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 parents 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