Barbershop year 9 issue 3

THE MASTER AND THE OUTLINER

A DYNAMIC DUO

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CORDLESS ENVY Li FADE

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MASTER

SUPRA Li 5

 andisclippers.com.au

USPRO Li

 facebook.com/AndisCompanyAU

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SLIMLINE PRO Li

 instagram.com/andisclippers

T-OUTLINER Li

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SUPRA ZR II

PROFOIL LITHIUM PLUS

CONTENTS ON THE COVER

andisclippers.com.au

18 Andis Blades – A Cut Above

REGULARS

06 Editors Letter 20-21 Industry News 28 A Letter To My Former Self

By Dannielle Hannah 42 New Gear 43 Dateline City

FEATURE

08 Men’s Hair Trend Predictions for 2020/2021 10 Changing Times By Danny Amorim 12 Real Barbers, Real Talk Campaign – The Barbiere Company 14 My Scumbassador Experience By Jono Tanita Goodwin 16 10 Minutes with Kingsman

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

24 A Different Landscape – Robert Braid By Rex Silver 26 Keeping Up With Jürgen 28 Getting On With Barber-Life

By Nieves Almarez

PROFILE

34 Feel Like A King 36 Being Versatile By The Unknown Barber 38-40 Fearless In The Face Of Change By Rex Silver

COVER 12

EDUCATION

44 Step By Step: Funky Mohawk with Sindi Devitte – Andis

BUSINESS

46 11 Essentials For Your Business Socials By George Hawwa 48 Keeping Your Biz Alive By Jodie Rasmus 50 Being ‘Locked In’ In Lockdown By Tom White

BLOG SPOT

52 What A Great Consultation Can Lead To By Don De Sanctis 54 The Grimmer Reaper By Collette Saunders 56 The Fourth ‘P’ With Paul Frasca

20 24

MEN’S HEALTH

52 Health Check By Dr Benjamin De Campo

34

CUT THROUGH THE SMALL TALK The Barbiere Company have teamed up with Movember to support barbers in approaching difficult conversations with clients who might be struggling.

Movember Conversations will give you the skills & the confidence to cut through the small talk.

Get involved, visit barbiereco.com.au/movember Supporting partner

Devoted to the craft of barbering. For all your barbering products & tools.

BARBER SHOP PUBLISHER

Linda Woodhead linda@mochapublishing.com.au

EDITOR

Rex Silver rex@mochapublishing.com.au

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nina Barbara nina@mochapublishing.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

Kellie Woodhead kellie@mochapublishing.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

Rex Silver Danny Amorim Jono Tanita Goodwin Nieves Almarez Dannielle Hannah Don De Sanctis Collette Saunders Paul Frasca George Hawwa Jodie Rasmus Tom White Dr Benjamin De Campo

OFFICE

PO BOX 252 Helensvale Plaza Qld 4212 P: 07 5580 5155 F: 07 5580 5166 mail@mochapublishing.com.au www.mochapublishing.com.au

DISTRIBUTION

Australia Post - Print Post 100005498

PRINTING Printcraft

PUBLISHED BY mocha publishing

PUBLISHERS OF

HAIR BIZ, Beauty Biz and Barber Shop

Barber Shop is published four times a year by mocha publishing ABN 65 091 846 189 No Part of the publication may be reproduced in any manner or form without written permission.

Barber Shop does not accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies, original artwork or other material. The views expressed in Barber Shop are not necessarily those of the publisher.

No responsibility will be accepted if the publication is delayed or prevented by factors beyong the control of the publisher.

No responsibility will be accepted for errors in copy, or for any loss arising from the failure of an advertisement or any part thereof to appear. © 2020 mocha publishing All rights reserved.

editor’s letter With our Australian content this issue, we are proudly a little Melbourne heavy because if I have the power to do anything from my desk here at BarberShop to support our Victorian Barber family, It’s write about them, and give them a little something to help promote themselves to their guests on their socials coming out of lockdown.

Of course it’s also about to celebrating them with our readers, the wider Australian and International Barber community in these, the pages of BarberShop Magazine where we talk all things Barbering!

Welcome to Year 9 Issue 3, my 4th as editor and I hope you are enjoying things as much as I am. I have to say I am honoured to be here and honoured to be making such great friends within the worldwide barbering, and men’s hairdressing community.

My idea to follow our International Correspondents for 12 months is so much more than I hoped for, we are really getting amazing insights into Barber Life from around the world. Not only are we keeping on top of creative and technical trends to men’s hair fashion with the truly inspirational collections being shared by these masters of Industry, we are getting the inside word on Barber Business and how that is conducted from Europe, the UK and the USA. This combined with the equally exceptional content from our amazing Australian contributors, I hope produces a balanced and informative publication.

In saying that, it is with a heavy heart that we, for now, enjoy the last instalments with our US Correspondent, Nieves Almaraz and our European Correspondent Jürgen Niederl. It ain’t goodbye, we will definitely be catching up in future however for now, we thank you both from the bottom of our hearts in sharing the last 12 moths with us. You have given us an up-close and personal look into your creative and professional lives and for that and so much more, we bid you peace and love.

We are super excited to bring you 2 new superstars next issue to represent both the UK and the USA and follow them for 12 months of their Barber Life, you will not be disappointed people, you just have to wait till next issue to see who they are!!

Sometimes, I do an interview or story with someone and their response is such a well written one, I back myself out of it and delete my questions, so their words shine, and this issue we have 2 such treats.

Please take time to check out Tommy Guns’ Jono Tanika Goodwin’s Scumbassador experience and Andis Global Educator and owner of Klippers Barber Shop’s at 3 locations in New Jersey, Danny Amorim’s Barber-Life story, they are both exceptional pieces.

This issue is bursting with to the brim with said ‘inspiration’, we have from Melbourne, Josh Mihan, Steve Burley of MAFS fame and The Kingsman

Barbers which he owns with Rami Szekely, The Barber Boss Kings and ……..The Unknown Barber!

World premiere images… published first here in BarberShop! by masters of their craft- Robert Braid, Jurgen Niederl and Nieves Almaraz…. exclusive and off tap!!

UK Men’s Hairdresser of the Year winners Jim Shaw and Daisy Carter share a collection and Jim peeks into his crystal ball to give us some trend predictions for 2021. Robert Braid also gives us a no holds barred look at business life in inner London and the reality there for this owner of 2 Barber Shops, do not miss that!

If you wish to help in these times, here are 2 ways you can: Aftermath Edu have set up a special lockdown education series on a Monday and Wednesday and for $10 you can watch! Donate at www.hairaid.org. au Mullets for Mental Health www.teamblackdog.org.au My goal is that these pages inspire the artist within, and the business savvy monster inside you all, with informative story’s a host of other bits and pieces to stimulate those barber minds. I hope I’m bringing it…. I’m always working to improve.

Enjoy!

Rex Silver Rex Silver Editor – Barbershop Magazine Follow me @rex.a.c.silver Share and tag us on Instagram @barbershopmag to get your work, shops and images shared.

And if you have a Barber Story to share, please email me: rex@maochapublishing.com.au

THE ODDLY SEXY ONE

THE LOPSIDED ONE

THE PATCHY ONE

THE GREY ONE

THE HALF DECENT ONE

THE WISPY ONE

MEN’S HAIR TREND PREDICTIONS 20/2021 FOR 20

8 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Jim Shaw is the owner and director of TONI&GUY, Billercay, UK and the current Barber of The Year, (Essex Salon Awards), winner of Best Male Fashion Look Collection at the National Hairdressing Federation (NHF) Photographic Awards and with his collaboration with Daisey Carter, earned them both the title of current BRITISH HAIRDRESSING AWARDS - MEN’S HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR.

JIM PEEKS INTO HIS CRYSTAL BALL AND GIVES US THIS… 2020 has definitely been a year to remember and I can’t believe we are nearly in September already! As Spring quickly approaches, below I have put together my top 5 men’s hair trend predictions for Spring/Summer outlining what I think men will be asking for in the salon as the new season approaches…

1. LONG AND WAVY During the lockdown period we noticed men either shaving all their hair off or allowing their hair to grow long and embracing it. I think a lot of men were surprised at how much they would like the longer length and how much easier this is to style and now, more men are starting to come into the salon and keep their hair slightly longer and instead of opting for a complete restyle, they have just been trimming their hair or asking for advice on styles to suit the longer length.

Waves are a hairstyle that we have seen become more and more common and I think this will definitely continue into 2021.

Men love to have hair that’s easy to style and all that’s required for this look is a simple texturizing spray like a salt spray to give the hair more of a wave and some volume and grit. This is such a casual yet cool hairstyle and will be a huge hit with men due to it not being a very low maintenance style.

2. SLICKED BACK Slicked back hairstyles I have started to notice become more on trend recently and these work well for those with short or long hair, where a hairdryer can be used to slick the hair back off the face before finishing with a gel or serum for hold or shine. I think this look is a very sophisticated look and is great for men who like that professional, business man look. It’s also a great look as it works for most face shapes and it can be made more contemporary by pairing it with an undercut.

3. BUZZ CUT As I mentioned previously, a lot of men will have experimented with the buzz cut during the lockdown period and shaved off all their hair as it got too long and unruly. I think a lot of men will have been surprised that they could pull of this look and also would have loved how low maintenance this style is with no styling required. If a client is interested in trying this in the salon, we normally advise to start with a clipper on the number 3 or 2 and then they can see how they feel before cutting this any shorter and perhaps going to a number 1.

4. SIDE PARTINGS Side partings are a great way for men to change up their look, particularly if they are used to a middle parting, as changing to a side parting can give their hair added volume. Side partings will continue to become popular as we coming into the autumn/winter season and there are so many ways these can be incorporated into men’s hairstyles, whether they have short or long hair. A quiff, fade or comb over style also looks particularly great paired with a side parting, adding more drama to the look and giving it an overall more contemporary finish.

5. SHORT AND TEXTURED I think the key to looks coming into 2021 is that they are definitely looking more low maintenance, textured and soft. With this in mind, those who prefer shorter hairstyles will be looking at adding more texture into their style and we will notice a lot of men asking for layers within their short hair to do this or requesting more of a Caesar style haircut, where the hair is faded on the sides and thickness and texture is left on the top.

9 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Changing Times

BY DANNY AMORIM

Danny Amorim AKA @successaddict is the owner of three Klippers Barbershops in New Jersey, USA and a Global Educator for Andis. Here, he shares the story of his career path, recent challenges and how he is looking to the future as one of the international trailblazers of our time.

I was born in Palmerton PA and moved to NJ at the young age of 3. I became interested in having a good trim by the age of 12. I would watch my older brother shape himself up in between our bi-monthly haircuts and I would ask him to clean me up too until he refused and started to do it myself and boyyyy! I sure messed myself pretty bad a few times. One of the most Memorable was accidentally giving myself a mullet my freshmen year coming off of Christmas break. Everyone loved it but had no idea it was the result of just trying to shape myself turned into that lol!

I found it intriguing, and a source to express my artistic ways since I always like to draw and did graffiti “legally”!!.... so, I started with myself, then friends and neighbours until I got pretty good and had people sitting outside my door waiting for a haircut, so I began to charge $5 and it took off from there.

All through high school I kept barbering as a second source of income since I always kept a job while going to high school. I was the youngest of 3 and lost my father at the age of fifteen and didn’t want my mother to feel the pain of having to take care of me financially so I’ve been independent since 15 and it made me the man I am today with the “Never Give Up or Make an Excuse” attitude.

I graduated high school June of 1998 where I continued my journey with odd times trying to find my “nitch” until I had an issue with my last job and the Barber that would cut my hair was opening a new shop and didn’t ask me, told me I was going to work for him and I told him he was Crazy until I realised I hated my job and decided to take the step into an official Barbershop Sept of 1998. I still remember having nightmares the night before I started.

I was far from the best when I began my real Barbering journey but a few things I was, were Passionate, Committed, Responsible, Reliable and Master the Art of Customer Service. I built a great clientele from that until my skill level matched everything else and brought me to open my first Barber Shop Dec 3rd 2001 at the young age of 21.

My first shop was a small, 4 chair location with terrible parking but it was something I could call ‘MINE’ at the young age of 21 and with only 2 Barbers and a Braider I was showing income (profit) 3-4 months into opening my doors and I outgrew the location in 15 months. That drove me to relocate to a bigger space, I added 7 chairs April 3rd of 2003 and now has 11 fully staffed.

I currently own 3 locations with 10 chairs in the second and third location as well.

I began my journey of Education about 2009, 2010. In the state of NJ there was NO Barber License. It was Only Cosmo (equivalent to men’s and women’s Cert. 3 hairdressing in Australia) so as a shop owner it was extremely difficult to hire a licensed “skilled” barber. Since there was no outlet for education, I began doing it on my own independently at local Salons and Schools.

I then began to attend Hair Shows and that totally opened my eyes, energy and passion to take my Education up a notch.

After building an educational portfolio along with building great relationships I got the opportunity to work alongside some of the Andis Greats until I caught someone’s attention and they brought me on to the team! I have been a global educator for the Andis Co for over 8 years. I have done every hair show in the US you could ever think of along with tons of international shows including Brazil, UK, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and all over the United States

10 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Becoming a global educator has been an amazing experience and so fulfilling as an artist. It’s helped my business with me being able to reach so many people all over the world. I would share tips and tricks and could also relate being behind the chair and running numerous shops, so it built a better connection and also brand awareness As we all know we are in different times and as business owners we all had to shut our shops down globally and it Sucked. It hurt having to break the news to my Barbers and clients, but it was a situation out of my hands.

I figured I would use the time wisely and keep myself occupied so I renovated my second location. I’ve wanted to do it for quite some time but couldn’t find the time in the past so took full advantage and felt good giving it a revamp for the staff, clients and our 15-year mark at that location April 4th These times have definitely affected current education due to travel bans, businesses closing, events being cancelled and just having to keep social distance, so the world is now evolving to online education for the meantime. You can definitely get the point across but that energy in the room and connection with people isn’t there.... if you know me, I’m a passionate and energetic person and still great some great feedback online after Zooms and Lives but it’s way more infectious in person and I truly miss it and can’t Wait to get back in that room and On That Stage Again!

These next 6 months and year have to be very Strategic. We may have to think and do things differently... We have to work with these times along with being patient and staying positive.

Someone told me over 20 years ago when I began Barbering and it always stuck with me…. “Hair will never stop growing so you will always have a

job....” I never forgot that and at times like this we can’t either. May be a little slower than norm but all this is temporary.

I’m actually enjoying some more free time other than the back to back and lots of my weekly client went bi and tri weekly so it’s made room for tons of new clients that have been dying to get in my chair for years so it’s kinda less repetitive and fun again Best advice I can give young Barbers at this time is learn and master your ‘craft’. Learn how to turn your time into ‘Value’, with your skill level, along with your professionalism, time management and staying passionate about the Craft not the money

60 SECOND SPEED DATE WITH DANNY AMORIM Favourite Food?

Shellfish Favourite Drink?

Water and White Wine lol Favourite Movie?

Toss-up between Gladiator and 300 Favourite Destination?

Portugal What are you listening to?

I listen to everything depending my mood What are you watching?

Wu-Tang series What are you reading?

The 5am Club by Robin Sharma @successaddict @klippers_barbershop @andisclippers

REAL BARBERS, REAL TALK

Introducing The Barbiere Company Devoted to the craft of Barbering

The Barbiere Company is an importer and distributor of professional barber brands, men’s grooming products, barber tools, sundries and equipment; devoted to the craft of barbering.

We come from a family of Australian hairdressers; but like all rebellious little brothers, we were determined to follow our heart and forge our own path. Somewhat naturally, that lead us to starting The Barbiere Company – a family-operated company dedicated to curating and distributing the best barber shop products and tools.

Having grown up in the industry, we understand the craft of barbering and the art of building a successful and sustainable barber shop. Of course, it’s about the right blade, scissor, pomade, wax or chair; but also those finer details – the bean, the beer, the whisky.

“We’re committed to partnering with barbers to help grow their businesses through exclusive brands, world class education and fostering a community around the culture and craft of barbering”.

- Paul Mansour, National Key Accounts Manager A one-stop shop for barber products and tools, The Barbiere Company offers a curated portfolio of exclusive brands including Evo, Reuzel, Modern Pirate, Andis and Wahl through to sundries and equipment such as brushes, scissors, aprons, towels and gloves.

Offering a tailored experience and personalised expert advice though our expert Customer Service and Sales Team with no minimum orders, our clients can benefit from having just one account and one friendly customer service team.

More than just an importer and distributor, we recognise the innate needs of barbers and supporting the growth of the barbering community – The Barbiere is truly devoted to the craft of Barbering.

The Barbiere Company is excited to announce it is supporting Movember in 2020, launching Real Barbers, Real Talk - a campaign dedicated to tackling mental health issues in the barber shop.

Privity Pty Ltd trading as The Barbiere Company — ABN: 23 007 887 729 — 17-21 Commercial St. Marleston SA 5033

Knowing that barbers play a crucial role in men’s mental health and that the barber shop is a safe space for many men, where a welcome ear can often be found, meant providing barbers with the tools and support to foster these positive conversations was a key priority this year.

PO Box 700 Marleston DC SA 5033 — T 1300 833 983 — accounts@barbiereco.com — barbiereco.com.au

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health, tackling issues such as: • Prostate Cancer • Testicular Cancer and • Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

Recent Movember research tells us that 33 per cent of men surveyed admitted they felt lonely more often, while over half of Aussie men (52 per cent) say no one has asked how they’re coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in five men (22 per cent) reported their mental health had worsened compared with before the outbreak of COVID-19 and almost a third (29 per cent) 12 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

admitted they felt lonely more often.

“Men often mask their emotions and assume it is the only option - thinking that strong, means silent. That is so far from the truth. Talking to someone can make the world of difference.

Guys often have a mateship relationship with their barbers, being comfortable to have that chat, or start a conversation around “are you ok”. It can be life-saving.

This is truly a unique opportunity for our industry to make a difference.”

Paul Mansour, National Key Account Manager, The Barbiere Company “For many men, they’re more likely to regularly see their barber than a doctor. We know many barbers build strong relationships with their clients over time, and they are in the unique position of being able to use those trusted conversations to help men improve and protect their mental health. In the chair, men aren’t as intimidated and are more likely to feel comfortable about opening up. We’re not asking barbers to act as counsellors, but just being there, listening and talking can be life-saving.

Movember Conversations can assist with giving barbers the practical skills to better support someone who might be going through a rough time.”

Brendan Maher, Movember Global Director of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

Introducing The Barbiere Company Devoted to the craft of Barbering The Barbiere Company is an importer and distributor of professional barber brands, men’s grooming products, barber tools, sundries and equipment; devoted to the craft of barbering.

We come from a family of Australian hairdressers; but like all rebellious little brothers, we were determined to follow our heart and forge our own path. Somewhat naturally, that lead us to starting The Barbiere Company – a family-operated company dedicated to curating and distributing the best barber shop products and tools.

Having grown up in the industry, we understand the craft of barbering and the art of building a successful and sustainable barber shop. Of course, it’s about the right blade, scissor, pomade, wax or chair; but also those finer details – the bean, the beer, the whisky.

“We’re committed to partnering with barbers to help grow their businesses through exclusive brands, world class education and fostering a community around the culture and craft of barbering”.

- Paul Mansour, National Key Accounts Manager A one-stop shop for barber products and tools, The Barbiere Company offers a curated portfolio of exclusive brands including Evo, Reuzel, Modern Pirate, Andis and Wahl through to sundries and equipment such as brushes, scissors, aprons, towels and gloves.

Offering a tailored experience and personalised expert advice though our expert Customer Service and Sales Team with no minimum orders, our clients can benefit from having just one account and one friendly customer service team.

More than just an importer and distributor, we recognise the innate needscan of barbers You join and in supporting on the interactive Movember the growth of the barbering community – The Barbiere is truly devoted to the craft of Barbering.hosted by the Mental Health Conversations webinars,

team at Movember, hear from guest speakers and equip yourself with tools, strategies and words to help foster conversations with your clients. There will be breakout rooms and role-plays to help you immerse themselves in relevant situations.

Get Involved The Barbiere Company want to help inspire you to keep those conversations with your clients flowing, spread awareness for this phenomenal cause and encourage the barbering industry We know you’re having them in the chair, but this to fundraise to change the face of men’s campaign is all about supporting you to have and to mental health. Are you with them? Consider initiate those difficult conversations with your clients hosting a Movember activation day or running in your barbershop, Privity change Pty Ltd trading The Barbiere Company — ABN: 23 007The 887 729 promotions — 17-21 Commercial St. Marleston SA 5033grow a MO and to help the asface of men’s mental health. the cause, there are so many ways Box 700 Marleston SA 5033 — T 1300 833 983 — accounts@barbiereco.com — barbiereco.com.au BarbierePO Company will DC educate barbers about how fundraising for they can have even more helpful conversations with for you to get involved. their clients in a safe and relevant space whilst raising The Barbiere Company has developed some cool awareness of the issues present around the world.

Movember promotional packs containing in-store merchandise to get your barbershop in the spirit.

Barber Movember Conversation Webinar Training The Barbiere Company is working with Movember to Amongst other items in the pack you’ll find some bring Movember Conversations to barbers around amazing t-shirts for you to wear that sport a design Australia, take them through typical scenarios, teaching specifically inspired by this campaign. the kind of conversational prompts and responses that help to open up a conversation and keep it flowing For more information and to keep up to date with all the campaign developments head to meaningfully while their clients are in the chair. barbiereco.com.au/movember and follow Movember Conversations is a new easy-to-use @thebarbierecompany interactive online tool, that offers practical guidance on how to have a difficult conversation. Based on R U OK?’s To order your Movember merch pack please contact ALEC conversation framework (Ask, Listen, Encourage 1300 833 983 or sales@barbiereco.com action, Check in) and guided by an international team of mental health experts, it uses simulated conversations To donate, sign up or learn more about Movember around scenarios relevant to today’s world (including Conversations, please visit movember.com job loss, social isolation and family pressures) to explore Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: and practice.

13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au 13 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

“Honing in on the men’s health focus behind Movember, this design is an adaptation of the widely seen medical symbol that features two intertwined snakes wrapped around a staff. Centred around the iconic Movember mo, the scissors give the design a relevant barbering twist and representing the male gender is the symbol incorporated into the handle. The two coiled snakes portray healing, rebirthing and renewal”.

- Andrew Gibb, Graphic Designer, The Barbiere Company

My Scumbassador Experience Oink Oink!

BY JONO TANITA GOODWIN

14 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

In late 2019 the Barbiere Co. and Tommy Guns, where I work, ran a competition to become a Ruezel Scummbassador. To enter we had to do a 5 minute video entry and all the entries were sent to the legends at Reuzel.

A few weeks after I entered I got surprised mid haircut by our Tommy Guns HQ team coming to tell me the amazing news, that I was off to learn the greasy gospel at the world famous Schorem En Barbier in Rotterdam, the Netherlands!!

We were told that 11 candidates from around the world had been chosen to represent their countries and audition as Reuzel Scummbassadors, I was so keen! But also, so nervous!!

After a 24-hour journey from sunny Brisbane, I arrived in the Netherlands. It was freezing! This Brizzy boy isn’t used to the cold lol. We had a meet and great at a cool BBQ spot followed by beers, beers and bowling. Meeting Leen and Bert for the first time was so cool as I have looked up to them for a long time. We met all of the other Scummbassador candidates coming from heaps of different countries. The lads from Schorem and the teachers from the old school were all there, we had a great time, and did I mention we had some beers!!

Monday morning was our first day, walking into the Old school was surreal having seen it in all of the Reuzel videos I had seen. I felt right at home as though I had been there before. Leen and Bert did a teach back, they had great energy together, Leen did a 7-minute flat top which was unreal!! We all went out for lunch and I sat next to Bert which was awesome I was a little nervous and ended up spilling coffee over both of us ..damn it! Bert was so nice and helped me clean up, was pretty awkward spiling coffee on one of my industry idols! Following lunch we headed back to the old school and all did a quick demo with products that we had been kindly allocated prior to arriving in the Netherlands.

Tuesday, we had some live demos by the old school barber academy team and international Scummbasadors, followed by teaching theories and product knowledge with Karrie and Marta who run Ruezel education. They were super nice and knew so much about education. I was lucky enough to sneak into one of Schorems staff training nights, which was awesome and validated why the shop has such a great reputation.

Wednesday, we had a presentation by the international Scummbasadors with a long trim pomp performed clipper over comb, and a vanguard (a shorter style) with scissors which was real interesting. They also taught us the theory behind Reuzel and Schorem style cutting. We then performed the cuts on models, it was cool to see everybody else’s strengths and weaknesses having a longer clipper cut and shorter scissor cut really evened out the playing feel and got us all out of comfort zones. At the end of the day we each picked a topic to educate on the final day to see if we made a cut as a Scummbassodor pun intended.

Thursday was teach back day, we were all super nervous as everything depended on how we went educating our peers. It was make or break! One by one we all took turns in presenting, and at the end of the day we were critiqued by the Reuzel education team. Everyone did so well. Thursday night we all went out for dinner and drinks to say goodbye to our new Reuzel fam.

Thanks to the Barbiere Co. for the opportunity to become a Reuzel Scummbassador …Oink Oink!! @taperedout @reuzel @thebarbierecompany

10 MINUTES WITH

KINGSMAN

You most likely know Barber Steve Burley from Season 7, 2020 of Married At First Sight.

Steve is no stranger to the spotlight since his appearance on the show with media around the world, The UK especially, keen for a piece of the star. BarberShop gets 10 minutes with Steve and his business partner Rami and finds there’s a lot more to Steve than ‘Pap Shots’ and ‘Sound Bites”…. and a Barber Story to boot!!

LET’S TALK MAFS AND THE IMPACT IT HAD ON YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS. MAFS was something I wanted to do for me and me only, I wanted to genuinely meet somebody because most things in my life were perfect but was missing meaningful in my life, I was given the backing by my business partner Rami and our amazing team so I did it. The impact has been amazing with so many people stopping by to say hi and have their haircut.

They are all valued clients of ours and I thank them all for that along with all of our other wonderful clients.

TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING…

I came to Oz 20 years ago with 1 suitcase and a business suit. I came because a personal friend from UK asked me to come so I did; it was a huge change, but I embraced it and is and will always be one of the best things I ever did. I love this country it’s just the best place in earth; with a previous neck injury I had bone spurs on c5 / c6 and needed to get them fused together as the spurs were crushing my nerves which resulted in muscle wasting. It was a difficult time, but it is what it is. Three months later or so I was diagnosed with testicular cancer; it was worst news I’ve ever had and to this day I never

16 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Steve Burley

Rami Szekely

forget how I felt when being told; it rocked me to the core. I fell in a heap and cried my eyes out, but with the love & support I was given by mainly my partner at the time I got through it. it’s difficult to put into words the impact it has on you but thankfully I got through it.

business is key to success and we believe we are building a path to potentially open more shops in the near future with the same model. Nothing is out of the question when a client walks in. Rami, myself and our team are proud of where we have come and that is a great outcome for the future.

HOW HAS EXERCISE WORKED FOR YOU AND HOW HAS THAT FLOWED THROUGH YOUR BARBERING AND BUSINESS

BUSINESS PARTNER RAMI SZEKELY SHARES SOME WORDS…

Keeping fit is something that’s important for everyone but keeping in shape and channelling my mind into working out helps me focus on me and keeps me feeling good about myself. Let’s face it after a workout we all feel good right?

It allows me to focus on other aspects of my life and my business which means everything to me. Positivity results in positive outcomes and that’s what I will continue to live by. I love who I work with i.e. my team and the relationship I have with my business partner. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE JOURNEY TO KINGSMAN

After being a National Sales Manager for close to 9 years in the shoe industry it was time for change. I wanted something different, so I approached Rami and suggested we open a barber shop. I’m very passionate about my hair ha-ha! and love having a haircut so why not?! However, to have a successful business you must first have great staff and amazing clients.

We are very lucky to have both. Kingsman Barbers focus is simple; offer a great service and our clients will continue to revisit u. We treat our clients like friends. Relationships in

Kingsman Barbers was not only a challenge but also a goal and ambition of Steve and mine and we are proud to say that we have successfully achieved only half of what we have set out to do. Steve and I have a positive and strong outlook on the future for Kingsman Barbers and there is no one I would rather take this journey with then Steve himself.

Our relationship goes beyond the partnership of our business, we met as friends many years ago and we conquered a lot of personal challenges, supporting each other along the way but we never thought our journey would cross paths as partners in a successful business. Steve’s outlook on life and unquestionable loyalty to our friendship and our business has created an even stronger relationship between us. I can’t talk highly enough about how proud I am of what he has achieved in his personal life’s journey and how grateful I am to have him as a business partner and friend.

Who: Kingsman Barbers Where: 135 Carlisle St, Balaclava, Melbourne Owners: Steve Burley and Rami Szekely @barberkingsman @steve_burley_ @ramiszekely

17 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

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INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS AUSTRALIAN MODERN BARBER AWARDS POSTPONED TO 2021

Due to the current COVID-19 situation mocha publishing have decided to postpone the inaugural Australian Modern Barber Awards until 2021.

Owner Linda Woodhead said in a recent statement: “We have made this tough decision for the following reasons: As a brand-new initiative, we believe we have a responsibility to our sponsors and the barber/ mens hairdressing industry at large to bring the best event possible and do not think that due to the current climate we would be able to do this. This is temporary of course but we believe that by 2021 we will all be in a better position to achieve our goals with this new event Many of the categories are creative that require investment in photo shoots for collections and we do not feel this would be wise at this time, when cashflow for businesses is key.

The judging period for the business categories include part of the time where some salons/barbershops have closed and therefor gives an unfair advantage when reporting on financial success to those that have remained open.

Some product companies have put manufacture on hold, and this may affect their ability to enter the product categories In a nutshell, mocha publishing prides itself in bringing incredibly successful events and magazines to the hair, beauty and barber industries and will continue to do so at appropriate and commercially viable times for all.

Wishing everyone the best, in safety and in health,”

AHC LAUNCHES INDUSTRY SPECIFIC RECRUITMENT SITE FOR HAIRDRESSING, BARBERING AND BEAUTY INDUSTRIES

operations and management of the business.

The state-of-the-art site provides a host of features for employers to make their search for staff simple and streamlined, including: • Resume matching • Inbuilt message centre • Custom dashboard, with full tracking of visits to each advertisement • Email templates for responding to enquiries • Text message communication • Candidate screening • Resume database search • The ability to add both video and images to job ads • Company logo displayed • Link from a business ad to an onsite company description • Ability to draft and save draft versions of jobs • Ability to post jobs for multiple locations HeadHunter Recruitment will also be one of the first sites in recruitment to provide in- platform video interviewing, which will save employers much time and energy and also assist social distancing regulations during the current COVID-19 health crisis.

There are more than 65,000 hairdressing, barber and beauty employees in Australia plus hundreds of thousands of allied industry workers in Australia. The HeadHunter Recruitment platform will connect job seekers and employers in one place, addressing the specific needs of the hairdressing, barbering, beauty and spa industries. It is a solution that will ultimately become an employment and education hub for all stakeholders in the industry ecosystem and enable businesses to attract and employ team members with relevant qualifications to support the future growth of small businesses and benefit the entire industry. www.headhunter.org.au

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE PREVENTION, PROSTATE CANCER AND TESTICULAR CANCER.

To support the hairdressing, beauty and barbering industries grow and prosper in the small business sector and address current employment challenges, the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC) have launched a new industry specific recruitment site – HeadHunter Recruitment.

Accessing and retaining skilled and reliable staff is a recurring challenge in the hairdressing, barbering, beauty and spa industries. Many businesses report being unable to grow, attract new clients or sometimes even maintain existing clientele due to a lack of qualified staff.

A recent market analysis shows that current recruitment websites do not deliver to the industry’s needs and expectations, supplying a high volume of candidates that do not have the relevant skills and experience required by employers, thereby wasting valuable time, resources and energy and adding more stress to the employment challenges in the industry.

HeadHunter Recruitment will represent the hairdressing and barbering industries, the beauty and spa industries, education and training and all allied stakeholders of hair and beauty including product companies and suppliers of associated products and services. HeadHunter Recruitment will be represented and powered by the AHC, yet run separately with its own General Manager, Dwayne Hawthorne, who is responsible for the

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

Globally, men die on average six years earlier than women, and for reasons that are largely preventable. Which means that it doesn’t have to be that way: we can all take action to live healthier, happier and longer lives.

TOP FIVE THINGS TO KNOW AND DO FROM MOVEMBER 1. Spend time with people who make you feel good.

Stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, check in and make time.

INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS 2. Talk, more.

You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t have to be the sole solution, but being there for someone, listening and giving your time can be life-saving.

70% of men say their friends can rely on them for support, but only 48% say that they rely on their friends. In other words: we’re here for our mates, but worried about asking for help for ourselves. Reaching out is crucial.

We need to talk. We need to listen 3. Know the numbers.

At 50, talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and whether it’s right for you to have a PSA test. If you are of African or Caribbean descent or have a father or brother with prostate cancer, you should be having this conversation at 45. Know your numbers, know your risk, talk to your doctor.

Learn more about prostate cancer 4. Know thy nuts. Simple.

Get to know what’s normal for your testicles. Give them a check regularly and go to the doctor if something doesn’t feel right. Learn more about testicular cancer. z Add more activity to your day. Do more of what makes you feel good.

• Take a walking meeting • Park further away from the station • Get off the bus a stop or two earlier • Instead of the lift, take the stairs • Cycle to work instead of driving For lots more information contact www.au.movember.com

A NEW INITIATIVE FROM BARBER BOYS

The Barber Room: Connecting Australia’s Barbering Community and Beyond……

The Barber Room is a new digital space hosted by Don DeSanctis and his team, “where we invite individuals within the industry to come on and give us a spill of their journey throughout the hair industry and where they feel it is heading.”

“Australia has a HUGE barber industry that isn’t as connected as well as we believe it should be on the level of community within social media.

Every barbershop contains their own community, but barbers themselves don’t have a massive community where they can connect with beyond their own brands”.

“Our focus is on connecting more barbers, industry leaders and the hair industry overall together through the digital space. Exploring not only people’s journeys, but different skillsets, techniques, the products they may use and the impact they want to leave for future barbers to come.”

Jake Pinksterboer BarberBoys Special Guest for their 1st Episode, Editor of BarberShop Magazine and Director of The Garage Barber Group…Rex Silver.

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A Different Landscape

Last issue, ROBERT BRAID, our UK Correspondent was telling us what going into, and then being in lockdown looked like from a Barber Business perspective…..The following comments are excerpts from a phone conversation with Robert in which he shares insights with BarberShop, on what it looks like for his Barber Shops reopening to a vastly different business landscape that is the ‘new-normal’, at least for now, and life in the UK as he sees it: You’ve been back at it just over a month, you told us last issue perhaps staff numbers would have to change to meet the new social distancing rules and regulations, all staff would now have to cut hair with masks and face shields, and all guests would have to don a fresh mask on entering the shop. You were as physically and mentally prepared as you could be, so what’s actually happened?

Yeah well, we did all of that but this also. Each of our shops has 2 teams and each team doesn’t work or overlap with the other. So, 2 shops…4 teams in total. This way, if anyone gets the virus, that team goes into isolation and the other team works longer hours for 2 weeks etc…crazy right?

Previously Robert explained that services are to be 30min only, hair cut only, no wash, no beards and minimal talking with 15min allocated to sterilize the tools and work bay between each guest. These are the government stipulations for barbering.

Under the current guidelines, how’s Business?

If I’ll be honest with you, we are down 40%. Having less staff on at once and being constricted with government guidelines, it’s just how it is. Not just us, but all the retail shops around us are the same.

We (the business communities) are yet to have any formal meetings with landlords (or government) regarding rent as we are 6 weeks in, but now business can gauge a bit more accurately how it’s going, meetings are coming up soon I would think.

Australia has JobKeeper, the UK too, has a Government assistance program in place they have just extended to October. It means some, not all of Roberts employees, can receive up to 80% of their wages, those that are on furlough and might not be getting usual hours.

“Barbering is bullet proof… everyone needs a haircut, right? But Barber Shops aren’t bullet proof are they? not at this rate” - Robert Braid Dig a little deeper and you find the obstacles and hurdles of being a Barber business-owner in London’s Central area become more complicated, Robert explains….

There’s a lot going on here we have just really reopened and we’ve had Summer break so after being cooped up, a lot of people still went away even with some level of restrictions around. Also, for us in the central area and in bigger (shopping) centres for instance, (Roberts shops are connected to shopping centres but are on street level with street front) we are paying to be here and guaranteed a certain level of foot traffic. It’s just not here, it’s just not happening. Office people are 25 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

working from home, so they are just not coming in and it looks like they will keep working from home so this will end up being a huge issue moving forward. What’s happening is they are going to their local High Street Barber and local High Street shops for goods and services they came us and retailers in the central London areas for. Maybe if they eased parking fees and restrictions, that might help a bit.

Also, what we are seeing, are Barbers from city shops working from home and ditching their jobs and that’s starting to fracture the industry a bit.

Add all these things up and gets quite difficult to operate.

Echoes of Roberts story and the scenarios being played out in London can be heard here in Australia.

Especially from capital city operators and most certainly from our Barber Brothers in Melbourne, as they face coming out of stage 4 lockdown, and what many anticipate and try to plan for what may happen after that… the unknown. As Robert say’s we can’t see the future, but we keep on keeping on…

Let’s change gears, let’s talk education…

Cool, right, I’m starting something up with an educator that is really different from me, totally different style and that’s our mutual appeal. It will be called “The Collective” watch out for that. What I think the future and indeed the immediate future is? of course online but with really professional sets like TV studio quality sets. People are really going to step it up it’s a natural progression of what we are being forced to do really…It will of course go back to face to face eventually to its human nature, we are built that way…When? Who knows haha!

I’m doing a fresh shoot in the next 6 weeks and hopefully in time for next issue with you guys and the big news…I’m about be become an ambassador for a company, but it hasn’t been formally announced…

Want to find out the big news, follow Robert Braid on the tags below and keep reading BarberShop! Right now enjoy the amazing images that are part of Roberts ‘ PROJECT X” Collection.

Images from Collection: Project X Hair/ Art Direction: @r.braid Photography: @trashyqueenx MUA: @d.saysellfx Robert Braid is a Multi-award-winning UK Barber with 2 locations in London (Braid Barbers). Robert like all Global Educators has had shows cancelled for now but just re-booted his 2 shops to a very different business landscape. BarberShop Magazine is following Robert for 12 months as our UK Correspondent. This is Roberts 3rd issue with us and he has generously shared some of his “Project X” Collection to accompany this story and represent his positive outlook on these, the Covid-19 times we all are experiencing.

KEEPING UP WITH

JÜRGEN Jügen Niederl

This is the last in our series following the travels of Jürgen Niederl, our European Correspondent these last 12 Months.

Jürgen has provided us with some amazing images of his work and candid insights into Barber Life in Europe.

This exclusive collection is another testimony to the creative and artistic skills of this Master Barber. A man of few words who speaks through his “Art”, a true creative. When someone said, ‘a picture paints a thousand words”, they were thinking of Jürgen and his approach to documenting his work.

We are back on the road again. Since 2nd May, our shop has opened and it’s a great honour for us to hear from our customers how much they missed us and our craft. I noticed very strongly that our quality and approach to the barber trade is appreciated even more.

This drives me and my team on and on. To see how much our customers, appreciate our craft after a Coronarelated break is very high praise for me and my team.

“My inspiration for the last photo shoot was actually the global corona situation. As a result, I dealt with epidemics of the last centuries and so the idea of the last shoot was born.”

I have so many new ideas for new projects and my goal is to implement this in 2020. So, you can stay excited of what’s coming.

It’s been a pleasure working with Rex and BarberShop Magazine. It´s amazing for me to be published in Australia and I have really enjoyed doing this series!

Cheers Australia!!

Jürgen @holytigerbarbershop @grave_tiger Photos @lexkarelly

26 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

THE COLLECTION My inspiration for the last photo shoot was actually the global corona situation. As a result, I dealt with epidemics of the last centuries and so the idea of the last shoot was born.

The face mask i.e. the scarf, was mainly worn by drag riders or cowboys riding at the end of the herd of cattle, who wore scarfs to protect them from the dust that was blown up.

Due to his appearance with the beak mask, the plague doctor is and will of course remain an unforgettable appearance. And of course, the “modern doctor” as you know him in a white coat!

Jügen Niederl is current Austrian Barber of the Year and in 2018, was ranked 3rd at the International Barbers of the Year Awards. He travels globally as sort after educator and like many had a full schedule of dates cancelled due to Civid-19. Jüurgen owns @holytiger Barber Shop and Barber School in Graz, Austria’s 2nd largest city.

BarberShop Magazine has been following Jürgen this past year as our European Correspondent.

27 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Getting On With Barber-Life e l y t S o Chicag

BY NIEVES ALMAREZ

Nieves Almarez

28 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

“If Covid-19 didn’t bring out the hustler in you, then it’s just not in you!”

- Nieves Almarez

All is well here in the USA and I am extremely busy working on video shoots and online education. I would like to thank you for allowing me to share with you and your audience, seems as if everything went by so fast.

I am reflecting on the past issues of Barbershop Mag and just to think that the world is turned upside-down since my first introduction. The world is not stopping! I read a quote the other day. “If Covid-19 didn’t bring out the hustler in you, then it’s just not in you”. I have been busier than ever creating online education for my brand HowToFadeHair.com as well as for Wahl Professional.

Now that we have some movement I have been on several photo and video shoots; we are getting the ball rolling.

It has been interesting working with a mask and face shields, but we are getting it done. I am also pleased to announce that in October, will come the first in person hands on class we will offer (WAHL POP UP ACADEMY). I will also enter into the North American Hairstyling Awards NAHA once again. (BarberShop will keep our eyes on that! Ed.) I am looking forward to working with Barbershop Mag in the future and picking up right where we left off!

I’d like to thank you Rex and all you passionate barbers in the land down under, it would be great to visit one day!

Nieves Nieves Almaraz has been followed this year by BarberShop Magazine and this is our final story with him in this series. Nieves was a finalist in this year’s North American Men’s Hairdresser of the Year Awards and is the Leading Senior Educator for the touring team of Wahl USA. Nieves regularly educates in South America, Mexico and of course right across the United States. This year’s massive ‘DISRUPTOUR

by WAHL Professional has been postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19. Nieves owns Jacobs Barber Shop in Downtown Chicago. @howtofadehair @wahlusa howtofadehair.com Photos: @josephcastleberry @johngrees @nievesalmarez

A Letter to My Former Self

BY DANNIELLE HANNAH

Dear Danielle, Hold on to ya’ chickens, we are going back in time to visit some of the best and most memorable moments of your life, to gain some wisdom on how to get to your passion, Barbering.

Well for starters you’re a bit of dick thinking the chickens where literally going to eat you (it’s a real phobia folks, look it up)….but then again, maybe it’s your conviction in what you believe that drives your “you can’t tell me I can’t think or do something” came from.

For your permanent record, the stress you put yourself through believing that you were not smart enough to get through school really didn’t need to happen. Like mum and dad said, you can do anything!

thought would better provide for your family helped you to success in work, but it also removed you from the moments that were happening around you, especially family moments. But don’t worry, around the corner will come the most beautiful person that you will call your soul mate and things will start to change quickly with the amazing support that encourages you to become you and embrace the now.

Through all the challenges, growth, and opportunities you’ll face, I want to encourage you to build knowledge, be strong and trust that your determination to be more, see more, give more and experience more will take you to the open book of your future where your dreams come true.

Dannielle Hannah is CEO of The Jack Reed Barber Shop and The Jack Reed Foundation

When you enter the working world you’ll have the privilege of working shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most genuine people you would ever know, they will teach you more than you can image. Treasure it!

Please go to the website jackreedbarbershop.com to read all about this amazing person and her team, and the non-for-profit charity work they do, it’s inspirational!!

Your drive to look for that next challenge that you

@jackreedbarbershop @jackreedfoundation

30 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 2

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FEEL LIKE A KING SHOP: BARBER BOSS KINGZ OWNER: PAUL SHAZO LOCATION: 1099-1169 Pascoe Vale Rd Broadmeadows Vic.

34 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

“I really appreciate and love being a barber and the feeling I get when I see a happy client is why I do my job”

Paul Shazo

Since I was a kid, I always wanted to become a barber like my auntie was, she has been my inspiration.

In 2013, I started cutting and shaving my friend’s hair and my passion really grew from there, so I decided to get into barbering full time.

In 2016, when I arrived here in Australia I did a barber course and then I got an opportunity to work at one of my relative’s barber shops which I’m so grateful for as they trusted and believed in me and gave me the opportunity to start a career in this amazing industry.

My craft is all about serving people, I really appreciate and love being a barber and the feeling I get when I see a happy client is why I do my job.

Barber Boss Kingz was built on a vision to create a destination for people to not only come in for a haircut but to also to pick up their haircare and electrical products as we offer an extensive range of market leading products.

Further to that we also offer other services such as body piercing.

The opulent feel and quality service that Barber Boss Kingz offers ensures our clients walk out feeling like Kingz!!!

I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me throughout my career and would love to say - follow your dreams! In my opinion there is nothing called “impossible”.

Paul Shazo @barberbosskingz barberbosskingz.com.au

Being Versatile

BY THE UNKNOWN BARBER

Like any other teenager at the time I was at a crossroads with what I wanted to do growing up,but luckily, I stumbled across a pair of clippers as well as a friend brave enough to be my canvas at age 18. From there onwards haircuts got much more frequent, from doing my brother’s hair in the kitchen, to doing it mobile for friends, it’s fair to say that my love of barbering had started.

36 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

I’ve spent many years travelling the globe. Often, it’s playing football for a variety of teams in different countries which has enabled me to travel. However, barbering always seemed to be at the forefront of my mind. Everywhere I’ve travelled to play football, I’ve always taken my clippers. It wasn’t long until I took it upon myself to be the club barber, before training sessions, after games, in hotels, car parks, you name it!

I suppose that’s when I realised, I was able to balance two things I loved most, and no matter where I went, I could continue to refine my craft and hopefully one day own a barbershop alongside playing football.

Whilst in America, I spent a lot of time after training trying to keep myself occupied, and took time to actually learn more of the craft from a technical standpoint in a local barber shop just outside of LA. This was a massive part of my journey as I got to learn more about barbering, from a host of scissor and clipper techniques to general barbershop etiquette; I felt that what I took from LA would be very valuable for me going forward.

Between travelling, I’d always make time to go back to the UK and visit my friends and family. The boys at Gladstone Grooming (Manchester) would always ensure my clippers wouldn’t be packed away for too long though over the years and although it was intermittent, the variation in clientele across multiple continents was really beneficial for me. It enabled me to adapt to a variety of different hair styles. which is ideal when it comes to being a versatile barber.

I suppose now it’s time to explain the reason behind the name “The Unknown Barber”, it’s a question I get asked quite a lot.

Along my journey I’ve stumbled across a lot of difficulties with working permits and immigration as many expat’s do, so that’s what’s inspired the idea of ‘The Unknown Barber.’’

After arriving in Melbourne to play second tier football, I created a lifestyle which flickered between being a Footballer and The Unknown Barber.

Whilst working in some of Melbourne’s most popular barber shops, I started to build a very loyal following, my original clientele was predominantly from the sports industry, however via word of mouth, my clients were now from all walks of life. I suppose what inspired me the most was that these people could get their haircuts anywhere, but they were traveling to me consistently, no matter where I was based.

So, from an 18-year-old lad from the UK cutting hair in a kitchen, to a small army of clients following me in Melbourne, Australia, that’s when I decided to take the leap and make my dream become reality.

The beginning of “The Unknown” journey had begun.

THE UNKNOWN’s philosophy is to build not just a barber shop, but a brand.

Our vision is not just to become a barbershop, but a brotherhood, a family, a common ground for everyone to be equal.

We’ve also merged cultures and industries, by designing and offering unique clothing and merchandise.

We have been working extremely hard the past couple of months and cannot wait to reveal to our customers THE UNKNOWN 2.0 based in Oakleigh Despite the business constantly growing, THE UNKNOWN is renowned for their values of providing a high standard and calibre of cuts and service to their customers. @theunkownbarbershop @theunkown_oakleigh

FEARLESS IN THE FACE OF CHANGE

BY REX SILVER

What follows is a truly inspirational story of a Melbournite who is fearless in the face of the constantly changing rules on how Victorians are being instructed on how to live and conduct business.

Josh Mihan

His ideas and approach to this ‘new normal’ and how he implements change to his business and the community he serves so thoughtfully, through the space he has created, ‘The Bearded Man’, are as fluent as the everchanging landscape that surrounds him.

LET’S MEET…. JOSH MIHAN Can you tell us about your Barber journey from the early days to The Bearded Man? I suppose my journey started as soon as I was born without even realising it. Growing up in a family of hairdressers and barbers the atmosphere and smell was something I always felt very comfortable in and at home and when it came to the decision to do VCE or start my apprenticeship you can guess what I chose.

I started my career doing my hairdressing apprenticeship and working for family friends in Dandenong Plaza and then couldn’t resist but to join my Dad in his barber shop in Glen Waverley.

Then like every Australian itching to go traveling I set off with my wife Julia and made my way all the way through Latin America while cutting hair out of hostels, the beach and bus stops to finally make our way to London after a year of travelling.

London is where I really learnt the importance of barbering culture and the sophistication that came with it which I kept note of ideas and what kind of shop I would want to create after moving home to Australia.

After being back in Melbourne for about a year I decided to create The Bearded Man, which was made up of 15 years’ experience as a barber and person, which really helped me refine what the brand stood for. After 5 years of operation I would not change anything and have loved having my own shop as it has taught me so many skills that I would have never had and the constant changing in this atmosphere is what keeps everything so exciting.

What inspires you most about Barbering and pushes you to excel, educate and demonstrate your skills?

The people are what I do everything for and the power you have as a barber to really change someone’s life, I feel, is very understated. Then there comes the constant competition against yourself and always trying to impress yourself with every fade, snip and style; something I feel I could never get bored of and makes every day as exciting as the last.

I love educating and especially for a brand I love such as Reuzel so as to share and educate. It’s all about the people and not your own ego as once you get that experience of making someone’s day better, I feel there is no looking back. For anyone who is wanting to educate, as I feel right now especially there is so much opportunity with being pushed forward into the future because of Covid on zoom etc, make sure you do it for the right reasons and associate yourself with a brand you believe in and not just because you think it’s cool and the right thing to do.

For me I believe in Reuzel and not only because their products do what I need but because the team that is behind the brand are so passionate and that it comes from barbers who care so much about the industry.

Please tell us about life in lockdown for Barbers and small business in Melbourne, and in your view, how coming out of the first ¾ of 2020 might look like?

The golden question ha-ha, this year has been a very significant year only for barbers but everybody in general.

My way of thinking this year has to be not to focus on the negatives but the positives that Covid has shifted this world into.

Yes, it has been devastating for so many businesses including my own but in times of struggle the best thing is to pivot and find ways to reinvent. The more we can harness the technology that we have at our fingertips I think the better and as an educator I have been a bit quiet this year but working in the back end to make sure I came out strong and the way the content is thought out.

Pre-Covid was thinking of always having to go to a class to teach, which I still think is the backbone of education as nothing is more fun than a day education class, but now with zoom etc we can teach worldwide and something that myself and The Barbiere Co. have been working hard on to showcase later, when freedom becomes an option.

Then when it comes to instore, a few things we have done is not pretend this is only here for a month or two but implement things for good, as I feel if you don’t, everything will become very unstructured and get messy very quickly.

Going cashless I tried a few years ago was a bit premature but now since Covid, this has been welcomed and I know there are some of you out there that go by ‘cash is king’ but I can tell you no cash makes running everything very easy. I did take a few chairs out of my shop and space out stations to keep social distancing which I guess might limit the amount of staff I can have but at 6 chairs I feel that is perfect and I can focus on quality and not quantity now.

Also I have seen a few more barber shops starting to take bookings and this is something that I cannot stress enough makes everything run smoothly as I have taken bookings online, via our app and phone with the program ‘Phorest.’ I could not be happier as it also takes $1 deposit from every booking which stops no shows and if they decide not to show up the client gets charged in full.

The overall idea I would say is to make your business a seamless as possible and with all the advanced technology out there my advice would be instead of ignoring it, embrace it and you will find your business showing significant change straight away. cont’d over page 39 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

cont’d from page 38

Please talk about your shop’s design and feel, your guests that come and the community you are in.

The Bearded Man Barber Shop environment is very inviting to everybody with a relaxed aesthetic of clean wood, white bricking, tiles and plant overload as I feel the more natural aspects you can bring into a space the better because at the end of the day we are extremely connected to nature as human beings.

The shop has always had a takeaway coffee shop but since Covid has decided to close this down, going back to reinventing this part of the space and it will open as a florist run by the lovely Jess from Luca Bloom Flowers (who doesn’t love the nice smell of flowers, right?).

Our community in Melbourne is one of the best, if not, the best in the world, from North to South Melbourne, it has so many pockets and is so rich in culture.

This definitely shows through in our clientele and I suppose one big demographic of people we attract are people who love music as I feel this is the backbone of the brand. I am a DJ myself and one important thing when opening was to share my love of the music scene with everybody that walks in.

At the back of the space we have a full DJ setup which is available for DJs to come and record a set, in exchange for a haircut.

I suppose another positive that has come out of Covid is the idea to livestream and in the coming weeks you will see the side arm called TBM Sessions which will be live feeds from DJs, Bands and Clients etc. all in store to show the world how special our community is.

All this wouldn’t be possible without enjoying a beer in store from our friends at Stomping ground brewery or coffee from the big man himself Andrew Gibbs.

Let’s talk about diversity in Business, please tell us all about Mihan Aromatics the business you run with your wife, Julia Brown.

It is very important in business not to have all your eggs in one basket and if you feel strongly enough about an idea and not so sure, well then, I would say F**k it and follow your dreams.

Mihan Aromatics is a bit of a love story between my wife Julia Brown, and I, and was sparked out of the idea of missing home when we lived overseas. What better way to transport yourself than through scent.

This company has seen huge success, even in this current landscape. We are being stocked by boutique retailers worldwide.

I feel the there is no magic answer or perfect way to run and create a successful business, the only advice I would give is to keep your eye on your goal and be prepared to get knocked down not once but over and over again and only then if you feel you can take all the setbacks you are ready to move forward.

What would you like to say to our Barber Business Community in Australia right now?

Stick together, share and help as we are not enemies but friends, family of the same community. What is the point of being king of the hill by yourself while everyone else is having a party somewhere else? @thebeardedmanmelbourne @mihanaromatics @reuzel

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REUZEL BEARD FOAM WOOD AND SPICE: A leave-in beard conditioner with a light hold and low shine, helps to tame and control your facial hair. Designed to deodorise your beard and prevent itching, irritation and dry skin. It will make your beard look healthy and fresh.

BEARD BALM WOOD AND SPICE: A moisturizing conditioner beard balm offers a light hold and low shine for your beard. www.barbiereco.com.au

EDGES DUKE BY EXCELLENT EDGES A next generation handle with new offset ergonomics with a scalloped blade profile and a clamshell edge.

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MODERN PIRATE DEAD SEA FACE AND BODY SOAP Made in Australia, Modern Pirate Dead Sea face and body soap is an all-natural cleanser made with real Dead Sea mud. This high quality bar contains natural essential oils that work with the Dead Sea mud to cleanse, soothe, moisturise and detoxify the skin. www.barbiereco.com.au

ANDIS PROFOIL LITHIUM PLUS FOIL SHAVER Features a gold titanium hypoallergenic foil for irritationfree shaving with a Titanium bump free foil cord/cordless circuit for flexibility. Delivers over 1 hour of run time on a single charge which is 2x longer than other shavers.

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Our disposable salon capes and gloves give you and your clients peace of mind.

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11 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR BUSINESS SOCIALS

BY GEORGE HAWWA

Are you the person who needs to get your business’s social media marketing going?

Or are you starting to look at this marketing channel serious?

Using social media to build a brand and generate some sales, may seem daunting. But there are steps you can follow to improve your success. I will be explaining all this in our 11 tips for social media, that you definitely can’t live without!

1.

Post Often and Consistently Make sure that if you are going to post content, that it is done consistently and to a content plan. Ensure your content plan is done by a content schedule where each day of the week is broken up into topics to discuss for that day (see point 5 below for more).

2.

Make sure you understand that your social media is not just about content only.

Make sure you know that your social media strategy should be incorporated with building databases, leads and sales!

3.

Learn how to create databases off the back of your social media accounts.

With social media, especially platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it is important that you learn how to create databases off the backend of your social media accounts.

If you are unsure as to how, make sure that you book in a session with us so we can teach you.

4.

With any content, ensure you have a clear strategy that aligns with delivering value, inspiration or relevance to your audience.

To create engagement, you must have created some value for your audience. You also must have created some inspiration or relevance for your audience. It is important to note that if you are not receiving engagement, one of these things are out!

5.

Incorporate a content calendar with your content, which will allow you to execute your content strategy.

As mentioned in point one, it is important to have a content strategy and content calendar in place. For example, Monday could be ‘Branding’ where you talk about your brand, Tuesday could be ‘Business Benefits’, Wednesday could be ‘Education’. This will allow you to create a consistent and easier to follow posting schedule.

7.

Know that if you haven’t been receiving sales or enquiries from your social media, your engagement isn’t high enough.

Understand that sales and enquiries from social media won’t come overnight. You need engagement to be able to have someone want to buy from you. So, know how to lift your engagement. This is mentioned in point 4 above.

8.

Don’t always promote your services, you need to add a lot of value first.

Always selling your services is extremely boring and comes across as self-serving to your audience. Ensure you are genuinely adding value to the marketplace and to the audience you are communicating to. Create brand awareness through offering value, such as: If you are selling candles, talk about different candle scents and what aromas you can get from these to change moods. etc. Do not promote your candles in your post or article, just talk about the value of candles. From there, you can lead your audience to trust your brand, and feeling comfortable to buying from you.

9.

Understand that social media marketing, requires patience and consistency.

The average company takes about 9 months to deliver a return from social media. Understand it takes patience and time. You need to first build brand value, then build enough engagement with enough touchpoints. This will allow you to create a brand that is strong enough to invite sales, leads or enquiries.

10.

Listen to your audience and build a community around them.

Listen to your audience, understand their comments and messages. Build a community around your audience to then understand their needs. This is all important to then delivering the content that they want.

11. Try to incorporate other avenues of communication

through social media, other than just your Facebook page. Add a Facebook group to create community with your brand being a central focus.

Create other avenues than just a Facebook page will see your brand reach more and receive more engagement.

Start Facebook groups, Instagram pages, LinkedIn Pages, Start forum messaging and so on. This will all create a great campaign for you to focus on moving forward with many dimensions in it.

George recently won the ‘Outstanding Young Entrepreneur’ award at the NSW Regional Business Chamber Awards in 2018. George started Attention Experts, after successfully starting, building and selling two multi-million-dollar businesses utilising social media and also, lectures on behalf of the Centre for Continuing Education on social media strategy at Sydney University.

6.

Understand that if you haven’t been receiving engagement, your brand value is not high enough.

Most people attempting social media marketing are often confused as to why no one is engaging with their brand online. To begin you need some brand value first. This is the first step to getting more engagement. The biggest companies in the world have strong brand value principles (look at Coca Cola or Nike). Off this they receive a ton of engagement. So, it is important to understand that you must first build brand value. This takes time and patience. If you want more information on Brand Building, please visit our article on ‘How to build brand value’ by going here: www. attentionexperts.com/how-to-build-brand-value/

If you need any help with any of the above. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Attention Experts. Attention Experts provides FREE social media audits and can give general advice. You can make a booking for a meeting at attentionexperts.com. Or you can call and get the help you need at (02) 8095 9342.

47 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

Keeping Your Biz Alive and How To Thrive On The Other Side Of Lockdown

BY JODIE RASMUS - ZING

Not long ago, we were looking at coming out of Covid and getting back into our salons again, but now in Melbourne and regional Victoria, we are again faced with tighter restrictions and more uncertainty.

Uncertainty remains interstate as well and we yet again don’t know where this year will take us. Whilst this is going to be another challenging time for many, it can also be a great opportunity to reconnect with your team and clients, reflect on your business and plan for future success.

You have now got the time, so what are you going to do with it?

STAY CONNECTED

Use your downtime proactively and productively to stay connected with your client database. Now is not the time to let your marketing go by the wayside. In fact, you should ramp up your marketing efforts to provide ongoing value to your customers, just in different ways. Get creative in the way you connect so that you strengthen your client relationships throughout this next phase. Remember you want your clients to feel connected to the whole team at the salon, your brand, and the experiences they get at your salon. Have a holistic focus on your salon in terms of your offerings and the benefits of being loyal to your team. Now’s the time if you haven’t already to get online and get your products moving through online purchases and personalising your delivery experiences.

BREAK EVEN

As more people either opt to stay at home or are forced too, this gives us salon owners fewer opportunities to upsell products and treatments with services. And this represents some big losses in terms of revenue.

In these next few months of uncertainty, the focus should be on keeping some cash flowing to break even- do not worry too much about profits right now. Just focus on survival and prepare for growth post-Covid.

Understand your balance sheet and what expenses you have over the next few months. This is a crucial element of business survival in tough times and it may pay to get advice to help you navigate the budgets if this is not your expertise. For many salon owners, their forte is styling hair, not forecasting and budgeting. Knowing your possible income streams and understanding cash flow will be the single most important element to surviving another lockdown.

MENTAL HEALTH CHECKS

Your team is like your family, right? So, you want to make sure everybody is doing OK in these times, especially if you have staff who have lost their jobs, or had hours cut or are forced to stay home again. Be sure to reach out regularly to your employees and check in on their mental wellbeing. Even if you see them often, its always a good idea to ask if they are OK. The wellbeing of your team is also important to show your

clients to reassure them that you are strong; you are in this together and that you will be here for them for the long term. It is inevitable that all chats lead to Covid these days but coming into the salon should still be a time for clients to sit back and enjoy the experience. Try to keep your team in good spirits in the salon so their vibe is felt by the client, and ensure that no one leaves feeling more miserable about the pandemic.

And what about you? Is anybody checking if you are ok? Having a mentor might be just what you need to help you navigate the many and varied challenges of Covid and beyond. A mentor offers support and guidance, and not just financially. Its someone to bounce ideas off, talk through your mental health while you are propping up the rest of your team, and give personalised advice from an outsider’s perspective. A mentor is someone who can let you know that you will be ok.

REFLECTION

This year has been a difficult one for everybody. We keep hearing that we are all in this together, but the struggle is real. Some businesses have adapted to the “new normal” however, others have not coped as well. The upside to this downtime is that we now have that time we are always saying we don’t have enough of. So, use it wisely to reflect on your business and think about what you can change, if anything, or how you can adapt if this new normal is going to be around much longer than we’d hoped. We cannot change what is going on in the external environment, but we can change how we choose to deal with it. Start with understanding your mindset: Are you prone to thinking more about failure and the negative side of things, or are you a problem solver and a doer?

Changing your mindset from failure-based to success-based can have a drastic impact on the success of your business and the messages you are sending out to your employees and your clients. Positivity and happiness are contagious, so make sure that is what your spreading in 2020! People need that in their lives right now.

If you need to talk with someone about your business, and surviving Covid, get in touch with Jodie Rasmus at The Zing Project. Jodie has been in the industry for 32 years, originally as a salon owner, and now as a mentor to many other salon owners around Australia. As your mentor Jodie can help with all the ins and outs of your business and give you a new perspective to not only survive Covid but thrive beyond it. Reach out via email to jodie@zingcoach.com.au

48 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

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Being ‘Locked In’ in Lockdown

BY TOM WHITE

6 weeks of Stage 4 lockdown… it’s a long time to not be working. It’s a long time to not see your colleagues. It presents a monumental challenge for all Melbourne Metro salons and barbers. How can we deal with it and what should we be doing?

We asked Co-owner of Rubi, Melbourne, Tom White to talk about his plans for getting through the lockdown, when first imposed and what he saw as paramount to put in place for his team.

For Nikki, Michelle and I, and I’m guessing for many reading this, it has been stressful; emotionally taxing and we have all encountered sleepless nights. Like many of you, I will be using this time to take a well-deserved break, but first of all we need to make sure our colleagues are looked after mentally and physically.

I wanted to give you a run down on how we, at Rubi Hair, are making sure that all our team, and ourselves, get through this as best we can and stay locked in to a positive and practical mindset.

Like I said, everyone probably needs a break. Even the most work addicted hairdressers/salon owners need a bit of selflove and rest. But before you do that, you have a job to do.

Keeping your team engaged!! It can look like a monumental task sometimes, but it is more important than ever now.

I talk about culture all the time. This is what I like to class as the glue that keeps everything together, even during the shittiest of times. You need to keep people immersed in the salon culture, and mental health exercises, team activities and good oldfashioned FUN is how to do it.

We are all aware that this 6-week lockdown will have a terrible effect on our mental health. BUT, remember, we are physically distancing, not socially distancing. The technology we have at our disposal is incredible, USE IT. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, texts and phone calls are all designed to keep us engaged when we can’t meet in person.

These are my recommendations and tips to help you keep you and your team engaged and to come out of this ready to flourish.

1. A simple check-in call or text is a good way to start. Asking someone whether they are OK goes a long way to someone feeling valued. I suggest you do every 3-5 days depending on the individual and their circumstances. Don’t smother them but be there enough so they know you have their back and they are supported.

2. Many won’t be motivated. That is ok and expected! As a leader its your job to help them keep motivated and I’ve found that learning a new skill, improving an existing skill or having a new experience can be extremely helpful. Whether that be upskilling their practical hairdressing skills with online education or learning to cook a new dish together over zoom. Anything that

50 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

keeps the mind ticking is always beneficial. We have decided to do a virtual cook with Manu Feildel. The purpose is to raise money for The Breast Cancer Trials here in Australia. Each team needs to donate or raise $150 minimum to gain access to the pre-recorded, 3 course, French cooking experience. Not only is this going to be hilarious watching your colleagues learn to cook something new, it is a new practical skill, and you are donating money to a fantastic cause!!

gives them responsibility, encouragement to have a routine and keeps them interactive and connected with each other.

3. Self-care is vitally important when in isolation. We are all guilty of ‘getting in our own head’ from time to time. The Black Dog Institute has an awesome Self-Care Plan that you can complete.

The website is loaded full of useful tips to help with day to day struggles all the way to clinical anxiety and depression. It will help you identify your needs for that day and encourage you to fill the areas with activities. Activities are so diverse, they cover physical exercise, reading inspirational literature, professional growth or even meditation plus many more. It also has links to qualified professionals to talk to if things are getting too hard.

4. Listen, most of us like a drink! We have all been to hair shows and Expo’s and I never see a lot of sober people. Drinking responsibly is a must, but there are so many innovative bars and cocktail companies out there that have had to move their services online. KuBarz is an Australia-wide company that deliver a virtual cocktail making experience for groups. Its all done via a live Zoom with professionals loaded full of fun and music. KuBarz deliver an 8-piece cocktail making kit to your front door with a list of ingredients you will need to participate, all for $85 a head. Completely interactive and running for around 1.5 hours – 2 hours, I guarantee you will have fun.

5. Commitment Boards at Rubi Hair, we do a bi-annual Vision Meeting. This is where all the staff from the 3 salons get together and share what their professional and personal goals are for that 6 months. They also get to dissect our performance as Directors and show us where we can improve. With restrictions as they are, we can’t do this, but what we can do is innovate that idea.

All the staff have produced a Commitment Board and presented it to the group via Zoom. Each board contains 3-4 goals that they will be held accountable for by the group over the 6 weeks. This

6. Finally, in Week 5 of lockdown, its time to get everyone’s head back and begin what I’m calling ‘Project Restart’ (yes, I stole this from the English Premier League). Share the plan with re-opening, give them a voice and listen to their suggestions, even set out tasks for your salon leaders so they are all ready.

If you have stayed connected with the team through the first 5 weeks, this will be an enjoyable and rewarding task.

6 tips to get you through the six weeks. Above all, remember to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, reach out to people if you need anything……it’s more than ok to be vulnerable and it’s even more ok to accept you need some help.

Big Love and Stay Safe

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

Online Hair Education – The Secret Fox Podcast – Kerwin Rae Book – Echhart Tolle – The Power of Now Mental Health and Self-Care – www.blackdoginstitute.org.au Virtual Cocktail Making Class – www.kubarz.com.au Virtual Cooking Class – www.3coursechallenge.com.au

51 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

HEALTH CHECK BY DR BENJAMIN DE CAMPO FROM MILKMAN GROOMING CO.

WHY DOES BEARD HAIR NEED SPECIAL TREATMENT?

Dr Benjamin De Campo

“your beard needs to be cared for differently than the scalp hair because it has unique characteristics being drier, thicker and wirier.”

Dr Benjamin De Campo You may have noticed there are a lot of beard products out there. Things like beard oil, beard shampoo & beard balm were rarely talked about decades ago but are now a mainstay for many. Nevertheless, you may sometimes get questions from customers about the need for beard products. After all, why should beard hair be treated with different products to head hair? Couldn’t you just use a traditional moisturiser, shampoo & conditioner on the beard instead? To help answer this, we’ve taken a deep dive into what science has discovered about the difference between beard hair versus scalp hair, and what this means when it comes to thinking about beard maintenance.

One of the big differences between scalp and facial hair is that the latter tends to be thicker, denser and therefore wirier in texture. This can be clearly demonstrated under the microscope, as you can see in the cross sections show in figure 1 below. Beard hair, in the bottom half of the image, is roughly twice as thick as the scalp hairs at the top. It also appears a lot darker, consistent with a relatively heavier & stiffer structure.

The result is that beard hairs tend to be more unruly and harder to style compared to scalp hair.

Their higher stiffness means that once they start growing out in a particular direction, it takes more effort to train them otherwise. Plus, their higher thickness makes it harder for standard conditioners or moisturisers to adequately penetrate and moisturise the follicle.

Figure 1: Polarized light photomicrographs of Caucasian scalp hair (top) and beard hair (bottom) cross-sections of the same subject. Magnification 150x. Extracted from A comparative study of beard and scalp hair, J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 34, 361-382 (November 1983).

Beard hair also tends to be more elliptical and can often have an irregular (or lobular) structure.

You can see this in Figure 2, where the beard hair (top) has a triangular lobe structure compared to the oval scalp hair (bottom). This increases the surface area of the beard hair making it relatively more prone to drying out as more of the hair shaft is exposed to the air. It can also add to lateral (sideways) stiffness, again making it more difficult to straighten and style the beard.

Figure 2: Transmission electron micrographs of Caucasian beard (top) and scalp hair (bottom) cross-sections of the same subject. Magnification 915x. Extracted from A comparative study of beard and scalp hair, J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 34, 361-382 (November 1983).

Lastly, the skin under the hair is also different. For many, scalp skin tends to be more oily than facial skin around the beard area. Furthermore, beard hair tends to wick away what little moisture the skin underneath produces, resulting in dry skin (“beardruff”) for many guys, especially in cold, dry weather.

What does this all mean? In a nutshell, your beard needs to be cared for differently than the scalp hair because it has unique characteristics being drier, thicker and wirier. Many solutions are out there. Beard oil is the most popular product for dealing with dry beards and beardruff. A good beard oil will penetrate deeply into the follicle, locking in moisture & reducing brittleness. It also helps to reduce friction when styling the beard with a comb or brush, making taming those unruly hairs a lot easier.

“beard hair tends to wick away what little moisture the skin underneath produces, resulting in dry skin” Dr Benjamin De Campo

For softening the beard and making it easier to style, a beard wash that is specially formulated for facial hair is key. Look for products that have relatively low amounts of soap so they don’t strip away what little moisture is made naturally. Traditional head shampoos are generally designed to be more aggressive so as to remove built up sebum, dead skin and styling product. This can often be too much for a beard and can leave it feeling rough and dry. It can also be beneficial to use a beard wash with high levels of conditioning ingredients to soften the beard & relax the follicles, making the beard look and feel healthier.

When it comes to styling, a beard balm (which typically contains wax for hold) and a stiff brush or comb can be effective in taming the beard. Typically beard styling products do not require the same level of hold as scalp hair because gravity is already working in your favour. As these products are used on the face, many guys prefer natural oil and wax-based products over waterbased options that contain preservatives and solubilisers.

With a little bit of TLC and the right style, even the most scraggy beard can be transformed. A facial hair style that works for your customer can have a huge impact on how they look, making them feel confident and in control. Barbers have a massive role in helping their customers with this journey and we hope this article will help you to add value to the experience your shop provides.

53 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

BLOG SPOT.

What a great consultation can lead to! with Don De Sanctis

It is funny how the word ‘Consultation’ can scare barbers and hairdressers. But why?

Because it is so in depth? It involves asking a series of questions? It is trying to understand the clients wants and needs? Time factor? As a I tell my staff, a great consultation = client retention!

Consultations are vital in our industry. It is a form of conversation between you and your client to help understand, design, and deliver their hair goals. By doing this you are developing a relationship with your clientele as well as providing a successful service.

Keys points to discuss in a consultation: • Current hairstyle • What they are wanting with today’s service • Current products they are using • Lifestyle – how long they would take to style their hair After conversing with your client with these 4 main questions, you can identify what haircut and style is achievable. Many factors come into play when deciding on a haircut/style and I always say honesty is the best policy. If a client is requesting a haircut/style which is not achievable, in a respectful and sensitive approach, explain why it will not work on the individual. Your client will appreciate your honesty and realise they are in safe hands, as you are demonstrating your knowledge and confidence.

A great consultation can lead to many benefits such as…

Product Sales – After discussing with your client what they are wanting, understanding their hair type and lifestyle, you are able to determine what hair products are best suited for the individual.

You should discuss products with your client throughout the whole service, so they know how to apply it into the hair and what the products achieves. Once they see the results, they will want to take those products home to achieve the same look you have created.

Great consultation + product knowledge = product sales!

Additional Services – Client has come in for a particular service, during the consultation, analyse any features that you can up sell i.e. Beard needs cleaning up, eyebrows needs a trim or even if their hair or beard needs a fresh up with colour. These things are great to discuss during a consultation as it shows a genuine interest to your client and demonstrates they are in capable hands. When a client is comfortable and at ease, they are more acceptable to adding on those extra services.

Great consultation + additional services = sales!

Word of Mouth – With today’s society, people will advertise a good haircut (even the bad ones) they are not afraid to show it to the world. When you perform a great haircut, it all falls back to the consultation. Within a great selfie, there is a great haircut.

Great consultation + word of mouth = client retention!

Even though some do believe they perform a thorough consult; I believe consultation needs consistent training. It is quite easy to fall out of habit and with regular training, you will be able to perform better services with your clientele, which means more sales and client retention!

54 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

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BLOG SPOT. The Grimmer Reaper with Collette Saunders Three decades ago, I was asked by a well-respected surgeon who used to frequent my chair, “So when are you lot going to start wearing masks and gloves?” It was at the height of another outbreak which was putting the fear into every nation on the earth, that being HIV, Aids and Hepatitis.

If you’re old enough you will recall the adds, beginning in 1987 on the TV, depicting the Grim Reaper. I recall, around that time, that I felt very far removed from the enemy that was rearing its head to possibly invade the very environment in which I worked. How could a virus so microscopic impact on how I did a haircut or shave? For me it did change the way in which I conducted my day to day barbering routine. Heightened awareness of infection control. At that time, we had health inspectors who could randomly appear at your place of business and take swabs of equipment, cleaning stations and sinks and use of cutthroat razors was particularly scrutinized. I dare say that, if those inspections should come around again, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Today in 2020 we are our own health inspectors, and not only is our health at risk of being taken away from us and loved ones, but also our very livelihood. Here comes the Grimmer Reaper. Whether you, personally believe that covid is a reality or a conspiracy is not going to change what the person sitting in your chair perceives. They will want you to be at the height of your awareness for cleanliness and safe practices if they are going to contemplate returning to sit in your chair. They are thinking,” How many times has that neck duster been picked up and used already today before it is brushed across my forehead?”. “Has that comb or brush been scrubbed before it was put back into that sterilizer?”. “Is this a freshly washed cape?”” Should this barber be wearing a mask?” It’s your own reputation as an operator that will be at stake.

Reality is a bullish habitat when times are bad, and this pandemic is forcing us to face it. The “bad things happen somewhere else” self-entitled mentality is forcing some to make some downright selfish choices putting communities at risk. Everyone should be fighting complacency and from where I stand, which is a fairly decent amount of time around a chair talking to people, I’m seeing a god-damn load of it. Our highest instinct right now should be on doing the right thing for the people. It’s this complacency, I feel, that is a slap in the face for compassionate and concerned citizens and business owners who have made sacrifices to help contain this virus. The hair industry is only one group that, despite it being incredibly frustrating and financially stretching, have rallied round and upheld high standards in the face of covid regardless of the fact that it could mean their very livelihood could be ripped out from under them at a moment’s notice.

When things are grimmer, we must all be examples of the integrity of our industry.

In the meantime, we may glove up and mask up depending on which state we live in. You may not see all parts of our faces, but our eyes will still give us away. Our “smile” can still be deciphered, despite the Covid mask, communicating what we are thinking or feeling. It’s our smiling eyes, a comfort for those who trust in our touch, and our care at the chair showing them a scrupulously clean environment while we do the best we can, that keep thoughts of the grimmer reaper away. @collettecutthroats @australianfemalebarbers

56 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

TAKARA BELMONT Apollo II Barber Chair that sets the standard for all other Barber chairs. Renowned for strength and durability the Apollo ll has become the work horse of many thousands of Barber shops world wide. The Apollo ll has recently been relaunched, ready to give decades of service to the next generation of Barbers.

As with all TAKARA BELMONT Barbers chairs, the Apollo ll is hydraulic, also reclines and has an adjustable headrest.

FEATURES INCLUDE • 360º (lockable) rotation • synchronised reclining backrest and raising footrest • recline lever on both sides • spring-loaded seat cushion • adjustable and removable headrest • Japanese heat-pressed or stitch-sewn upholstery • cast-iron metalwork • upholstered padded armrests • integrated gown rail • Belmont-branded footrest with stopper

Sportsman

For further information or for your nearest call 02 8781 0123 or visit www.joiken.com.au

Dainty

distributor

Legacy

BLOG SPOT. THE FOURTH ‘P’ with Paul Frasca As I write this, in a matter of hours Victoria will enter the toughest pandemic restrictions Oz has seen yet.

And since a huge part of our mission at Sustainable Salons (one third, in fact) is about building healthy businesses and economic ecosystems, it seems trivial not to acknowledge this moment in time for our industry.

I think we’re all painfully aware of the potential impact this will have for small businesses and livelihoods, so I’m not here to rub salt in the wound. Truth is, I don’t have any magical, sustainability answers for that (yet!), but I have been reading a lot of opinions about sustainability and the pandemic to find out how the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit) can hold up under this kind of pressure when so much of our direction is consumed by survival. And… when is it okay to talk about the future if the present is a mess?

The answer is, right now! (Well, for those of you who know me, the answer is actually “yesterday!”).

coronavirus pandemic)

COVID-19 triggered an unexpected landscape for everyone, and although the Sustainable Salons model was built specifically to withstand all kinds of different scenarios that occur in small salon businesses such as peak periods like Christmas, quiet times, losing a staff member, gaining a staff member, downsizing, renovating or moving premises, we still came face-to-face with uncertainty.

But after the shock wore off, we came to see potential in the space it had opened up. For the last few months now, we’ve been on a journey of discovery to uncover where to from here. And while we were in the middle of this, the one question that kept coming up was - why do we do what we do?

And then, one of the articles I came across introduced me to the concept of ‘the fourth P’ in sustainability - purpose. Lightbulb moment! This ‘P’ is such a great addition to the mix when we’re thinking about how to incorporate the sustainability pillars into actual business practices.

Now, I know this kind of thinking isn’t going to put dollars in your bank account tomorrow, but perhaps it will give you a springboard to refresh, redirect and innovate!

The ‘Purpose’ pillar of sustainability in action is all about looking at your business from your community’s perspective. It’s a necessary part because to build a truly robust model for success, a business must realise that it impacts many more stakeholders than simply the end customer who walks out with your product. And this impact is jampacked full of opportunities to thrive!

“Defining a sense of purpose inevitably will lead all companies to realize that business belongs to society and not the other way around.

Now is the time to strengthen our social fabric.”

(CB Bhattacharya, Sustaining sustainability: Lessons from the

It’s true - and important - that your business exists to perform services with obvious outcomes that your clients request, but have you ever revisited your business’s purpose from this larger social perspective?

How do your employees, their families, consumers and the wider community benefit from your operations, services and initiatives? Who else can you serve, collaborate with or redesign a role for in a way that you’ve not considered before?

In our renewed mission here at Sustainable Salons, we started to see that we do what we do to not only reduce the salon industry’s negative impact on the planet, but because one day we want to make this improved quality-of-life a reality for everyone. We want sustainability to become normal! Our pathway to date has shown that the salon industry can be the shining example of what’s possible… and now we’re on a mission to share this with everyone. Suddenly we’ve entered a whole new realm of opportunity!

Our operations have always included the people, planet and profit benchmarks, and now they incorporate this purpose - it’s another pillar that we measure all of our decisions and actions by.

The recent crisis has created the need for some unusual, innovative and stressful changes. No doubt you’ve needed to make difficult decisions at some point. And perhaps you’ve found band aid solutions just to help get you out the other side.

But I truly believe that when you take the time to identify the ‘fourth P’ in your business, the changes and decisions you make with that as your benchmark will help you do what you do and flourish, not just survive.

Even in the toughest of global pandemic restrictions.

Keen to join the movement? Register your salon details at www. sustainablesalons.org!

58 Barber Shop Year 9 Issue 3

TURNING BEARDS INTO WEAPONS

OF MASS SEDUCTION

Become a stockist, go to: www.milkmangrooming.co