BLOG SPOT.
Tools of the Trade BY Lance Liufau
I wanted to touch on a topic that I feel gets overlooked a lot of the time because we have so much of it, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to it. In fact, the industry and the market are saturated with it, but I feel that there is still room for more if done correctly. What am I talking about? I’m talking about TOOLS. Now, we all know that having the right tools is just as important as having the right techniques in order to use these tools in the correct manner. But I get asked often “what brand is your favourite” or “what clipper is your go to”. Even though I am part of the Babyliss Australia Education Team, for me personally I can honestly say that Babyliss is my favourite brand to use. Anyone who knows me or has read my past articles and blogs, would know that I try my absolute best to speak and act with integrity. So, the main reason why I stand by Babyliss, is because I can literally use Babyliss products from the beginning to the end of a haircut, from the clippers to the trimmers, to the foil shavers. Right down to the accessories like grips for the hair and clippers. I’ve been approached by other clipper companies before, but I turned them down because they might have had a weapon of a clipper, but the trimmers weren’t the greatest or vice versa. I felt that I wouldn’t be doing myself or anyone else justice if I was to stand on stage and speak highly of a product, that I didn’t 100% believe in. Hence the reason why Babyliss is my brand of choice. But does that mean that everybody is going to be the same? Am I saying that you have to stick to one brand? NO. As a barber and a hair professional, you must select a product that works well for you, that also gets the result that you want. And being that you may not be a representative of a specific company, the world is your oyster. You can choose whatever brand of tools that you wish. What I am finding is in more recent times are barbers that are testing the waters of releasing their own brands, which I feel is great. I think in this life we only get one shot and growing not only as a barber but as business owners is awesome for not only the individual but for the industry as well. Some will last the test of time, and some may not, but that is ok, because they gave it a go. So, I guess in conclusion, I’d like to ask all of you reading this right now, what are you going to do to help yourself grow? This is a question I think we should be asking ourselves on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be something as immense as launching a clipper brand, but it could be as small as trying a new technique while cutting hair today, or switching up your process in order to achieve a certain result. Either way we must always strive for growth and evolution, that way we can all assist in growing this wonderful industry that we are blessed to be a part of. As I always say, never stop learning, stay on your grind and keep it TopShelf. Lance Liufau @lance_topshelfbarber
