COLUMNIST

MATTHEW MENDOZA

Barber & Beauty Industry Consultant
Co-founder, Hair Skin Club

Something extraordinary typically happens when you gather growth-minded barbers together. There’s a certain energy that leaves you feeling inspired. After spending six days in New York City for an exclusive multi-day barber summit, I’m certainly feeling that type of way right now.

GG, or Good Game, is a multi-day summit that gathers barbers from 12Pell, Paradox and Prax. The first GG was hosted by Paradox at Educo Academy in San Jose. The second GG was hosted by 12Pell at various locations throughout Chinatown, New York City.

Without getting into all the details, GG NYC was designed to highlight various brand elements of 12Pell. The goal wasn’t to leave and try to replicate 12Pell. It was to spark inspiration that leads to creatively applying those ideas to your own unique context.

Here are a few ideas I’m bringing back to apply to my own.

LESSON 01

Collaborate

Our one-year anniversary for Hair Skin Club is on the horizon, and we’re going to throw a party. 12Pell’s motion got me thinking about ways to collaborate with my clients who own local businesses.

I quickly thought of a client who runs the most popular boba shop in town. They’ve done many pop-ups. I’m picturing a collaboration where we’ll offer drinks to the first 50 attendees. It drives brand awareness for his business and adds a fun incentive to show up early to the event.

If we’re going to spend money on drinks anyway, why not spend a little more to elevate the experience while collaborating with another local business?

Collaborative events should be part of every barbershop’s marketing strategy. An easy way to brainstorm ideas is to simply think about your clients and what they do for work.

If you have a client who is a realtor, you could hold a small class about buying your first home. If you have a client who is a photographer, you could host a professional headshot event.

The key is to think about your loyal clients and find natural ways to collaborate that create a win-win.

LESSON 02

Consider the Final Look

There was a barber competition during GG NYC that was judged on the final look, not just the haircut.

The final look includes the haircut, hairstyle and outfit. A haircut and hairstyle can transform from black and white into 4K colour through the outfit. It might sound simple, but I’d never really thought about it that way.

It’s true, though. Often, haircut transformation videos do something subtle but significant.

The before shot shows the client pre-haircut, pre-hairstyle and draped in a cape. The after shot shows the client post-haircut, with a hairstyle and no cape.

That is the final look. It reveals all three elements. It was wild to see hairstyles take on new life after the models were styled in tailored outfits.

“ We’re all fatigued from screens. We want real life. We want to be in person with people.

LESSON 03

IRL Is Winning

We all feel it. We’re all fatigued from screens. We want real life. We want to be in person with people. There’s something extremely energising about being in a room full of people we respect. We need to seek those rooms out.

When we do, it’s important to remember that the programme isn’t the full experience. It’s the unscripted moments that happen throughout.

There can certainly be memorable quotes from educators, but often the most valuable moments are the conversations that happen outside the scheduled sessions.

It’s the game exchanged over meals or outside in the streets.

In a career where we’re constantly serving others and pouring ourselves out to make sure our clients look good and feel good, it’s critical and rejuvenating to be in spaces with people who understand what we’re going through without needing an explanation.

There’s so much more I could say about GG NYC, but for now, a huge shout-out to 12Pell, Paradox, Prax and everyone who was there.

For those reading this who weren’t there, these lessons are for you just as much as they are for me. You know your unique context better than anyone. How can you apply these lessons to your block?

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Blending family roots with a forward-thinking ethos, R+R Studios in Dundee has quickly grown into one of Scotland’s most exciting barbering destinations. With a focus on community, education and creativity, the team – led by Edward Harris – are carving out a reputation that’s as much about connection as it is about cutting hair.

• Dundee, Scotland
• @rrstudios on IG
• Furniture: Takara Belmont

Every great barbershop has a story, and R+R Studios’ begins with family. “After so many years in the industry and with my second baby on the way, I wanted a place we could call our own as a family,” said owner Edward. “But also, a place where the team or anyone who walked through the door felt they could call their own too.”

The shop’s name is rooted in Edward’s children. “R+R came from my kids, Rocky and Rebel,” he explained. “The vision isn’t just to create a barbershop, but a place where everyone can grow – whether you’re a hairdresser, a curly specialist, a photographer, or anyone with a vision. R+R is a place where you can feel at home and bring your ideas to life.”

Team Ethos Over Ego

At R+R Studios, the team comes first – and that starts with the right people. “The first thing we look at when hiring is personality,” Edward explained. “Skills can always be taught, but attitude is what really matters. Clients don’t want ego or negativity; they connect with people who make them feel welcome. That sense of community and family is exactly what we’re trying to build.”

The team culture is built around learning and sharing knowledge. “We’re always learning – because the truth is, nobody knows everything! There’s always something new to pick up or a new trend to follow. That’s why we’re planning to start in-house training evenings, open to our team and to anyone who wants to join,” Edward said. “We also go to external courses, and later this year we’ve got a Josh O.P. look and learn happening in the studio.”

The studio’s clean, minimalistic design was carefully thought out to create a calming environment. “My son is autistic, so we’re learning more and more from him how atmosphere and surroundings can really impact emotions,” Edward said. “A busy, cluttered space with noise can be overwhelming, so we wanted the opposite – open, inviting and calm.”

A Shared Approach to Craft

One of the strengths of R+R is the diversity of talent under one roof. “We all have our own styles and techniques,” Edward said. “Some of us are all about long hair, some love short cuts, and some just love doing it all. At the end of the day, it’s about listening to the client and making sure they walk out happy.”

That shared standard is what defines the shop. “Training keeps us sharp – our cuts don’t need to be identical, but the quality of service always does,” Edward noted.

On the tools front, the shop works exclusively with Matakki Scissors, recently securing a sponsorship deal. “It’s a huge achievement for us,” Edward said. “They’re the best scissors we’ve ever used. When it comes to clippers, we’ve all got different preferences. Personally, I’m a BabylissPro geek – if a new BabylissPro clipper drops, I need it!”

More Than Just a Haircut

At its core, R+R is about people. “For us, barbering is 60% haircut, 40% customer service,” Edward explained. “Some clients love a good chat, others prefer quiet – and we respect both. What matters most is that every client leaves remembering their cut for the right reasons, not an awkward hour in the chair.”

That commitment to connection has built a loyal client base and a reputation that extends well beyond the local area. As Edward put it: “Without genuine customer connection, your success won’t last long.”

Milestones That Matter

This year alone has been packed with highlights for the R+R team. They supported barbers Michelle and Keiran at the SHABA Awards, with Keiran ultimately walking away with Scotland’s Best Barber. “The pride has been unreal,” Edward said.

What’s Next for R+R?

Looking ahead, the future is about expansion, both in education and in physical space. “We’re planning to push more into education, while learning new techniques from barbers across the UK,” Edward said. “We’ll be hitting more shows – GBBB, Barber Connect, and anywhere else we can showcase what we can do. I’m currently exploring expansion opportunities as we’ve got the space and we’re ready to bring more barbers onto the team.”

The goal is simple: keep growing, while staying true to the ethos of family, community, and creativity.

The leading and trusted brand in professional grooming and styling,
Wahl Pro, announced the launch of the new Kuno Clipper.
Designed with stylists in mind, the new clipper pairs innovative blade technology, refined materials for a soft touch, and a compact lightweight design intended for stylists with an eye for detail.

With salons across the world becoming the forefront of cultural trends, stylists can no longer take the one-size-fits-all approach for their cuts or client experience. The Kuno Clipper ensures stylists can serve each client with a premium style that fits their
individual needs.

“With the launch of the Kuno Clipper, we combined our 104 years of trusted expertise and technology with what stylists need – high performance off-scalp cutting, the option for a click or free-form taper lever, and thoughtful design,” said Lance Wahl, Global SVP of Sales & Marketing for Wahl Professional. “The German-engineered Kuno is sleek, lightweight, and quiet. We’ve created a luxury clipper for stylists seeking refined results.”

Crafted from high-end materials, the Kuno features an easily detachable Diamond Blade, which boasts an innovative carbon coating with diamond-like properties that increases durability and keeps blades sharp. With the option for a 3-click taper lever or a free flow taper, stylists will be able to achieve beautiful off-scalp cutting results with the utmost control and a design easy on the wrists. Operating at 7200rpms, the Kuno’s durable and quiet brushless motor includes a long-lasting lithium-ion battery that boasts 100 minutes of styling.

The Kuno Clipper is available for $299.99 on Wahl Pro’s official website and includes the Professional Cord/Cordless Clipper, Six Premium Cutting Guides, Power Cord, Styling Comb, Oil, Cleaning Brush, Operating Instructions and a Red Blade Guard. For more information, visit Wahlpro.com and follow @Wahlpro on Instagram, TikTok and
Facebook. 

About Wahl Professional 

Since its invention of the first practical electric hair clipper in 1919, Wahl Clipper Corporation has remained on the cutting edge of the professional and home grooming category and is the leading brand for barbers, groomers, and stylists around the world.

The family-owned brand embraces traditions and legacy, with its headquarters still rooted in Sterling, Illinois where it was founded and its global manufacturing located in the U.S. Wahl believes that hair has a profound ability to connect those and the world around them.

They are on a mission to support, educate, and inspire the future of grooming, resulting in the On-Demand barber education platform, free and accessible to professionals everywhere, and the first-of-its-kind, fully-accredited Wahl Barber Academy.

As the creators behind the ground-breaking annual Future Makers™ platform and the trusted name for leaders in the industry and those who are transforming it, Wahl exists to unlock the power of connection – one haircut at a time. For more information on Wahl Clipper Corporation and its products, please visit www.wahlpro.com.  

This edition brings only the best in the business – from the top barbers in the game, new-age tech, and interiors, to top of the range tools and even an appearance from rap legend Fat Joe! We’ve brought together a collection of content from our esteemed columnists and industry leaders, whilst also highlighting those rising stars of the industry. All this and more in our summer shake-up issue – it’s one for the books!

IN THIS ISSUE:

WAHL 

Our cover stars for this issue are from the professional grooming brand, WAHL Professional, from the Future Maker’s collection. Followed by the exclusive insider info about WAHL’s new ‘Make it with WAHL’ platform. The brand, who are always in pursuit of connection in the barbering community, has unveiled the platform – with the goal to further the deep-seated belief that powerful connections are forged with each haircut. The networking and uplifting platform is set to make waves within the industry, no matter what level you’re at. 

Events

In our events section – we have no shortage of fun! BarberEVO columnist Byrd Mena is back on BarberEVO’s pages, giving you a BTS look at the RISE of Hair 2024, while we also look forward to the LV BarberExpo at the end of August. With these events on the horizon – the BarberEVO team have not long arrived back from Premiere Orlando and V’s Barbershop Summit in Phoenix, AZ – and we’re taking a look back at the amazing experiences. Our founders, David Foster and Andrew Brewster also made the trip to Bordeaux, France, for American Crew’s All Star event, as well as the STMNT Summit in Barcelona.  

Barber of the Edition

Our Barber of the Edition is Jimmy Fadez. His inspirational story of resilience, and genuine passion, is one that will change your perspective on the value of this industry. We sat down with the barber to learn more about his journey, and how the barbering community have rallied around him – unwavering in their support. 

Interiors

In BarberEVO’s interior section – we have no shortage of trailblazers in the barbering world. Kicking off the section, we have Skillz Kutz as our barbershop of the Edition. Owner and founder Kim Thomas has rocked the barbering community in Ashburn, VA – and she has no plans of stopping. Following on from Skillz Kutz catalyst, Kim, are the crew at Common Barbershop – from all the way in Australia. We also feature our columnist CJ from Barberville, who brought with him a very special guest – Jay Majors! Chatting about everything, from property, to design – Jay talks all things suites, offering up his top tips and seasoned perspective on shifting your business model.

Business

Leading our business section, we have Chico Boom who told us why you need to ensure your cash cow never goes hungry. Following on from Chico, we have our Diary of a CEO – where we get an insider peek into Joe Miller’s story with Beard Octane. From CT to Switzerland, we head to grooming-tool brand, Heiniger HQ to go Behind the Brand. We also put Fresha under the BarberEVO spotlight, to find out all the essential info AND more about the salon and barber software. With even more features tackling subjects, such as retailing and services – you don’t want to miss it.

Client Comfort

Kicking off client comfort, we caught up with Proraso Maestro Barbiere, Anthony Berriola from Razors, MA, talking about providing a service with a smile. One stop shop for barbering, tailoring and a whiskey – Jaxson Maximus, FL – shares how Collins chairs bring the ultimate comfort to the space. Rolda Ambassador Alejandra tells why products quality and formulation matters. BarberEVO will then take you to Las Vegas, circa. 1920, where The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails talks about how they created their roaring twenties, prohibition aesthetic – with the help of 18.21 Man Made. 

Color

Lastly, we tackle bringing color into the barbershop. We talked top tips for coloring, with Blonde Solutions’ Esbebe. Goldwell also make an appearance – with their newest product that is going to rock your business, and, well, you client’s world! Victor Hugo shares how to hone your whole hair art skillset, with the help of JRL tools. Renowned rapper Fat Joe also popped by EVO at CT Barber Expo – and we’ve gathered his thoughts on Rewind It 10. Spoiler alert – he loves it! All this and even more in the latest issue of BarberEVO!

WITH ELIGIBILITY ENDING WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 22, THE DAYS ARE NUMBERED FOR YOUR CHANCE TO ENTER ANDIS COMPANY’S EXCITING BLACK FRIDAY MYSTERY DEAL PROMOTION. SIGN UP ON THE ANDIS WEBSITE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN UP TO $100 IN ANDIS TOOLS.

WHO: Andis® Company

WHAT: Enter to win a mystery coupon for Andis’ Black Friday deals. Possible prizes include: 

• 1x Grand Prize Winner – $100 & Free Shipping
• 20% off coupon (10% of the signup list will receive this deal)
• 15% off coupon (90% of the signup list will receive this deal)

WHEN: Sign-ups close at 1pm EST/12pm CST on Wednesday, November 22, 2023

WHERE: Andis’s Black Friday Deals Webpage

10% off site-wide will also be available for those without a coupon code. Mystery deals cannot be stacked on the original 10% off. Head to andis.com to learn more and sign up. To learn more about Andis® Company, follow them on  Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Denman recently donated Jack Dean by Denman barbering kit to a new cohort of barbering learners at Mike Taylor Education in Poole. A general lack of offering for apprenticeships in barbering means that students are forced into a choice between private courses that are often premium priced and can lack real world training or hairdressing college courses that lack a barbering focus. Mike says “These nine students were falling between the cracks when it came to the training on offer. After years of petitioning and a change of local MP, I finally succeeded in securing funding for seven students. They were all worthy applicants and so eager to begin that I couldn’t just select seven, so we are funding two of them ourselves. Denman’s donation of kit means that they have quality tools from the very start.” 

These students will take English, maths and wider learning along with their practical skills and Mike’s purpose is to ensure that when they have acquired their VRQ Level 2 they will be workplace ready and an asset to any barbershop who will help them progress further.

For more information on Mike Taylor Education go to www.miketayloreducation.com. 

Follow @denmanpro. 

20% of people with Afro hair have experienced discrimination in a salon vs 4% of people with straight hair 

58% of Afro-textured individuals have felt let down by a salon service 

A quarter have experienced undue pain and 15% have faced verbal micro-aggressions 

One in five people with Afro hair have experienced discrimination in a salon, compared to one in 25 people with naturally straight hair, a study has found. 

Ripe Hair & Beauty Insurance surveyed 2,113 UK residents from a range of ethnic backgrounds on their past experiences with hair stylists and barbers. 

It found that 20% of those with Type 4 (Afro) hair – which is typically considered the curl pattern of Black people – have faced discrimination when getting their hair done. Just 4% of those with straight (Type 1) hair said the same.  

In addition, a quarter of people with a coily hair texture reported experiencing undue pain during a hair salon treatment, with 15% saying they had also faced micro-aggressions and unsolicited comments related to their hair type. Amongst those with Type 1 hair, just 10% and 11% reported the same, respectively.  

People with Afro hair types were also more likely to feel let down by a hair service, with 58% saying this was the case vs. 44% of people with Type 1 hair. The most cited reason for this disappointment was that the stylist or barber didn’t know how to manage their hair type (32%).  

Perhaps even more concerningly, amongst those respondents, 78% said the salon had explicitly advertised that it specialised in their hair type.   

Consequently, nearly half (45%) of people with an Afro hair type acknowledged that they were left with long lasting disappointment following this experience, with 37% saying it had negatively affected their self-esteem in the long term. 

And finally, when asked whether they trust that a hair stylist or barber can do their hair well, 81% of people with Afro hair agreed compared to 87% of individuals with straight hair. 

The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW.  

Get your copy here!

Barber of the Edition: Jessie Perez Gil
Barbershop of the Edition: Blind Barber Chicago
Newcomer of the Edition: Elliot Thomas, The Spot Academy
EVO in the City Location: San Francisco
EVO Abroad Location: Switzerland
Diary of a CEO: Aston LaFon, 18.21 ManMade
Behind-the-Scenes Photoshoot: Purcy Chair

Welcoming our new and returning columnists: 

Angie Perino
Barberville
Chico Boom
Byrd Mena
Brandi Lashay
Tyler Kelbert

 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:  

NEW YEAR TRENDS

Everything you need to know about 2024 style is HERE.

Featuring trend predictions from STMNT’s Jōvan Figueroa, American Crew’s Phoenix Thomson, Andis’ Angie Perino, Pamela Reyes, Taylor Leven and Jason Rios, too. Including insight to color, style, cuts, design, texture, and protective styling.

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GROOMING

Shaving and skincare make for the perfect relaxation experience in a shop. Learn how to maximize on sales and revenue using grooming services.

Featuring advice from Jay Cruz, J. Harris Barber, Danilo Alfonso, Joseph Macdonald and more. 

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EDITORIAL

Expect big names in the editorial world in this feature. Byrd Mena is one of our new columnists and gives you the tools you need to do justice to your creativity and design photoshoots that showcase your skill AND look cool.

Also spotlighted are Carlos A. Trista, who covers freestyling on competition stages; Edwin Cruz Delgado, who speaks about the best products. Angel Marcano also looks at the power of color and pattern to boost your creative streak. And the one and only Byrd Mena tells you what you need to do to get your work notices.

• 

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TOOL FOCUS: ELECTRICALS

The biggest names in electricals are here: Cocco Hair Pro, Bevel, Tomb45, Panasonic, BaBylissPRO, Andis, and Wahl share their most exciting releases. This is where you find out what tools are going to up your game this year.

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

Marketing is key to your barbershop’s success, and finding easy-to-use tools that can boost client engagement while saving your business time and money can be a gamechanger. To help barbers build and launch end-to-end email and text message campaigns from scratch, Fresha just added a campaign builder to its suite of marketing tools. 

With a simple drag-and-drop system, you can create content, segment your audience, schedule email sends, and reach out to your clients with text messages. Not only will all those elements help you keep your clients informed, but you can do it all quickly, right from your phone, tablet or computer.

This campaign builder is the newest update to Fresha’s subscription-free suite of barbershop management tools, and it enhancestheir already best-in-class platform. Read on to find out how the campaign builder can help you manage and grow your business right now.

Drag-and-drop builder: This new marketing tool is the industry’s most powerful and intuitive drag-and-drop campaign builder. You don’t need specialised marketing knowledge to make it work for you, and it’s built with busy barbershop owners and staff members in mind.

Free template gallery: The email builder comes with a free gallery full of templates you can use to send messages in minutes. Each template can also be edited to match your shop’s branding, so everything you send out is cohesive.

Emails and text messages: The unique, multichannel campaign function lets you reach clients with email-style content via text messages, or shorter, post-appointment thank you messages that’ll make your clients feel valued.

Simple retargeting: With the campaign builder, you can also retarget your messaging to get more value from your campaigns and reach even more people.

Campaign reporting: You can evaluate all of this activity with enhanced reports that’ll give you visibility of your success so far, and help you make decisions about future marketing activity.

Boosted bookings: Fresha Partners who use this suite of marketing tools have seen at least four times their return on investment from email and text message campaigns. 

Fresha is constantly innovating, and this is just the latest addition to its end-to-end software. That means there’s always more to come, so you can maximise your time and focus on taking care of your clients. Join the 100,000 businesses globally taking barbershop management and client experience to the next level with Fresha – sign up now on fresha.com/for-business.

Wahl Professional, has unveiled its highly anticipated 5 Star Cordless Barber Combo™. This exceptional combo pairs Wahl’s best-selling professional cordless clipper and trimmer in one convenient package. With an upgraded motor on the clipper, DLC blades, and a sleek design, this duo is set to optimize every barber’s workspace. Offering exceptional quality at an affordable price of just $279 (MSRP), professionals won’t want to miss the chance to elevate their craft and station with this remarkable combo.he 5 Star Cordless Detailer® Li trimmer, in a modern black casing with gold blades and details, boasts a T-Wide blade made from high-carbon steel. Featuring cutting-edge titanium and DLC coatings, this new blade maintains a lower temperature, resists corrosion, and offers outstanding durability, making it perfect for precise detailing and fine-line trimming. Additionally, the trimmer comes equipped with an enhanced, full-size clipper motor to cut through all hair textures and densities in just one pass. Matching the sleek black body and gold accents of the trimmer, the 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip® clipper showcases a more powerful motor that effortlessly handles thick, wet, and textured hair, providing exceptional cutting performance. The new titanium and DLC blade surface stays cool and resists corrosion, guaranteeing client comfort and optimal longevity. Renowned Wahl Professional Educator, Garland “G-Whiz” Fox (@thisisgwhizwahlclippers), expresses enthusiasm for the upgraded Cordless Magic Clip and Detailer Li sold as a combo, as well as the space-saving single cord and the cost-effective price of the Cordless Barber Combo™. Fox states, “As a professional, maintaining a clean and efficient workstation is essential, and cordless tools are a no-brainer. Having two high-quality tools charging on a single station with just one cord not only saves space but also adds a cool aesthetic touch.” Barbers and stylists can purchase the 5 Star Cordless Barber Combo™ beginning July 12th for just $279 at wahlpro.com or by visiting their local distributor.