive. Even as a child though, you would get treated like a man, because there was no such thing as being catered to as a kid then. So, I fell in love with the idea of being in a barbershop and the love for cutting hair just sort of followed after that. I opened my first shop at 23 in Limerick, Ireland and that’s where it all began.” The doors of Barber Barber have only been open for two years and Johnny’s drive to create excellence is apparent; it’s in his body language and his demeanour. You can tell he is on a mission to create something special. Dale started his hairdressing career as a young apprentice working in unisex salons, but at the age of 28 he decided to start all over again because he wanted to become an expert in men’s hair. He felt barbering was an untapped market - a brave new world to explore and conquer and it seemed obvious to him that the world of ladies hair was sewn up - too much talent, too much competition - but barbering? Now that was a different story. That was where he was going to make his mark. “I wanted to learn from the best, to push and test myself. I wanted to understand hair like a Saville Row tailor understands cloth, or a Michelin Star chef knows ingredients and flavour. I wanted to become a master in the art of barbering. So I started my barbering journey and was fortunate to be employed and retrained as a Barber at Vidal Sassoon. It was a tough and brutal two and a half years, but an experience I wouldn’t change for the World”. Recently, Johnny and Dale came together to form an interesting and powerful alliance. Dale describes it as finding an almost kindred spirit. They’re similar in many ways, both sharing a desire to constantly improve and pursue excellence and their love for the craft is palpable. Johnny, in more of a scoundrel manner, has a more competitive manner: “I’ve never really met anyone that genuinely impressed me like Dale has. Nobody has made me question how good I was, like him and now I have this initiative to push my skills to an entire new level, so I’d prefer to keep him close to learn all that I can”. Dale laughs at this. “Honesty is a rare thing and it takes some serious bollocks to ask for my help. I respect Johnny for that. I joined the gang because I believed we could make magic – Johnny has so many strengths that I don’t and vice versa. I don’t like titles and that freedom and honesty is so important. We’ve been doing so many incredible things lately; we enable each other and together, we are a formidable team. The two both have a glamourous sense of style, taking their influences from sub-cultures of the 60s, ‘70s and ‘80s and wearing a mix of those styles at work. “I just hate wearing black”, Dale admits. “I much prefer a mix of bright colours from various eras”. Johnny, however, really loves the 70’s: “It was such a cool era,” he says. Their shop style is a loving tribute to that ‘Vegas glamour’, as Johnny puts it, and both agree that a big part of their service is part of the “show” - the presentation and making a customer feel like they are centre stage. “You really don’t know what’s going on inside their heads and that is why every man that comes in here is treated as a VIP.”
38 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
“Anybody can cut hair off, it’s what left on, that counts”
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Service is the magic word for both Dale and Johnny. “A lot of people mistake service for servitude,” Dale comments, “but great service doesn’t mean you are a servant. Great service, excellence and attention to detail, is our benchmark, this is what our clients talk about even if they don’t fully notice the little things we do”. Despite the scoundrel label, Johnny insists on extremely respectful treatment to every client. “When he comes in, if you do not know his name, then his name is sir.” The casual names some barbers call their clients like ‘bud’ or ‘mate’, are a Big NO NO for both Johnny and Dale. “You take his jacket, ask how he is and offer him a drink,” Johnny continues. “Shake his hand, guide him to his seat and then discuss the haircut while asking him about his preferences; you have to let him know that you’re in control, though. With social media being so big now, there are a lot of haircuts out there that we don’t do and when someone walks in here wanting one of those, I tell him I won’t do it. Just because someone asks for something, doesn’t necessarily make it right and you have to let those guys walk out to protect your brand; they just aren’t your customers. I’ve had insults over doing this, but it’s my shop and my rules.” Customers have played a large part in developing Johnny’s brand, ironically, both in labelling him a ‘luxurious shave specialist’ and in helping the ‘for scoundrels and gentlemen’ idea grow. “The scoundrel’s idea just popped into my head one night and the customers are what made it stick. A lot of barbershops label themselves ‘for men’, but I wanted to do something a little different. I believe that in every man there is a both a little scoundrel and gentleman, thus it could apply to all of mankind.” Both he and Dale clearly spend a lot of effort knowing their clients and judging from their customer base, it has paid off. “It’s just as important to know what your client doesn’t like as it is to know what he does like – the difference in our service and system is that we try to improve on their experiences and their previous haircut. “I remember reading once that we make instant subconscious decisions about someone based on how they look when we first meet them. Although we are individuals, we are also tribal and we have friends who have similar interests, whether that is music, a certain scene, a look, or a sub-culture. “As a professional, it’s vital for Johnny and I to understand who our client is and what look is appropriate to his tribe. It’s about understanding the visual rules of that tribe as nothing is as crude as giving him a ‘trendy’ haircut, as this is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; completely inappropriate, unless of course your client is a slave to fashion. For us, the perfect haircut is a celebration of individual style, within the constraints of his tribe, from the simplest look to the avant-garde, one word ‘suitability’. To be successful, we need to tap into their tribe and create beautiful, BESPOKE haircuts that express who they are in their world.” Dale’s philosophy with haircuts is simple. “There’s no such thing as a perfect haircut – perfection is just a nonsense concept, as perfection is unobtainable. There are always imperfections because the surface we work on, i.e. the client’s head and hair isn’t perfect. It’s all about taking your client’s imperfections, hair texture, head shape and growth pattern, then tailoring the cut to suit. “I believe if you try and do perfect on an
imperfect surface your work is imperfect! If you do imperfect on an imperfect surface i.e. use asymmetry by cutting one side slightly different than the other, because your clients hair texture is slightly different, or his head shape or hairline is not symmetrical, you have a greater chance of creating the perfect haircut for your client - simple really. It’s all about Bespoke.” Both Dale and Johnny have strong opinions on the state of the barbering industry, as well as how social media has become such a large part of it. Johnny doesn’t hold back: “The positives are that there are a lot of passionate individuals. The negatives are plentiful though – the standard for barbering education is pretty poor. You can’t go to school for however many months and be a barber, you just can’t and there are a lot of people who walk into a shop with their certificates who end up sweeping the shop floor. Everyone wants to be a barber, but there are very few who want to be a barber who is constantly working, sacrificing time off and looking for a work-life balance; that’s not happening if you really want to be great.” Dale adds that some people don’t understand the huge amount of commitment and dedication needed to have a great career in barbering and therefore some people take an easier path and are not so strict with their work and technique, which is a great shame, as this can be a wonderful career. Ultimately. it’s the male public who don’t get to experience a great haircut So what are your thoughts on social media? “Twitter is fantastic,” Johnny tells me. “It lets you interact with customers. My opinion of Instagram is mixed and my main thoughts are people get too wrapped up in how many followers they do or don’t have. At the end of the day, it’s not followers who pay my bills and put food on my plate, it’s hard work.” For Dale, it’s just a great place to showcase his work and attract new clients who may want use his skills. Moving on, it’s time to address the elephant in the room – Johnny’s policy on women in the shop that got him quite a lot of negative feedback: “It was blown out of proportion. I never banned women from the shop,” he explains. “Women
come in all the time to buy vouchers or products and then they leave. No matter how cool they are, a woman sitting around the shop just changes the vibe and how the men act. Honestly, ninety-nine percent of women are cool with what we do, but it’s that one percent that’s the most vocal. But, how many companies do you know who offer noncustomers complimentary refreshments? And let them know they are welcome to sit outside with a coffee or a glass of champagne? At some of our branches, we have set up accounts with the coffee shops next door. This is for non-customers to sit and have a complimentary beverage while they wait. Not many other companies do that, for sure!” Dale and Johnny leave me with their advice for those out there looking to get into barbering and it is extremely valuable. Johnny repeats his advice from earlier: “If you want to be a great barber, you have to realise that work-life balance is non-existent. If you really want it, you have to be so focused and dedicated to push through all of the tough times. This is a serious job and it cannot be learned in months – you have to stop caring what others think as well. I have a goal, a timeframe and a number in mind. If I do not reach that number in that timeframe, then I have failed.” Dale tells me his analogy: “The difference between a runner and a great runner is that a great runner runs seven days a week and doesn’t think he deserves two days off afterward. It is tough, but you have to keep fighting. Hang with the cool kids as well – you should strive to work with the best and if the best is not nearby, then move. It’s a tough journey, but the journey is worth it.” Oh Yeah. Fantastic advice from two gentlemen, two scoundrels, two people who love what they do and exude the spirit of the barber life tremendously. Johnny’s shops are a thing of beauty –a must see for fans of the classics and the fashionable. You can check out Johnny’s site at: www.barberbarberuk.co.uk to see photos of his shop and to keep up with him and his scoundrels.
For any questions, email me at info@ larrythebarberman.com. I also invite you to follow me on Instagram @larrythebarberman. The Frequency60hz defied what was a set cultural problem in the barbering industry; perhaps the future for barbers is in thinking outside the box.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 39
MAN BEHIND THE BRAND THE BLUEBE A RDS REV ENGE
T h i s mont h ’s ‘m a n b e h i n d t h e b r a n d ’ i s D a v i d H i l d r e w, M D of t h e hu g e l y s u c c e s s f u l T h e Blu e b e a rd s R e v e n g e .
W
ith Bluebeards Revenge products winning awards and topping the list of must-have brands consistently, we wanted to find out more. Over to David, Bluebeard-in-chief, to sum up the brand. “Put simply, we’re a barbershop quality range of shaving, hair styling and beard grooming products. But we think we stand for a little bit more than that. We pride ourselves on our unique packaging and tongue-in-cheek branding.” Let’s rewind to a hazy summer evening in 2008, when, after a few light refreshements, the idea for Bluebeards Revenge was formed. David told us: “I just wanted to create something that would stand out in a very serious and conservative market. I wanted to put back an element of fun into the daily shaving routine. I also saw a gap in the market for a heavy duty shaving range that could meet the demands of the problem shaver, the guy that suffers from ultra-tough stubble and has struggled to find a product to suit his requirements. “We launched in July 2010 but never really expected it to take off like it has. Some things in life are unexpected and this is certainly one of them.” As well as seeing sales grow year-on-year, the company have won a host of top grooming awards and the support of the industry, with David noting: “The support we’ve had from the likes of Mike Taylor at the British Barbers’ Association has been amazing.” So, what makes The Bluebeards Revenge range stand out? “Our mission is to bring some levity and fun into the lives of our customers as they go about their grooming regimes. We do not take ourselves too seriously and point-blank refuse to conform to any industry ”norm” – we are ploughing our own furrow in our own unique fashion creating a brand with a personality our end-users easily recognize and want to belong too. “We are totally determined to keep the brand grounded and totally tuned in to the way real men think and behave. We are also focused on ramming home our cancer awareness message that is contained in every piece of The Bluebeards Revenge packaging.”
Although the Bluebeards shaving cream remains the most popular product in the range, David has seen hair and beard styling products rise in popularity too, with a massive increase in sales of cut-throat shavette razors – a “sign of the times”, David believes. At this time of year, a lot of ladies love the Bluebeards gift sets for the men in their lives. The Bluebeards Revenge have grown to become one of the leading brands in the barber trade sector and are now distributed by the likes of Sally’s Salon Services, Capital Hair, Aston & Fincher and Barber Blades. They work very closely with the British Barbers’ Association and sponsor a number of barbering competitions, including the highly popular Britain’s Best Shave. The company are also very proud to support a number of barbering academies and training schools and really understand the importance of giving back to the industry. David said: “We sell into a number of barbershops and they normally carry our extended range (including a full selection of razors and shaving brushes) as they are seen as specialist. Barbers are also excellent at retailing the products because their knowledge is second to none. They are fantastic brand advocates and we hope to work with the industry a lot more in 2016.” With awards including FHM’s Best Shaving Product 2013 and the FHM Grooming Brand of the Year in 2014, plus Shaving Range of the Year at the Barber Awards, Forever Sports’ Best Shaving Product and the coveted Men’s Health award for Editor’s Choice, it seems The Bluebeards Revenge are truly at the top of their game, but where does David see the brand going in the coming years? “My aim for the next phase is to make us a leading lifestyle brand. I’ve started with the launch of our own brand of beer and would like to continue down this route, so watch this space...”
www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk 40 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
t. 016 70 73 89 79 w.albertewandesign.com
gentleman's grooming
New catalogue now available on-line loads of new products
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News has surfaced that Instagram is beta-testing support for multiple accounts on Android. What this means in practice is that if or, more likely when, it launches users will be able to use their phones to post to more than one Instagram feed.
That’s great news for Instagram fiends who would prefer to keep their personal and business lives separate. But it’s good news for your business, too, because while it’s great to give your clients a glimpse of who you are, it’s actually loads better to maintain some control over just what they are glimpsing. Instagram is the social network of the moment. It overtook Twitter some time during 2015 and now boasts more than 400 million users worldwide. Even before then, data analyst consultancy Forrester reported in 2014 that for brands using it, Instagram delivered 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook and 120 times more engagement than Twitter. In this industry, being on Instagram is a must, and not just because of the numbers or its potential for advertising. Barbering and hairdressing are incredibly visual. Remember ‘I’m a visual artist’ trending earlier this year? Instagram allows you to get images of your work out there on a daily basis, accompanied by a string of appropriate hashtags that mean it will be easy to pick up. If you want to check out someone who has it totally sussed, take a look at Paul Stafford’s feed – @wearestaffordhair Even before it paid $1 billion for Instagram in 2012, Facebook had clearly seen the value of video and visual posts and their power to push engagement. It seems obvious now that being able to see a picture instantly rather than having to follow a link on Twitter would find favour with users. And Instagram’s popularity is driven further by the simplicity with which you can link it to other feeds such as Tumblr and Facebook, allowing you to drive your online reputation with fewer posts. As things stand, Facebook is still the undisputed daddy of all social networking, but it’s far from the only show in town and barbers and stylists should be mixing up the way they post so they can manage two feeds in one, at least, some of the time.
Su Clark was previously a beauty journalist and editor and is now creative director at hair and beauty PR specialist Cocoroco Communications. www.cococoms.com 42 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
TIS’ THE SEASON TO BE BUSY
Liz McKeon
INSTANT BRANDING WITH INSTAGRAM
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hristmas is the peak services and retail period of the year and preparation must start now. There’s lots of work to do if you want to get the best sales results for your barbers at Christmas. Implement a strategy to increase your gift voucher sales, give your barbers a Christmas theme, train all your staff to up-sell services, vouchers and retail gifts. After Christmas is a great time for specials, and clients on holiday like to shop around for bargains, so don’t think everything stops on December 25th. The smart barber shop owners will be ready with Boxing Day and New Year specials campaigns. Prepare for Christmas barber shop sales success All sales professionals have to prepare properly, you have to be mentally and physically prepared, be well groomed, have the salon surroundings aesthetically prepared and have your targets. When training your barber team, use the following steps: • Know your stock inside out, such as stock in hand, available delivery times and advertising schedules and promotions. • Create an atmosphere that your barbers are having the biggest event ever! Look busy and successful. Make sure you display and awards, mementos
of achievement and testimonials that allow clients to see the true professionals they are dealing with. • Remain upbeat and in a positive state of mind – the confident aura with which you carry yourself will go a long way towards creating the right atmosphere. • Know your competition and all their strengths and weaknesses. Know your brands and all the corresponding product information. When you know more than anyone else, there is really no need for a client to book in anywhere else. • Have confidence in your product line and the barbers you work in – this will allow you to make higher sales. • Get to know your clients and how to relate to them. • Be prepared with price lists, costs and product information. Looking and behaving organised makes a difference to the client. • Always use confident and friendly body language. How you look, stand and act are ‘windows to the soul’. Keep all of these points in mind in the run up to Christmas. A client picks up on everything. It is a known fact that the client makes their decision on whether they are at the places they are going to buy in the first two minutes. Take time to be prepared for the festive selling season and your sales figures will reflect your hard efforts – practise and preparation will make it perfect!
Liz McKeon is a bestselling Author, Key Note Speaker, Business Coach & Trainer, specialising in the Hair, Beauty and Spa Sector. For information about Liz’s upcoming events, on-line training Programmes and Business Seminars, check out www.lizmckeon.com.
BusinessNV.
KEVIN HAMM:
3 STEPS TO RETAILING
STEP 1.
STEP 3.
The Product Companies: Buying In Products There are a growing number of companies wanting your business (remember, you are the customer). Research what is right for you and your shop, what support you want and whether they can deliver this. You may be looking for “in barbershop training” on a regular basis. Please remember that in some form or other you will pay for this, either in the cost you pay for buying the products or as a pay on day training. Weigh up the benefits of both! Look at the Image of the product and the point of sale material supplied. Do they work with your shop?
1. Train the staff in customer service and retailing (Not selling)
Smaller Barbershops: I would always recommend you purchase from one supplier, keeping uniformity within the shop, as you will have more buying power over them regarding discounts and training than ordering bits and pieces from several suppliers. Larger Barbers/or groups: If you have a Barbers with a retail shop and can afford to stock several ranges then look at products that cover all prices ranges and make sure your staff know the products. Do your homework: Quite often I go into salons and barbers that carry product ranges that don’t work for them eg. A smaller barber shop in a back street that charges a low price for services, but have a designer brand of products that sometimes cost more than the service they are offering. Look at your clientele and your pricing structure. Look at the types of products you use yourself within the shop. If you use them to achieve the result on the day your customer needs them more than you do!
2. Motivate the staff with incentives
STEP 2.
3. Make sure the staff are using the products themselves. Why should a customer purchase from you if the staff are buying from a supermarket!
Retailing is a science: look at supermarkets, they 1. All products should be priced up, both the ones you will have store plans sent to each store showing what products go where and at what height they should be are using in the shop and on the retail unit. (No on and how many should be on display, what lighting price, clients will think they are expensive) should be over them. Next time you’re shopping on the 2. Retail stand ideally should be to the left of the high street look at what the bigger companies are doing, reception desk. see if you can adapt the idea to your business. They 3. Retail stand should always look full and have a good spend hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions presence. of pounds. Copy and win. 4. Should be clean (dust shows you don’t sell much) 5. Use and update any promotional material that the manufacturer supplies. Invest in frames, not blutak, and make sure they are straight! 6.
Each barber tends to use the same chair within the shop, don’t have to many products on display in front of the customer. Most barbers tend to have 2-3 favourite products that they use on the majority of clients too many products will confuse the customer and they won’t focus on the ones you want them to.
7. Tell the customer what you are using and why, show the customer how to use them, but don’t “over sell” you may lose the customer. 8. Ask the customer at the end, if they need any product to achieve what you have just done.
Every client should be given the opportunity to purchase retail products.
For more information or if you would like a copy on the Barbering Customer Service Comic or would like to know more about in salon training, please email: kevinhamm00@gmail.com BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 43
BusinessNV.
THE CALM AFTER THE CHRISTMAS STORM! Tis the season to work hard but the January blues are just around the corner (when all shops get a tad quieter). So what should you do when our shops are quiet? Read the paper, chat about what ways we can reuse turkey cuts, or do something that is going to better yourself and your shop? The best way of doing this is through internal training. You do not need to pay out loads of money to external organisations all the time. Use your resources available to you, such as the ability of your barbers and hairdressers. Training is the key to a motivated team.
At Pall Mall Barbers we make things happen for ourselves. Too many businesses in the industry sit back and stay static. We believe that regular training, staff meetings and idea sessions lead to great results. There is over 350 years’ experience between all the barbers at PMB! Everyone, no matter how long they have been barbering, can learn something from a coworker. I communicate with every barber individually to see if there are any areas they would like to improve, learn a new skills or trend we can see appearing. From the results of this we can see if there is group training or individual training needed. Make your team’s weakness their strengths. Once a week book out two hours in the morning and stick to it. Customers will appreciate the fact that their stylist is constantly being developed. Training table.
Once you have seen what training needs to be applied draw your team a training table. Look at who can help who and pair them up for some one on one training. For this to work everyone needs to be on board. Tell everyone to take their “I know this already” hats off. Once every two to three months get a friend in the industry or trainer to come along and show your team a new skill. The buzz your team get of this is amazing! Training Incentive!!
If you want to create a bit of friendly competition between the team, pair up the best and worse sellers together and award the team that sells the most products over a month with a reward. The Big Debate.
Nothing gets passionate stylists and barbers talking about their craft more than a debate between themselves about different topics within the trade. In a team meeting, or when the salon is quiet, gather your team together and debate the topics you feel will benefit. It is essential that you just act as a mediator and don’t get too involved yourself. Let the team discuss and guide them towards what you are thinking. Some good topics are which products you would use. What colours would you use? What cutting techniques would you use? Charity team building!
Charitable efforts done at the work place can really
boost morale and get a sense of team building going. A great way of doing this would be to give a free Mo trim (with every haircut) for all the Mo bros that are growing some facial fuzz for Movember. This is a great way of getting new guys into the salon or barbershop. Why not raise some money by wearing pink for the day for breast cancer awareness, doing a prize draw or donating a free haircut or shave? As well as giving something to charity it is good for posting on your website/Facebook/newsletter. Also, the local paper may be interested. There are loads of great charities out there, including local ones that may appeal to your client base. A fun activity to increase team building.
Put your team into pairs, give them a piece of paper and some paper scissors and tell them the task is to get both of team-members through the sheet of paper. This can be done by folding methods and correct snipping in the right place. Merry Christmas from All of the team at Pall Mall Barbers.
For the full sheet of instructions and solutions or for more information contact Daniel Davies, General Manager of Pall Mall Barbers at dan@pallmallbarbers.com 44 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
BusinessNV.
From a beard trim to a Turkish massage, it’s so important these days that you have adequate insurance protection in this increasingly litigious society.
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e’ve all seen the advert saying things like, ‘Have you suffered a personal injury that is due to someone else’s negligence? If so, you could make a claim.’ There are solicitors ready and waiting to try and issue legal proceedings against businesses such as barbers where there’s a sniff of a personal injury claim in the air. Worryingly, you could get a letter through your door about something that happened several years ago and be unable to build a defence. Ensure you have adequate Public & Products Liability insurance in place for your protection. Additionally, if you run a barbershop then you could be faced with a personal injury claim from one of your barbers. No matter how much you risk assess your working environment, we understand that it’s simply not possible to protect against all injuries for barbers because of the nature of the job. Slips, trips, falls, back problems, burns, electric shocks from your equipment and the risk of developing dermatitis due to the exposure of chemicals from products are just a few of the risks you could face.
Most barbershop owners rent out their chairs to self-employed barbers and as such, might not feel the need for Employers Liability insurance. We would seriously ask you to consider this cover because if these barbers are working within your premises, there is always a risk of a claim coming your way following an injury. For a relatively small premium, employer’s liability can be added to your policy for your financial protection and your peace of mind. Make sure you cover your barbering tools and equipment by checking you have an adequate limit of indemnity to cover against loss through fire, theft or other means. Remember, you need to insure the cost of the replacement value of your tools and equipment and not how much you could sell them for. Your kit is the key to your livelihood so ensure you protect it! Do you provide any barber tutoring or training services? If so we would recommend adding Professional Indemnity insurance to protect you against allegations of inadequate training leading to a financial loss. This cover protects you against legal costs and expenses as well as potential payments awarded to the trainee.
Legal Expenses cover is becoming more and more popular with our clients and we urge all barbers to consider adding this on to their policy. Most people are put off straight away with the word ‘legal’ but when you look into the covers provided, it can be really worthwhile. Firstly, it can include a free legal advice line. Use this only once and you could have paid the same for the cover on an insurance policy as you would from making a single enquiry through a solicitor. The difference is that you can use this service all year for an unlimited number of times. In addition, the cover usually provides for legal expenses and awards of compensation in respect to employment and other contract disputes, criminal prosecution defence, personal injury, data protection, and tax protection.
Now is the time to review your barber insurance covers and premium competitiveness. Slade Edwards Insurance offers specialist barber insurance packages for both individual barbers and barber shops, so you will have peace of mind of knowing that your insurance covers have been put together and recommended with your business in mind.
For a quotation, contact one of our barber insurance specialists: 01403 250606 (Option 3) / barbers@sladeedwards.co.uk / @insurebarber BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 45
BusinessNV.
LEADING THROUGH INNOVATION – JACKS OF LONDON
Founded in 1995, Jacks has just celebrated its 20th birthday and, like any gentleman in the prime of life, is very keen on his bachelor-pad vibe and his gadgets. And along with that comes an early adopter attitude that’s kept Jacks ahead of the game.
‘When we started out we knew we wanted to offer a fine balance between traditional and contemporary,’ says founder and managing director Sue Whitehead, who trained as a hairdresser. ‘All our barbers are trained in the traditional methods, and the barbershops have that vibe. But we have always been keen to embrace innovations. You have to be wary, though; it’s all about avoiding new fads or gimmicks and recognising what will actually bring real value for the business.’ Sue opened her first barbershop back in 1992 as an add-on to her existing salon. The space was partitioned off, so the men didn’t have to look at ladies in their foils, and she called it Razors. It offered good, old-fashioned barbering but with an eye to service that, in those days, wasn’t typical in barbershops. Its popularity exploded and soon it was busier than her salon. It was then, in 1995, she made the decision to specialise, closing the salon and opening up a bespoke barbers. Jacks of London was born. Launched in Wimbledon, right bang next to Wimbledon Station and very hard to miss, Jacks did drop-in only, offering up huge comfy leather sofas and live sports coverage. It also, unusually, served alcohol, making it a popular destination for those who wanted a cool beer, a moment to unwind after the stress of work and a quick haircut on the way home. The next innovation was obvious. With queues of
men waiting for a haircut every evening, the pressure to stay open when the competition was shutting up shop was too strong. Jacks became one of the first barbers to offer late-night opening Monday to Friday. Then came Sunday opening, which had only just been legalised the year before the first Jacks opened. Most businesses were still resisting consumer demand to surrender their Sunday, but not Jacks. It threw open the doors with gusto and soon became the new place to congregate. Since then, recognising and adopting key innovations has become second nature, especially as the brand has grown into a franchise, with shops opening in Kingston, Guildford, Birmingham, Bristol and, most recently, Nottingham. Every location has a gaming zone and as soon as Wi-Fi came along, Sue installed it. She also brought in software to centralise reporting. But with an eye for new technologies being introduced, and recognising that she a needed one with access to the sort of gadgetry now available to huge non-hair businesses, Sue recently revisited her software. For her new shop in Nottingham she chose Shortcuts. ‘It needed to be easy to use in the actual barbershops, so that sales and client data were easy to manage for our barbers,’ explains Sue. ‘But I wanted more than even that. We are drop-in, so I didn’t need Shortcuts for its appointment application, but I needed a software that enabled me to maximise and, where
possible, control and influence client traffic.’ One genius move was to introduce Live Queue Cams, so the client can see how many people are waiting for a free barber. This has proved very handy for drawing in traffic during less busy times and filling up empty slots. More recent innovations are helping manage traffic during busy periods and avoiding logjams of guys waiting. Using her Shortcuts software, Sue has been able to install online check-in, so clients can book a slot on the day. There is also an automated in-shop check-in, so a client can walk in and grab a slot without interrupting his barber. And to make it even easier, a screen displays wait times for each client, so if a guy checks in and sees he has an hour to wait, he can head off to the bike shop to browse while he waits. He’ll then get a reminder on his phone when his appointment is almost due. Of course, a lot of clients don’t come just for the haircut; they come for the ambience, the gaming and that cool glass of beer. But being an early adopter, Jacks has created that perfect balance: passing traffic can see from the clients waiting that every Jacks is a popular and therefore good barbers, but it’s also made it easy for clients to get slots with those barbers when it suits them.
If you’d like more information on Shortcuts please visit www.shortcuts.co.uk/barber | www.jacksoflondon.co.uk BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 47
MR BARBERS ARE ATTACKING THE MARKET FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE
BARBERNV’S KEN HERMES CAUGHT UP WITH DIRECTORS SAM AND KARL, AND LICENSEE MARK, TO UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE
“We have been barbering for 25 years,” explains Karl. “We both had our own shops, and through rebranding our shops of 20 years, MR Barbers was born. Basically, we are a licensing company. We decided that because we have such a big strong brand, it could be in every town across the UK. We want to have a recognized brand, and to grow that, rather than franchise it, we go to existing shops and (if they meet our requirements) they can take on our brand as a license. They can dual brand with us, so we don’t strip out the heart of their shop.” Licensees of MR Barbers pay a monthly fee, which entitles them to full use of the MR Barbers Website, the MR Barbers App, MR Barbers exclusive products, NHF membership and discounted SKY and BT TV packages. MR Barbers customers and App users also get 20% off of Activity Superstore. “What is great about the app, is that we can send targeted messages to our clients,” Sam told us. “We can select a certain radius around a shop, or send a message out to all our users, to highlight key offers etc… A stand alone barber shop would not afford that type of technology! You can get all of these benefits for the small cost of one haircut a day.” Mark explains how he started. “When I was 14, I swept up for Sam in one of his shops. I started training and wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue a career in barbering. I left at 17 and did 7 years in the marines. Every time I came home, I’d sit back down the barber shop. I spoke to Sam about coming back as a barber, and trained with him for a year to get up to a good standard. I worked in the Bury shop with him for a while, but wanted to move forwards. I became a licensee as I had no idea how to set up a shop or how to run a business. It started making money 48 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
very quickly, I mean most new businesses lose money in year 1, but I made money, which was amazing. I decided, following the success of my first shop, to open a second MR Barbers shop in Sudbury, Suffolk.” “I looked around at other franchises to be honest, to see if it was worth the money I’d be spending,” Mark told us. “Nothing even came close in quality, or value for money. Everything else looked tacky compared. I have had so much business support from the guys, I don’t feel scared to ring head office for help, like I may do in a different company.” So what are the biggest benefits as a licensee? Mark said ,“Social media is great. Most of my customers have heard of MR Barbers through social media, and came to us as we are the most local. The app is an amazing tool that I could not afford otherwise. I’m not a franchisee, so I can make my own prices. If I want to change the look or feel of my shop, I can. I’m not restricted, it is still my shop. The biggest benefit for me is staff, there’s no good in having a great shop with no staff. The brand is growing so fast, that it attracts great barbers. They wouldn’t come to Mark’s Barbers, but they want to work for MR Barbers. We also have support from other MR Barbers shops in terms of holiday or sickness cover, as all of my staff work on a chair rental basis. Sam and Karl are also running a training academy, which will keep a steady flow of qualified barbers coming through our doors!” It seems that the bold yellow and grey shops will soon become more common!
You know your true potential. Let us help you achieve it. Mr. Barbers gives you all the tools you need to show off your skills and radically increase the value of your business: • • • • • • • • •
Brand and positioning Quality branded products A responsive online presence Innovative and engaging social media campaigns Mobile apps that deliver for you financially Assisted marketing and collateral Recruitment process and assistance Fully managed training academy Professional advice and support covering legal, compliance and safety • Bespoke insurances ... All for the price of a haircut a day* (Fully tax deductible)
Mr. Barbers branded products
Mr. Barbers app (available on android and iOS)
So what are you waiting for?...Be the MR. in your town.
Join us. Do more. Enjoy more. Make more. Find out more: call 01799 611504, email join@mrbarbers.co.uk or visit www.mrbarbers.co.uk *On average.
Movember.
Mov The time of year was upon us, where those that can, grow beards and moustaches to raise money for charity. Both Movember and Decembeard raise awareness and money for male cancer. The Ace Cafe
The Ace Cafe
T
he Movember Foundation is a global charity raising funds and awareness for men’s health. These funds deliver breakthrough research and support services to help men live happier, healthier and longer lives. Since 2003, five million have joined the Movember men’s health movement around the world and raised £402m, funding over 1000 programmes through impact investments that focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. The Foundation is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches around the world in November when men become walking talking billboards for men’s health. Mo Bros start the month clean-shaven, and then grow and groom their moustache all month long. The Movember journey began in 2003 with a few mates in a pub in Melbourne, Australia. The goal was simple – to create a campaign promoting the growth of the moustache among like-minded people and have fun along the way. The movement is about real men growing real moustaches, talking about real issues to help change the face of men’s health. Funds are directed to men’s health programmes which are shaped by Movember’s vision to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health with programme areas focusing on awareness and education, living with and beyond cancer, staying mentally healthy and research. Programmes are delivered by the Movember Foundation and its men’s health partners in each country. Further information about how Movember’s funds are invested can be found at Movember.com
Since 2003, five million have joined the Movember men’s health movement around the world and raised £402m, funding over 1000 programmes through impact investments that focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity 50 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
The Ace Cafe
Movember.
vember K the Barber at Skinners’ Academy
K the Barber at Skinners’ Academy
The Ace Cafe
K the Barber at Skinners’ Academy
The Great British Barber Bash teamed up with The Ace Cafe, to give gents the chance to finish Movember with a shave from one of the UK’s top barbers. Ace Cafe London hosted the father and son team of Robert & Dan Rix of The Company of Master Barbers, Male Grooming Salon of the Year winners of the 2015 British Hairdressing Awards who, together with Best Barbershop and Best Men’s Salon winners Savills Barbers and “The Original Clipper Skipper”, Frank Rimer, the Creative & Classic Master at Thy Barber, and Dan Gregory of Man Made London, on Sunday 29th November. The guys from Guerrilla Barbering also made an appearance. What a stellar line up! The event was sponsored by Takara Belmont, Reuzel, Layrite, Neocape and Simply Dry Towels. Mo Bro ‘K the Barber’ has been supporting Movember this year not only from his barber shop in Palmers Green but on the road too at Skinners Academy. The Academy in North Hackney has been flying the flag for Movember and team captain Joe Tuton and his dedicated moustachioed team have been on a fundraising and men’s health awareness mission. On Friday 20th November they held a Mo Day hosting an array of events and fundraising activities including a cake sale, classroom MOVE activities for all year groups, a teacher/pupil balloon shaving challenge and K gave teachers and sixth formers Mo trims. His top class trims and professionalism put all ages at ease, even Joe was keen to go for the cut throat trim under K’s steady hand! Support Movember and help to change the face of men’s health by donating to K’s Mo Space here: http://mobro.co/ ksbarbershoplondon Other events include “MO” parties, Marathons and Movember themed bar crawls!
By Adam Sloan
Mhfed/ James Beattie Fund raising event James Beattie and I had a wee conversation on raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and we came up with the concept of having fun growing moustaches for this life saving Charity. I was totally moved to tears when I had a conversation with one of the fundraisers from Glasgow. Eric Begg has been so generous with his support raising over £400 from Slicks Barbershop in Paisley. In a conversation with Eric, a very humble young talented barber,I found out his father had passed away with this cancer, it made it so very real to James and myself. Eric and his family’s great loss have been the driver to our fundraising efforts and are in our thoughts. We have had a wide sector of fundraising with auctions from Davies Barbershop Paisley, Helena Hatton with raffles, Lee Stafford, BigYin Salons raffles,numerous client and Facebook,Instagram and Twitter donations. We raised £200 from the sale of our very own Raw Look Book signed by Sir Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Tony Cottee,Tony Gale, Billy Bonds and cricket star Graham Gooch to Damian Owen of Elite Barber Training. “East Durham College students were delighted to be involved in Movember with the Mhfed. After receiving posters from them we printed more and designed sponsor forms to support the fundraising. the students took the posters to their places of work and also put them up around the college. I encouraged staff to be involved sending out all staff e-mails and lots of the guys agreed to take part. The students encouraged their own families and friends to grow their beards and moustaches. In the last barbering session of November they had lots of fun trimming and shaping beards before taking the full lot off. The event was a great success, selling Movember cakes too, baked and decorated by them. All in all they put in a fantastic effort and raised over £700.” Alison Scattergood Barbering Lecturer & Course Coordinator. We would like to thank all the fundraisers for raising over £3000 and counting! Adam Sloan & James Beattie.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 51
Decembeard.
DON’T FANCY A MOUSTACHE? Well, there is also Decembeard… you guessed it, growing a beard in December! This is for bowel cancer.
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e have seen huge social media presence for the cause, with sponsorship from our friends at Percy Nobleman. Misfits and Musketeers actor Matt Stokoe, is supporting Decembeard, too, as he has lost two of his grandparents to bowel cancer. Every 15 minutes someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK. It’s the 2nd biggest cancer killer in the UK. However, if caught early enough 90% of patients can be successfully treated. This is why early diagnosis is so important and the Decembeard campaign aims to help get people talking about the disease, which is why they ask 5,000 men to grow beards and raise £500,000 to fund Beating Bowel Cancer’s vital services, which offer bowel cancer patients and their families,support, hope and reassurance. In 2014 over 3,000 men ditched their morning shave and got involved with the campaign, but this year the charity says they want to be bigger and better. Beating Bowel Cancer is looking to hit the half a million pound mark, and they ask that each participant raises a minimum of £100. The money raised will help them fund a range of vital services that give people with bowel cancer help, hope and reassurance. Beards can be a bit itchy at the beginning and you might get a few crumbs taking permanent residence on your face, but the charity say that it’s all worth it in the end. Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer but it doesn’t have to be that way as it has a very high rate of survival if caught early. Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, said “Talking about bums and poo can be embarrassing for many people, so the symptoms of bowel cancer are less well known than many other cancers. This means people are often diagnosed at a late stage when the disease is far more difficult to treat.” Decembeard is sponsored by History Channel, L’oreal for Men and Just For Men.
There are various events taking place internationally, to raise both money and awareness. They include: Borneo Jungle Trek, The Great Wall Of China Trek, The Himalaya Trek, London to Brighton Walk Challenge, The Ben Nevis Weekend and The Thames Path Challenge! We at Barber NV think both these causes are fantastic and noble. It’s as simple as NOT shaving, and you could be changing lives! If you aren’t already convinced, here are some great reasons you should get involved; • Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer – every half an hour someone dies of the disease • Each year around 16,000 people die of bowel cancer • In the UK around 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year • Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK • Around 110 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day, that’s someone every 15 minutes • Bowel cancer affects both men and women • If diagnosed early, more than 90% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully • The majority (95%) of bowel cancer cases occur in people over 50, but it can affect anyone of any age
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT DECEMBEARD AT DECEMBEARD@BOWELCANCERUK.ORG.UK OR TEL020 7940 1769 52 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
PromotionNV.
Proudly Supplying First Class Gentleman’s Grooming Requisites to the best barbers in & around the world.
w w w . c a p ta i n f aw c e t t . c o m
Ricki Hall’s Booze & Baccy Beard Oil… how the Signature Series came to be. It was a balmy day in the summer of 2013, after a chance and rather engaging encounter with Ricki Hall, well known man about town, involving coffee and carrot cake at the Brixton Ritzy, one of England’s oldest surviving picture houses, I despatched a bottle of Captain Fawcett’s ‘Private Stock’ Beard Oil to Mr Hall. Some time later we spent a marvellous day together making our ‘Engineered for your Beard’ short film to honour said beard oil, a delightful experience it has to be said. In between takes, NB:‘its not the time that it takes to take the takes that takes the time but the time between the takes’ we discussed the rather exciting notion of creating a bespoke Beard Oil. A meeting was arranged with the Captain’s ‘Master Blender’ where they discussed, sniffed
at all manner of complex fragrance juxtapositions that were both contemporary and yet evocative of the past, a past where Ricki warmly recalled the distinct aroma that permeated from his cologne wearing Father on return from his favourite club and wanted to somehow recreate, recapture it if you will… the Master Blender set to and produced several interpretations of Ricki’s distinct brief. One was chosen which had an alchemic fusion of 10 essential oils, including hops and fresh tobacco, combined with 3 luxuriant base oils resulting in a veritable olfactory delight and as such the Signature Series Booze & Baccy scent was born. Ricki Halls Booze & Baccy Beard Oil & Moustache Wax has received international acclaim and has proved so popular that in response to a number of requests we are currently developing a Eau de Parfum, Watch this space...
Keeping a stiff upper lip, regardless... BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 53
Fashion.
I N T RODUCI NG
Barber THE GENTLEMAN OF BARBERNV HQ ARE NOT AN UNGROOMED BUNCH, WE ARE NO STR ANGERS TO A BARBERS CHAIR, AT TENDING BARBERING AND FASHION EVENTS, PHOTOSHOOTS AND PRODUCT L AUNCHES.
OVERCOAT Crafted from pure wool and fully lined, REISS shawl collar doublebreasted coat fuses luxury with an elegant shape. Wear this timeless piece over tailored suit.
HIP FL ASK The Aspinal Classic leather bound 5oz Hip Flask in Amazon Brown croc calf leather. A classic ‘must have’. £45.00 -
www.aspinaloflondon.com
£395 - www.reiss.com
By Marc Ross
What is apparent from the barbering world is, the image of the person standing behind the chair, is equally as important to the person in the chair. Barbers nowadays have to be armed with the best tools and equipment and for them standing out from the crowd through there personal image can be one of the best tools to get on in the barbering world. Each edition we will be covering the latest style, trends and looks from the barbershop floor, covering clothing and accessories to get the best look that suits your individual personality and style. In this edition we will be focusing on the quintessential “sharp” tailored look. Every man needs a good suit, a tailored overcoat and a hard wearing fashionable shoe, but what are the often subtle details that differentiate an average look from the refined gent. What gives you the cutting edge? What makes you a Dandy??
SUIT Uniquely woven for Joshua Kane, his superfine bold Pinstripe 100% wool fabric 2 piece suit is key for the season. The ‘Brummell’ 2 piece suit is Joshua’s staple tailored silhouette for each collection
£1350 - www.joshuakanebespoke.com
SHOES Handmade in Portugal, these 100% leather classic brogues add a bit of class to any look. Pair your new brogues with a cropped trouser and a high neck knit for a classy, yet trendy look.
£160 - www.selected.com
54 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
SATCHEL The Folio bag is smart, sleek and stylish. Perfect to fit all your barbering tools and made from 100% leather with a steel bar closure. The perfect bag to finish any Dandy’s look.
£195 - www.cambridgesatchel.com
Feature.
SILK DOT TIE Reiss silk dot tie is sure to make a stylish edition to your accessories collection. £60 - www.reiss.com
BLOOD
AND
H AV I N G C U T H I S T E E T H AT D E S I G N E R H O U S E S S U C H A S PAU L S M I T H , B U R B ER R Y P R O R S U M , A N D JA E G ER , JOSHUA K ANE NOW WORKS AS A BESPOKE DESIGNER A N D TA I LO R F O R H I S E P O N Y M O U S L A B E L .
Like a true dandy, no detail is overlooked, with his unique handlebar moustache, long model locks and signature glasses. We caught up with Mr Kane to talk all things style and grooming… How did you start in fashion?
KEATON SHIRT The slim fit Keaton shirt is carefully crafted in 100% cotton twill, imparting a soft diagonal texture and features a double cuff, a hand crafted semi cutaway collar and signature ‘pink’ thread on the last button.
£89 - www.thomaspink.com
WATCH Exquisite Gentleman’s Wristwear | Nero Black face with genuine leather black band. Finished in extraordinary detail with inconspicuous elegance.
£120 - www.cornerford.com
GL ASSES An alternative take on John Lennons trademark round style, these oversized, quirky frames are made from high specification acetate. These vintage inspired glasses are a must-have for any wardrobe.
£75 - www.glassesdirect.co.uk
UNDERWEAR Dick Winters Classic Boxer Shorts offer the ultimate in comfort and style with a slightly longer leg and heavier softer seam our boxers won’t rise up either, and offer a flattering design to boot. £28 dickwinters.co.uk Definition: DANDY Barbers take on this: An exceptionally well dressed man. Real-world take on this: Anyone wearing any combination of the following – tight suit, pocket square, short trousers, beard, moustache, NHS style glasses, skinny tie, brogues. Any manner of stylistic buffoonery now makes you a “dandy”, or even worse a “modern dandy”.
JK: I cut my teeth at Kingston University as a bespoke tailor then moved on to some of the biggest British fashion houses and producing my own bespoke pieces alongside. Eventually demand for my bespoke got so high that it was a natural transition to launch my own label and ready to wear. Would you consider yourself a workaholic? JK: That was the mentality that built this place. I started this company and it’s still true to today with no investment, I did it all from my savings and we’re still 100% owned by me I own every piece of product, every piece of furniture, every item, every piece of equipment and that’s just purely down to hard work. My mum painted the banister when we got the shop and one of the team here plastered the walls when she was an intern and now she’s a design assistant here and that’s just really the ethos behind it. As a primarily menswear tailor and designer, are gender binaries at all relevant to your bespoke tailoring and designing? JK:A course tutor once told me: when everyone wakes up in the morning, it’s about being desirable and looking good. That desire could change, but the bulk of it means you want to feel sexy whether you’re a guy or a girl. In the back of my mind, I don’t like to think of it differently. There’s no one industry in the world where people wake up and partake in it first thing in the morning. I think this is relevant to the barbering world too as so many females are now working in the industry as barbers. Gender, in this instance is not relevant. What is your biggest achievement or proudest moment to date? JK: In short amount of time I have been really fortunate to work with some fantastic individuals from Jack Guinness and Jimmy Q to names I can’t even discuss! To be approached by these people is an absolute honour!
Describe your style in 3 words and tell us a bit about your grooming habits, who cuts your hair, and a grooming product that you couldn’t live without? JK: I’m going to go with 2 words because i’m a Non - Conformist - Self Expressive. I’m relatively ungroomed, I actually tend to cut my own hair! A grooming product I couldn’t live without? My toothbrush...up to three times a day now haha Do you use a moustache wax for your signature look? If so which brand? JK: Yes, I do indeed - it’s called Club Man!
You are quite known for working with the model Jimmy Q (James). Can you tell us about that?
Your working on your 2016 Runway Show. Do you oversee the hair and makeup looks and how important is it for you as a designer to have control of this visually?
JK: Jimmy is a friend first and foremost, from the moment he started wearing my pieces he started creating a buzz around the collection, it’s definitely been an organic relationship and one that was not expected from either side.
JK: I usually have a very clear idea about what I want to create visually with the hair and make up and I work with a team to achieve this. We discuss my ideas, pull together some inspiration boards and trial the looks fully pre-phow.
How do you feel about the way that men dress today?
What are your future plans for Joshua Kane Bespoke?
JK: There is definitely a resurgence of gentlemen dressing smarter and referencing classic tailoring today as there is more inspiration to draw upon from throughout history, as well as accessibility to tailoring, be it online or in print.
JK: As things organically take shape and momentum gathers around the ready to wear collection I am look to increase distribution and heighten brand awareness while still servicing my bespoke friends and clients.
Rising Star.
In the heart of Glasgow’s City Centre lies much loved barber shop, Rebel Rebel. If you’re lucky enough to get an appointment, you could find yourself at the hands of Gemma Willock-Smith – one of the most talented, innovative barbers in the UK. That’s why this month, Gemma is BarberNV’s Rising Star. Let’s find out a little more about the lady behind the razor…
G
emma began her career as a hairdresser 15 years ago in London, but she officially became a barber for men and women five years ago, when she started with Rebel Rebel – a move she is very glad she made. She said: “It is possibly just me, but in barbering I found I can express myself better and my tomboy personality is more accepted. “I also feel that barbering is a lot more fun and there’s more banter.” Gemma hasn’t noticed a dramatic rise in the number of women becoming barbers in recent times but with the industry becoming increasingly appealing and more barber shops popping up, she said it is attracting more men and women overall. She adores working in Rebel Rebel and is proud of the name the barber shop has built for itself over the past few years. Gemma said: “It’s very busy and our clientele is very fashion forward so it keeps us on our toes, which is just where I like to be. “My clientele is extremely diverse... I have everything from females with creative colours ie: balayage/flocks, to gents with skin fades and top knots.” More men than ever are hitting the barbers, looking for something beyond the traditional short back and sides. “Guys want quality and why not? They now prefer someone spending more time on them and getting a top class result.” As we all know in this industry, it’s not just a job – barbering is a passion that becomes an integral part of your life.
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For anyone thinking of getting into the barbering scene, Gemma said: “It is lots of fun, most barbers I speak to love doing what we do. “There’s so much diversity in just one day that makes our job so interesting. Your relationships with both your clients and colleagues make the whole game so much fun and the banter when you’re doing photoshoots or something backstage? I can’t put that into words! It’s incredible.” As well as loving life in the Barber shop, Gemma is also an accomplished educator and this is a role she thrives in. She explained: “I originally started as an educator in the salon, then got sent to Kevin Murphy Session Salon Training UK and the Kevin Murphy team would come into the salon also to keep updating our skills and our product knowledge. “I got to know a few of the girls – Paz, Kevin Murphys uk ‘diamond key’, and Ana McCormack the key to color.me uk. “Ana approached me one visit to the salon and asked if I would be interested in being involved. “There were no educators here in Scotland and they wanted to change that and for me to be the person to do that.” Now, as well as being a key ‘first level’ educator for Kevin Murphy, Gemma is also part of the team that runs and trains in the Rebel Rebel Academy. For Kevin Murphy, she said: “I take training into salons who have the brand and try to help them and be a support as much as possible. It’s awesome! “The UK team are so supportive, on hand to
An interview with Laura Boyd
Rising Star.
Gemma Willock- Smith
Rising Star.
help with everything and it’s such a humbling company to be part of. I’m still very new and get nervous with presentation but I’m a bit of a chatter box, so as soon asI get going, the passion kicks in and I’m off.” Being an educator has changed Gemma’s work life completely, as she said: “I get an absolute buzz when I see something click in someone that they have wanted to learn and I have helped with that. I believe that education is vital in our industry - it’s almost a legacy to pass on to others what we havebeen freely given, in order for our industry to survive and flourish.” Although she adores the education side of her life, Gemma believes she will never completely move away from the shop floor – or front line, as she calls it. “I love the atmosphere, look forward to seeing my clients when I see their names in my book and feel it’s where I grow the most. However, educating is something I love to do too. There
has been a lot of things materialising in my career recently, so I think I’ll keep moving in the same direction and will have to see what the future holds, one day at a time.” Sounds like a sensible plan. While Gemma’s biggest achievement is her beautiful son, Carter, on the work front she is most proud of seeing the “people you have taught to go on and be confident in themselves and their skills. It’s very humbling.” Gemma loves the diversity of being in the barber shop as the demand for a vast array of styles suits her creative flair. And one woman she would love to work her magic on? Model and Orange is the New Black star, Ruby Rose. “I like her style and know I could give her a banging new look.” If you fancy popping down to Rebel Rebel to find out more about what we’ve been ‘banging’ on about, Gemma and the team are at 101 Union Street Glasgow. BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 57
Feature.
PAUL HEWITT AND BRADLEY COWEN OF HBAD BARBERSHOP AND AONO, UK URBAN STREETWEAR ARE THE TEAM BEHIND POP-UP BARBERSHOP, A CONCEPT OF BARBER LIFE, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH BOTH OF THEM An interview with Larry the Barber Man
The Truth About the Pop-Up Shop Kings A pop-up barbershop is an interesting, but simple, concept: it is like a stall you might see at a convention or fair equipped to provide barbering services. Outside the doors to the London tattoo convention, I managed to pull these two aside for an interview. While they might look like an unassuming pair, many are aware of how successful the two have been by introducing this concept. They’ve hosted their pop-up barbershops at events ranging from Brighton Tattoo convention, which was their very first pop-up some five years ago, to the AONO x Monster Pop Up Barbershop at last year’s Sonisphere. It is easy to make the assumption that these guys are out to get to millionaire status or have already gotten it. However, Paul and Brad gave me the truth behind their status as the Pop-Up Shop Kings. When asked about what the idea behind the pop-up barbershops originally was, Paul responded that he and Brad had been discussing it for six months on social media and that the idea was to take everything that they were doing inside their shops and bring it to the outside world. I asked them if they knew if they were the first to implement the idea of a pop-up barbershop, and the conclusion the two seemed to settle on after some back and forth was, “they believed they were the first in their area: the UK, possibly even in Europe, but they doubted they were the first in the entire world.” “I definitely think we were the first to take on the idea in our markets,” Paul clarifies. “You had some doing similar things but not when it came to the hardcore or punk shows or events that appealed to that culture. Of course, we went out there to reinvigorate our own craft, inspire ourselves and to find people to just sort of hang with – we
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wanted to capture people’s imaginations.” From their start at the aforementioned Brighton Tattoo convention, Paul reminisced about how that first pop-up lead to having AONO X VANS Pop-Up Barbershop stationed at Citadium, Paris for the entire month of September, three years ago. Brad tells me that they were looking to find a way to reinvigorate and inspire themselves outside of the shop, to find a whole new vibe, and that would come to eventually incorporate other barbers. “From an advertising standpoint, the way we saw it was that the pop-up barbershop was the way to get us out there without risking people bypassing it. You can put out ads in magazines, on television – whatever, but there’s always that risk that they’ll thumb right past it or change the channel. If we’re out there, that’s a way to talk to them directly and get our message out there.” “People see you at events like these and think you must be raking it in,” Paul added, “but, at first, we were totally naïve about what we were doing.” In fact, both agreed that each event is something of a huge financial gamble. “People are always astounded,” Paul told me. These things cost thousands of pounds each. “We never knew what we were getting into”. He pauses and smiles: “It’s always a gamble.” He and Brad go on to talk about an event at the Brighton seafront that they had a few years prior. “We had done it the year before,” Paul shrugs, “and we got a lot back from it. But this next year the seafront gets hit by one of the worst storms in years! That’s one of the things that is always a gamble about investing in outdoor events – you’re at the mercy of the weather, and if you try to turn to the organizer and ask for your money back because of some rain…well, it’s just not going to happen.”
Feature. Photos: The Dude Abides Photography/ Olly Hanks
“I prefer not to live in regret,” Paul concluded on the experience. “We went out there to just do what we were wanting to do, and maybe even bring on like-minded individuals…People see us out there now and we try to make it clear that this isn’t a marketing plot. We go out there and say “we are the same as you, and we care a great deal about it”. So, yeah, despite the huge financial risk involved with each event, you sort of have to look at a loss and say f*ck it, at least I learned something for next time and I had fun.” “Business is all about relationships,” Paul added. “At every event we booked, we still had to pitch our idea every time and build up relationships with the people who attended, the folks who organized it. Those relationships are priceless and have been one of the things we’ve discovered have grown the more events that we host.” The phrase “business isn’t about what you know, but who you know” does reflect nicely here, doesn’t it? Of course, had these two not known what they were doing, their events wouldn’t have proven nearly as popular as they have been. And who do they know? Even from the first convention in Brighton, Paul and Brad have had the chance to work with such incredible names in the barbering community as: Julius Caser, Shane Nesbitt, Brain Burt, Razor Sharp Chief, Dane Hesse, David Thomas, Frank Rimmer, Colin Petrie and SB Barbers, and that is only naming a few. When thinking back on the events that stood out to him, Brad adds, “There were two that stand out to me -The first event that we ever did at the Brighton Tattoo Convention will always be one of the most memorable because it was the very first one. We had the tiniest little booth – Paul and I hadn’t even met in the flesh until the
night before and nothing like this had ever been done at a convention before. So, there was a possibility for disaster, and we got and had the most fantastic weekend.” He laughs. “That was the start of it all, there was no expectation of what was to come. We were there because we wanted to work together and showcase the kind of work that we do in the way we do it. I will never forget that one – it changed everything.” The moment that they first actually got paid to fly in and host one of their events, Brad tells me, was unreal. “It was only 18 months or so after that first event and suddenly, we’re getting asked if we’d like to fly into this event in Italy on the beaches. We agree, of course, and as we are walking on the beaches of Italy, we just sort of looked to each other and asked “What are we doing here?”. From there, it’s been a crazy adventure,” Brad laughed. “We’ve gotten to travel to so many places,” Paul added. “We were flown out to work with Vans,” Brad tells me. “That was incredible. That was the beginning of us traveling the world together. I got to meet some of the professional skaters whose careers I had followed for years, and having them come into through the barbershop and see what we do was great. Most of these guys both of us still have them as good friends now-it was just a life, and career changing moment for me.” “I commuted twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday, to work in Paris – myself and Brad loved every minute,” Paul laughs. “The biggest for me was having the AONO X MONSTER Pop-Up Barbershop city at last year’s Sonisphere.” He goes on to tell me, “Italy, Spain, Belgium,Germany, Slovenia, LA, and NYC have been just some of the destinations we’ve set up pop-up barbershops …I never thought barbering would have taken me around the world…” Paul estimates that he will be taking 75 flights this year alone; talk about a frequent-flier! “We have done events for Vans shoes at their Spring Classic competition, which is held in Italy every year,” Brad adds. “At Bright, which is a trade show for the streetwear and skate industry held in Berlin twice a year to coincide with Berlin fashion week, The BeStreet Weekend Urban Festival, which is held in Paris once a year, and also the Groezrock Festival that is held in Belgium every spring – we’ve just been so many crazy, amazing, places!” These two are setting out to reach people within their own demographics, and openly those people what they can do – they aren’t in it for fame or glory. “Glory has never been that high a priority. If anything, it was more out of desire to give something back to the scene(s) we came from,” Brad notes. “Last year’s Barberlife Expo just showed me that there’s so many like-minded barbers willing to travel from all across the globe to work sideby-side – no egos, no BS, just barbers who want
to cut hair, hang out, learn, teach and soak up the energy over the weekend,” Paul told me, with Brad smiling, “It’s something I will continue to push.” With the events growing, and the amount of famous barbers who have come out to join in their events, it is clear that pushing for that goal has created something wonderful. The two continue to work on their own goals individually. Paul has taken his AONO brand of urban streetwear to new levels, partnering with companies like Electric and Mishka. As well as opening his new shop. He has AONO poised to delight anyone who takes an interest in the fashion-side of barbering, and has continued to push it as a brand that brings people together. “The interior design was my main focus”, Paul admits on. “I wanted it to represent what I’m all about and display that urban fashion-side of barbering. I wanted it to be an environment that people could talk out on the floors – I’ve had amateur skaters sitting next to professional skaters before, cops sitting next to crime lords; it’s all common ground, and that’s what I wanted to bring to the new shop, that sense of community”. Brad has also opened a new shop with an interesting twist: Epicly Taper’d. Teaming up with his good friend, Dave Allan, Epicly Taper’d is a traditional barbershop that offers well-done traditional and modern cuts to their clients in a social environment. Brad has also admitted that he is interested in moving into the educational side of barbering and helping teach others techniques for barbering and business alike. It goes without saying that these two are going to both continue to push for success, as a team, and as individuals. When it comes down to it, Paul and Brad represent the spirit what the barbering community is all about, and one that I am proud to be a part of. Their recollection of their journeys and adventures, with the ultimate conclusion that they did it out of love for the barber life, served as a reminder of my own journey to where I am now. Traveling the world to learn about hair clippers would be what gave me the drive and idea to develop the Frequency60hz so that fellow barbers and clipper enthusiasts could enjoy the quality of American hair clippers without having to suffer through reduced performance or loud complaining from the clipper itself. Like Paul and Brad, I am excited to see where else the adventures and desire to hear the stories of barbers from all over the world. That’s part of what being the Barber Man is all about – living the barber life! My sincerest thanks go out to Paul and Brad for telling me their incredible story and for reminding me what the barber life really means.
For more information about upcoming organizations and events, check out the guys Instagrams @aonoxxx and @hbad.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 59
The Master Barbers.
Robert Rix Words f rom the Wise W
ell these press deadlines roll round so fast, it hardly seems like 2 minutes since I last sat with a blank screen in front of me wondering what to write about. The main reason that the time has passed so quick is that so much has happened recently. What with our trip to London for the HJ Awards ceremony and our involvement in yet another Barber Bash, with competition judging and other duties, this time the GBBB was staged at Liverpool’s Camp & Furnace venue. As with previous Barber Bashes there was plenty to see in the way of live stage demos and a good selection of trade stalls selling everything from tins of pomade to a full salon refit. Speaking of salon refits, we are deeply involved in this task ourselves as we are moving into a much larger shop so that we can cope with the ever increasing demand for our work and more space is needed for our Barber Training Courses. So enough of what we’ve been up to and let’s get down to this month’s article... If you recall, in the last edition I mentioned that I was mentored by Roger Poirier and that I
Robert Rix, SHR SRSB MCH MCB
Robert Rix & Roger Poirier from 1960’s
owed a great debt of gratitude to him for his teaching; as an ex-world Champion, Roger, had a great influence on me in my early days. When he spoke, I listened. I knew that I would get no finer teacher than Roger and I considered myself to be so lucky to have seen his work and received his guidance. This man was at the top of his game and was the personal hairdresser to HRH King Edward 8th – the late Duke of Windsor.
CHASSÉ-CROISÉ CUTTING TECHNIQUE So fellow Barbers, it’s now time for me to pass on to you some of Roger’s teaching. Having quit French lessons in the second year of secondary school, my French was nearly as bad as Roger’s English, but somehow he got over to me what he wanted me to learn. He did this in a slow and methodical manner, constantly showing me where I was going wrong; he was a very patient and understanding man - a real professional. What I have chosen to pass on to you is an insight into the art of Razor Cutting. It’s impossible to give you everything on the subject but I will try to give you the most complete view of the art that I can. Having initially been taught by a Frenchman, I am obviously somewhat partisan and I must stress that French razor cutting technique is quite different from the English form of this skill. There are many hairdressers using various types of bladed instruments that could be loosely termed as being razors. There are many variants on what could be called razor cutting. What I want to deal with is primarily classic razor cutting with an open razor. The question commonly asked is “Is this different method of cutting hair advantageous over scissor cutting”?
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Well, in the hands of an expert it is actually quicker, and it has the advantage of allowing for the hair to be cut when wet. As for the method of using the razor for cutting hair ,there are certain commonalities to scissor cutting. The general principle of working in sections is the same. The shape of the hair is more important than the tool that is used to achieve it, and this should be the only criterion upon which it is judged. The system of sectioning off the hair all over the head is the same in both cases. What is of importance to us now is that the technique of the actual cutting is very different.
Razor Cutting is without doubt a very useful art and, believe it or not, it’s not that hard to learn how to become proficient at it. I found it particularly useful when working on wigs and toupees as well as on client’s own hair to remedy wave defects and odd growth patterns. Unfortunately, these days there are not many truly good practitioners of quality Razor Cutting. After all it is an art-form, and to carry it out successfully one must firstly understand shape and form, and also develop an understanding when and when not to use the technique. These elements will only come with practice and familiarisation – trial and error. But once these things are learned and fully understood Razor Cutting can be a most valuable weapon in a good Barber’s armoury. I have recently seen quite a few Barbers using a method that is more akin to dog grooming than good hairdressing; this is to pare down the hair using a razor with toothed blade guard against the thumb. This method is derived from the stripping action a dog groomer would use when working on a wire haired terrier dog. What I want to deal with in this article are more traditional and classic techniques not something that is borrowed from the poodle parlour.
The Master Barbers.
THE METHOD
These are the 3 basic movements for carrying out the chassé-croisé cutting technique. Photographs Jess Middlebrook
Cutting hair with a tool that was designed and used purely for shaving may seem incongruous however a razor is nothing more than an extremely sharp knife and without a doubt for many centuries before scissors were invented then that sharp knife would more than likely have been all there was to use to cut hair. So having learned my skills from a Frenchman, what’s the difference? Firstly the tools are quite different in that the French invariably use a French razor, these being narrower and of a more solid cross section that an English or German hollow ground razor. The overall benefit of this tool choice is that the French razor will hold its edge for much longer than a razor of the hollow ground variety. Other advantages of a French Razor over a Hollow Ground one are that given their narrower widths they are much more controllable and a damn site quieter in operation as the Hollow Grounds have tendency to ring and squeak. I much prefer to use traditional razors rather than disposable blade razors of the shavette type. If anything I find the shavette a trifle lightweight and the edge of a new blade is a little too keen for my liking. There is, of course, a down side to using a traditional razor as you have to continually work at keeping it sharp enough to do the job in hand; that
involves stropping and setting the razor. These elements are in themselves almost lost skills to our craft. This fact alone – tool maintenance may be the chief reason for the decline in popularity of Razor Cutting. In the first instance we need a tool that is just sharp enough to cut the hair cleanly, so that there is little or no drag on the hair. Having said that I do prefer a razor that is just slightly off as this gives me the greatest feedback through the blade; with a razor that is blisteringly sharp none of that feel is transmitted back and I have seen many haircuts ruined as a consequence of an oversharp blade. Conversely, if a razor is downright blunt then too much force is needed to cut through the section of hair and a good degree of discomfort could be felt by the client. Razor cuts can be smoothly graduated or highly textured dependant on the client’s wishes or hair type. These days a complete razor cut is quite rare and I put that down to the fact that clients have not been able to access this service in the run of the mill Barber Shop. So whether you are doing a complete or a partial razor cut the cutting action and motion is just the same. A prime element of razor cutting is getting it into your head the fact that it’s not about any particular length of hair it’s all about the overall shape and form of the finished head of hair.
Never work on dry hair. The hair needs to be thoroughly wet and rather than just damping down with a spray bottle the wetting is better accomplished by shampooing. It requires no special kind of shampoo to precede a razor cut. Just use the shampoo necessary for the particular type of hair on which you are going to work. Take your razor, either a solid or hollow-ground one dependant on your preference, so far as you are concerned it does not matter a great deal, but the client may have something to say as the hollow-ground razor will pull more and be noisier. The razor should be held easily in the hand with the blade and handle forming one long straight line; do not hold the razor as you would for shaving. Use an standard haircutting comb and hold this in the left hand (I am almost ambidextrous but am right hand dominant so I am writing from the perspective of right hander. If you are a left hander then transpose everything mirror image); the exact position will vary according to the part of the hair you are cutting. Your razor should not be too keen. It is important that when razor cutting you keep the blade as flat as possible. Stand to the side of the chair facing the client with the razor in your right hand and your comb in the left hand. Comb the hair in the intended direction that it will lay when the cut is completed; comb the hair diagonally forward and let the razor closely follow the comb, paring the hair as it goes. The razor should follow the comb at approximately a 30°angle. Do not use a shaving stroke but draw the razor very lightly across the surface of the hair. Repeat this process section by section until the whole of the top hair has been treated in this manner. It is important to develop a good fluid wrist action when razor cutting as this will help your technique tremendously. Complete the whole of the top hair before moving on to the sides and back. Comb the back into its correct position before starting to cut the back section. Once again have your razor at a shallow angle; if the blade is too upright it will pull and squeak with a rasping sound as it rubs against the cuticle of the hair rather than cutting it cleanly. Work in even methodical steps section by section, continually combing to check if you are achieving a good fall and shape to the hair. When tackling the side sections be careful not to catch the ears with the heel of the razor, its easily done. Draw the side hair back and cut into it or should I say over it with a sliding action. There are many distinct differences between the UK way of razor cutting and the manner in which the art is practiced on the continent. Roger - my old mentor - used to say to me chassé-croisé particularly when working on the back section; the nearest translation we could come up with in English was to make the razor dance across the head in a zigzag fashion with the comb going one way and razor in the other direction with each missing the other in its path. Another French technique is a sort of rotary action where the comb precedes the razor and lifts the hair into the razor’s path, this is done with the hands rotating about each other. When practiced correctly this technique vaguely resembles the rotary action of a cylinder lawn mower blade. These are quite complex movements to put into words and it is far easier to demonstrate the techniques in a show and tell session. Anyway I hope that this article has given you an insight into the rapidly disappearing art of razor cutting, and I wish you well with your practice sessions. Until next time, keep snipping and clipping.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 61
TrainingNV.
When the idea of what elevates a good haircut to great was first propound, my thoughts immediately turned to the nuances of technical proficiency. Perhaps it’s indicative of a perceived shift in our industry’s focus.
Great, according to whom? 62 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
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arbering is perpetually advancing and pushing boundaries, particularly in terms of technical capabilities. We often find ourselves marvelling at the innovative creations of our highly skilled contemporaries. But it begs the question: Who is to judge what constitutes a great haircut? Admittedly, receiving plaudits from wellrespected colleagues is an honour. After all, they truly understand the intricacies of the cut and the dedication required to master the techniques employed. But your most important critics will always be yourself and your clients. A great haircut, or at least the basis for one, begins before a pair of clippers or scissors are gripped. Whether a first time client or decade long patron, the gent gracing your chair requires a full consultation. Fashion moves quickly, as does personal taste; you can’t assume the ‘same again’ will suffice. A recent study revealed, somewhat surprisingly, that the primary reason for men changing barbershops is a resistance to change. Considering versatility is key in our profession, why should a gent feel a change of barber is necessary for a change of style? I would imagine the barber to be, at least in most cases, capable of catering to the client’s need but has not been proactive enough in doing so. Akin to any great service, a haircut should flatter the client. A suit can be handcrafted from the most exquisite wool, but the fit is as, if not more, important to achieving a great look. Continuing with the analogy, it’s a tailor’s job to ensure a perfect fit. The same is true of a barber. Long faces need widening, and wide faces need lengthening. The bone structure of a man’s skull determines scalp exposure, and growth patterns determine how the hair can be styled. Anatomy isn’t the only consideration: a man’s style, profession and character must also be contemplated. After all, you can tell everything you need to know about a man by his handshake, shoes and haircut. Further personalisation is required once a suitable style has been agreed upon. Nothing stifles creativity quite like constant repetition, and clients shouldn’t leave with an ‘off the peg’ look. Square silhouettes are the most visually pleasing, so the variation has to come from the texturising and detailing. Perhaps try creating random surfaces or movement in areas of importance with slicing and point cutting. Observe and assess the hair’s natural movement with both your sense of touch and sight. Continually evaluating and cross checking your work ensures the cut is evenly structured. There is something intrinsically appealing about symmetry, so balance is key.
All haircuts should look fantastic when leaving the barbershop, of course. A great haircut will look equally as good for the next three to six weeks. The cut is synonymous with the style: working with strong shapes will ensure the style doesn’t wash out, and hair will fall beautifully into place. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you will be on hand to style your client’s hair between appointments. To avoid a steady decline into the hirsute depths of despair, it is important to properly educate your client on how to recreate the look day after day. You want your client to look and feel their best, and they will become a walking endorsement of your work. From blow-drying techniques to styling products, explain how and why you have
used them. If achieving the specific look required a certain product, perhaps suggest they purchase it. Unless you know otherwise, it’s fair to assume your client isn’t a male grooming expert in his spare time. Bestow upon him the tools and knowledge necessary to look great between cuts. Some haircuts require more maintenance than others, so advise when to book their next appointment. But remember, do not assume they want the same again! Everybody will have a different opinion on what makes a great haircut, and, of course, there are many different parameters. I could have approached this article from a number of standpoints, but want the focus to be on those we are ultimately accountable to, our clients.
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 63
TrainingNV.
Educators of the Month:
Hairbond Artistic and Stage Seminar Team An interview with Laura Boyd
Here at BarberNV, we like to celebrate the individuals and teams who help drive our industry forward, showcase new and innovative techniques and educate both us and aspiring barbers. This month, it’s the turn of the brilliant Hairbond Artistic and Stage Seminar Team...
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arberNV caught up with Chris Moon, who heads up the Artistic and Educational Team. Chris comes from a long line of acclaimed and award winning barbers, who own the Kutz barber shops in Whitley Bay and in North Shields. He explained that the idea to form the team came after he and Scott Michaels (owner of Hairbond) came back from the ISSE hair show in LA. He said: “We talked about having a team to have a greater stage presence. We wanted a core team who could showcase high quality cuts and use the products to maximise their styles. “We already had a small team of ambassadors who loved the products, so we asked the ambassadors to
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apply for the team and it evolved from there.” While some may be nervous about how their team would be received, Chris had no such worries. “The reaction has been massive! We have done a few shoots and collections and the team is full of big names, so it could only go one way.” So far they have hosted a seminar at Barber Connect and are planning a wave of seminars with Capital Hair and Beauty. “We are also doing stage work at the three Salon International shows this year in conjunction with MH FED.” Education and seminars appear to be more prevalent and informative than ever and Chris is delighted with this.
TrainingNV.
Hbondartistic Hairbondartistic
He explained: “Education is so so important. As a brand, you need to help others realise their potential and help them grow in the industry. Hairbond wants to help the barbering industry to be great and that means every barber having a high standard. Putting our name out there also helps highlight the diversity and ease with which Hairbond’s products can be used.” Hairbond has recently made the move across the pond, now selling in America, and Chris has high hopes that the team will go over there to help the brand grow. “There have already been talks about the artistic team doing a few seminars and shows in the US in the latter half of 2016.” With an increasing number of artistic teams, it is key that the Hairbond team stand out. In order to do that, Chris has recruited different barbers for his team, each with different styles of cutting. They are Jon Bourne from Barbertown, Worcester, Gareth Clark from Garth Clark for Men Didcot, Oxfordshire and Lynndy Rolfe from Hair by Lynndy, Northampton. Chris told BarberNV: “This helps us as there is something for everyone in terms of styles.” With new products in the pipeline and the brand growing day by day, Chris can’t pick a favourite – he loves the whole range and is relishing every opportunity to be a part of and promote the company he loves. He explained: “Getting to go to California and show what Britain has to offer was a dream, but
another highlight has been being given the job of Hairbond Creative Director. That has been an honour.” The Hairbond Artistic Team have bold plans to travel and spread the word of their work and the brand and Chris believes the sky’s the limit. “My dream is to have our own stage at some of the world’s biggest shows and to have a Hairbond academy for people to come too.”
ThE
Hairbond proudly flies the flag for Britain in the haircare industry
GrouP
Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, Hairbond uses only the best ingredients to formulate professional standard products to create an authentic British product of the highest possible quality. www.hairbond.co.uk
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TrainingNV.
BARBERNV TRAINING ACADEMY OF THE MONTH
SB Barbering Academy In today’s climate, training for a noble career like barbering is in very widely held. So more and more academies are producing qualified barbers across the country. SB Academy’s motto is ‘Quality Not Quantity’ and their founder Vikki Harrison-Smith believes they can change barber tutoring for the better. An interview Neale McCeever
H
ow is she doing this? “Hands on! Hands on! Hands on!!! Real people, real hair, real experiences”. Vikki founded the academy and has had the help of longtime colleague Sarah Johnson and guest trainer Ry Smith. The Sunderland-based academy was created out of passion for the industry and a vision of training barbers to a high skill level. “I love barbering - when I was working for a local college I saw the gap for a training establishment who could not only give out qualifications but also turn out quality freshly trained barbers who can actually walk out ready to cut-it in the industry.” Opposite a cinema, overlooking the mighty River Wear, SB Academy screams the word ‘identity’ as you walk in. Recycled JD bottles for spray, the pirate-ship-meets-a-tattoo-studio style décor. Vikki tells us this is all part of the vibe “The Academy is based on my husband’s barbershop, Smiths Barbers. We replicated the SB branding as we are connected.” It’s worth mentioning Vikki is married to the highly respected SBA guest trainer Ry Smith. Who also, as you have guessed, owns Smiths Barbers. Mrs Smith adds, “You’ll often find random bits and bobs all over. I’m still trying to fill the place as it’s so big!” This is isn’t your average barbering school. The academy even boasts its own loyal clientele who come back to see how well the new students are doing. To the soundtrack of 2Pac, there hasn’t been a more unique haircut experience. Along with long-time colleague Sarah Johnson, Vikki and Ry have become a powerhouse of hair-based education. The staff see the quality of service set by Ry’s shop as a gold standard set for SBA’s students. “From the actual service to the drinks offered, bacon butties on a Saturday morning for the people who queue for hours to get a cut everything is well thought out and all to create an excellent service” says Vikki. Herself and Ry boast a keen eye for talent and can tell who could cut it in his
shop. “We have trained every person in there, bar my right hand girl in the academy Sarah that girl can cut I tell you she works between the two” Undeniably, an academy would be nothing without its students. Although it’s tucked up in the North-East, SB Academy attracts aspiring scissor-hands from all over the UK. Danny White, from Leicester, chose SBA for its glowing reputation. “I love the vibe of the place and how you are trained to suit you,” said the student barber. “We get loads of handson experience, which is what you need to get you barbershop ready. I’ve loved every minute here doing my level 2,” continued Danny. As recommended by his favourite barber’s Sandy Man Chop Shop (in Exeter) Danny isn’t only a happy level graduate - he has also bagged himself an apprenticeship Level 3 at Smiths Barbers. That’s right, the shop owned by Vikki’s husband, and SB Academy guest trainer, Ry Smith. Danny is looking forward to putting his skills to use in the working world: “In the future I’d hopefully be barbering at Smith’s with my own clientele.” In today’s climate, taking on a skill such as barbering is a very wise idea. Vikki agrees with this sentiment and recalls when it wasn’t as ‘cool’ as SB Academy make it look. “I used to get ribbed by hairdressers who were training at high end salons, they used to look down on me in a certain way as it wasn’t the in thing to do,” remembers Vikki. “Barbering always has been a strong business, it’s just nobody appreciated it.” For Vikki the business has always ran in the family: “My grandad, or Pops as I call him, had four successful shops and I feel proud at 93 he can see what I’m doing for the barbering industry.” Vikki can relate to her students as she had a worthy start to her career. “Big up the Malcolm H girls,” she declares, referring to the shop she started at. “I was lucky because I trained as an
“The beauty of SB is that we keep trainer trainee ratio high, meaning we can cater to every student’s needs and take time to teach them the above techniques”
66 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
apprentice with some talented barbers who I still look up to. I used to look at them and think, I really need to cut like you! Free handing flat tops with scissors with ease,” she adds. So how has the industry changed since Vikki originally trained? She believes moving with the times, yet preserving tradition, is the answer. The way SB teach certain techniques keep things fresh but also take on styles passed through the generations. Vikki cites something she enjoys teaching - “scissor over comb it is one of the most versatile techniques and so
TrainingNV.
fun to do. I use it in most haircuts - it keeps me feeling like a barber and less like a robot with 10 clipper guards. Anything above a 3, I just cut with my scissors or clipper over comb”. Much like learning any skills, barbering isn’t an easy one. “Someone can fly through using the cut throat and struggle with clipper work and vice versa. Every student has different needs and can find different aspects of the trade challenging,” comments Vikki. “There is so much to learn, I don’t think people realise how in-depth the training actually is.” Even so,
the Academy founder reckons all students will find things difficult but, in the same way, can master them too. She continues, “The beauty of SB is that we keep the trainer-trainee ratio high, meaning we can cater to every student’s needs and take time to teach them the above techniques. It would be easier to teach using lots of guards, as I have seen grown men cry over clipper over comb, so I’ll say that is probably the most difficult technique for people to master.” As many jobs are scarce in this day and
age, a lot of people are looking to training. As previously mentioned, barbering is a solid profession to undertake. In the same way that there are more tattoo artists becoming successful, barbering is back in style, in the best way possible. “100% the barbering trade is thriving,” Vikki tells us. “It always has been, but now even more so with barbers creating more of an experience and old fashioned style social environment to hang out in. Gone are the 5 minute specials or ‘short back and scrapes’ as I call them”. Outside the industry, some will have the old-fashioned view of a ‘traditional’ barber shop as one with moustachioed men in striped waistcoats. As most people in the trade know, this isn’t the case. In a world ruled by social media, it is the best time to network as a barber. The Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for SB Academy are pivotal to the students’ work: “Posting photos on an app, like Instagram, is a great platform also to network with other like-minded barbers and showcase work which in turn keeps standards high”. You never know, that little picture you take on your smart-phone might be the first step to your dream job. In true Northern style, SB Academy are holding a celebration of the Level 3 students work. “This will showcase the students’ cuts and styles through the ages,” announces Vikki. The students are also organising the entertainment, food, drink, sponsors and music. There will be a lot of local media and other barbers from around the country, including Sandy Man Chop Shop’s Simon Bethal and Hard Grind’s Colin Petrie – who will both be judging the styles. Not only is this a celebration of hard work but also a chance for students to prove themselves to their teachers. “I’m really looking forward to seeing what they all come up with and I hope they all do me proud!” says Vikki. So what sets SB Academy from the rest? In a word – experience. “It’s a bit of a cliché,” says Vikki, “but we are only in competition with ourselves and strive to make this the best possible learning environment we can.”
BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 67
TrainingNV.
DECEMBER/JANUARY TRAINING DATES Date
Duration Course
1st Dec
5 Days
2nd Dec
2 Days
6th Dec
1 Day
Shaving Specialist
Savills Academy
Sheffield
£200
0114 276 1011
6th Dec
2 Days
Wet Shaving
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£399
0115 784 0400
7th Dec
6 Days
Fast Track Barber & Shave
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£995
0800 644 6601
7th Dec
1 Day
Ace of Fades
WAHL Academy
Leeds
£150
0113 245 7439
7th Dec
10 Days
Elite Barber
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£1,695
0800 644 6601
7th Dec
9 Weeks
Diploma in Barbering
London School of Barbering
Covent Garden £3,780
0207 404 0998
7th Dec
3 Weeks
Masters in Barbering
London School of Barbering
Farrington
0207 404 0998
7th Dec
5 Days
Fast Track Barber
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£795
0800 644 6601
8th Dec
2 Days
Clipper Confidence
Savills Academy
Sheffield
£350
0114 276 1011
8th Dec
5 Days
Intensive Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,199
0115 784 0400
9th Dec
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Rugeley
£600
01785 815865
9th Dec
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Staffordshire
£600
01785 815865
11th Dec
1 Day
Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£250
0203 602 5855
11th Dec
2 Days
NVQ L3 Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£450
0203 602 5855
12th Dec
1 Day
Wet Shave
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£225
0800 644 6601
13th Dec
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Nottingham
£200
078035 53684
13th Dec
1 Day
Cippper Masterclass
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£175
0115 784 0400
14th Dec
1 Day
Colouring
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£225
0800 644 6601
14th Dec
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Darlington
£200
078035 53684
14th Dec
9 Weeks
L3 Certificate in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£1,800
0203 602 5855
14th Dec
5 Days
Experienced Barber NVQ
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£700
0800 644 6601
14th Dec
9 Weeks
L3 Diploma in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£2,500
0203 602 5855
14th Dec
9 Weeks
L2 Diploma in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£2,500
0203 602 5855
14th Dec
9 Weeks
L2 Certificate in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£1,800
0203 602 5855
15th Dec
5 Days
Intensive Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,199
0115 784 0400
18th Dec
1 Day
Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£250
0203 602 5855
20th Dec
2 Days
Bespoke Course
Mobile Barbering Academy
Milton Keynes
£400
07999 642244
21st Dec
2 Days
Wet Shaving Course
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£550
0207 404 0998
23rd Dec
2 Days
Advanced Cutting & Fading
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£550
0207 404 0998
4th Jan
9 Weeks
Diploma in Barbering
London School of Barbering
Covent Garden £3,780
4th Jan
9 Weeks
Diploma in Barbering
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£3,780
0207 404 0998
4th Jan
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Rugeley
£600
01785 815865
4th Jan
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Staffordshire
£600
01785 815865
4th Jan
5 Days
Intensive Barbering
5th Jan
1 Day
Perfection in Styling Workshop Mobile Barbering Academy
8th Jan
2 Days
NVQ L3 Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£450
0203 602 5855
8th Jan
1 Day
Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£250
0203 602 5855
9th Jan
2 Days
Wet Shaving
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£399
0115 784 0400
10th Jan
1 Day
Modern Barbering
Hands on Training
Aberdeen
£140
07801 933780
11th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Dublin
£200
078035 53684
11th Jan
9 Weeks
NVQ Level 2
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£2,995
0800 644 6601
11th Jan
12 Weeks
NVQ Level 3
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£3,995
0800 644 6601
11th Jan
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Rugeley
£600
01785 815865
11th Jan
2 Days
Professional Wet Shave Course The Shave Doctor Training School Staffordshire
£600
01785 815865
11th Jan
5 Days
Cutting,Fading & Shaving
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£900
0207 404 0998
11th Jan
1 Day
One Day Shaving Course
Joseph Lanzante Training
Accrington
£195
01254 427 575
68 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
Company/School
Location
Cost
Contact
Intensive Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,199
0115 784 0400
Wet Shaving Course
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£550
0207 404 0998
Sid Sottung Academy
£1,500
0207 404 0998
Nottingham
£1,199
0115 784 0400
Milton Keynes
£360
07999 642244
TrainingNV.
KEN J R HERMES | THAT LITTLE BARBER SHOP
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Email. ken@thatlittlebarbershop.com | Tel. +44 7769 341 909 BARBERNV MAGAZINE | 69
TrainingNV.
DECEMBER/JANUARY TRAINING DATES Date
Duration Course
Company/School
Location
Cost
Contact
11th Jan
5 Days
Advanced Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,499
0115 784 0400
11th Jan
4 Days
Four Day Refresher Course
Joseph Lanzante Training
Accrington
£795
01254 427 575
11th Jan
1 Day
Modern Barbering
Hands on Training
Dundee
£140
07801 933780
11th Jan
10 Days
Elite Barber
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£1,695
0800 644 6601
12th Jan
12 Weeks
Level 2 Certificate in Barbering Charles Clarke Barber Academy
Cavan, Ireland
€2,150
info@charlesclarke.ie
12th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Dublin
£200
078035 53684
13th Jan
1 Day
Advanced Fade Master
Mobile Barbering Academy
Milton Keynes
£360
07999 642244
15th Jan
1 Day
Contempoary Barbering
Outlaw Barber Collective
Londonderry
£100
07812 345 878
16th Jan
1 Day
Wet Shave
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£225
0800 644 6601
16th Jan
2 Days
Wet Shaving
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£399
0115 784 0400
17th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Preston
£200
078035 53684
17th Jan
1 Day
Contempoary Barbering
Outlaw Barber Collective
Londonderry
£100
07812 345 878
17th Jan
3 Days
Master Barber
Savills Academy
Sheffield
£475
0114 276 1011
18th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Derby
£200
078035 53684
18th Jan
1 Day
Colouring
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£225
0800 644 6601
18th Jan
1 Day
Shave Facial Practice
Men U Academy
Southhampton £345
01256 766566
18th Jan
2 Days
Advanced Cutting & Fading
London School of Barbering
Farrington
£550
0207 404 0998
18th Jan
5 Days
Intensive Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,199
0115 784 0400
20th Jan
1 Day
Advanced Men’s Hairdressing Mobile Barbering Academy
Milton Keynes
£360
07999 642244
22nd Jan
1 Day
Wet Shaving
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£250
0203 602 5855
23rd Jan
2 Days
Wet Shaving
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£399
0115 784 0440
24th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Kent
£200
078035 53684
25th Jan
1 Day
Hot-Towel Shave
Charles Clarke Barber Academy
Cavan, Ireland
€235
info@charlesclarke.ie
25th Jan
5 Days
Advanced Barbering
Sid Sottung Academy
Nottingham
£1,499
0115 784 0440
25th Jan
9 Weeks
L2 Certificate in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£1,800
0203 602 5855
25th Jan
9 Weeks
L2 Diploma in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£2,500
0203 602 5855
25th Jan
6 Days
Fast Track Barber & Shave
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£995
0800 644 6601
25th Jan
1 Day
Fast Track Barber
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£795
0800 644 6601
25th Jan
1 Day
All Fundamentals Course
Menspire
Norwich
£200
078035 53684
25th Jan
1 Day
Specialist: The Shave
WAHL Academy
Leeds
£150
0113 245 7439
25th Jan
9 Weeks
L3 Certificate in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£1,800
0203 602 5855
25th Jan
9 Weeks
L3 Diploma in Barbering
Cutaway Training Academy
London
£2,500
0203 602 5855
27th Jan
1 Day
Artistic Pattern Workshop
Mobile Barbering Academy
Milton Keynes
£360
077999 642244
28th Jan
1 Day
Modern Barbering
Hands on Training
Glasgow
£140
07801 933780
30th Jan
1 Day
Wet Shave
Hair for Men Academy
Surrey
£225
0800 644 6601
31st Jan
1 Day
Modern Barbering
Hands on Training
Southport
£140
07801 933 780
31st Jan
1 Day
Basic Barbering Workshop
Mobile Barbering Academy
Milton Keynes
£360
07999 642244
31st Jan
1 Day
Contempoary Barbering
Outlaw Barber Collective
Glasgow
£100
07812 345 878
TBC
30 Sessions VTCT NVQ Level 2 Certificate SB Barbering Academy
Sunderland
£2,500
0191 567 3644
TBC
45 Sessions VTCT Level 3 NVQ Certificate SB Barbering Academy
Sunderland
£2,700
0191 567 3644
TBC
45 Sessions VTCT Level 3 NVQ Diploma
Sunderland
Gov Funded 0191 567 3644
SB Barbering Academy
*Dates and prices are correct at time of going to print and are subject to change.
70 | BARBERNV MAGAZINE
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