Welcome to BarberEVO UK & Ireland Issue 38 and EVO’s 101^st magazine – can you believe it? Thank you to everyone who has been along on this journey, subscribing, reading, following, sending in your questions and sharing your wisdom. Where would we be without you?  

We kick off this issue with a feature on Grooming. For some, the word grooming is synonymous with barbering, but for our editor and the team, it’s not just about cutting hair and giving a shave, it is all about the transformative experience you give your clients. We feature a few shops and pros that excel in providing that unparalleled experience, with great technical skill. 

Next, let’s talk about education. There are so many avenues through which barbers can gain education, whether it’s at the beginning of their career, or years into it. In the post-pandemic world, there is now more access to virtual education than ever before. However, nothing can fully replace the efficacy of hands – on education. We cover all the options and their pros and cons in this feature. 

Do you identify as a tech-head, always getting your hands on the latest gear with the most up-to-date technology to make your work and home life easier and more efficient? Or would you say you’re more of a technophobe? Well, regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, there’s no denying the power of technology in this modern world, and if you can learn to embrace it, it can change your life, and your business for the better. 

Finally, to celebrate Pride month, we have a whole feature on Pride and Inclusivity. We talk to folks who are making waves in this industry to close the gender divide and create safe spaces accepting to all, where diversity can be celebrated. 

Also — we are celebrating that @barberevo has reached over 60K followers on Instagram. So, if you’re reading this and you’re not one of that 60K, go check out our page to make sure you are up to date with all of the latest and greatest content!

We hope you enjoy this issue! Order your beautifully presented print copy here. 

Calling all barbers! Do you want to level up your career? It’s time to prove it as entries are now open: https://www.wahl.co.uk/wbboy

The renowned Wahl British Barber of the Year competition is also coming to Barber Connect for the first time ever!

Now is your chance to celebrate your skills and show the industry how you deserve a place among the UK’s most talented barbers. This acclaimed competition gives you the chance to showcase your talents, receive recognition from industry experts, and become an ambassador for quality barbering in the UK. 

Not only will you get to lift the prestigious Wahl British Barber of the Year trophy, but you will also:

• Be fully kitted out with a prize bundle of Wahl tools worth over £1,000
• Get a year of free mentoring from our very own Wahl Global Artistic Director, Simon Shaw and his team.
• Get the chance to join us on stage at shows throughout the year. 
• Have the chance to land a lucrative spot on the Wahl Artistic Team

“Winning WAHL British Barber of the Year was the best thing to happen in my career for me personally,” says Carl Taylor, Wahl British Barber of the Year 2019. 

How To Enter 

To enter, you’ve just got to tell us why you believe you are worthy of the title Wahl British Barber of the Year. We want to hear how you plan to take the barbering world by storm, tell us about your ambitions for the future, as well as your most impressive achievements. You will need to submit up to three images showcasing your best work as a barber – make sure these are the best possible representation of your abilities. We want to be impressed!

The entry deadline is May 31st 2023, with 4 lucky finalists then battling it out in a LIVE Final on the Wahl stage at Barber Connect on Sunday 11th June 2023.

Wahl want to celebrate and recognise your hard work we see every day; one lucky person will be crowned Wahl British Barber of the Year 2023… will it be you? Enter the competition here: https://www.wahl.co.uk/wbboy

Phorest’s highly sought after Client Experience Award is back for an eighth year. Awarded to salons who have maintained an average customer rating of four and five stars, from a minimum of 60 online reviews for 12 consecutive months ( 1st March 2022 – 28th February 2023).

It’s no secret that a high standard of customer service is key in the success of running any barbershop. From building personal relationships with clients to going above and beyond, it truly can have a significant impact and Phorest salons are no stranger to reaping the benefits from this. 

Phorest Salon Software is used by over 155,000 hair, beauty and clinic professionals worldwide, freeing teams up to focus on their passion and business success. More creativity. Less admin. Known globally for providing the best salon marketing tools, Phorest touches every point of the salon experience, from custom salon apps, online bookings and inventory control to e-commerce and payments.

The Client Experience Award is a true testament to all the hard work salons put in their business. Ronan Perceval, CEO of Phorest, said: “Beauty businesses who receive the annual award should be incredibly proud of this achievement. It’s a true reflection of who they are, their team and the level of service they provide.

“From everyone at Phorest, a huge congratulations to all the winners! With economic uncertainties and the cost of living crisis across many regions, we know that this last year has not been the easiest for many businesses so to walk away with this award truly shows the hard work, dedication and passion you have for your shop and customers”. 

In addition to the Client Experience Award, Phorest also offers the five-year award, a special recognition for those salons who have won for five consecutive years, maintaining a strong suite of customer reviews.

BarbersRide 2023 is thrilled to announce that Denman has agreed to be the official sponsor of this year’s ride which kicks off in August around Ireland.

Denman will be providing VIP toolkits for the riders and brushes for all the goody bags at each stage of the ride.

The charity of choice for this year’s ride, ‘Make a Wish Foundation’, has a special place in the heart of Denman Chairman John Rainey MBE. Back in 2000, Denman sponsored a child through Make a Wish foundation. That child was James Baker, a boy suffering from a life-limiting condition that causes tumours and a series of complex medical conditions. James had just one wish, which was to stay in a hotel in Belfast.

John Rainey wanted to do even more, so when he discovered that James had both a passion for the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team and art, John arranged for VIP tickets to a Giants Hockey game and coaching from two local artists too.

James Baker is now 33 and has gone on to be a thriving artist as well as creating designs to decorate Denman brushes – he even has his own private box donated by the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Team to protect him from infection.

Recently Xavier Berrell and seven riders dropped by for a visit to Denman HQ in Bangor to meet the team and say hello to James. James is pictured centre with all the bikers.

BarberEVO are proud media sponsors for BarbersRide and you can find out all about this year’s incredible event at www.barbersride.com/theride#full-ride-details

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing has launched its Fellowship Luncheon & Hair Awards for 2023 – the biggest and best independent awards event in the industry.

The Awards are split into four different categories, the Image of the Year Awards, Art & Commerce Awards, Honours Awards and new for 2023, the SPOTLIGHT Award. All of these can be easily entered online using The Fellowship’s Awards Platform.

All awards winners will be celebrated at The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Luncheon & Hair Awards taking place at the Londoner in Leicester Square, London on Monday 4^th December 2023, which is assured to be the hottest ticket in town, where Fellowship members, sponsors, brand partners and their guests can network alongside the coolest new talent, whilst celebrating the evolution of the Fellowship as it continues to shape the future of hairdressing.

Commenting on the awards launch, Barry Stephens CEO, The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our 2023 awards, including the brand new 2023 Spotlight Award. There are awards to suit everyone – whether you are a creative with beautiful collection imagery that would be suitable for the Image of the Year Awards, or more business focused with our Art & Commerce Awards. We also have our Honours Awards, which allow us to reward our Fellowship Team Members for their hard work and dedication to The Fellowship.”

Fellowship President Robert Eaton added: “Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the exceptional talent we have within the industry, their passion, skills and expertise and we’re thrilled to have our own awards that allow us to give back to the very best in hairdressing talent, our members, and Fellowship Teams and Projects.”

CATEGORIES

2023 SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Split into two categories, the over 25’s and under 25’s, SPOTLIGHT is a virtual competition and the latest initiative from the Fellowship to find the next generation of talent and stars for the future.

IMAGE OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

• Fellowship Image of the Year Award
• Colour Image of the Year Award
• Men’s Image of the Year Award
• Afro Image of the Year Award
• Snapshot Image of the Year Award
• International Image of the Year Award

ART & COMMERCE AWARDS:

• Salon Group of the Year Award
• Individual Salon of the Year Award
• Session Hair Stylist of the Year Award
• Educator of the Year Award

HONOURS AWARDS:

• Hairdresser of the Year Award
• HALL OF F.A.M.E. Award
• Gold Medal Award
• Fellow with Distinction Award
• Fellow with Honours Award
• Member of the Year Award
• Projects – Achiever of the Year Award

Criteria for each of the categories can be found here: Fellowship Luncheon & Hair Awards Brochure 2023 and all entries should be submitted here: Fellowship Awards Platform

Men are increasingly making an event of getting their wedding haircut just right – taking their cue from how women have prepared for weddings for centuries.

Wedding haircut events – where a barber is booked to set up in the groom’s home and good friends are invited around for drinks and food – are the latest wedding trend.

Giuliano Dore, who set up Get Groomed Mobile Barbers as a response to a surge in demand for home haircuts and beard trims following the Covid pandemic, has seen a huge rise in demand for wedding events.

He said: “There is a tradition in many cultures of brides gathering with their bridesmaids to have their hair done and make-up just before a wedding. But in the past in the UK, men and the groom simply queued at the local barber shop waiting their turn!

“Now, everyone wants to have memorable photos and videos and to look their best. Men also want to make more of the preparations with both same-sex and heterosexual wedding days now including a barbering experience.

“It is quite common for two grooms to want identical haircuts and getting them done together ensures they look just right. Heterosexual men now want to ensure the best man and other male attendants look just right. Throw in some drinks and music; it is another fun aspect of the wedding.”

Get Groomed Mobile Barbers are booked online and can set up anywhere, bringing with them everything needed to ensure hair is styled, beards are trimmed or shaves are perfectly smooth. But Giuliano Dore says planning is essential.

He said: “I would advise grooms to consult with the barber first about the style they want. A dramatic change for a wedding day may not always be the most sensible thing to do. In many ways, it might be better to have a restyle a month or two before so the wedding cut is just a tidy up and there are no shocks for any party involved.

“A buzzcut is stylish on most people and suits men who want to look good on a formal occasion, but there is a danger you can go too short too quickly. For those who want to look more stylish with a bit of panache and individuality, a pompadour may be the right answer, but everyone is individual and it is an important day, so take time to get it right.”

In the home and workplace barbering has grown in popularity with both customers and barbers. Many traditional barbers have been struggling with the overheads of shop premises. At the same time, the public appetite for crowded waiting rooms reduced during the Covid pandemic and people prefer to have a home visit rather than sit being watched by a room full of strangers as they have their hair styled.

Said Giuliano: “People shop online for just about everything now, rather than wander down the High Street hoping to find the holiday, music, or service they want. The first place they turn is their phone and we find people want to book a haircut on our website and fix it for a time to suit themselves. We also have a number of corporates who book our barbers for workplace events.”

Get Groomed Mobile Barbers www.gogetgroomed.co.uk have qualified and skilled barbers operating in London, Birmingham and Manchester along with Guildford, Surry with plans to expand to other areas of the UK.

Andis® Company, a leader in professional tools and education for the barber and beauty industry, is excited to introduce Sabra Clark and Brea Retic as the latest additions to its Global Education Team!

Now consisting of 44 educators across four continents, the Global Education Team could not be more thrilled to welcome the two educators and barbershop owners.

Angie Perino, Andis® Global Education Manager, said: “I’m thrilled to add such incredible barbering talent to our roster of global educators.”

She continued: “Not only are Sabra and Brea fantastic advocates for barbering education locally, but, most importantly, they are committed to bettering the next generation of barbers and stylists, no matter where they’re from or what stage in their career.”

Sabra (@Saaabra) was born and raised in San Diego and owns Straight to the Cut Barbershop. She has been fascinated with barbering ever since she was three years old and cut her bangs off after getting a comb tangled in them. She received her barbering license in 2017. 

Sabra is also founder of the SoCal Lady Barber Expo, the Lead Barber Educator for Bellus Academy from 2021-2022, and a six-time award-winning competitive barber. One of her goals is to start a non-profit organisation to empower women and femme people in the barber industry, creating a safe space for all to feel beautiful while developing hair and their craft. Now a part of the Andis team, Sabra will share her mission with a global audience.

Brea (@Breajcuts) made a drastic career change in 2009, moving to Atlanta to attend barbering school. Now the owner of the Brea J Cuts Studio and part of the SalonCentric It Takes a Pro Team, she has taken her calling in stride. Discovering her passion for barbering made her realise it was the perfect field to enjoy flexibility, family time, and a better quality of life. 

Brea is passionate about helping others and is a volunteer for A Different Cut, which helps barbers style young adults and children on the autism spectrum who can find the sensory aspect of getting a haircut overwhelming. Giving barbers the tools to be thoughtful and prepared in a sensorily-sensitive environment, A Different Cut offers as much peace of mind to barbers as it does to their clients.

Brea will be a powerful addition to the Andis team, fostering encouragement and community while sharing her craft. 

For more information about Andis Company or the brand’s educational offerings, visit andis.com. To keep up with Andis Global Educators, look to #CREATEYOURWAY and follow Andis on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Project Men Team were delighted to spend the day with Gary Machin from RB Training at the RB Training HQ in Stoke on Trend learning all about shaving.

The Fellowship’s Project Men education programme is the ultimate education aimed at hairdressers and barbers looking to develop their skills in the ever-growing men’s grooming market. The mentoring programme will open up the world of barbering and hairdressing.

Gary Machin, Director of the Rogers Barber Shops, Founder of RB Training & Chairman of the Barber Council has been a barber for over 30 years.  His recent work has taken him around the globe representing the British Barbers Association as lead educator, judging competitions, educating & supporting major companies.

The Project Men team, alongside Team Leader, Simon Shaw, were delighted to spend the day with Gary learning all about shaving, including the traditional wet shave, the products you should use and the steps you should be taking.

Commenting on the day, Project Team Member, Elettra Guggeri, said, “The day with Gary Machin was absolutely brilliant. I really enjoyed learning how to execute a professional wet shave on a client. He’s been very explicit about the whole process from start to finish. It’s something that I’m looking forward to mastering, which hopefully will broaden my clientele and will get me confident with beards.”

PROJECT MEN TEAM LEADER: Simon Shaw
PROJECT MEN PHOTOGRAPHER: Alex Burt
PROJECT MEN TEAM MEMBERS:

• Rees Bryla, Sarai Hair & Beauty
• Thomas Griffin, Nashwhite
• Kyle Dodson, Beasley’s Beards & Barnets
• Elettra Guggeri, Richard Ward

Brand Partners: Wahl Professional, Matakki Scissors, Captain Fawcett, BarberEVO, The Barbers Arms, Barber Connect

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing are on Instagram as @fellowshiphair

Get your copy here!

The newest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW! We have the latest in product launches, marketing, event updates, and new year trends. Packed full of ace designs and awesome features that give you everything you need to know to reach success in 2023 and beyond.

IN THIS ISSUE

It’s always our pleasure to feature the industry’s biggest brands – keep an eye out for gorgeous shoots and the latest incredible looks from American Crew and JRL’s Victor Lopez collection.

ON THE COVER

As seen on this issue’s front cover we are delighted to announce BaByliss Pro’s Influencer Collection. The latest group of barbers who will be the faces of the limited-edition Influencer Collection are Nicole Renae, Van Da Goat and Andy Authentic. What a line-up!

BaByliss has been busy! We also share the details of BaByliss’ latest set of UV Foil Shavers with new UV-Disinfecting Lid and a host of new technological innovations.

STYLING

The industry’s best and brightest barbers reveal their styling secrets in this special feature. David Marulanda, stylist to sports stars, shares how he has incorporated color into his styling repertoire. 

STMNT co-creator Julius Caesar, and ambassadors Jovan Figueroa and Zach Ignacio explains the challenges that creating low maintenance, live-in looks throws up. Patrick Butler from Floyd’s 99 tells us why longer hair should be viewed as the barber’s playground of creativity.

FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

Investing in comfort should be the priority for your guests and as Sofi Pok explains, choosing Takara Belmont as her chair of comfort has been an awesome decision.   

Grab your copy of the magazine to see Chris (CJ) Foreman talk about his Instagram account that features standout barbershops all across the country – if you need some interiors inspiration, he’s your guy. 

SUSTAINABILITY

Challenging the throwaway society we have become, Danny Larry, the Salon Chair Guys, talks about how his business provides eco-friendly salon and barbershop equipment repair and maintenance products, with an aim of promoting sustainability in the barbering and beauty industry.

Read how Uplift Provisions Co. has produced a product line that is clean, fresh and perform well – all in the name of producing products that are clean and safe for the skin.

NEWS

As always, you can count on us to give you the latest news in the industry, from event calendars and product launches to business updates and inspirational stories. 

In this issue, we give you the industry updates on the plans for Wahl Clipper Corporation’s Barber Academy, and Elliot Chester’s big-hearted mission to give back to his community by hosting a day of mentoring to give back to kids in the foster care system. Hats off to Mr Chester!

We hope you enjoy this issue! You can order your print copy here.

For the first time ever, BaByliss PRO is bringing complete customisation to their hero grooming range in the UK. Introducing CustomFX: three tools with endless possibilities.

Barbers will now be able to take creativity into their own hands like never before, and design their own unique products to fit their signature style – from flashy metals to cool pops of colour.

Tools available for customisation will be BaByliss PRO’s hero grooming range: the Cordless Clipper, Super Motor Skeleton Trimmer and Titanium Foil Shaver.

Each tool is made up from different customisable parts, available in ten different colours, totalling millions of possible combinations, allowing all barbers to add a sense of individuality to their kit. BaByliss PRO also offer a brand new exclusive feature for the UK, taking customisation to the next level with the choice of complimentary personal engraving on each tool.

As well as having full aesthetic control, barbers and stylists now also have the opportunity to select their own blade type to completely suit their needs. New blade types are available for the Super Motor Clipper and the Super Motor Skeleton Trimmer, and includes the popular new Black Graphite Fade Blade.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Head over to babyliss.com and select which product you would like to customise. Choose from the hero range: the iconic Super Motor Clipper, Skeleton Trimmer or Titanium Foil Shaver
2. Begin your customisation by choosing from ten different colours for each component to create your unique design
3. Add your own personal complimentary engraving to your kit, choosing from five different scaleable fonts
4. Share your creation with the world and use @babylissprouk on your social posts for a chance to be featured

Colours available: black, white, gun metal, gold, rose gold, green, red, blue, purple and pink.

CUSTOMFX CORDLESS SUPER MOTOR CLIPPER

The original hero product, the Cordless Super Motor Clipper, is engineered with power, strength and precision in mind, and has become a popular ‘go-to’ clipper for its high-torque motor and super sharp Japanese steel blades.
RRP £225.00

CUSTOMFX CORDLESS SUPER MOTOR SKELETON TRIMMER

BaByliss PRO’s Skeleton Trimmer is designed for detail, with an exposed extra wide Japanese steel T-blade edge, giving 360 degrees of sight and control when outlining or detailing, and the new zero gap function gives a closer cut than ever before.
RRP £200.00

NEW! CUSTOMFX TITANIUM FOIL SHAVER

The Titanium Foil Shaver is a heavy duty shaver with dual foils designed for precision and blending, in a robust metal design. Hypoallergenic foils give close cut and irritation and bump- free fade finish.
RRP £180.00