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

Vernon Jackson began Gifted Program haircuts at Noble Barber and Beauty after ‘hearing so many horror stories’ at other shops, reported the Guardian.

Even on his days off Vernon Jackson goes in to work at his barbershop in Cincinnati – it’s because that’s the day he has set aside to give free haircuts to children with special needs.

The kindness which Jackson offers at his Noble Barber and Beauty shop earned a profile from CBS News this week. Jackson told the network he began his Gifted Program haircuts in 2021 after “hearing so many horror stories that parents were going through with … barbers or stylists having no patience with their [children]” at other shops.

Academic research suggests that the reported lack of patience for parents struggling to buy haircuts for their special needs children poses a real dilemma for them. Studies have shown people typically feel more confident and in control in both social as well as professional settings with good, fresh haircuts.

Jackson resolved to sacrifice his day off and open his shop only to children with special needs who were looking to get a proper cut. And what’s more, he tells the children’s parents that their money’s no good there on those days.

“There [are] no other barbers or stylists in the shop, and I [can] give them the full attention they need,” he said in the CBS News report.

Jackson found that at least some of his off-day clients who are sensitive to unfamiliar environments and sounds find the empty shop comforting. His goal is to get the children acclimated to barbershops in general so they can eventually feel comfortable going in for haircuts when there are other patrons around.

Friends and other benefactors sponsor the haircuts that Jackson gives on his day off through donations to an online GoFundMe campaign, according to what he told CBS.

Gifted Program parents “would pay any amount of money just for their child to be able to have an experience like any other person”, he said to the network. “And at the end of it, I can tell them, ‘It’s covered.’”

Those parents often try to tip Jackson a gratuity, he says, but he tells them: “No, trust me … this is a gift from the community, myself – please receive it.”

Instagram users flood Jackson’s account on the platform with encouragement and compliments whenever he posts videos of him cutting the hair of Gifted Program clients.

“I have happy tears,” one user wrote in the comments of a video that Jackson posted showing him lining a Gifted Program boy up in March. “You are truly doing amazing things.”

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.

Stephen Farrar, owner of Custom Belmont is joining a band of friends to raise money for the #justicefortommy campaign. Tommy Kneebone was a thriving seven-month-old baby who passed away suddenly. The Kneebone family are raising funds to help cover costs as they strive to obtain justice by challenging the hospital care he received.

Tommy’s father, Josh Kneebone is a barber from Kent who has Strops Barbershop in Crowborough and is a friend of Stephen. Having seen firsthand the devastating effect of losing Tommy, Stephen has decided to raffle off a Takara Belmont Dainty chair to raise funds.

A Takara Belmont Dainty Chair is a much-coveted item to barbers, as it is seen as the pinnacle of quality in barbershop chairs. This is the perfect chance to have this iconic chair in your barbershop for the cost of a £10 donation. They are worth in the region of £1500.00 and he hopes to draw the raffle at the Barber Connect event in June in Telford.

To enter the raffle, please donate what you can. The suggested donation is £10.00, please remember to add your name to be added to the raffle, and support the #justicefortommy campaign. You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/justicefortommy1?utm_term=eRbNx6XyWo,

State-of-the-art school to be located in Chicago, IL.

Wahl Clipper Corporation is pleased to announce plans are underway to open the Wahl Barber Academy. This first-of-its-kind barber school is scheduled to open in the Spring in Chicago, IL. 

The Academy is in partnership with Pivot Point Academy which will operate the school and oversee curriculum. The Wahl Barber Academy will continue a legacy of industry firsts by being an elite barbering institution designed to train the next generation of barber professionals.

“Education has always been a cornerstone of Wahl’s philosophy. The opening of the Wahl Barber Academy furthers our commitment to providing the educational excellence needed to succeed in the barbering industry,” said Lance Wahl, senior vice president of professional sales & marketing at Wahl Clipper Corporation.

The Wahl Barber Academy will equip future barbers with the skills needed to perform at the industry’s highest levels. With its reputation for developing exceptional new hair and beauty professionals, Wahl found in Pivot Point Academy a partner that matches its commitment to excellence and a shared drive to improve the beauty and barber industry.

“The Wahl Barber Academy was designed to create well-rounded, exceptional barbers. The students will learn hair cutting, shaving, grooming and basic skin care, along with the business skills necessary to prepare them to succeed in the men’s grooming industry,” said Denise Provenzano, managing partner and co-owner of Pivot Point Academy.

Wahl and Pivot Point Academy have assembled a team of leading licensed instructors who demonstrate technical skill and the ability to inspire and motivate students. Provenzano oversees faculty recruitment with Pivot Point Academy’s Master Barber & Lead Educator Ken Washburn and School Director Michelle Lamantia.

The award-winning team at Interworks Architecture is designing the modern-industrial 6,183-square-foot educational space located at 8501 W. Higgins in Chicago near O’Hare Airport, and easily accessed from the CTA blue line.

In addition to offering world-class education for future barbers, the academy will serve as an advanced training center, hosting educational opportunities for industry professionals and Wahl’s global team of educators. Classes will begin in Spring 2023 and guests will be able to schedule hair and grooming appointments with the next generation of leading barber students starting shortly thereafter.

A private grand opening celebration is slated for Friday, April 14, in advance of America’s Beauty Show.

BENEFITTING A CHANGE IS COMING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, THIS COLLABORATION HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF THE INDUSTRY’S TOP CREATORS AND GIVES KIDS SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE & VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Andis® Company, a leading manufacturer of barbering and styling tools and education for professional barbers and hair stylists, has joined forces with award-winning barber and educator John Mosley, known professionally as “Popular Nobody,” to launch its most unique collection yet. One of Andis’ leading Global Educators and 2022 NAHA Educator of the Year, John uses his influence to inspire creativity among professionals and this new collaboration, featuring three limited-edition tools, highlights his artistry and encourages others to create their way. 

“Kicking off our Creative Collab Series with John and his Popular Nobody brand is incredibly exciting. Andis is always looking to inspire and encourage others to create their way, so when we spoke with John about the idea of creating a custom clipper with a common vision to support a great cause, we were excited to bring it to life,” said Angie Vlasaty Peterson, Andis VP of Marketing. “We think people will really love what we’ve done with John and B. Clark Customs.” 

Branded with the signature Popular Nobody “Atlas” Gorilla logo and a design based on a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted colorway by B. Clark Customs™, this special-edition release includes custom versions of the Master® Cordless Li Clipper, the Cordless Envy® Li Clipper, and the Slimline® Pro Li Trimmer. Each tool for this collaboration was chosen by John with professional creators in mind. It combines some of Andis’ best-selling tools with the imagination and style of the Popular Nobody brand wrapped using fresh, modern colors, and a surprise black light glow design. Tools in the collection include:

Master Cordless Lithium-Ion Clipper: 

Andis Company’s most popular professional clipper, The Master Cordless, offers high-speed power, constant speed technology, and an adjustable blade for unbeatable precision that make it perfect for skin-tight fades and tapers. With a 90-minute cordless runtime and a durable aluminum housing, the Master Cordless Clipper delivers premier-quality cuts with the aesthetic edge of Popular Nobody style. 

Cordless Envy Li Adjustable Blade Clipper:

With 2 hours of cordless runtime on a 90-minute charge, the super lightweight Cordless Envy Adjustable Blade Clipper is designed with the craft in mind. The lightweight design is ideal for smaller hands and for comfortable all-day use. Decked in a unique Popular Nobody colorway, this clipper embodies creative freedom. 

Slimline Pro Li T-Blade Trimmer

A sleek, lightweight profile and extra-sharp carbon-steel T-blade mean this trimmer was built for ultra-close, precision detailing. The Slimline Pro Trimmer boasts an ergonomic design perfect for controlled outlining, designing and touchups on the neckline. Also showcasing the Popular Nobody graphics, this trimmer completes this incredible, artful set of tools. 

Dedicated to giving back to his community, John has pledged $10,000 of the proceeds from this collaboration to A Change is Coming, a Texas-based 501c non-profit foundation that provides scholarships to Black and Brown youth. Andis will also be making a matching grant of $10,000 through its Andis Foundation to support the group’s work.

Of the donation, John said: “There comes a point in your career where you realize your success wouldn’t have been possible without someone else helping you. As an Andis Global Educator, I have seen how teaching others to be successful makes a difference. This creative collab with Andis is a great expression of artistry and giving back and A Change Is Coming is the perfect partner to benefit from this project.”

Available while supplies last, these limited-edition tools will be sold separately on the Popular Nobody website. To learn more about Andis® Company, follow them on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. To keep up to date with John Mosely and Popular Nobody, follow him on Instagram. 

We are inspired by the dreamers and visionaries remaking our world today, because creativity makes the world a better place. We are creators and together we shape the world.

See the CREATIVE COLLAB SERIES VIDEO

Giuliano Dore, the owner of Get Groomed talks about how he was begged to break the law during lockdown.

The creator of a mobile barber website has revealed people were begging him to break the law during the lockdown and were asking for him to send a barber to their homes to give them a haircut.

Giuliano Dore, founder of Get Groomed, said: “We learned that a lot of people were trying to have haircuts regardless of a law stating that they couldn’t, which came as a surprise.

“We received so many messages each day from people wanting one of our barbers to come to their homes with us telling them: “It’s not going to work. It’s not possible. We can’t do that”.

“Although, we couldn’t satisfy their requests, as a young business it was great to know our website was making its mark and that promised good times ahead once the restrictions were over.”

Giuliano said the website, launched in London in 2017, was now back in full swing and expanding nationwide with new services in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and existing services in London, Kent and Guildford.

“At the end of the third lockdown in April 2021, we able to fully reopen, albeit with very strict restrictions, and we were astonished at the response,” he added.

“Within 24-hours we saw a real spike in bookings, including a demand for haircuts, beard restyling and luxury shaves, which was so heartening after all the quarantine restrictions.

“Many of our clients told us they were opting for our at-home service to avoid being exposed to the virus in crowded barbershops and happily have stayed with us ever since.

“We also have a number of businesses looking for ways to attract workers back into the office who have started holding events where we set up mobile barbershops in the workplace.”

The Get Groomed website was founded by Giuliano and product manager Sabrina Vjaykumar.

For further information visit: www.gogetgroomed.co.uk

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Project Men welcomes three new Brand Partners to work alongside the mentoring programme.  

Captain Fawcett, Matakki Scissors and Wahl will be working alongside project leader Simon Shaw to ensure the project members extend their knowledge and skills in all things men’s hair and barbering, as well as product knowledge and education in the latest techniques.  

Simon says: “We’re really excited to be working with our new Brand Partners, which will bring even more opportunities for the team members. Our calendar of events and education continue to raise the standards of barbering and men’s hairdressing, bringing together some of the best names in the industry to mentor the next generation.  

“Wahl is excited to be the Electrical Partner for Project Men, it’s a great opportunity to show the next generation what we can offer, and allows us to do more project days and offer amazing education to inspire the future generation of men’s hairdressers and barbers.” 

Captain Fawcett Founder Richie Finney, comments: “Captain Fawcett is simply delighted to have been invited to supply the wet products for the Project Men programme. This opportunity is hugely exciting for ambassadors and brand partners alike. Suffice to say that the Captain is chuffed to bits to be involved and further looks forward to welcoming the Project Men Crew to Fawcett HQ.” 

Matakki Scissors Director James Curd says: “We are delighted to collaborate with Project Men and the Fellowship for British Hairdressing. In the short space we’ve been working with this Project we have been blown away by the talent we have witnessed and the level of the work that is being produced by the team under Simon’s guidance. The opportunities for the delegates on this course are unreal, and we are excited to be recognised as a part of that in providing our scissors.” 

Director Emma Curd added: “We were incredibly excited to be asked to work alongside Simon Shaw and some other fantastic leading brands in the industry. Coming from a regulated professional background, I personally believe that excellent training, standards and continued professional development, is essential to any industry. We have always worked to provide opportunities for our ambassadors and working partners to meet those standards and share their knowledge.” 

Drop by booth #181 and see some of the industry’s top barbers doing cutting demos throughout the day today, Monday at the world’s largest Barber Expo, the CT Barber Expo which is now in its 11^th year.

Cutting today at the BarberEVO booth are:

Alex Rivera, Johnny B educator – 2.30 pm @chinnossalon

Queen of the South, the braiding ninga! – 5pm @queenofthesouth512

Drew Da Barber – 6.15pm  @drewdabarber

Come by and pick up the latest issue of BarberEVO and get the chance to feel like a BarberEVO cover star. Grab your best buddies and get a picture taken in the EXCLUSIVE COVER PHOTO BOOTH. You’re Instagram will thank you!