Barbershop Year 12 Issue 3

barber shop

ADVERTISING

editor’s letter

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

I start this issue by announcing that this will be my final editors’ letter to you all. You may have read already that we have undergone some restructuring here at Mocha Group and my esteemed colleague Louise May has taken on the role of Editor-in-Chief overseeing all 3 publications, Hair Biz, Beauty Biz and Barbershop.

Gone you say? No, we say! Although I will no longer sit in the role of editor for the Mocha Group, I remain on as Senior Freelance Writer and will still bring you some big features in each issue of Barbershop.

Who will be editor of barbershop? You will!! Or at least 4 of you a year. We are mixing it up and giving it back to the people, and will be inviting 4 industry individuals a year to be Guest Editor for an Issue!

On a personal note, I am proud to announce I have accepted the international role of Creative Director for Heiniger who have just launched here in Australia and by the time you read this, some of you would have already attended the live shows in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

My partner Dana and myself will also be representing the VITAMAN brand to the hair industry under the banner the newly formed Silver Nova Group a distribution and education business formed solely for that reason. So, very exciting times for me indeed and I know I have all of your support and well wishes moving forward, so thank you in advance.

Get in on the excitement here this issue and read about Heiniger’s history as a Swiss company dominating the global animal clipper market and are now taking on the hair industry. There is also a brilliant collection from Robert Braid, Heiniger’s newly appointed Artistic Director, that he and I shot in London in June this year with the legendary Liam Oakes behind the lens.

Speaking of Switzerland, on our trip there this year Rob and I were lucky enough to be taken to Pompadour Barbers in Bern, read that story… see those images. British Men’s winner…. yeah he’s here too, meet George Smith a second generation hairy, (I am meeting a lot of them lately, maybe there’s my first freelance contribution?) who is taking the UK men’s hairdressing scene by storm read that story…see those images.

Back home in Australia we have our own big guns with feature profiles on Ben Kane and Anthony Nafatali, read their stories… see their images. Kings Domain Prahran are in the house…Shop profile alert!! Meet Joe Kurdyla read his Kings Domain story…see his Kings Domain images.

Fraser Forsey’s new 4Barbers is fully presented here, see what Fraser his new business platform and his stable of educators are up to, read the story…see the images.

Collette has another amazing feature for you, introducing us to Mandy and Reno of 2Singular WA.

Mocha Boss Jarred Stedman takes us to an American Crew event in Sydney read it….see it….. we hear from Barberette Jayde Davis on her journey crossing the divide from hairdressing to barbering read and see…

The usual suspects in blogland, Jimmy Rod, Fraser, Anna in Italy, Paul and Lance. Read them.

There’s Business with Mario Fallace form Australia and Liz McKeon from the UK, read those, and see a whole lot more between these pages because this is:

Issue 12.3

Enjoy!!

Rex A.C. Silver

Rex A. C. Silver

Hoping you enjoyed my 5 years at the desk.

Peace and Love.

Close curtains

BARBER EXPO

Man of the moment

GEORGE SMITH CURRENT BRITISH HAIRDRESSING AWARDS: MEN’S HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

BY JULIE BELLINGER-GIBB

Hailing from one of the UK’s most successful hairdressing families, George Smith is making his own name in the barbering world and proving to be in a league of his own.

‘Keep it in the family’ is how the saying goes, and the Smiths have made sure hairdressing has stayed at the heart of their home. George Smith is the latest name from this Salisbury family of four to hit the heights of career success by winning Men’s Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards 2022. George’s dad, Phil Smith is a multi-award winner, has two successful product ranges and is seen as one of the smartest brains in the business. Mum, Louise is an award-winning hairdresser and ran her own Toni & Guy salon for over 30 years. Even big sister Ellie has scooped her own share of trophies.

This year, the Smiths merged all their talents under one roof. In a move that saw them close the doors to Toni & Guy Salisbury - a business Louise had run for over 30 years - and re-open independently as Smith England, which had been operating at different premises for just over 10 years, the entire family are now united. It all seems like it was meant to be. But while you could argue hairdressing was in his blood, George wasn’t always naturally drawn to the scissors.

“Both of my parents influenced me in a big way,” George admits. “I grew up surrounded by hair. As a kid, my parents would often bring me to work. This could be at the salon or even on a photoshoot where all sorts would be happening. I remember one day as a kid my dad was making wigs with Beverly Cobella and talking through different looks. I enjoyed just watching the process, without knowing one day that vision may shape my entire future. I just wanted to prove that I could do something else if I wanted to.” George took a job as a car salesman and dabbled with various other jobs, but it was mum, Louise who convinced him that he could cut it in the hair world.

“I had a conversation with my mum who said, ‘you are going to do hair’.” George took a three-month intensive course at the Toni & Guy academy in London – the very same place his mum, dad and sister had all trained. He loved the buzz and discovered almost immediately that his passion was for barbering. “On that very first day I knew I was in the right place; it was a great atmosphere.” With the spark of his youth reignited, George says, “I’ve never looked back since.”

George has nothing but admiration for his two teachers and mentors Charlie Cullen and Dexter Johnson and reflects, “If it wasn’t for them, it could have been a different story. It’s not necessarily just about their work, but the type of people they are too.” There was never a doubt that men’s hair is where George’s passions lay, “Being able to pull off the best fade or to do an effortless taper is so much more interesting for me than women’s hairdressing,” he says. “For me, it was always the barber course that pulled me in and personally I’ve never been able to step away from it and I want to be the very best I can be. I’m happiest when I’ve got a set of clippers or a blade in my hand.”

As a fledgling stylist, George took up a position at the family’s Toni & Guy salon in Salisbury, later becoming the salon’s men’s specialist and assistant manager, while more recently helping his parent’s mastermind the merger to Smith England.

Awards opportunities have been coming thick and fast for George. He entered and won the Men’s category in the Wella Trend Vision UK & Ireland awards at his first attempt. He won the award for ‘I Want His Hair’ at the Hair Awards, finalised for Men’s Hair Specialist at CHMW 2022, plus the Modern Barber Awards, “The Big One” Trophy from the Fellowship for British Hairdressing Photographic Awards, and was runner-up in the American Crew All Star challenge.

And then, of course the big prize – winning Men’s Hairdresser of the Year at the BHAs in 2022.

When accepting the trophy, George saved his last and most heartfelt thanks for his parents. The fact that he was now on stage in the same spot as both his parents had stood before him is something he describes as a huge honour. “I’m so grateful to these two,” he declared. “I wouldn’t be doing any of these things without them.”

The award opens up all kinds of opportunities for George and puts him on a global stage. He was part of PROJECT: MEN – a 12-month program of education, mentoring and opportunities with the Fellowship for British Hairdressing. He has also been working alongside a panel of industry experts to curate and help write the training procedures for the new barbering qualification for City and Guilds.

For a while, George has been instrumental behind the scenes at Smith England, overseeing training when the family still had both salons. Now, he takes younger recruits under his wing and one of Smith England’s rising stars has just won Apprentice of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards. “Although I’m pretty early days in my career, I’m passionate about education and the future of hairdressing,” says George. “We should want our youngsters to have pride in what they do, and we should be showing them how they can”.

Then there are other personal projects afoot. George has recently partnered with American Crew as one of their Creative Artists and quite naturally, this ambitious soul has his sights set on his own product development too (details of which he’s keeping under his hat – for now).

For George Smith, it looks like the sky’s the limit. Fired up by his award win and hungry for the next challenge, he says, “My mantra is to seize every opportunity presented to you and never say no.” While he may have denied it at first, the lure of the family bloodline in hair was too strong. It’s hard to imagine George being anywhere else right now. “I was born to do this. No doubt about that,” he admits.

@georgexsmith

@smithenglandsalon @alexbarronhough

Photography: Alex Barron-Hough

Hair: George Smith

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Power Ranger

BY REX A.C. SILVER

Anthony Nafatali is a dedicated and driven young barber who has proved that with determination and hard work, you can achieve your goals sooner than you think if you open your mind to the possibilities. He is a National Educator for Barber Temple, on the Wahl National Education Team Member and the owner of Our Way Studio.

Growing up as a shy kid in Inala my main interests were sports and athletics with rugby league being my first dream, but it was so hard to chase as my dad didn’t let be play because I was a fragile skinny kid. When my dreams of being a rugby player were crushed, I then wanted to be something more realistic such as a Power Ranger ha-ha!

I was a reserved kid who would always keep to myself and spent a lot of time playing the Xbox 360 in my room. I was bought up in a Samoan family where culture and family are very important. I watched my dad work very hard to provide for my mum, me and my four siblings. So, these are strong values I strive for as an adult now from being embedded as a child.

THE HAIR JOURNEY

I was in a job where I was unhappy and knew I needed to do something different. I always had an interest in haircut transformations and found myself indulging in haircut videos and tutorials on YouTube.

I then reached out to a friend Elijah Peleti, owner of Prophet Cutz who took me under his wing. Still working a 9 to 5 job, after work I would drive 45 minutes to his shop to learn. I started practising clipper movements on a piece of paper with printed guidelines, shortly after moving on to a live model. Elijah bought me my first clippers which ware the Wahl 5 Star Cordless Senior Clipper. Taking in the knowledge I was learning each weekend I would practise on family and friends.

About 6 months into training, I was so eager and applied at a few barbershops but got knocked back for lack of experience. I then applied at Tommy Guns, Garden City where they took me on as an apprentice.

I was confident in my skill but knew I still had so much to learn; my biggest weakness was scissor work (it didn’t help that I had budget scissors), but wanted to get a stronger understanding of sectioning patterns, constantly educating myself by watching videos to help further my knowledge. Discovering Josh Lamonaca early was a big pivoting point in my career watching him push boundaries and having no limits to creativity was something I wanted to step in to.

Into a year of barbering my progression and passion was growing rapidly and the thought of passing on the little knowledge I had to up and coming barbers was something I wanted to pursue. A good friend of mine Philip Binuya and I held a fade workshop at Always Will Be Coffee Barbershop. After this workshop I knew education was my next goal and what I needed to work towards.

8 months later I was presented with a huge opportunity to be a full time Educator for Barber Temple. I questioned myself as to why I was chosen to become an Educator in such a short time frame, but I strongly believe my passion and drive for the industry made me stand out.

Starting at Barber Temple I was able to travel all over Australia to barbershops and salons, upskilling apprentices and sharpening the skills of qualified barbers and hairdressers.

A huge milestone in my career was joining the iCandy Scissors All Star education team alongside some huge names in our industry. Shortly after this I participated in an intensive training session with Wahl Australia’s Global artistic director, Simon Shaw and was then offered to be part of the national Wahl Australia education team.

One of my biggest highlights so far was being on main stage at New Zealand Hair and Beauty expo and touring around New Zealand.

OUR WAY BARBER STUDIO

Our Way Barber Studio officially opened its doors on the 8th of July 2023. Our team consists of Philip Binya, an ambitious barber who is always happy to take constructive criticism and upskill himself, as well as myself. We are focused on growing the studio and will be expanding our team shortly in the future.

Our space is calm, collective, and welcoming to a diverse clientele. It is a place where you won’t be rushed, and your wants and needs are listened to whilst experiencing a high-end service.

The meaning behind the name is that we are doing things differently (Our Way). We take pride in delivering quality customer service, haircuts, and overall experience. We are not the standard barbershop we allow lengthy appointments and extra inclusions such as complimentary hair wash and scalp massage, free drink, hot towel, cold towel, neck shave and a spritz of a high-end cologne to finish off the service.

TOOL TALK

My scissors of choice are iCandy Scissors Australia and I am blessed to have the entire range. For precise cutting

THIS IS ANTZ THE BARBER…

iCandy elevate show

Our Way Owners

I use an All Star 5.5 inch. The sleek handling allows me to have full control over my scissor cuts also being light weight allows for such amazing dexterity.

For scissor over comb I use the Sword Pro 6.1 inches. Having a bigger scissor covering more ground allows me to move around the head more efficiently and with the scissors being Japanese VG10 stainless steel they have no trouble getting through any types of hair.

Wahl has been in my tool kit since I first picked up a set of clippers. You can’t go wrong with any of the Wahl professional range and my go to’s are my cordless Super Tapers, Cordless Detailer Li trimmers and the 5 Star Finale Foil Shaver. Super tapers pack a punch for such a lightweight clipper, the taper blade works well with all types of hair giving you the ease to scoop out and eliminate fade lines. I also use the Super Taper for clipper over comb, free handing and sculpting which is why I love them because the super tapers are so versatile.

HAIR CARE AND STYLING

For styling I’ve been loving dry textured finishes and for pre styling I using The Bearded Chap Sea salt spray. I love the grit that it gives also the scent is so refreshing. Another favourite I’ve been using is Uppercut Clay applying to damp hair then blow drying it in it give a strong hold with a nice dry finish. Also, the Club Dark Texture Powder this is a game changer for people with finer hair filing in light spots and adding a crazy amount of texture.

Lastly can’t forget beard grooming products from The Bearded Chap. My personal favourite is starting off with the Rugged beard wash and then finishing off with the Tobacco and Vanila beard oil, I love the masculine and fresh scent this gives off while also moisturising the skin. All products are huge sellers in my studio.

SHARING PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE

My first official educational workshop for Barber Temple was at Bundaberg TAFE with Kayne Thomas also known as Clipper Kayne. This workshop consisted of a look and learn component then followed up with a hands-on session where the attendees were able to put what they had learnt into action.

Being a part of the Barber Temple education team opened the door for two companies in

our industry to notice me and take me in to be a part of their teams. I still remember it like it was yesterday talking to Mark and Vicky Conrad from iCandy and receiving my first scissor kit from them, it was such an amazing feeling. Last year I was able to present the new sword collection on stage at the Elevate event held at Barber Temple with over 150 barber and hairdresser attendees, what an eventful night to be able to educate for the iCandy All-Star team. I felt like I was in my element showcasing my creative side using the new Sword Pro Scissors.

To be part of the Wahl National Education Team we had to complete an intensive train the trainer program learning about product knowledge, also picking up new skills on how to educate from the other educators on the team. Having the Global Artistic Director of Wahl Simon Shaw attend, was such an inspiration After the training we held the launch of the new Cordless Legend Clipper.

I have facilitated many apprentice bootcamps with one of my most memorable being a 10-day bootcamp for Legends Barbershop. All attendees were beginners with no barbering skills and at the end of the 10 days they had the knowledge and skills to be on the floor. And I am proud to say all are still current apprentices with Legends who I continue to visit and educate regularly.

The satisfaction off seeing people learn and take in knowledge even if it is just one thing makes educating so rewarding. Experiencing the educational side of our industry in such an early stage of my career, the amount of information I was constantly taking in I felt like sponge as I was still learning along the way.

FUTURE NEWS AND PLANS

I am always striving for more and have many more goals to accomplish still. So, keep an eye out with more Our Way studios planning to open soon and we are planning to get a team together for Our Way Education, to bring the education standard to the next level.

@ourwaybarberstudio

@barbertempleaus

@antzthebarber

First scissor kit from Mark Conrad at iCandy Scissors

First workshop in Bunaberg

Our Way Barber Studio Space

A Royal Domain

BY REX A.C. SILVER

Joe Kurdyla started working at Toni&Guy in Bradford, UK on a Saturday when he was still at school at around 15/16 years old which soon resulted in the offer of a full-time apprenticeship

“I loved music, played guitar and was obsessed with the likes of Elvis and Buddy Holly which I guess looking back is pretty strange for an 8-year-old from a working-class city in the north of England.,” says Joe. “I was really into their look just as much as the music. Then as I got a bit older, that evolved into the British music scene and growing up in the UK in the 90’s and 00’s, I loved the looks similar to Liam Gallagher and the whole Indie/ Britpop music scene. I always copied these haircuts at school and then started doing a few of my mates’ hair. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing but people would still ask me. I remember when David Beckham first shaved his hair off, I shaved my best mates’ hair off with his Dad’s beard trimmer in his bathroom. He wasn’t happy!”

Things pretty much snowballed from there and so fast forward to today, we find Joe a business partner in Kings Domain, Prahran still loving everything about the Barbering industry here in Australia.

What do you love most about our industry?

I love my clients and the social aspect of the industry. I moved to Australia nearly 8 years ago and didn’t know anyone. Doing this job made it so easy to settle in Melbourne and make lots of mates. I feel lucky to be able to do something creative, and just have a laugh all day. There are much more stressful jobs out there, right?!

What does Barbering mean to you?

For me barbering has given me so much. I’ve being able to travel the world, start businesses and meet some amazing people. I also love that you can always challenge yourself. Whether it’s the haircut, your service or the way you manage/influence others. I try to work on small aspects within those things every day.

When did you start or open this shop?

I started with Kings Domain in January 2015, I got on really well with my bosses (now business partners) and opened Kings Domain in Prahran in December 2016. I opened the shop with the founders of Kings Domain, Aaron Chan and Joey Scandizzo in December 2016.

Kings Domain was still just one shop when I started, and I could see straight away that if I worked hard then there would be plenty of opportunities. I was originally planning on moving back to the UK and opening a shop, but Kings Domain aligned with everything I wanted to do, and I was loving living in Melbourne so why not get the best of both worlds!

The interior design of our shop reflects a blend of classic elegance and modern sophistication. We always aim to create a warm, inviting atmosphere and a space where clients can relax and enjoy some time to take care of themselves.

Our team is the heart of the shop. We have talented barbers; skilled apprentices and we strive to provide the best service possible. In Prahran we have 6 chairs and 10 staff members, we’ve built a community that is passionate about barbering and tries to have as much fun as possible along the way.

I’m incredibly proud to be part of Kings Domain. It’s not just a business; but also, a big part of our local community, this allows us to connect with our clients on a personal level.

“For us it’s more than just a haircut, it’s the way you make someone feel by providing a superior service that will help ensure clients leave the shop feeling much better than when they came in.”

What makes Kings Domain stand out?

At Kings Domain we put a real focus on the service and for me that starts the moment you step foot in the door. Trying to create that perfect experience from start to finish is something that we can continuously challenge ourselves to do. For us it’s more than just a haircut, it’s the way you make someone feel by providing a superior service that will help ensure clients leave the shop feeling much better than when they came in.

What products do you love, use and sell to your clients?

My go to is Kings Domain Melbourne Sea Salt Texture Spray, it smells great, it has a good hold and plenty of grit. My clients love it.

Kings Domain Melbourne is our men’s haircare range. We wanted to have a product our barbers and client community could feel was their own. This stemmed from doing something for ourselves and then taking the time to refine it and make sure we’re doing it properly. Our line of high performing products is accessible to the wider community now, in price and location. The Kings Domain Melbourne products are also now stocked in over 800 Coles stores across Australia.

TOOL TALK

I’ve just started using the Gamma+ Boosted clippers & I think they’re great. They’re a good solid clipper and they’re nice & light. I always used Wahl before that. It’s nice to switch it up a bit! Scissors – Excellent Edges. Pete and the guys do a great job and I’m a massive fan of their Crocs (scissors not slides!) I would 100% recommend them to anyone, I always tell the apprentices when they start with us to put a little bit of money to one side each week and when they finish their apprenticeship, they should treat themselves to a pair. They’re a game changer!

And further business goals?

In November 2021 myself and a couple of business partners opened Saint Domain Barbers in South Melbourne. We streamlined our barbershop offering to a more classic barbershop approach and so far the business has gone from strength to strength. I don’t cut hair at Saint Domain, so it’s been both challenging and fun working in a less operational role and more just focusing on the business side of things. I’ve also gained a qualification in Digital Marketing which is coming in useful!

I’m also involved in Kings Domain Melbourne which is our men’s haircare range. So between the businesses and having an 18 month old son – I’ve been keeping myself pretty busy!

In terms of my future goals, I’m really enjoying the digital marketing side of things and I feel I’m at a stage in my career where I want to use my experience to help other small business owners in this field. From my own personal experiences, the digital marketing industry is a minefield of jargon and unfulfilled promises. I want to change that and create something where I can work with business owners, teach and help them master their own digital marketing. With a specific focus on managing paid ads on social media and Google, I want to help them create a more straightforward & cost-effective approach to their digital.

I’ve been cutting a lot of my client’s hair since arriving in Australia so even though I’m pretty busy, it’s important to me to carry on doing that. I still really enjoy being on the shop floor cutting hair and catching up with my clients.

@kingsdomaibarbers

Kings Domain Barbershop, 154 Greville Street, Prahran, VIC

A Leading Force

As Lead Educator he launched the 1st National Education Team in 2023 for BaBylissPRO and over his 19 years in the industry as a qualified Barber & Hairdresser, Fraser has developed a unique style of education which demonstrates his love and passion for Barbering and business. His accolades include 2021 AMBA Australia’s Best Men’s educator and as if that wasn’t enough he has also been recently appointed as General Manager of the HMB Group.

From a family of 9 kids raised by a single Mum and growing up on the northside of Brisbane, life wasn’t what you would call easy for Fraser Forsey and from a young age he always felt a little different to his brothers and friends.

“I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” says Fraser, “but in later years, realised it was all about the care I had for my appearance and the confidence it gave me when I styled my hair or borrowed (stole) my brothers newest shirt or shoes!”

With 6 brothers by the time he entered high school he had no hope with the teachers. “My brothers had already helped create a name for our surname, so I always felt like I had a target on my back. Grade 8 was adventurous for me but also a huge struggle and when I was ‘expectedly’ expelled, I got straight on a bus to my local barbershop “The Barbers Den” and begged my barber, Rory Marheine, for an apprenticeship. Amazingly he took me on at 13 years old! Finishing my apprenticeship in Redcliffe and then qualifying as a Cert 3 Barber & Cert 3 Hairdresser by the age of 17 I had

thankfully started to build a name for myself in the industry at a very young age. I received a call from Culture Kings in Brisbane City, which led to me taking on a role of National Manager for Culture Kings for the next 4 years opening 9 stores and managing over 100 barbers.”

Nothing could keep this young entrepreneur down and at the ripe old age of 21, Fraser opened his first barbershop. Newly married with a 6month old son, life was kicking off and full steam ahead. He was extremely successful with the shop managing to take it to a multimilliondollar turnover. Fast forward another 4 years, now divorced, he packed up his then 2 shops and headed back to Culture Kings under contract through his new education opening more shops and managing even more staff.

Fraser was then approached by Tommy Guns Australia (TGA), to fulfil the role of National Barber Educator for the group and did so for 6 years, learning about franchise models and continued to deliver education all over Australia and internationally.

“A highlight of my Education journey,” says Fraser, “was taking out the win in the 2021 Australian Modern Barber Awards as Best Men’s Educator in Australia, being up against some pretty big players in the industry. This was pretty overwhelming for me but felt incredible as it had taken 10 years of hard work to get there.”

“Eduction has always been key to my development and when Covid 19 hit, I was scared shitless that education would be gone

forever. I love educating so much, the hustle, the journey, the love, the passion, the networking, the development, and of course the business acronym. I started brainstorming on the problems Covid had on our industry and the businesses I was a part of and the one issue that kept coming up was NO STAFF. Many international barbers and hairdressers had started returning home, a lot of barbers and hairdressers started freelancing or cutting from home, and many barbershop that I worked with were struggling to stay afloat outside of lockdowns.”

Fraser then came looked into how he could help these business’s survive with a Bootcamp and intense training plan that enabled him to take 5-10 individuals who had absolutely no experience in the hair game and in 10-15 days, turn them into a fully-fledged barber, or at least one that could perform all services required in a barbershop at a quality rate of 70% at the absolute minimum.

“The plan then was to follow up with a further 5-10 intense days training and in this process and from 2020-2023 we trained and signed off about 100 barbers. We simplified the practical aspects of the Cert 3 Barbering and the 26 modules and assessments and ensured they were confident, competent and able to be signed on as an apprentice within these businesses. The success of this enabled Barber Education Australia to grow and continue growing through a tough time that we all faced.”

And now, a new initiative is on the horizon, recently launched to the industry in the name of 4BARBERS Education & Supply. “2023 and beyond will bring the most renowned education,

Director & Lead Educator of 4Barbers Education & Supply, Fraser Forsey has trained in over 400 barbershops, salons, TAFES and wholesalers across Australia as well as Global Educator of Icandy scissors and National Australian Educator for DeLorenzo.

this country has seen,” says Fraser, “with a team of leading educators from all walks of the industry, partnered with some of the World’s biggest tool and product companies Australia has on offer. Credibility is what we are all about in everything we do, from education to apprenticeships and supply. It’s all FOR BARBERS or what we like to call @4barbersau.”

4BARBERS has been created, to ensure the standard, value and credibility of the craft, is continuously uplifted through empowering education as well as giving access to the best educators, tools and products.

4BARBERS has secured partnerships with multiple brands in the industry such as Dateline, BaBylissPRO , Stylecraft, Silver Bullet, JRL, HairCo, Norris Australia, Modern Pirate and The Bearded Chap and has already held shows and workshops for countless brands, wholesalers, barber shops and salons across Australia and New Zealand. “I’m excited for the future of 4BARBERS working with individauls and Barbershops who see the value and importance of continued education, development and investment into their business’s.”

In 2017, Fraser opened HMB for the Owner and good friend Theo Osakwe and has continued over the last 7 years to deliver education to all of his stores and apprentices. The focus has been on apprentice bootcamps, retail education, business development plans and career progression pathways. “Theo and I have a great professional and personal relationship and have always ensured each other thrives as much as possible.

Theo had always wanted me to return to HMB for the long term and so, we finally both decided it was for the best interest of one another as well as HMB and 4BARBERS for me to take on the General Manager role overseeing all 15 shops and 80 staff. We have plenty of amazing things in the works for our customers, staff and the industry with the main focus being growing our staff and investing back into them and not treating them like a number, coaching them on the value that we have as a hair artists or creative individuals.

Through his many roles, Fraser is supported up by a behind the scenes team of twelve, which reads like a who’s who of talent covering roles including Operations and Event Co-Ordination, Finance, Design and Marketing, Education, Training and Assessing, RTO liaison and Web Development.

The 4BARBERS Website for all Education and product/tool supply has just gone live and stay tuned for the announcement of Australia’s largest Barber expo APRIL 2024!

For more information contact:

fraser@4barbers.com.au

All education enquiries: education@4barbers.com.au

Sales & Accounts: supply@4barbers.com.au

Instagram: @4barbersau

Website: www.4barbers.com.au

Pompadour. The first old school barbershop in Switzerland.

BY REX A.C. SILVER

Daniel Heiniger wanted us to meet his barber and what a pleasure it was, this shop has its own private speakeasy bar that looks like something out of the Chigago prohibition era. Secret and discrete.

The shop itself, a dedication to traditional barbering with today’s techniques and a heavy emphasis on customer service. Absolutely beautiful hosts, here is the story of owners Emina Koepplin & Guenaël Koepplin.

EMINA’S BARBER JOURNEY

Born in Belgrade Yugoslavia with the big dream of inspiring the world with her fashion creations, Emina studied business administration alongside the local electronic music scene. As it turned out, this wasn’t the optimal choice in the midst of hyperinflation. Emina opened the newspaper for job advertisements and quickly noticed that there was an enormous demand for hairdressers. Against her father’s advice, she began training as a hairdresser at a well-known hairdressing school the very next day. Tired of dyeing, perms and the constant gossip from customers, she decided to become a barber. In a short skirt and a lot of confidence, she stepped into a classic barbershop, fibbed about her shaving skills and was immediately hired. When Emina showed up the next day with long cargo pants and was supposed to shave the first customer with a trembling hand, the situation was immediately clear to her future mentor. A brief exchange of looks and general laughter broke out, signaling the beginning of a long journey where she had to flee her home country, leave her shop and start life over as a refugee in Switzerland.

25 years and several detours later that would fill an entire book, her enthusiasm for the classic barber’s craft manifested itself in an Old school Barbershop in the historic Matte district in Bern, where she put down roots with her Swiss husband and their three teenagers.

Emina, Can you tell us about the shop?

It all started in a small mountain village in 2011. At that time, we had taken over a former dental practice as an apartment and asked ourselves what we should do with the spare room equipped with a washbasin and an entrance

to the main street. Without hesitation, Guen my husband said, why don’t you open your own barbershop? I’ve always dreamed of a real classic barbershop, where men find a sanctuary to be themselves and the air is soaked with smells of aftershave and pomades,- a place that’s always there for you, a second home that stands the test of time.

I was frightened at first, since there were already 7 established local hairdressers, nobody was waiting for an “out of towner’’ to open up a business here and the traditional Barbershop was for many a long extinct relict. The first couple of months where quite a lean period. But I never compromised in quality or the vision. I was all the more amazed at the success that soon became apparent and the locals were lead to wild speculations about the many out of state cars in front of the shop. By word of mouth, news spread not only around the region but throughout the valleys into the cities.

By chance we found the current barbershop in the old town of Bern during a walk along the river, it was exactly what I always dreamed of. Located where barbers practiced their craft more than 500 years ago there was plenty of space to grow and meet the great demand. With a lot of passion and sweat, we sanded down, got vintage furniture and chairs, and created the place that is Pompadour today - the first old school barbershop in Switzerland.

For me, being a barber isn’t just about cutting hair and applying shaving foam, it’s the whole package. From the moment someone walks in the door until they leave the shop. We always ask ourselves what would we expect as a guest. We want everyone to feel like they’re visiting an old friend, because that’s what a barber is.

In June of this year I was fortunate enough to visit Pompadour Barber Shop on the banks off the Aare River in the Old Town area of Bern, Switzerland, together with Heinigers Artistic Director Robert Braid.

A hairdresser, a friend, a psychologist merged into one. Your customers usually stay with you for a lifetime and then their sons. We have over 90% regular customers because the customer feels like he is coming home with every visit. An important part of our philosophy is the constant striving for unattainable perfection and we constantly ask ourselves what we can do better, how to cut more precisely, style more refined. The name Pompadour stands for the hairstyle we love as well as Mdm de Pompadour - a woman who de facto ruled the French kingdom in a time when her origins and gender did not favour this at all. A little bit like being a woman in the OId School Barbering world.

Digging a bit deeper, what success have you enjoyed so far?

For us success is when a new customer walks into our shop because he has seen one of our haircuts walking in the streets. Or a hairdresser sends their spouse to us. Many customers travel from all parts of Switzerland and neighbouring countries to take advantage of our service. We have often been surprised when someone has arrived from Istanbul, Amsterdam, Vienna or Moscow based on a recommendation they’ve got from their barber back home. This is the greatest reward for us and also an enormous pressure. We are usually fully booked several weeks in advance and have not registered for any competitions until now.

We were very fortunate to be able to work with some of the most skilled Barbers in the industry. Be it at workshops which we carry out for hairdressers in Switzerland or at guest spots at the Pompadour or abroad. The exchange and learning together is indescribable and suits us much more than a competition.

We are very selective when it comes to collaboration. We recently started testing the clippers and prototypes for Heiniger because the factory is just a stone’s throw away from us and the owner Daniel shares the same values with us.

Tell us about your team.

We are a very international team of drawn together by the love for the classics and ambition.

Every Team member needs to understand what old school classic means - what service means and be able to represent the concept and Pompadour. Close support at the beginning and a lot of communication is essential as well as ongoing training. We are a team, a family and not lone fighters, so co-determination and an open and honest culture are very important to us. What everyone should bring is passion, awareness of quality, ability to take criticism and a spark of special sauce.

Products and Tools and Inspirations?

I love old classic brands like Murrays, Sweet Georgia Brown and Layrite, Aqua di Parma, Kölnisch Wasser 4711 and Proraso that existed before oldschool became a subculture. We also carry newer brands like Reuzel and Capt. Fawcett. We sell only products we also apply and stand behind. Top sellers are Oils, Pomades and Balms from Bearded Chap Australia, Hairtonics and Pomades. We stand for quality and so must our products - but the most important thing to me is that the customer is satisfied with it. Usability and durability is key.

I am inspired by other great barbers in the Industrie, the old Italian Barbershops, old films, fashion, music, classic cars and architecture from the 20-50s have a big influence as well. I love to use different machines for different techniques. Babylyss Gold for cutting over comb and baseline, Wahl Magic for fades, Heiniger for precision works, fades and clipper over comb. Scissors are from Mitzutani. For me, a tool must have the following traits: precision, handling, cutting power and a pleasant feel for the customer.

What sets you apart?

We are sharing the love for Oldschool Cuts and therefore cutting only classic hairstyles from the 20-50s like the Pompadour, Jellyroll, Executive Contour. Of course, the results are nowadays much more refined thanks to modern tools and techniques based on Vidal Sassoon. We preserve and refine classic shapes and aesthetics. We take great pride in our beard service. It includes 7 crucial steps because we cut the beard as you would cut the hair and also devote the same amount of time to it. A beard should still look nice after 2-3 months and grow out evenly. Of course, we love to do the classic hot towel shave.

We offer gratuitous local Artisan Lemonades, Beers and Coffee in all its forms, a selection of tea, Classic Cocktails and signature drinks from our speakeasy bar as well as a selection of over 40 Single Malts Whiskys and an exquisite assortment of Rums and Schnapps. We love to offer a savoury club sandwich and if we remember your Birthday a piece of Sacher Cake is waiting for you.

@popadourbarberbern

Pompadour Barber Shop is situated at Schifflaube 52, 3011 Bern Switzerland

Heiniger team with Emina & Guen

FINDING THE FIRE!

BY REX A.C. SILVER

BEN KANE, like many creatives, was a little lost in his early years. The world looked a little different to him, he didn’t feel like he belonged… we all know the words to this song. He did have support and encouragement from family, enough to allow him to explore his interests and move in the right direction that led him to us, the hair people.

Ben learnt from a very early age the power, and the positive self-belief one gets through liking what you see in the mirror, and it stuck with him. He didn’t know it at the time, but that attention to detail and that small dive into the phycology of what we do as hairdressers and barbers as a young boy, will go on to help shape the mind of the Ben Kane we know today.

A well-rounded man, confident in himself and his skill set. A smart operator that pays eagle-eye attention to the salon experience his guests receive. A generous captain who gives back to his crew and, to the greater hair community. A man who knows humility and cares for those less fortunate.

A man who found exactly where he belongs… with the rest of us hairy wierdos!!

THIS IS BEN KANE:

I grew up in a small country town called Maryborough in Victoria. Young Ben really struggled through school years, as I felt like I never really found my tribe, always looking for a group to fit in with.

As someone that was bullied quite a lot about my appearance and weight this made me very self-conscious about how I looked. Also having my mum and dad both as teachers at my school didn’t really help my cause.

Trying almost every sport there is, I soon found out that I wasn’t much of an athlete either…. then I found fire... as a child I was obsessed with lighting fires to the point that I was taken to the local fire station for one-on-one fire safety training. I then fell in love with skateboarding spending all my spare time at the local skate park, a little safer for everyone!

Despite all this I’m extremely grateful to have such amazing parents that have supported me through all my ups and downs as best they could and without them, I’d be a very lost soul.

How and when did you discover hair, and know that this was your calling?

I discovered hair at an early age I’d say young 12/13, I don’t know why, but I used doing my hair, as a way of feeling better about how I looked. I’d sit in the chair and point at the picture of Brad Pitt on the wall and wonder why I never walked out looking the same.

Mum will often say I was the only one that got to go to the “good” hairdresser in town and I’d get my blonde tips done.

I never really thought about hairdressing or barbering until around 14/15 my dad who worked in careers counselling suggested about a short course coming to the school, so I though perfect way to get out of class.

I was also heavily involved in art drawing/painting from a young age to then graffitiing or anything that involved some sort of creative outlook. I always felt like I saw things a little different to most.

I enjoyed the course I did at school and got offered an apprenticeship at the Stag Ballarat.

This is where I fell in love with hair.

“The fact that Wahl has been in the game for over 100 years and are the number one clipper brand worldwide should say enough, for me it’s also the quality of the product, Wahl’s diverse range of tools give you a clipper for every hair type, and that speaks volumes to me.” Ben Kane

I am still grateful to this day to have been taught by the owner at the time Alan Roberts, a traditional barber.

Alan not only taught me the ins and outs of traditional barbering but also the importance of communication and building client relations. Alongside this, David Kammerer, the now owner was also a key mentor in the beginning of my barbering career.

The Stag was an hour away from the town I lived in, so I found myself moving out into my own place at 15 meaning I had to grow up fast. This came with all sorts of interesting life lessons.

From here at age 20 I moved to the western suburbs of Melbourne where I learn the ins and outs of all thing’s hairdressing by owner Pino Burrone, Salon Vogue. This is where I really fell in love with cutting hair and the industry itself.

My next journey was onto help build/start/grow Rokkman Barbers, an offshoot of Rokk Ebony.

This is where I was taught all things modern barbering, fades, tapers, beard work, line ups from Jordon McKenny (@barbersdream) who I believe is one of the best in this industry.

I went onto owning my first Rokkman barbers in Toorak. Through this time, I was fortunate to have won the 2017 American crew all Star challenge which sent me over to Brussels competing internationally. Having to deal with some personal issues I made my departure from Rokkman Barbers a little lost and not sure once again where I really fit into this world.

From here my road was challenging but what I will say is I never gave up, I never stayed down for too long and I never stopped trying to be the best version of myself possible.

Growing up my mum would always tell me anything is possible, follow your dreams and don’t ever give up. Having this outlook in life is most likely the reason I’ve never been a goal setting person as I’ve always believed that I can achieve more and learn more. I’ve never put a limit on what’s possible, I do believe in myself and my love for cutting hair but more so the clients that sit in my chair.

LET’S TALK SHOP....

In 2021 I met my partner Sherridan Kyle who had built “Bonnie and Clyde’s” in Gippsland. I found myself soon moving “back to the country” and helping build and grow Bonnie and Clyde’s.

We have an extremely talented team of barbers and hairdressers whom I’m extremely grateful for.

We pride ourselves in delivering some of the best work in Gippsland.

We believe that “the experience” is the most important part of coming into our shop.

We also promote a safe space/gender neutral environment, so everyone feels welcome when they sit in our chair.

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TOOL TALK:

Shears: For scissors I proudly only use excellent edges, I became and ambassador in 2018 and I have a huge amount of respect for owner Pete Walstab and Blade Smith Jaime Schultz and believe that their scissors go above and beyond but also their theory behind how to use different types of scissors is something you can’t go without.

I use a 6.5-inch Fuji for my point cutting a 7-inch Robin for my scissor over comb. I also like to experiment with the Gator and the Raptor for creating texture and directional movement.

Machines: For all things clippers my tool kit is aligned with WAHL WAHL WAHL!!

My first pair of clippers at 15 where the OG Wahl Super Taper. The fact that Wahl has been in the game for over 100 years and are the number one clipper brand worldwide should say enough, for me it’s the quality of the product, Wahl’s diverse range of tools give you a clipper for every hair type, and that speaks volumes to me.

I’m fortunate enough to hold every clipper within the range and have a love for each one as they all hold a purpose in my tool kit.

My favourite at the moment, is the Wahl Cordless Legend for its extended lever range, the Cordless Senior for the extra power and the Cordless Detailer LI for my sharp lines and close cutting.

What haircare and Styling products do you choose to use...

Firstly, Uppercut Deluxe; I feel like Uppercut is one of the leading product brands in the barbering world. They’ve set a high industry Standard for visually appealing, easy to use products.

My favourite here would be the Styling Powder and the Salt spray for matte texture and movement.

I love the philosophy behind the brand, and I have a lot of time for owner Steve Purcell and his vision of the future of barbering.

DeLorenzo Haircare, I love DeLorenzo not only for how kind their products are for the scalp but also for their doctrine around all thing’s hair.

I love that they are Australian made, vegan friendly and the company itself is still family owned, that really shows though when dealing with anything DeLorenzo. My favourite here would have to be the Elements Range.

When did you first get to educate and what does it mean to you to share your passion and knowledge with others?

I first jumped into education at age 23 when I completed my training and assessment qualification.

I started my first role at the Gordon Tafe in Geelong where Anna Penn, education coordinator taught me the ins and outs of teaching, delivery and assessment planning and creating my own training plans. This is where I really fell in love with education.

I believe that with completing this qualification, teaching within a Tafe really built a strong foundation to educate others.

The reward of giving back to the younger generation of barbers and hairdressers is a blessing.

Through this space I started holding my own non accredited barbering short courses which became extremely popular.

In 2017 I was approached by Wahl to join their first Australian Education Team.

This was a dream come true for me and from here I’ve been fortunate enough to do big stage shows, events and hold workshops all over Australia.

In 2022 I was chosen to represent Wahl Australia in LA as a “future maker” a new global team formed of 10 country leaders bringing together a collection of haircuts to be delivered all around the world.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to spend the week in Brisbane at the Barber Temple sharing the collection to our talented Australian team.

I am also a guest artist for De Lorenzo and have been educating with them for 5 years now, this has seen me travel all over Australia holding advanced barbering workshops for all levels of hairdressers and barbers. I hold a lot of time and respect for this company and the way they treat the artists they work with.

BEN ON COMMUNITY

I feel very blessed to have found a craft I love at an early age, the best part, I feel, about this industry… is that for the majority we are one big community of individuals, and I think that’s a beautiful thing. What this industry has given me especially for someone once so desperate to fit in, is that it’s ok to be different, it’s ok to be an individual which has therefore given me a sense of belonging and has taught me a level selflove and care.

I’ve been lucky enough to of trained several apprentices and qualified barbers in this industry who have gone onto to become extremely successful individuals.

Giving back to this industry that’s given so much to me has been a big focus for me through my career.

I’ve been humbled to have spent time alongside my brother Nasir Sobhani (@thesreetsbarber) and Roseanne Rofaeel (@ christmasonthestreets) both of whom I can’t speak highly enough for continuing to constantly give back to others. It’s here, in their space, that I have really learnt a level of gratitude for the life I get to live. Please check out these amazing humans and what they do.

Any future news you would like to share...

I have a number of workshops coming up through Wahl and De Lorenzo which you can find a link to via my Instagram.

I have a creative shoot planned with uppercut for later this year, plus several big things I can’t mention coming soon.

@benwardscissorhands

The Secret Formula

BY COLLETTE SAUNDERS

Imagine meeting your soulmate, finding that you both are impassioned by the same creativity, then singularly creating, in flow, a dance around a medium that becomes the outward expression and joy of those you touch.

Then you travel the globe searching for more of that thing you love. Experiencing it, learning more about it, giving it back in a way that is both fascinating and memorable for the receiver, and fulfilling for you, the humble artists, who execute it.

Mandy Lim Liman & Reno Okuyama are like two moons orbiting a planet, shining, delivering gentle light and ebb and flow, yet causing the most cosmic of reactions. The desire to learn has never left them since meeting in TAFE as apprentices. It still stirs them and calls them to places far away to meet some of the world’s hair masters and study under them. Most recently they joined the scissor master Sailee, owner of Saileeism Academy, Seoul, Korea. Known as the “God of Texture” Sailee covers 1:1 Master Courses where he reveals his formula for cutting excellence in Korea’s first academy for re-education.

As I write, they are in Singapore and China for another global journey. Collaborating, entertaining, learning. Creating experiences and memories that will have meaning, in hair and much, much, more.

Mandy is originally from Singapore and Reno from Japan. When placed together at TAFE in Australia their language barrier became their greatest asset. Though words were not spoken, the connection through hair and the expression of it was the soldering. The aesthetic of it, the way a pair of scissors and a comb could “manifest such significance in one’s image and aura”. The hair bound them as one…

… And so it began.

MANDY AND RENO, WHO ARE YOU AND TELL US YOUR STORY:

It’s hard to point a finger to describe who we are really. We are a duo who love creating with hair. Perhaps you could call us hair entertainers? Through our craft we thoroughly enjoy giving you attention to bring out who you are. We created _2SINGULAR in 2020, and our philosophy is simple – we do it with meaning.

_2SINGULAR: “These are the moments in which my mind becomes entirely absorbed in my creations and I forget myself. I roll with a heightened sense of awareness of the here and now with you. My mind and body is (willingly) stretched to its limit to create something worthwhile.”

Surprisingly, for the same reasons, the both of us were fixated on how with just a pair of scissors and a comb, it can manifest such significance in one’s image and aura.

In the past, our personal emotions and visual tastes often met with such huge disconnect with hairdressers. When we were to get our hair done, hairdressers would never quite understand the aesthetics, or maybe it was the lack of technical skills to support their craft, or perhaps the lack of attention towards everything… We always needed to re-cut it ourselves after visiting the hairdresser.

Fast forward years on, moving to Australia, we were put sitting next to each other at TAFE. Reno (at that time) knew no word of English, and I, Mandy don’t speak Japanese, but because we shared the same fervency of emotions towards our past experiences with hair and hairdressers, our communication was fluid. It still amazes us how coming from completely different backgrounds and cultures, across countries with language barriers, we connected. It was as if, in almost every way, our meeting to bring _2SINGULAR to life was serendipitous. There was such an honest attraction between us and the realm of hair.

Needless to say, our eagerness to experience hair has seen us working in many different kinds of salons and barbershops (from the express to high-end salons) over the years in Australia. We saw this as a huge opportunity to be inevitably exposed to all the various types of hair, aesthetics, and even the diverse characteristics of humans.

YOU ARE A UNIQUE COMBINATION… WHAT SETS YOU APART?

Reno, quite naturally, carries her mind full of inquisitiveness and imagination, and Mandy is intently observant and meticulous. We found that our unusual way of seeing the world has led us to become _2SINGULAR to create.

All our hair designs created for our clients are done together. This means we cut / colour simultaneously on a client. Our approach to hair has many layers and details. We value understanding our clients not just about their hair (hair type, head shape, growth patterns etc..), but also their fashion style, body proportions and lifestyle, to curate a hair design that personally suits.

Clients often comment on how much they can enjoy their hair for so much longer as our cuts can last with the shape still holding beautifully as it grows out.

With consistency in mastering the endless technical skills acquired for the many different hair types, with our ever-growing hair knowledge along with our aesthetic visions, it has truly allowed us to understand our clients’ wants and needs. We see hair as hair. Which is why our clients are extremely diverse in age, genders/genderless, ethnicities, personalities, style vibes etc.… Our hair designs are one off, personalised and customised for each individual.

_2SINGULAR: “Like a chameleon… We need to be ready to change and adapt to any person who sits on our chair. We dig deeper beyond the fundamentals to deliver a personalised experience.”

YOUR STUDIO OPERATES IN A MOST INTRIGUING WAY WHICH ADDS AN ELEMENT OF MYSTERY AND WORKS PERFECTLY FOR YOUR CLIENTS, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

We have curated our system – “一見さんお断り” (Ichigensan Okotowari). Which directly translates to “First time clients without introduction, we do not accept”.

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cont’d from page 27

_2SINGULAR is based in Perth, WA and we only accept new clients who have been introduced to us by our trusted existing clients. Perhaps this system may seem a little harsh, but we like to preserve a circle of respect and trust between us and our clients. What we do is extremely personalised, we offer exclusivity and connection designed to suit each individual client. Our location is private at the moment; however, we are looking to open that up sometime next year.

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF _2SINGULAR AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

_2SINGULAR is just us. The two of us as a singular entity. We train ourselves daily to ensure that we can each connect to our own mind and body as one, and in turn, the two of us are able to connect as one whole together. We are a transcendent expression of flow and form when we create.

Over the years, we have been pushing boundaries to reach out to hair artists from around the world to seek valuable knowledge and skills. We have had amazing opportunities to learn in Moscow, Tokyo, London, Shanghai, Paris, Seoul, Rotterdam, Taiwan, Berlin to name a few… The both of us believe that creating a creation is an unlimited evolution. And it is important for us to travel outside our usual habitat to allow ourselves to be stimulated by all the different energies each country brings.

YOUR CONNECTIONS AND COLLABORATIONS ARE GLOBAL AND LOCAL. WHERE ARE YOU HEADING WITH THIS?

_2SINGULAR has been blessed with opportunities as invited guest hair entertainers, to look after special clients of salons overseas, and currently in Singapore and Japan. The meaningful connections exchanged between us, the clients and the salon owners carry such deep, delightful warmth and of course not to mention the great hair. The experience of giving through creating feels transcendent. We would like very much to tackle the Australian hair industry to open up to new collaborative ideas. To collaborate with our hair designs and entertain your core VIPs of the salon. We have seen in the past how creative industries hold guest appearances and guest spots for artists to perform, to entertain for people to enjoy. As we move further into a future of digital intelligence and social media “religion” as the norm, we strongly feel that human connection is vital. Human connection brings vitality.

“A FLOW STATE WHERE SELFCONSCIOUSNESS IS LOST, ONE SURRENDERS COMPLETELY TO THE MOMENT, AND TIME MEANS NOTHING”

_2SINGULAR

DO YOU HAVE PREFERRED PRODUCTS AND TOOLS?

Having worked with many product brands before, we both feel it’s only natural and necessary to pick out what we love. Our product range for our craft and retail are carefully selected. We use a variety of brands, locally and internationally sourced. Redken, L’Oreal, Arimino, Lebel, Calatas, to name a few.

We only use products that we love and trust, and the process of knowing what works for our clients is important. At the moment we have 7 pairs of scissors. Each pair cuts differently, allowing us to cater to the many types of hair and also the cutting effects on hair. We are looking into customising our own scissor range in the future, as the right blend of blades will give freedom of versatility within creating hair designs. As for our clippers, we use both Wahl and Babyliss. As both brands hit differently, there’s so much to love about each of them because they allow us to have different clipper/fade effects on different hair.

AND FINALLY, TELL US WHAT BABERING/HAIRDRESSING MEANS TO YOU?

Everybody wants what feels good. For us, we do what we do simply because we find meaning in giving you attention. We should celebrate looking and feeling beautiful from the outside, which in turn, radiates from you inside.

SUMMARY … BY COLLETTE

From the first post I ever scrolled to years ago, to the absolute excitement of seeing what they put forward today, I have been encapsulated by Mandy and Reno. I highly respect their attitudes and selves. They have brought to our industry a standard that is out of the norms of general operation. It is a standard that is entirely their own, and it resonates like a perfectly tuned sound bowl. A circular motion that will move around your aura.

Facial features, fashion style, head shape, face structure, hair texture, hair density, hair growth patterns, lifestyle, nothing is over-looked in a virtual analysis process which they regard as a form of cutting skill even before taking the scissors to the first section. They will present you photographically in ways that resonate with the form they have created. Both skilled photographers also, they innately place you as a structure within a structure, be that hard-urban backgrounds of tar and cement, to the softness of Mother Nature. Each photographic presentation is deeply considered and shown as a reflection of who you truly are.

You’ll be lost in the moments as you hand over your visual identity to them and emerge the most perfect version of yourself.

-2SINGULAR

Mandy

Lim Liman & Reno Okuyama, Perth WA @_2singular

By Collette Saunders @collettesaundershair Founder @australianfemalebarbers @afb_recruit Director @jackreedfoundation

The Rise of the Barberette

BARBERETTE: NOUN: GENDER NEUTRAL: A HAIRDRESSER WHO CROSSED OVER TO BARBERING.

The Australian Hairdressing Council has recently championed a program to encourage hairdressers to gain barber qualifications by a fast-tracking process in association with TAFE NSW. This may open a whole new world to some and reignite the passion for hair within.

This brings us to the very special story of a very special Barberette.

Jayde Davis loved everything about hairdressing but almost chucked in the towel until she found barbering. Jayde didn’t like the salon world but loved everything else about hair and caring in the way we do for people and especially the creative output that gives her so much joy in the career that provides her a living.

Please tell us about your Hair journey starting in hairdressing and how you came about discovering barbering and when you knew this was your true hair calling.

I started my hair journey at 21 really, having little direction, not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life and made the move to Brisbane hoping a change of scenery would inspire me, I took the first job excepted me “a first-year apprentice hairdresser in a boutique salon.

I was excited to be working in a creative industry with so many glamorous people. Being a small-town girl, the city was big for me, feeling home sick and I came back to Gladstone. After developing my skills and feeling confident in my abilities I applied for a position with Rex Silver at Silver Salon. Rex opened my eyes to the possibilities of where our industry could take me, by doing exclusive training, photo shoots and creating his own product line. I no longer saw hairdressing as just a job, I was excited to see how far I could go.

While working at Silver salon I dabbled in barbering because Rex also opened a barbershop, Garage Barber shop. Between clients I would go down and help the barbers downstairs I got swept up in the hustle and how busy the environment was. Silver Salon was high-end, serving clients Champaign and one on one experiences; the Garage was cool, laid back but still had quality that kept the place packed. I loved it. Eventually a position became available, and I jumped at the chance. I was daunted by using a cutthroat razor and not knowing what a skin fade was, but I knew this is what I needed, I worked my way up to manager and found my direction. Sadly, Rex announced he was selling the barber shop and saying goodbye to Gladstone. Losing my mentor, I didn’t know what my next step would be, but to my surprise I found out that I would know my new boss very well, it was my sister! After unfortunately losing her husband in a trucking accident, she felt she could trust me to carry on running the barber shop that had been set up for success and Shed barber shop was born. I have 6 years in barbering now and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.

What is it that you love about barbering?

I love how quickly barbering evolves, it feels like there is a new trend every week, it keeps me on my toes, weither it’s a movie star or footballer running onto the field with a new style. Men are starting to change the way they incorporate their hair into their style and are using hair as an accessory, not just having a haircut,

out of necessity. It’s refreshing seeing men taking care and treating themselves and the joy it brings to me knowing I have helped with a person’s confidence is why I have fallen in love with this industry.

There is a program about to start which you are part of through the AHC, tell us about that.

Sandy Chong CEO of AHC, along with TAFE NSW is helping hairdressers that are interested in barbering to get into the field. Weither they are currently working in the industry or have left and come back into it. It’s called Project Barber. I’m helping out with doing some short tutorials of tips and tricks I have found along the way that make my job a little easier or help with trouble areas like shaping the hair around ears, getting clean blends, and knowing how to cut crazy crowns and cowlicks. It’s a great way to get people trying new things and it doesn’t have to be a complete career change.

What advice would you give a hairdresser thinking of crossing over to barbering.

As hairstylist we have so much passion for what we do, but your career doesn’t have to be one note. Sometimes our passion can be dimed, but we are in an industry that is constantly evolving. Long gone are the days of just a short back and sides, men want to be pampered too. I have found excitement again and you could too.

Jayde Davis @shedbarbershop_

For more information on Project Barber www.theahc.org.au/project-barber

MORE TO LOVE WITH HAIRCO.

The core value of HairCo. Australia is to provide premium quality hair, beauty and barber products at competitive prices to an incredibly loyal customer base - offering an unrivalled shopping experience both online and in-store.

HairCo. Australia is an Australian owned family business that was established by owner-operators, Tony and Connie Alessi, in Melbourne in 2005. Tony first entered the hairdressing industry in the late 1970s, starting his career as a hairdresser in Melbourne’s CBD. While his love of hairdressing grew, so did his interest in the industry - from in-depth knowledge of salon business structure, to sourcing quality products - from colouring to salon tools and electricals.

Together with his wife Connie, and their combined trade knowledge and passion for the industry, this led them to pursue their own venture and in 2005 HairCo. was established – through the supply of quality wholesale products to salons and customers across Victoria and quickly expanding nationally.

Having proudly grown the business since humble beginnings; when the duo began personally delivering products direct to clients, HairCo. remains family owned and operated.

Today the business is largely run by Tony and Connie’s sons Christiaan, Daniel, and Dion. They have all worn the very many hats of a family-run business, from retail customer service, to packing orders and now holding significant roles in the daily operation of their successful global business.

“Through the years we’ve worked hard to establish ourselves as a leading salon and barber wholesaler. Our love of the industry, our clients and the success of their business is what drives our business daily” says Tony. “At the core of our operation is the guarantee of providing friendly, quality service to our customers every time they interact with us. We source quality products from trusted brands and look to supply these at competitive wholesale prices. We employ a dedicated team with extensive industry experience and knowledge for all your hair, beauty and barber needs”.

We spoke to Tony Alessi about what makes this long-standing, wellrespected company tick and what they offer to the industry at large.

You have over 10,000 professional hair, beauty and barber products from industry leading brands and exclusive brand partnerships, how do you source these and what makes you choose what you offer?

Having extensive experience in the industry, we are always looking to identify emerging trends and innovative technologies. We have

L to R Christiaan, Tony, Dion & Daniel Alessi

Tony & Connie Alessi

Tony Alessi

strong partnerships with leading brands and manufacturers globally, ensuring that we have access to the latest and greatest products.

When selecting which products to offer, we prioritize quality, effectiveness, and affordability. We strongly believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality hair and beauty products that deliver results without breaking the bank. We make sure that products meet industry standards and they will provide our customers with the best possible results and experience.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out in the industry, we have the products and expertise to help you achieve your goals. So if you’re looking for quality hair, beauty, and barber products, we’ve got you covered!

How do you manage supply and delivery to your customers?

We understand that reliable and timely supply and delivery are crucial aspects not only of our business – but our customers’. That’s why we have a robust supply chain management system that ensures our customers receive their orders promptly, no matter where they are located across the globe. Working with suppliers from all over the world means we have stringent lead times in sourcing, and ordering stock to make it available to our customers.

Our 24 hour online ordering system means you can order anytime and then, once we have received and processed an order, our warehouse logistics team takes over, ensuring that each package is carefully packed and shipped to its destination in the shortest time possible.

We also offer multiple delivery options to cater to the different needs of our customers. From express shipping to standard delivery, we provide a range of delivery options to ensure that our customers receive their orders when and where they need them. We also have a dedicated customer service team that is available to assist with any queries or concerns that our customers may have regarding their orders.

You offer a number of in-house training programs and industry-leading courses from globally renowned education teams at your training hub. Can you tell us a little more about this in terms of what you offer and what customers

can expect?

At our dedicated education salon in Hoppers Crossing, we offer a wide range of in-house training programs and industry-leading courses that are designed to cater to the needs of both beginners and experienced professionals. Our training programs cover a wide range of topics including hair cutting, colouring, styling and grooming.

In addition to our regular training programs, we also offer customised training solutions for salons and businesses looking to upskill their staff. Our team can work with businesses to create tailored training programs that meet their specific needs and goals. We have partnered with 4Barbers, lead by AMBA’s Best Men’s Educator of 2021, Fraser Forsey - to bring a leading education team that is comprised of some of the most experienced and highly skilled educators in the industry who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and helping our customers achieve their full potential.

Apart from our in-house education programs, we also host industryleading courses from globally renowned education teams. These courses are carefully curated to provide our customers with the best possible learning experience and help them achieve their

career goals. We believe that education is the key to success, and we are committed to providing our clients with the best education and training possible.

What’s it like working with the entire family? Do you all have specific roles within the business?

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with my entire family – especially having built this business from the ground up, to now be able to have my sons here with me daily and contribute to its success is more than I could have imagined when Connie and I started this dream. Each member brings their own unique skills and talents to the table, which has allowed us to work together seamlessly to provide our customers with the best possible service.

As the founder of the business, I have a wealth of experience in the industry and oversee the overall direction of the company –but I still love being in the store and engaging with customers too. Christiaan is responsible for importing products from all over the world and ensuring that our inventory is always well-stocked. Daniel manages logistics, making sure that our products are delivered to our customers on time and in perfect condition. And Dion provides support across the business, helping to manage the day-to-day operations and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. We also have an incredible team of over 20 dedicated staff that work with us across customer service, accounts, marketing and warehousing.

What are the most recent brands you have brought on board and why?

As mentioned, we’re always on the lookout for the latest technologies and developments in hair and barbering products. Following the success of the establishment of Brazilian Bond Builder in the Aussie market over 8 years ago- which has become one of our most popular brands – we have dedicated ourselves to securing the best global brands.

In recent times, we have brought on board L3VEL3 – a hugely popular worldwide brand with men’s grooming and barbering products. We have also secured Difiaba’s Charcolite for blondes and Hue & Me which is all about hair colour, with a range of highquality dyes that are perfect for those looking to make a statement with their hair.

Our most recent and exciting acquisition and exclusivity, is the JRL brand. A massive brand established worldwide, JRL is known for its innovative and high-quality products, particularly its range of clippers and trimmers which have been embraced by barbers and hairdressers alike. JRL is at the forefront of technological advancements, providing the industry with cutting edge products.

The HairCo. Team pride themselves on their commitment to excellence in the industry and aim to provide a seamless shopping experience; with product availability, unparalleled service and product knowledge always at the forefront of the relationship, creating a sense of family and partnership that extends to their valued customers.

Contact: www.shophairco.com.au

Heiniger Clippers

Heiniger is no stranger to these expectations and are indeed used to delivering just that. Manufacturing clippers for the animal industry for over 75 years, Heiniger’s Sheep Shearing Shears are so popular and widely used, they dominate the global market.

To put that into perspective, in the wool industry, there are 78 million sheep in Australia going to their barbers at least once, sometimes twice a year. Australia has the biggest sheep population of any one region in the world.

Heiniger’s second best sellers after shearing, are the machines they manufacture for the pet grooming industry, another market they dominate. In fact, it’s estimated that millions of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and smaller animal pets including dogs, are clipped, and groomed with Heiniger’s “Swiss-Made” products…DAILY!

Heiniger announced their arrival to the Hair Industry, with an official launch and presentation at Cosmoprof in May of this year in Bologna Italy.

It’s now time for the live shows.

On the eve of the launch of the new Interstellar Range in Australia, we talk with 3rd generation CEO Daniel Heiniger, to find out more about this amazing and exciting achievement for the company.

Daniel, what was behind the decision to enter the Human Hair Market?

“Our mission has always been to make the lives of our customers easier, to give them a positive “Heiniger Experience”, one they

don’t forget, we wish to extend that to the professionals in the hair industry. We are a family run business that has grown over the years with constant development and a strong focus on quality and innovation.”

Expanding into the hair market is a natural progression for Heiniger as a company, and one that came about literally by the demand of the users of their dog grooming trimmers and clippers. Daniel explains….

“We had some of our customers using our products to trim their beards and cut their hair with our dog grooming machines telling us how great they were with this task. More and more barbers and stylists were asking us to bring our expertise in what we do to the hair market, along with a growing number of distributors in the hair industry, so we took the leap!”

Heiniger supply their machines to many markets, and it seems they do so with a very special understanding of the needs and challenges of the end users of their products.

Daniel continues…

“We get “hands-on” with our customers and build very strong relationships. Heiniger only manufacture and supply professional use products, our customers use our tools to make a living. We pride ourselves on this unique bond and by working closely together and listening to our customers we learn about their craft of grooming with machines, their needs, demands and expectations from our tools. This helps enable us to deliver the 5-star products that we promise we will, that can be depended on and relied upon with absolute confidence by our customers.”

‘Made in Switzerland’ instantly conjures up factors the Swiss are synonymous for: Precision Engineering, Ultra High-Quality Components, Performance and Design.

Enter The Hair Universe

true to their word on being serious about getting behind the hair industry. They have established a Heiniger Hair Division and appointed Creative Director Rex Silver who has initiated and formed a core education and creative team which he says, will be the foundation of what will grow to be a worldwide network of Heiniger Educators and Ambassadors. His first order of business, bring in Internationally acclaimed barber heavy weight, the UK’s Robert Braid as Artistic Director. Robert has been sort after for years by machine companies and has never aligned until now. This is a very exciting development. Check out Robert’s Collection in this issue.

Daniel, can you explain the significance behind branding the new range, The Interstellar Collection.

“Heiniger’s X-Series for the animal world was a huge success and everyone loved the idea of having a ‘Series’ of products with a visual theme and with names. We didn’t see anyone doing this in the hair space.

One of the main points in our company Mission and Vision Statement is to achieve 5-Star-Quality in all we do, our processes and of course our products. To celebrate our commencement in the hair and barber market we decided to add more stars! and call the series the Interstellar Collection. Heiniger enters this new galaxy, and we are here to stay. We are here to listen and learn from our new customers. To work beside hair professionals closely so we can bring them the products they need to deliver the 5 -Star-Quality they promise their customers.”

And what can we expect of your plans and Heiniger’s vision for the next 5 years?

“Entering a new galaxy is an exciting and once in a lifetime adventure. Every one of the Heiniger team can’t wait to explore this new world and make connections with our customers. We will learn and grow and from listening to the needs of professionals in the hair space, we will help them to fulfil their commitment to excellence, that they promise their customers.

All of Heiniger’s resources are dedicated to growing the expertise in cutting hair, the process, the tools, the needs and the challenges within, and then transfer that knowledge to develop products and features to enable that process.

Our 5-year plan is to be an established brand for quality orientated professionals in the hair industry. To be known for not only bringing top products to market, but just as importantly, for the service behind those products. The success of this achievement will be the result of working closely alongside and listening to the needs of the professionals using our products as their tools.”

Tested on Animals!! What better testimonial could there be to a grooming clipper company than that of coming from millions of satisfied four legged friends around the world and the professionals that tend to them daily!

Starting with these live shows in Australia first, then rolling out the tour with product launches to key regions around the world, Heiniger have stayed

He then went on to enlist international educator, multi award winning Jules Tognini to represent the Hairdressing industry at Heiniger’s major launches and shows. Jules will also engage his expertise in educating and presenting by co-designing Heiniger’s Education Platform and training of the Heiniger Educators in the various regions they establish. The final member to the team for Australia and New Zealand is rising star Matt Clarke, an established educator and multi-awards finalist, Matts inclusion certainly adds a dimension of forward and progressive creative energy to the team and is an amazing asset. What a team! What an entrance by this new entity in our industry!

Let’s talk to Heiniger’s Australian General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Dale Harris who is running point for Heiniger on the launch into the hair market.

Dale, what an exciting start to this new industry and a new era for Heiniger, tell us a bit about what sets Heiniger apart, and why Australia is getting the honours to kick this off that’s fantastic for our industry here.

“The Heiniger team is so excited to launch our clippers and trimmers into the barber and hairdressing market. I’ve been working on this project for some time now, getting our products out to a range of hairdressers and barbers, listening to their feedback, understanding what they need.

I also spent time at Hair Festival in Sydney and at the Australian Hair Industry Awards Creative a few months ago, meeting amazing people in the industry and getting to learn how this industry operates. Our machines are a combination of design, engineering, motor power and blade precision that delivers outstanding performance. We have been making clippers and trimmers in Switzerland for over 75 years. This is not new to us. What is new are the customers, and we can’t wait to build relationships with all these amazing professionals and artists.”

‘When Stars Align’ Launched in Australia in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne the last week of August prior to the publication of this issue, with shows in Perth, Adelaide and New Zealand being planned for September/October before continuing on to the UK. and beyond.

Crafted with Swiss engineering excellence, the all-new Heiniger clipper range embodies unparalleled quality - each one delivering power, precision and performance when results matter.

SUMMER BLONDE

WITH JIM SHAW

Award winning men’s hairdresser, Jim Shaw, shares his comments on summer blondes for men Summer is just around the corner and many clients are looking to revamp their style and experiment with new looks for the season.

This year, an increasing number of men are joining the trend of going blonde, embracing the sun-kissed aesthetic that has long been associated with the warmest season. Breaking away from traditional hair colour norms, male clients are confidently sporting blonde locks, adding a touch of radiance and freshness to their overall appearance. Below, I highlight a few of the top blonde hair trends for summer 2023.

SUN-KISSED VIBES

Summer is synonymous with sun-kissed skin and lightened hair. Male clients opting for a blonde hue during this season seek to complement their tanned skin and create a cohesive, beachy look. Whether it’s sandy blondes, honey tones, or platinum shades, the range of blonde options offers men the opportunity to customise their appearance and achieve a natural, sun-drenched vibe that exudes a laid-back and carefree summer attitude. When creating this look in the salon, I love to achieve it by using freehand colour techniques using lighter blonde and golden tones to give the hair a natural, lived in feel whilst still creating a big impact. Dirty blonde surfer chic - For those looking to embrace a carefree, beach-inspired style, they should opt for a dirty blonde shade. This shade mimics the sun-bleached effect of spending long days by the ocean, creating a laid-back and effortlessly cool appearance. I love to use freehand techniques when creating this look, working with a darker, more natural blonde colour palette.

BARBIE VIBES

The Barbie movie is nearly here and with that in mind platinum blonde is making a comeback for men this summer season who want to sport their inner Ken Doll! This striking hue, characterised by its icy and almost white tone, exudes an aura of confidence

and edginess. Platinum blonde hair offers a distinctive and unique appearance, instantly setting individuals apart from the crowd. The boldness of this colour choice is enhanced by its stark contrast against different skin tones, making it a captivating option for those who wish to make a bold statement with their hair. Whether styled in a sleek and modern way or paired with more unconventional cuts, platinum blonde hair for men is a powerful fashion statement that embraces individuality and sets the stage for a truly remarkable look.

This colour looks great with any hair length; however, I particularly love it paired with a buzz cut for those looking for a hairstyle that’s super contemporary and edgy. Most men will also require their hair to be bleached and toned before creating this shade and visiting a reputable colourist is key in order for them to keep their hair in the best condition possible during the colour process and to achieve a clean looking blonde.

Blonde Highlights - for male clients not ready to commit to an allover blonde look, blonde highlights are a great way to add depth and dimension to their natural hair colour. Subtle, strategically placed highlights that blend seamlessly with the client’s base colour will create a gorgeous a sun-kissed effect.

BLONDE UNDERCUT

Another way to embrace the blonde hair colour trend without being too daring. The undercut hairstyle remains a popular choice and pairing it with blonde hair adds a trendy and contemporary twist to the style. When creating this look, I like to keep the sides and back of the hair short while leaving the top long and blonde for a stylish and versatile look.

Men’s violence towards women and how to stop it.

BY REX A.C. SILVER

Allan, can you explain White Ribbon, yourself, and your role?

White Ribbon Australia is the leading Australian social movement inviting men to be allies to stop men’s violence against women. Men’s violence against women is more than a statistic; it’s a heartwrenching reality faced by countless individuals. Shockingly, one in three women in Australia has endured physical violence since the age of 15, and the heartache deepens as we acknowledge that, on average, one woman loses her life every nine days at the hands of a current or former partner. This year alone has seen 31 women tragically become victims of this scourge – a disheartening testament that in 2023, we should not bear witness to such alarming numbers.

I see myself as a type of conductor of the national movement. As the conductor of this movement, I, Allan Ball the National Director of White Ribbon Australia, stand at the helm of an orchestra of change. Our aim is clear – to unleash a crescendo of transformation, community by community, that dismantles the foundations of violence and replaces them with pillars of respect, equality, and empathy.

Can you tell us the reasoning behind calling the safe chat space on your platform, The Barber Shop and how White Ribbons aligns to Barber?

The White Ribbon Australia barbershop is a new and unique concept that offers both a digital and physical opportunity to learn about the issue of men’s violence towards women and how to stop it.

White Ribbon Australia has developed a series of resources all named after common haircuts and shaves that Australian men would ask for in any barber across the country. Resources lie the Mullet or Man Bun. But don’t be fooled by the name, inside the resource houses a

full range of clinically up to date information providing practical tips for men to be allies of women’s safety.

We call this resource hub the digital barbershop.

We also have worked for the past 12 months training barbers to have conversations with men about being an ally and offering the resources, known as our pop-up barbershops.

By bringing barbers to the heart of the conversation by creating conversation of change through pop-ups by putting the discussions of what role men can play right in the chair. and offering a digital barbershop which is an interactive resource hub provide men with a range of tools, resources, and information.

In the intricate tapestry of societal transformation, one unexpected thread stands out – the humble barbershop. Beyond the snip of scissors and hum of clippers lies a potent space that resonates with men, inspiring them to delve into crucial issues like bystander awareness, stepping outside the “man box,” challenging the “mansophere,” practicing affirmative consent, and addressing technology-facilitated abuse. Let’s uncover the five reasons why barbershops serve as a powerful conduit for this vital change.

1. Place-Based Engagement: Barbershops are more than just grooming sanctuaries; they are authentic hubs of male camaraderie and conversation. A unique convergence of diverse men from all walks of life occurs within these walls, fostering an environment that transcends socioeconomic, cultural, and age barriers. In this common space, men are inherently attuned to dialogue, allowing for discussions on sensitive topics to unfold naturally.

2. Peer-to-Peer Influence: Within barbershops, conversations flow organically, driven by the powerful dynamic of peer influence. Men are more likely to listen to fellow men, and barbers act as conduits for

Barbershop talks to Allan Ball, Director of White Ribbon Australia about the growing movement to stop violence towards women and explains how barbers are playing a key part in getting the message out there.

disseminating knowledge, insights, and experiences. Harnessing this peer-to-peer dynamic, discussions on bystander awareness and stepping outside the “man box” gain authenticity, seeding change through shared stories.

3. Barbers Cut Through: As skilled craftsmen of hair, barbers possess an innate ability to cut through barriers, both literal and metaphorical. Just as they sculpt hair, they sculpt conversations, shaping discussions around challenging topics with finesse and subtlety. This unique rapport allows barbers to steer conversations towards affirmative consent and technology-facilitated abuse, introducing essential concepts in a non-threatening manner.

4. A Male Haven of Vulnerability: Barbershops double as havens of vulnerability, where men lower their guards and reveal their authentic selves. Shielded from societal pressures, they find solace in an environment devoid of judgment. Within this safe space, discussions flourish, and challenging norms – be it dismantling the “mansophere” or practicing affirmative consent –become less daunting.

5. Sense of Belonging and Trust: In barbershops, a profound sense of belonging and trust thrives, allowing men to explore complex issues with open minds. This camaraderie nurtures an environment where discussions on bystander awareness and technology-facilitated abuse become synonymous with solidarity and empathy.

In this symphony of clippers and conversations, barbershops emerge as unlikely yet invaluable platforms for transformative change. Through their place-based, peer-to-peer influence, adept ability to cut through barriers, provision of a male sanctuary, and cultivation of trust, these unassuming spaces become epicentres of dialogue, awareness, and action. By embracing the potential of barbershops, we tap into a harmonious cadence that resonates with men, nurturing a culture of understanding, empathy, and change.

White Ribbon Australia has facilitated pop-ups in Darwin, Sydney, and Brisbane, providing more than 2200 haircuts and conversations of change since July 2023.

Can you tell us a little about your sponsorship of The Barber Hub at Hair Festival?

The success story of our pop-up barbershops in late 2022 has unfolded across vibrant cities – from Brisbane and Darwin to the bustling streets of Sydney. Our vision, however, stretches far beyond city its. It’s a harmonious refrain that resonates Australiawide, a rhythm that compels us to embark on a transformative journey together. This is why we ventured to the forefront of the hair industry, the prestigious Hair Festival in Australia, to share our dynamic concept with a broader audience, igniting a nationwide movement where barbers take the lead in igniting change. Our pop-up barbershops have painted an inspiring tapestry of

“Barbershops: A Unique Haven for Engaging Men in Transformative Change”

engagement, breathing life into important discussions around vital issues. Now, the time has come to unfurl this canvas across the vast expanse of our nation. With each snip of scissors and every heartfelt conversation, our pop-up barbershops become more than grooming spaces; they become beacons of change, inviting every community to partake in this shared endeavour.

As we took the stage at the Hair Festival, we recognized the power of this platform – a symphony of inspiration that reverberates through the hearts and minds of industry leaders, trendsetters, and pioneers. By showcasing our journey, we extend an invitation – an invitation for every barber, every artist of hair, to become a catalyst for transformation, even if it means serving as a launching pad, propelling resources, and knowledge into the hands of men across communities far and wide.

This isn’t just about grooming appearances; it’s about grooming a new reality, where men’s engagement with crucial issues becomes a common thread weaving through the fabric of our society. From urban streets to remote corners, our pop-up barbershops beckon, offering an opportunity for every individual to step onto the stage of change.

We envision a nation where every barber becomes an agent of empowerment, where every snip of the scissors symbolizes not just a physical transformation, but a shift in perspective. This is our call, our call to arms, our call to combs, our call to embrace the potential of every conversation and every connection.

What can Barbers do to support White Ribbon and how do they go about that?

There are three things.

- Learn about resources like the Full Shave, The Top Knot, The Mullet here: Barber Shop - White Ribbon.

- Disseminate the resources by becoming a physical resource hub.

- Become a pop-up barber, being trained in how to have a conversation of change with Australian men to stop men’s violence against women.

www.whiteribbon.org.au/barber-shop/

EVENTS

Team Hosts FutureFX Industry Seminar in Wollongong NSW

BaBylissPRO Australia 2023 Education Team have kicked off their nation-wide educational program tour with an explosive 2-day event on the south coast of NSW. Hosted by Hairco and located at Belinda’s Hair Creations salon esteemed members of the BaBylissPRO team, including Fraser Forsey, Lino D’Adderio, Jimmi Nguyen and Kayne Thomas hosted FutureFX, a dynamic and educational two day event filled with techniques, tips, tools, trade secrets and invaluable learning and practical skills for all attendees.

Divided up into to two vital learning events across two days, day one of the seminar served as a showcase and educational discussion forum, where attendees were treated to watching the BaBylissPRO team perform some of their signature looks and cuts, giving thorough demonstrations while talking through their honed techniques, the BaBylissPRO tools they can’t work without and their personal experiences in their industry and on social media. It was an invaluable night of learning, especially for newcomers to the industry, apprentices and trainees, being able to watch and understand what it takes to make a truly elite barber in Australia, and internationally; as well as how to thrive in the industry and the importance of developing and maintaining your professional social media. This event was also followed by

an intensive Q&A portion, where attendees could ask all members of the BaBylissPRO team their most burning questions, allowing everyone to have very open, fruitful discussions and allowing the BaBylissPRO team to connect with their audience and deepen the community spirit amongst Aussie barbers and hairdressers. A true joy to learn from the best!

Discussion topics included:

• How to fade, cut and style while optimising your skill level and imbuing your personal style

• The newest launched tools BaBylissPRO has to offer in 2023 and how each can be used to elevate your skills and improve your craft

• What BaBylissPRO tools the team always keeps in their arsenal and why

• How to break into the industry and thrive as an apprentice

• How to break into the industry and thrive as a female barber

• Why social media is essential for your business and personal brand

• How to maximise your social media followers and grow your business

• How to maximise clients experience in your chair

• Networking within the Australian barbering/ hairdressing community

Day two built off all the incredible information from the previous night, transferring all the attendees’ newfound skills and knowledge, and putting it to work in a hands-on workshop, where education team members worked alongside attendees, providing vital practical lessons and assisting wherever needed in order to fine tune their work. This seminar provided attendees with real-world skills that can be applying directly to their business, as well as giving them a greater understanding for the BaBylissPRO wide range of tools, introducing them to the most recent innovations by BaBylissPRO, including the:

• BaBylissPRO SnapFX Hair Clipper & Trimmer range

• BaBylissPRO LoPROFX High-Performance Low-Profile Hair Clipper & Trimmer range

• BaBylissPRO UV Shaver

Local Illawarra vendors Stir & Shake Bar and Steve’s Mobile Woodfire Pizza supplied food and drink for the NSW event,

This marks just the beginning of a whirlwind tour around Australia for the BaBylissPRO Education Team. For additional FutureFX event or information on BaBylissPRO, visit datelineimports.com.au and babylisspro.com. au.

BaBylissPRO Education Team

BaBylissPRO FutureFX

Fraser Forsey

Lino D’Adderio

Jimmi Nguyen

Kayne Thomas

Dateline Imports Staff

You could help save a life.

Learn to spot a suspicious spot.

90% of melanomas can be successfully treated if caught early. As a barber, you’re in a unique position to spot a suspicious spot in hard-to-see places. That’s why TAFE NSW has partnered with experts at the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, Hair and Beauty Australia, Keune and Airyday to deliver an online 45-minute Microskill to help you recognise suspicious skin spots that could help save a life. Enrol now in the 'Spot a Spot' Microskill course.

tafensw.edu.au/spot-a-spot

Proud Partners:

With American Crew INSPO FROM EVENTS

As part of an extensive education calendar for 2023, the American Crew All Stars have been holding their “Inspirational Evenings” across the country as they showcase new and inspiring trends in the ever-changing barbering industry.

Striving to embrace new shapes, textures and styles, American Crew Inspirational Evenings take classic old-school methods to brand new heights in an immersive look & learn evening.

The All Stars have been showcasing the newest trend collection for 2023, Ac-iD in amongst some exciting evenings of inspiration, networking, and nibbles.

The Ac-iD collection pays homage to cultural trends of the early 90s, featuring 6 all-new looks that combine the American Grunge movement with British indie-rock shapes.

Mocha Group GM, Jarred Stedman was at the recent event held in Sydney to mix, mingle and capture some cool shots behind the lens!

Images by Jarred Stedman ©mocha group

Heiniger ’23

Credits:

Hair: Robert Braid @r.braid

Photography: Liam Oaks @liamoaksphoto

Creative Director: Rex Silver @rex.a.c.silver

@heinigerprofessionals_ausnz

BLOG SPOT.

A New Era BY

Lance Liufau

Are we entering a new era of barbering?

As a seasoned barber that has been in the industry for almost 19 years now, I have noticed some things change and also some things that haven’t. I’ve also witnessed some things that have been good for the barbering industry and some things that weren’t so good. Among those years I to have experienced changes that has brought me both a lot of praise but also a lot of criticism and ridicule.

I think right now we are in the depths of change, because I have noticed so many different types of barbering environments, different styles of barbering and also a wide range of prices that is being charged for their services.

As we have come through the back end of the tunnel called Covid, it has become the new norm for so many to work from home. This is no different in the barbering industry. In this day and age, I have never seen so many home studios where a barber has converted their garage or a spare room in their house into a private studio. Gone are the days that you are just cutting your mates hair on a stool with a towel wrapped around their back and we call them garage barbers. Some of these home studios are set up more professionally than some barbershops that I’ve seen. I also know a few barbers personally that work in a barbershop full time as well as have a home studio set up so they can also cut from home on the weekends.

Another work environment that I didn’t think I would ever see, is the fly in, fly out barbers. Who fly out to mining sites every week and have a barbershop setup on site, so they can provide a service for the workers. But there is a difference in the work that these barbers are doing, for it is not only to provide a barbering service/experience for these hard-working men and women. But it is also to aid in the mental health of the mining workers also, because as we all know, speaking to our clients is just as important as the haircut itself. What these barbers have set up is called ‘Barber Share’ and I believe it was created by a gentleman by the name of Carlos Bishop, who started doing it on his own at first and now has a team of barbers that cover multiple mine sites. This type of work is beautiful to see, because these barbers are doing work to help others through the skillsets that we use as barbers on a daily basis. Not saying that the rest of us aren’t doing the same, but for these barbers it is part of their objective and goals, that they make a conscious effort to focus on while they are providing their barbering experience.

There is one other area of the barbering industry that I have noticed change so much from when I first started barbering to now, that is the pricing of the services we provide. I have seen barbers that are staying conservative and affordable right up to barbers that are charging hundreds of dollars for their services and believe it or not, some of these barbers are doing it from the comfort of their own home studios. So, my question is, what is the difference in what one is doing in comparison to the other. Because I am sure that if you were told today that you could put your price up to $150 per haircut and you only had to do four to six clients a day. I can guarantee that everyone would.

So, have we entered a new era of barbering? My question still stands.

Signing out like I usually do, Never stop learning, stay on your grind, and keep it TopShelf.

@lance_topshelfbarber

BLOG SPOT.

Traditional into the Modern Day Barbershop BY Jimmy Rod

In the world of barbering today the landscapes have changed. Big time.

Compared to 20 years ago when Traditional barbering was making a comeback, Traditional values are being lost. For example, applying for a job. These days sending a message through an Instagram DM and requesting $40 an hour without showing your skill is a joke. With the industry being so short staffed and people are getting the opportunity to take advantage of employers, it comes down to respectfully going for a job.

If you find someone advertising on seek or any other hiring site and you send a message asking what the pay rate is, please at least have the common courtesy to call that person to enquire. Introducing yourself shows that you have a personality and that is something that we cannot teach. Sending your resume and including references really helps the employer to check and make sure that you are the right fit for the company.

I had a barber message me last week, no introduction and immediately asked for the rate of pay. This can be quite confronting as I’ve never met this person and have no idea who they are. They could be worth for $40 but I will never know now. Happy to pay people what they are worth but don’t tell me... Show me. People talk a big game. It’s easy to do a $1000 per chair now. So, wages should be 35%

When applying for a job, pick up the phone and talk to the person. Be nice, respectful and remember that this person may be your employer. In my barbershops, we treat people like family so treat people with respect and you’ll get respect. If you’re making demands straight away, does that person want to work with you? I guarantee you it’s a no. Let’s get a little bit of respect back in the industry.

When I first started 25 years ago, everyone was proud to be a barber and tradition was everything. These days there’s so many different types of barber shops. And we don’t want to forget the tradition of the barbering industry, respect!

How’s the hunt for staff going? Did you put a 1st year on last year? Are they running their own chair now? Are they building a clientele? Is it time to put on another 1st year? Last year we had an amazing apprenticeship drive which now they are moving into 2nd year. So, it’s time to look for some new 1st years. Rinse and repeat. This is built into our business model that works for us.

Live fast, look sharp.

BLOG SPOT.

Work Life Balance BY

We all know how important this balance is to ensure a burnout doesn’t happen but how many of us really do this?

The negative effects of a burnout can impact every area of your life, including your personal and social life. Work life balance is important as it allows you to separate work and home, meaning that any stress that comes from work should stay at work, and not follow you home outside of work hours.

Easy said than done… especially when you’re a business owner!

But to ensure burnout doesn’t happen and keep this balance intact it’s important to dig deeper, taking a well-deserved big ass break from it all, create a holiday goal… manifest on a country you would love to visit. Picture yourself getting sun on your skin, tasting foods that you normally wouldn’t taste, dancing in the streets of a city you’ve never visited and trying to pronounce words that make you sound like an actor in a movie, including the hand gestures too!

Press book on your laptop, grab that ticket, pack light, and go. Just bloody go.

I’m Coming to you from my mother country Italy. We are three weeks deep into our European six-week summer break, leaving cold and wet Adelaide. Internally, the process to get me here wasn’t easy.

I’m the type of person that needs a real good reason to get on a plane, just ask my dear Office Manager Carol who at any opportunity she’s booking my travels in a flash, whilst my apprehension and indecisive nature kicks in and out come the “if’s” and “but’s”, it’s not uncommon for her to chase me down, floor tackle me for my credit card and book the trip! I suffer from travel anxiety prior to any holiday. ‘What if my team won’t cope?’ ‘What if the business goes to crap?’ ‘what if, what if, what if,’ however the antidote to powerlessness is safety and parenting the mind is what was needed here.

After undertaking an intense inner-work program, I’ve identified that one of my fears was powerlessness whilst being away. This program was able to put my mind at ease and develop tools and systems to use to release this feeling.

Anna De Sanctis

With my mind at ease, the excitement of visiting my motherland and attending two amazing events, one being a spectacular wedding in the south of Italy and the other, Don’s 50th birthday to be celebrated in Sicily, which is a lifelong dream of his, just as his father did many years ago whilst when he was the same age as our son, Joseph.

As I’ve gazed over glistening seas, crab walked over hot stones into clear blue waters with beaches that are full of stones, floated in these waters that heal anybody wounds that I have endured… one being a cut foot which I was told to get stitches, however I opted for the salty waters to heal, and it did. I’ve suffered multiple food comas, countless Limoncello and Aperol sprits, bronzed my skin in the European sun (now looking somewhat like a leather bag), but most importantly enjoying life to its fullest.

I’ve hugged my dear family members, ones that I may never see again, walked cobble stoned streets that my ancestors walked, slept in rooms where they leave windows open and listen to wild boars roam the streets at night, saw a massive wolf on the side of the road, nearly passed out in Amalfi, danced till my feet hurt on a boat in the middle of the Ionian Sea off the coast of Sicily with a group of dear friends dancing 14 minutes straight to the Tarantella whilst a brigade of Sicilians surrounded us on their yachts wanting to join in on our fun. Attended the most spectacular wedding with everything one could desire including a cigar bar topped with the finest scotch, humidor filled with the cigars and shards of dark chocolate on offer, we celebrated my loves 50th birthday, surrounded by some of our dear friends, overlooking the ocean, felt a light breeze whilst we danced the night away, and had a feast that ran beyond the eye could see.

Memories were made and my heart is full.

I’m glad I took this trip, silenced my anxieties, trusted my team, as everything was just fine. Growth. It’s amazing when you let life play out its course. So, my advice to you is to work hard, but create your holiday goal. Take that bloody well-deserved holiday, as it’s all about balance!

@barberyaustralia @barberboysau

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BLOG SPOT. A new era at Sustainable Salons

BY PAUL FRASCA

While I’m not keen to give away my age right off the bat, I do want to let you in on a little secret. It’s been 13 years since Ewelina and I took the Australia-wide road trip that would lead to the birth of Sustainable Salons.

And while we might not be in need of a makeover ourselves, we nevertheless thought it was time to refresh our image.

Our goal has always been to work in rhythm with our members and their customers - to create a better, more sustainable future together.

This was the guiding principle behind our brand refresh, which we unveiled to our team at our recent Sustainable Salons Annual Conference and to the public on 29 May.

Importantly, we’re dedicated to the idea that sustainability isn’t an add-on; instead, it’s built into how we and our members do business.

A circular economy for a better future

Since our inception, Sustainable Salons has gone from ‘just’ a salon resource recovery program to a for-purpose enterprise focused on getting people, the planet and profit working together.

In fact, we believe so strongly that the materials we recover from salons have value as part of a closed-loop, circular economy that we’re no longer referring to them as waste.

Instead, they are valuable resources. Diverting these resources from landfill is the first step in building a circular economy in which resources are used again and again without losing their value.

We have almost 1500 members who benefit immensely from Sustainable Salons membership. They’re seen as pioneers in sustainability, allowing them to attract new customers through our Sustainable Salons Directory, the number one Salon Directory in Australia, and New Zealand. We recycle in places the standard recycling network doesn’t reach. We’re also the number one collector of ponytails for charitable wigsgiving confidence to people affected by cancer treatment and alopecia.

Needless to say, it’s been quite the journey, and I won’t hesitate to say that I’m proud of it. Proud of our team, our members, and our contribution to a sustainable future for our planet.

A fresh, new brand built with integrity

Once we’d figured out that this brand refresh was sorely needed, we set about working out how to

bring our vision to life.

Core to this experience was understanding what our customers want from us. Our team worked tirelessly to provide unique input into the brand refresh process, focusing on what they’ve learned from our customers and their vision for our organisation.

This allowed us to ensure our vision is driven both by our inherent love for all things sustainability and by the needs and wants of our members.

We partnered with some genuinely innovative service providers to ensure that our brand refresh was happening in a way that reflected our values. Take our new typography as an example. We pay

royalties to use this new font, and the designer has committed 25 per cent of all font royalties to preserving the rainforests and implementing reforestation programs.

We also integrated UserWay into our website. UserWay makes websites accessible with voice navigation, screen readers, larger text, higher contrast, dyslexia-friendly software and paused animations. Using UserWay means we can rest assured that our website is accessible to all our members and customers of all abilities.

What’s changed?

So, now you know the why and how you’re probably wondering what exactly has changed. Well, the answer is pretty much everything. We’ve

updated our logo, typography, messaging, and colour palette to better reflect what we’re about as an organisation.

Most importantly, we’ve chosen to be more inclusive in our imagery and language.

New avatars reflect the beauty of our network

Our member base has expanded significantly since our humble beginnings, and we felt compelled to reflect the breadth and beauty of our network in our new brand imagery.

Our new avatars represent people of all abilities, backgrounds, gender expressions, sexualities, and heritages. Our mission is, first and foremost, to make sustainability accessible to everyone. It shouldn’t take wealth or time to live a sustainable life.

Putting members first

As always, we strive to provide our members with a unique and invaluable service. We’ve kept and improved all the elements that make Sustainable Salons membership vital to hair salons across Australia and New Zealand.

Whether a salon space has a modern, boho, eclectic or chic vibe, members can market their Sustainable Salons membership with adaptable branding that suits their needs.

We’re continuing to collect hair, plastics, salon foil and more from hair salons and barbers, diverting them from landfill.

A better online user experience

Aesthetics aside, one of the most significant changes our members will appreciate is our website functionality.

We connect over 70,000 consumers with reputable Sustainable Salons every year through our Salon Directory. We’ve made changes to the directory to make it easier for potential clients to find a Sustainable Salon.

Salon listings will now include:

- Direct booking link to the salon’s website

- Links to social media

- Option to include personalised imagery

- Opening hours

It’s not just the Salon Directory that’s changed. Our website is now more mobile-friendly and has an improved user experience and interface, making navigating the site more accessible for members and customers.

We’ve refreshed our Rewards Store through which members can shop for salon essentials sustainably. It’s all in one place, so whether you’re signing up for the first time or are a longtime Sustainable Salons member, you’ll easily find what you’re after.

We’re still the Sustainable Salons you know and love, but we’re approaching our mission with renewed vigour and energy. We’re more determined than ever to build a world that reflects our vision, and we can’t wait to bring you along on the journey.

Scan the QR code to visit our new website and see these changes in action.

THE POSITIVE POWER OF THE MIND

By Fraser Forsey

It’s been a tough few years, with some huge bouts and life changes for everyone in Australia & the world but some definitely different times that our industry has experienced.

Ups and downs, wins and learnings (we say learnings as nothing is ever a loss) we know over the last few years we all would’ve had moments encountering these!

Our industry is advancing, it’s seeing a change, a development so that’s why it is more important than ever to become opportunistic and creative. Where could you start with this? MINDSET! Flooding your mindset with positivity on a weekly, daily, and hourly basis is the most effective fuel you can give to your body and mind. We all encounter great and not so great times in our life but it’s what we do, how we react in both scenarios that gives us purpose and meaning.

Sharing is important, learning is important, so I’d like to share some tools that I have found to be useful throughout these wins and learnings in life.

Firstly, when was the last time you’ve looked at yourself in the mirror and told yourself “I love you” or praised yourself about you and who you are? When was the last time you did something purely for yourself and your own satisfaction? How many times a day do you find yourself consciously or sub-consciously putting yourself down about something that you didn’t do right or about yourself?

Now these are just some examples, but some very important ones that I am positive you wouldn’t have done lately.

What are some simple techniques to exercise your positive mindset and train your mind to become more powerful? As positivity is power and training your mind should be looked at like training your body at the gym, Pilates, sport etc.

1. Say 3 positive things to yourself daily in the mirror and mean them with power and belief.

2. Adjust your wording from, I “HAVE” to go to work to, I “GET” to go to work.

3. Remove words or sentences from your mind and vocabulary such as: I’m sick, I can’t do that, I’m not happy etc (A simple play on words is super powerful to tricking your subconscious mind to believe otherwise)

4. Do something to help somebody close to you or even a stranger with no expectation of favour returned. Helping others in the shop or in day-to-day life is no greater feeling.

5. Love yourself, believe in yourself, praise yourself, compliment yourself, be accountable to yourself, educate yourself.

6. Flood your mind with knowledge & positivity through ways of reading, videos, research, podcasts, educational material at any point through a day.

7. Put your phone down for a couple hours a day and smell the roses, look around and feel grateful for the simple things in life (trees, sun, air, water, family, friends just some examples)

8. Be consistent and patient, life is a journey there will always be good and not so good times, hard times don’t last forever, but hard people do!

Believe, love, rest, drink, sleep, practise, empower, learn, develop, grow & be consistent to yourself!

@barbereducationbyfraser

If you won’t tell yourself, I will!

“You’re amazing!!!

Get more out of everyday with Fresha’s scheduling software built for your business

Between managing your team’s time and clients’ changing schedules, chances are your salon’s diary has a lot of moving parts. And since time is money, you’ll want to maximise every single day with minimal room for error.

If you’re constantly trying to manage your marketing, your clients and your schedule across several platforms, good news: you don’t have to. With Fresha’s marketplace and booking software for salons, everything’s in one place, from your marketing to your payments and scheduling. That means you can spend less time on admin and focus on growing your business. Best of all: it’s subscription free.

Read on to find out how Fresha can help you and your team manage your salon’s busy schedule.

Stay on top of your schedule anytime, anywhere

Your calendar is one of your most important tools, so you should be able to access it whenever and however you need. When you use Fresha’s scheduling software, every feature within the calendar is unlimited: team members, locations, clients, bookings, inventory and reporting. Everyone from the owner to the most junior staff member can use their login to access to it on any device with an internet connection. Since Fresha is so easy to use, everyone will know exactly what their schedules look like – it’s not just the business owner who’s in control.

You can also sync your Fresha schedule to your personal calendar and view all your commitments in one place. And your clients can see your availability and book an appointment, 24/7. All their appointment information connects in real time to your Fresha account, and any notifications you’ve set up will be automatically triggered. You can set up requests for upfront payments when they book, and if a client hasn’t paid yet, you can send them a reminder in one click.

Get more value out of your time with less effort

To help clients better manage their schedules, you can let them book several months in advance, and also allow them to reschedule up to 24 hours in advance of their appointment. These settings will also help you plan for busy seasons and staff holidays, and minimise no-shows.

When you’ve got your online schedule up and running with Fresha, you’ll be able to list your salon on our online marketplace where we’ve processed more than 700 million bookings to date. So when potential new clients are searching for treatments online in your area, your salon will show up.

Delight clients from start to finish

Using Fresha’s all-in-one software means you can treat your clients to a smooth, simple booking experience. You can keep in touch with them via automatic appointment notifications, and send thank you messages following their appointments.

You can also encourage clients to book available appointment slots with offers, discounts and dynamic pricing. Applying offpeak pricing to slots that fall during quieter periods in your salon encourages flexibility when your clients are booking, and it can fill space left behind by last-minute cancellations.

Stay in the know with your reports

A big part of growing your business is having a clear picture of your salon’s performance. Fresha’s reporting tools can help with that. Not only can you generate marketing reports, but you can view sales and service reports based on your scheduling data to spot trends at your salon.

Those reports track every sale you make, as well as every service your clients book. You can identify the most popular treatments, what times tend to be the busiest, who on your team is booked more frequently, and who is generating the most revenue. All that information can help you make important business decisions about staffing, resources and scheduling.

Get the most from Fresha’s complete ecosystem

With scheduling software, marketing tools and payment processing, everything you need to seamlessly run your salon is built into the Fresha platform. You won’t need any other system or subscription to attract new clients, maintain relationships with your current ones, and achieve your business goals.

If you’re looking for a better way to manage your salon’s schedule, look no further than Fresha’s scheduling software. The ability to access it on the go, make more informed decisions, and improve the way you communicate with your clients will help your business run more smoothly and let you get back to caring for your clients.

Sign up to Fresha today.

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MASTERING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: THE KEY TO BARBERSHOP SUCCESS

BY MARIO FALLACE, NEW YORK BARBERS

Running a barbershop can be a fulfilling endeavour, as you hone your craft and build strong relationships with clients. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily operations, it’s easy to become complacent and overlook the critical aspect of financial management.

Ignoring your barbershop’s financial figures and profitability can jeopardise its sustainability and potential for growth.

In this article, we shed light on the importance of paying close attention to your barbershop’s financial health and making informed decisions to secure its longevity.

Embracing the Numbers for Long-Term Sustainability

To build a thriving barbershop that stands the test of time, understanding and embracing the numbers is vital. As a business owner, you must resist the temptation to solely focus on the day-to-day running of the shop. Instead, allocate time to review financial reports, track income, and analyse expenses regularly. By doing so, you gain a clearer perspective on your barbershop’s overall financial health, enabling you to make strategic decisions that support long-term sustainability.

Balancing Income and Expenses

For any business, including hair salons and barbershops, maintaining a healthy balance between income and expenses is crucial. Without careful monitoring, it’s easy to slip into a state of financial instability and run the risk of operating at a net loss. While monthly and quarterly evaluations are necessary, it’s essential to consider the bigger picture by analysing yearly financial trends. Factors like fluctuating monthly expenses, tax payments, and superannuation obligations can impact your profitability over time.

The Truth Behind the Numbers

As the saying goes, “The numbers don’t lie,” and this holds true for your barbershop’s financial data. Your business’s financial records provide an objective representation of its performance, offering valuable insights into areas of strength and those needing improvement. Regularly analyzing these figures empowers you to make data-driven decisions, ensuring that your barbershop remains on the path to success.

Managing Expenses Wisely

Prudent expense management is a crucial component of financial

success. Carefully scrutinise your recurring expenses to identify any areas where costs may be unnecessarily high or do not yield a significant return. Even if your barbershop generates substantial revenue, it doesn’t guarantee profitability at the end of the financial year. Be prepared to make tough decisions, such as parting ways with underperforming staff members or implementing changes to enhance revenue generation.

Removing Emotion from Business Decisions

In the world of business, sentimentality can be a stumbling block. As a barbershop owner, it’s vital to separate emotions from practical decision-making processes. Sometimes, difficult choices must be made for the greater good of your business, your team, and yourself. Remember - the numbers don’t lie. Staying vigilant and objective allows you to make calculated choices that ultimately benefit the barbershop’s long-term viability.

Monitoring Your Finances Effectively

Whether you manage your own bookkeeping or have an external accountant, tracking your finances effectively is key. If you handle your finances independently, diligently review expenses versus revenue each month to stay aware of the business’s financial performance. Implement necessary adjustments promptly to address any unfavourable trends. Alternatively, if you have a bookkeeper or accountant, schedule regular meetings, preferably monthly or quarterly, to assess your barbershop’s financial standing together and plan for future growth. Be sure to listen to their advice - because this advice will not be clouded by any emotional investment in the business but based on the numbers.

As a barbershop owner, success lies not just in the mastery of your craft but also in your ability to manage finances effectively. Paying close attention to your barbershop’s financial figures and profitability ensures its sustainability and growth over the years. Make informed decisions, stay vigilant, and embrace the numbers as your ally in building a prosperous and thriving barbershop that stands the test of time.

@newyorkbarbers

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Get Smart with Your Money!

BY LIZ MCKEON

A disruption in the economy is a worrisome subject for barbershop business owners, with a big concern on keeping sales up when clients may be cutting back on spending.

Follow these steps and get smart with your money:

1. Focus on your Balance Sheet

Make sure you are managing your cash flow very well. This needs to be attended to on a very regular basis, but it is even more critical in a recessionary environment, because there might be less discretionary spending happening.

2. Diversify and Launch

Believe it or not, economic downturns have a benefit for business; it gives you an opportunity to step back, rethink and review all sectors of your operation. Consider launching a new product or service. Use the time to diversify, so you don’t have too many eggs in one basket.

3. Look at Credit and Debt

Look at increasing your line of credit – in the event you need to use it. Negotiating with a bank form a position of power and good financial resources now is a lot easier to do than trying to negotiate in a deeper recessionary environment.

4. Review your barbershop’s discretionary spending items. Although small businesses tend not to overspend, recession survivors still manage to cut back on discretionary items, such as travel, operational costs, and staff outings. Take whatever steps you can to reduce your debt – the less you have to pay out in economic tight times, the less painful it will be.

5. Review your clients.

Start reviewing how an economic downturn will impact on your clients. Search for alternatives. Somebody is always making money, even in tough times, so if you can find out where those pockets are and if you have services you can provide to them, maybe you can expand those services?

6. Improve customer service.

Now is definitely the time to take your barbershop’s client care to a new level. Get in touch and stay in touch with your active clients. Take nothing for granted. Make sure your pricing is competitive, your service exceptional and your attitude reflects how much you value their business. Revisit dormant clients and see what you can do to bring them back to your barbershop. Sometimes it takes as little as just asking; other times it can take some imagination and insight. Reattracting past clients can still be easier and less expensive than finding new business. Ask your clients for referrals – they will be happy to recommend your barbershop if you have an outstanding level of service.

7. Keep marketing.

Regardless of economic shifts your barbershop cannot afford to stop marketing. If marketed properly, new products are always certain revenue generators. Determine what sets your business apart from the competition and market it like crazy. Marketing doesn’t have to cost a lot – for example, get more strategic about your social media activity, so it becomes more lead generation than brand awareness, spruce up your website, start a monthly newsletter campaign, attend local networking events and position you barbershop as the best and only option in the client’s mind.

8. Know your books.

Many barbershop owners don’t know the first thing about financial statements and book-keeping, and they don’t want to know. Even if you use an accountant to help you with your end of year accounts, you still need to know the basics of how to keep your ‘books’ throughout the year. This really matters because good accounts are the basis of good business. If you don’t have an accurate grasp of your financial situation, your business plans will be based on little more than guesswork.

As the barbershop owner you are called on to make financial decisions on a daily basis. To make quality financial decisions, you must deal in facts that you own, know and understand.

9. Manage your stock.

Being properly prepared is one of the biggest assets in business. Effective stock management is one of the main elements required in running a financially successful and profitable barbershop. If you want to mind your money, learn to manage your stock, professional and retail.

Stock control, otherwise known as inventory control, is used to show how much stock you have at any one time, and how you keep track of it. Effective stock control is necessary if the barbershop is to offer a full range of products and services. It applies to every item you use to deliver a service and every homecare product you retail. It covers stock at every stage of your service to clients, from purchase to delivery, to using and re-ordering again.

Maintaining effective stock control is critical in small business. Under stock will result in loss of sales and overstock will result in excessive amounts of money tied up in stock.

10.

When the going gets tough...

An entrepreneur is an individual, who rather than working as an employee, runs a small business and assumes all the risk and reward of a given business venture, idea or product/service for sale. The entrepreneur is commonly seen as a business leader and innovator of new ideas and business processes.

Entrepreneurs play a key role in any economy.

You have chosen to be a barbershop owner/manager – welcome to the bumpy road of entrepreneurship! From time to time you will encounter setbacks, defeats and failures – some of which might seem fatal, but they are not. As entrepreneurs, there is no such thing as failure, only experience of different feedback. You have to keep going, stay strong and even cheerful when the going gets tough – use tough times to become the master of the comeback!

11. Spot the opportunity in challenges.

When the going is smooth, we can switch to cruise control. The reality is that things rarely go as planned. What happens when your plans don’t work? When an unanticipated challenge arises, it can throw everything into a tailspin, knocking you off course and off centre. But, if you can develop the mindset of always looking at the opportunity, no matter how bad the economy is or how difficult the situation appears, you will develop an invaluable business skill. Whatever size of type of obstacle you encounter running your barbershop, try not only to make the most of it, but actively seek out the opportunities it brings.

Finally, remember your long-term picture. All business is cyclical – it is of little value to your business to leave a short-term downturn unable to capitalise on the return to better times.

@lizmckeonbizliz

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THE BIG WIG FOR ELVIS

JRL is dedicated to the professional hair and barber industry. Since the launch of their first hairdryer, they have continued to bring professionals cutting edge products with the latest technology available priding themselves in fine craftmanship and functional design. Working with revolutionary materials, JRL are able to create premium tools for the industry with a vision to continuously be innovative by introducing state of the art products into the market as technology advances.

The 202C Freshfade JRL Clipper comes with Patented Technology - A Patented material keeps your blade cool to the touch staying s 7 degrees cooler than most clippers in a 30-minute test.

SMART CLIP TECHNOLOGY means that the clipper senses blades resistance and revs up the motor. You get a smooth even cut every time.

The ADVANCED LEVER LOCKING TECHNOLOGY is paramount for the support spring ensuring 5 steady lever locking adjustments providing infinite variable control that is sustainable over long-term use.

Unrivalled LITHIUM ION battery life with a 3-hour charge provides 4-hours of battery life.

For more information www.jrlaus.com.au

BRUMBY STOOL

The design of the Brumby Saddle Stool promotes a natural, upright posture. By sitting on a saddle-shaped seat, your spine is encouraged to align in its natural curve, which reduces strain on the back and neck. This can help alleviate back pain and prevent long-term postural issues. The Brumby Saddle Stool is available in either black or chrome 5-star base with easy cleaning wheels making it an excellent choice for Barbershops, Hair Salons, Beauty Spas, or Workshop Studios

Features

- Black Upholstery

- Contoured saddle-like seat

- Gas lift

- Available in Chrome or Black Base

- Available with Black Click’n Clean or Clear Easy Rolling Castor Wheels for better mobilityThis Unique Click’n Clean castor wheel with GroundBreaking Technology!

- Designed to protect your stool and trolley against hair and dirt.

- The new unique Click’n Clean system will also allow you to clean your stool or trolley wheels in minimal time when compared to your present wheel castor.

- The Click’n Clean castor wheel will put you back in charge of your salon priorities www.joiken.com.au

Step right up, theatre enthusiasts, and get ready to dive into the wild world of wigs, glitz, and showbiz magic! The spotlight is shining bright on Trent Whitmore, the hair virtuoso behind the scenes of the all Australian cast and crew electrifying stage extravaganza, ‘Elvis, A Musical Revolution.’

Hailing from the land Down Under, Trent’s hair journey began in the heart of Alice Springs, taking him on a whirlwind adventure across country Victoria and even sweeping him across the globe to shows like Wicked, Hairspray, Georgy Girl, and Dusty. But hold onto your wigs, because his latest escapade is the real showstopper!

Picture this: a mere four weeks to cur, colour, style and fit over seventy wigs that’ll steal the show. But, oh no, fate played its hand, snatching away two precious weeks with wig orders and deliveries. In a hair-raising race against time, Trent had only a fortnight to weave his magic on those wigs. And guess what? He did it like a true wizard of hair!

Just when you thought the drama couldn’t get any juicier, enter the scenestealer: the wigs met the performers’ heads for the first time during the eleventh hour (as is standard proactive in theatre)- the last dress rehearsal! Thank the theatre gods for Goldwell, swooping in to save the day as the official sponsor. Owning a salon and using Goldwell for years, Trent had a trick or two up his sleeve. For Elvis’s crown glory, it’s all about that volume. The secret sauce? Lagoom Jam, the ultra-volume styling gel that’s “not too sticky on the hands and it washes off nicely”.

So, to all you aspiring stage-maned stars out there, Trent’s got some golden advice for you: there’s a shining spotlight waiting for you in the theatre world, and they’re in dire need of fresh talents like you. The demand is high, and the queue is short - the perfect equation for your big break! For a sneak peek into Trent’s world of wigs and wonder, swing by www.tamed.com.au or hit up @tamedbytrentashly on social media.

Images by Jarred Stedman ©mocha group

Pro-One launch the new GTX lithium-Ion rapid charge Trimmer featuring Japanese 440C black diamond carbon blades, turbo charged 9V linear magnetic motor along with 120-minute cordless run time. The high speed 10,000 rpm power is ideal for all hair types.

Contact M&U Imports for details (03) 9555 1533 sales@muimports.com.au

NEW GTX LITHIUM-ION RAPID CHARGE TRIMMER

NEW FROM AMERICAN BARBER

SPECIAL MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH EVENT OPPORTUNITY FOR BARBERS IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

Barbers in regional and remote towns are invited to reach out and discuss setting up sessions and potentially get an ongoing men’s circle in your community.

Look no further for a firm hold, low shine, non-flacking GEL suitable for all hair types. Designed by barbers for Barbers. Contact M&U Imports for details (03) 9555 1533 sales@muimports.com.au

NATURALLY COMFORTABLE WITH COMFORTEL’S NEW ‘FOREST’ BARBER CHAIR

Boasting rugged Sage Green textured upholstery, it’s a journey from the city straight into nature’s embrace. Crafted not just for aesthetics but also for exceptional comfort, it’s tailored for both the tall timber and the shorter shrubs in the barber world. For the barber who hears the call of the wild, ‘Forest’ awaits.

Explore more at www.comfortel.com

Part of the NRL’s plan is to look after their players before, during and after their footy career. So, they have been investing heavily for the past 10 years in players welfare programs, opening their horizons to different career pathways, education programs, apprenticeships and employable skills.

This is where Gareth Philpott comes in. As the Co-Founder of ‘The Barber Academy’, he runs an RTO programs with a modern twist.

Early this year, he was contacted by an acquaintance to run a course with the Broncos NRL team. Finding a need in a niche, he reached out to other clubs and the rest is history.

The Barber Academy now works with The Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbits, Brisbane Broncos, Manly Sea Eagles, training in short course and fully qualified barbering courses.

When visiting the Parramatta Eels with Gareth and his local trainer, Suzi K from Studio X, the team picked up the skills extremely fast because, as Gareth explained, they are in an environment that requires new skills drills every day, so they are sharp and fast learners. In order to set the players up to win, they get professional scissors from Excellent Edges and a full clippers kit from Wahl.

Whilst Gareth and the team train many groups across the country for The Barber Academy, he has found a new network that is hungry to learn, fast to adapt, and are always up for a laugh.

Images by Jarred Stedman ©mocha group

The Outback Mind Foundation is a men’s mental health promotion charity with a steadfast commitment to addressing the critical issues faced by rural, remote, and regional Australian men. Their mission is to foster healthier communities by nurturing social connections, enhancing overall quality of life, and equipping men with essential life and communication skills. Through their programs, the documentary “Healing Men’s Minds,” and an inspirational podcast, wholeheartedly aiming to empower men, enabling them to navigate life’s challenges with efficacy, build unwavering resilience, and lead profoundly fulfilling lives.

The documentary is only available through private screening and a facilitated men’s health session with the Foundation to open up conversations of the traps men sometimes fall into and to create awareness around prevention strategies that work for everyday.

Reach out now to see how you can get6 involved with a special screening of this documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Stuart McKay.

Please contact Aaron Shultz via email: support@outbackmind.org.au or mobile 0400573867

Link to Trailer: https://vimeo.com/850434256

The NRL Barbers

Power, Convenience + Customisation

A new era in barbering. Silver Bullet Zoom Trimmer is a powerful trimmer with exceptional cordless runtime. Equipped with an advanced BLDC digital 7500 rpm motor. Three interchangeable body kits.

Accessories at the Ready

Made from stylishly soft yet durable leatherette, BaBylissPRO Stylist Tool Belt is your best bet for convenience and organisation. Three levels of front pockets and one zippered pocket.

Ace It

Small, powerful and precise. StyleCraft by Silver Bullet ACE Rechargeable Hair Trimmer is not like other trimmers. Ultra-slim and compact, weighing under 150 grams. Recharge anywhere, anytime via USB.

No Crease Clips

No creases, no worries! BaBylissPRO No Crease Hair Clips features smooth, wide surfaces to hold hair without leaving unsightly marks. Great for updos and holding hair. For all hair types.

A Clipper Which Excels

Clip it real good. Silver Bullet Excelsior Hair Clipper is super-high performance. Ultra-powerful magnetic, heavy duty motor pumps out 7200 rpm for a closer, faster, better clipping experience.

Micro Multipurpose Trimmer

Portable, powerful and whisper quiet. StyleCraft by Silver Bullet Schnozzle Nose and Ear Trimmer is a micro multipurpose trimmer great for on-the-go. Whisper quiet operation for use anywhere, anytime.

Spray Away

Just spray it! BaBylissPRO Barberology Spray Bottle’s concave shape fits comfortably in your hand whilst the rubberised housing gives great grip. 300ml bottle with adjustable spray nozzle.

All-in-One Barbering Kit

Essential accessories every barber needs. BaBylissPRO Essential Barber Kit is great for onthe-go. Kit includes cape, 2 x hair clips, fade brush and comb. Style and quality.

Travel Securely

Practical, secure and stylish. BaBylissPRO Universal Case is a professional carrying case which fits any clipper, trimmer or shaver, charger, clipper guards and blades. Perfect for travel.

Uninterrupted SnapFX Performance

Snap to it with BaBylissPRO SnapFX Replacement Batteries. Get uninterrupted performance from your BaBylissPRO SnapFX Clipper or Trimmer. Coming soon: BOOST+ with 30% higher battery capacity.

For Shavers On-the-Go

Safe storage with BaBylissPRO Foil Shaver Carrying Case. This professional carrying case fits a double foil shaver, replacement foil and charging cord. Indispensable companion for onthe-go.

High Torque Collection

Torque of the town. Unleash your grooming potential with BaBylissPRO FX3 Clipper, Trimmer and Shaver. From fades to trims to shaves, these advanced, high torque, ultra-sleek tools have you covered.

New and Improved LithiumFX

New and improved BaBylissPRO LithiumFX Clipper lands in Australia this year. New 5-detent taper control, long-life ball bearing DC motor, universal charging port and more. Innovation meets ergonomics.

No Mess, No Stress

Hold up to four clippers and trimmers safely and securely with BaBylissPRO Barberology Magnetic Barber Mat. Larger spaced, heavy duty barbering mat. Heat resistant and non-slip.

For more information: call Dateline Imports on (02) 9666 3611 or visit datelineimports.com.au