Editors Letter

We start this issue by first acknowledging the Kabi Kabi and Tugambeh people, traditional custodians of the lands from which be bring you barbershop magazine, and we pay respect to their elders past and present. A very warm welcome to you one and all wherever you are reading us.

There’s a saying with Blues Musicians, “You can’t play the Blues unless you can play the freight train.” What they are saying is you can’t expect to truly master an art form if you don’t know the “Roots”, the history from where it all began, the essence, the spirit…the soul from which a beautiful creative movement that touches so many in so many ways… was born.

Barbering is no different, right now in 2022, we like to think we are pioneers, breaking new ground, we are not. Have a look at 1920 and 1930 haircuts on men, sick skinfades brah… and no clippers!!

Fast forward to the 1950’s and an influencer on the social media of the day, black and white television, by the name of Elvis Presley hit the scene. He had a greasedup pompadour that still makes todays fans of the pomp salivate, in fact, it set the standard from which every pomp from that day forward would be compared.

Hair fashion and indeed all fashion trends, go round and round, round and round, we pay homage to the looks that resonate with us by keeping them alive and doing a better job of it each time it comes into vogue or not even we just keep doing them because the looks are part of us. That’s why we have thriving sup-cultures, groups of like-minded folks that love the same fashion, style and shared beliefs, you know, your tribe!

Just ask a veteran of the trade that has been around enough turns of the sun to know. As I have stated to you before and many of you know, I did the hair and make-up for the Last Super shoot and I said to Jesus, dude, long hair… beards and sandals will make a comeback, it took a while but 1970 years later… was I right?... was I right!

Seriously, the historical timeline for barbering is very interesting to look at, this issue we meet a trailblazer that possibly singlehandedly kick-started the modern barber movement we are enjoying it today, back in the early and mid 90’s, Donnie Hawley, of and he is the founder of LAYRIGHT products, you probably have some on your shelf.

With modern maestros like the AREA team here in Australia and the L3VEL3 teams globally (just to name two groups that happen to be represented in these pages as well) tackling longer hair as it trends in slowly this time around in history, we are unlikely to see the demise of the barber or barbershop ever again like we did in the 70’s and 80’s as we move forward into the future no matter what the current hair trend of the day, long, short, shin fades or beards on, beards off! Today’s modern barber will be skilled at it all, even mastering colour.

We are clever and we meet the needs of what’s desired by our customers. Check out VITAMAN in this issue, an Australian company that has already gained international fame and respect for their amazing range men’s grooming products as they introduce among other things, skin care into our world. A game changer for us here in Australia sure, but a trend that men around the world are demanding from their Groomsmiths…us, in the form in-house treatments and in take home after care.

Starting your own shop, Moe Diedricks is in Melbourne, and he generously takes us along for the ride this issue. We join up with Barbero Bengie of L3VEL3 fame in-between a massive back-to-back live show touring schedule he is currently doing State Side.

Speaking of shows, it’s that time again folks. Hair Festival is upon us Queens Birthday weekend in Sydney at Carriage Works. We have the skinny on the finalists of our AHIA Men’s Hair Specialist of The Year, you can see their submissions in this issue. If you’re at Hair Festival, pop over the AHIA Gallery/Mocha Group stand and say Hi, I would love to see you and talk about your entry into our Australian Modern Barber Awards there’s still time to enter…let’s get it going!! …and talk all things barbering of course.

Fraser Forsey is here, Captain Fawcett is here, NZ Barber of the Year winners are here, Sam Squires, Collette Saunders (also performing at Hair Festival) Don De Sanctis talks beards, Mario Fallace-business and more, more, more

This is issue 11.2 Enjoy!!

Rex A.C. Silver

Editor – Barbershop Magazine

@rex.a.c.silver