ANDIS DEBUTS NEW RETRO REVIVAL STYLE COLLECTION FEATURING KEVIN LUCHMUN 

AS PART OF THE LATEST ANDIS CREATOR SERIES PROJECT, ANDIS’ INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC TEAM LEAD, KEVIN LUCHMUN, STUNS WITH A COLLECTION OF ROCKSTAR STYLES FEATURING THE NEWEST LOOKS  

 Andis® Company’s International Artistic Lead, Kevin Luchmun, premiered his Retro Revival collection at BarberCon in Dallas, Texas. After months in development, Kevin’s newest styles debuted to incredible fanfare.

Presenting six unique cuts to round out this collection, these styles are modeled on multiple genders and feature several hair textures and popping colors to complement the edgy elements of nostalgia. As a part of the Andis Company, Luchmun crafted his looks with Andis professional tool line, with a strong reliance on the reSURGE Shaverand the reVITE Clipper.

After 6 months of planning, Kevin’s looks are not only emblematic of his incredible skill but of the elite-level performance of Andis products. As Andis’ International Artistic Lead, Kevin viewed this as an opportunity to not only drive innovation in the styling sphere but to demonstrate the versatility of Andis’ cordless lineup of clippers, trimmers, shavers and accessories.“My goal here was to take the inspiration that’s constantly available to us from fashion to social media, to our day-to-day lives and to create a collection that would totally cut through that noise. But, rather than building on contemporary trends, it was my intention to reinvent retro and older styles from the ground up.

With the help of my incredible creative team and my Andis partnership, I feel that this collection is the start of a complete reset for my own work and the barbering industry as a whole,” said Luchmun. As both barber and creative director, Luchmun worked closely with a team of stylists to craft clothing profiles that were able to complement the hair as much as the hair complemented the clothes. Directing his videography team with incredible precision, each angle of these cuts has been artfully captured in exceptional detail. In combination with Kevin’s own photography, this collection sets a new standard for barbering innovation. 

The six Retro Revival looks featured in this new collection were built to highlight the texture and color of each model’s hair, creating custom but easily replicable looks. The styles include:

Sculpted Tapered Afro

This style combines the natural volume and texture of an afro with a precise and gradual taper on the sides and back.  The hair is carefully shaped and sculpted to maintain a rounded silhouette, while the low taper provides a clean and polished look.  This creates a harmonious balance between the shape’s fullness and the well-defined lines of a taper, resulting in a stylish and sophisticated look. 

 Wave Fusion Mullet

A modern Mullet hairstyle with blonde hair, styled with its natural wavy texture and enhanced by a taper fade on the sides.  This trendy and versatile look has the retro appeal of the mullet with a contemporary twist. 

Sharp Edge Undercut Bob

This style is a precision bob hairstyle with an undercut at the back.  This edgy and modern look combines the sleekness of a classic bob with a bold twist.  The precision bob frames the face with clean lines and a sharply defined fringe.  At the back, the undercut is incorporated to remove weight and create movement throughout the shape. 

Tender Flow Mullet

This style is a soft, textured mullet hairstyle that gives a gentler look by maintaining length while still removing weight around the parietal ridge.  The underneath is connected to the top with soft waves and natural texture. 

90s Retro Rise

This style is a high-top hairstyle with a tapered fade that pays homage to the iconic trends of the 90s.  This classic yet contemporary hairstyle features a voluminous and structured high top, reminiscent of bold and gravity-defying vintage styles, embracing nostalgia while maintaining a fresh and fashionable aesthetic.

Rugged Edge

This Rugged Edge style combines elements of shorter internal lengths with textured layers and longer fringe for added flair. Using clippers to create texture through slide cutting, the layers play a significant role in adding dimension and movement to the style.  

Videos and photographs of Andis’ Retro Revival collection feat. Kevin Luchmun are available to view on the Creator Series Section of the Andis website.

  To keep up to date with Kevin’s work follow him on Instagram. To learn more about Andis® Company, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. 

Wahl Professional® launches new on-demand education platform to be a hub of knowledge and connection for the barber and stylist community around the world  The on-demand education platform will bring professionals from around the world together online to enhance their skills, stay current, and share knowledge with their peers that will elevate their craft.   Advancing education for stylists and barbers worldwide has always been a top priority for Wahl Professional, the leader in professional and home grooming electric hair clippers, trimmers and shavers. After over 104 years as an iconic and respected brand, Wahl continues to adapt and evolve for the benefit of the industry by introducing a cutting-edge global on-demand education platform allowing for continuing education, career advancement, and community building among barbers and stylists of all skill levels. Education is a crucial part of Wahl Professional’s brand identity, having opened The Wahl Barber Academy, offered the Wahl Fade It Forward® scholarship program, and held countless live educational events. However, in this increasingly on-demand and globalized world, Wahl felt it was time to create a platform for learning that could be accessed by professionals anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. Wahl’s new platform offers barbers and stylists a vast library of educational videos that teach basic skills as well as cutting edge trends. The platform will also feature monthly ‘Lives,’ where instructors from all over the world will offer demonstrations to the global audience. In addition to the library of educational content, the state of the art on-demand education platform will be a place where professionals can access details about in-person global events and sign-up information, as well as information about Wahl, its products, and its list of Global Educators. If professionals want to attend a Wahl course, such as the Future Maker Classes but don’t have the ability to travel to attend in person, they can also pay to experience these classes through the platform as ‘Premium Content.’Stephanie Polansky, Wahl’s Director of Global Education, was especially excited about the gamification and badge features of the new platform. As barbers and stylists make their way through the courses on the platform, they can track and celebrate their progress by receiving badges for more videos watched. Stephanie said: “Professionals can share their badges and accomplishments on social media to show their clientele that they are continually investing in education and enhancing their skills.” Building a cohesive community of hair professionals around the world is what Garrett McGuire, Wahl’s Global Brand Director, is most passionate about. “The on-demand education platform is intended to be an online gathering space in addition to being a world-class educational platform. Wahl’s goal is to advance the industry and bring professionals together to share knowledge and connect with others who share their love of the craft. It’s our hope that the Wahl on-demand education platform sets the standard for online barbering education just as Wahl has set the standard for electric hair tools for over 100 years.” To register for the Wahl on-demand education platform, visit https://education.wahlglobal.com/learn

Fresha, the #1 booking platform and marketplace for beauty and wellness, has optimised their online booking system to intelligently prevent gaps between appointments, and ensure back-to-back bookings. It’s a simple yet powerful way for beauty and wellness businesses to maximise efficiency and create more availability every day. The feature addresses a widespread issue in the industry: unbookable calendar gaps cost businesses hours of availability each week. With this new feature, Fresha users are already seeing a 44% increase in occupancy. 

Powered by an algorithm built from scratch by Fresha’s engineers, the smart scheduling feature helps businesses earn more every day without costing them anything, while continuing to provide clients with the best online booking experience in the industry. It builds on Fresha’s position as the most innovative, value-rich booking platform for beauty and wellness. 

Seamlessly integrating with the rest of Fresha’s appointment management tools, the new feature:

• Takes zero effort to use. Users can switch it on with a single click. 
• Gives users full control, with the ability to automatically reduce calendar gaps based on their schedule, or eliminate them completely.
• Optimises bookings from all sources, including bookings through a business’s website, Google Search and Maps, social media, or the Fresha marketplace. 

Early feedback from Fresha’s users has been overwhelmingly positive. “This is a dream feature of mine,” said Chris Ward, founder of London-based barbershop Huckle The Barber. “Gaps between bookings cost us hours each week, and no client wants to get a phone call asking to move their appointment. Fresha lets us avoid those awkward gaps and serve even more clients every day – it’s a game-changer.”

• 

Jeremy Miller, Head of Product at Fresha, highlighted the significance of this feature for the industry. “Calendar gaps have been a painful, costly issue for beauty and wellness businesses for years. With smart scheduling, those days are over; the feature sets a whole new standard for online booking.”

“With more availability every day, businesses with Fresha are set to grow faster than ever,” added Nick Miller, Fresha co-founder and Chief of Product. “Every feature we create is aligned with our goal of offering unmatched value and empowering beauty and wellness businesses worldwide. No other platform offers features as powerful or easy-to-use as ours – all for no subscription.”

Our debut LIVE event, powered by BaByliss PRO was a sell-out success! We couldn’t have done it without the immense support from BaByliss PRO. Here’s how it went down…

Our educators Pete Cranfield and Tariq Howes brought their A-games with bite-sized advanced education demonstrations. They both gave deep and meaningful contributions to our career focused Q&A session as well.

Pete is a freelance barber for some of the biggest names in British football. He’s known for his incredible close-cut work using fading expertise and creativity that allows him to work freely on longer styles, proving that modern barbers can enhance their male haircutting game by learning hairdressing skills.

Pete said: “This event couldn’t have gone better. The love I felt in the room was incredible. I’m not sure how the BarberEVO guys did it, but they pulled off the perfect evening and to be a part of it was truly humbling. I’d love to see it grow as a staple event, not just in the UK, but North America, too.”

Celebrated session stylist Tariq has done commercial work with brands like Zara, and on-location for TV shows like Love Island. He was our second BaByliss PRO educator and said: “An intimate setting built for networking and skill, focusing on how we can help each other as a community not just about being on stage showboating. It was about giving people insight to different techniques. Being part of the very first one was a massive privilege, and it was a massive success.”

• 

• 

• 

Paul Taylor Clinch, is the owner of Blacksails Barbershop and an educator for many brands. He said: “Finally! An event by barbers for barbers. A fantastic collaboration with some of the biggest BaByliss PRO artists and the biggest barber mag!”

Barber and videography sensation, Danny Robinson said: “It was a fantastic event. I am very grateful to have been part of it. Tariq is a close friend of mine, so it was great to support him and be part of the team. Pete was absolutely fantastic in his hometown. The haircuts we phenomenal too. Looking forward to future events from EVO!”

Watch this space for more unique EVO events and trade show activations!

Follow us for updates: Instagram @barberevo Facebook @BarberEvo YouTube @evoenterprises.

THE 2024 NORTH AMERICAN HAIRSTYLING AWARDS (NAHA) ENTRY PERIOD CLOSES SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

For the first time ever, the finalist announcement will be made LIVE at Premiere Anaheim in February

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA), whose mission is to advocate and fight for the rights and professionalism of the beauty industry, is excited to announce that entry is open for the 35th North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) now through September 21, 2023. NAHA is the most prestigious hair and beauty competition in North America, recognizing the industry’s top talent and creative visionaries.

The finalist announcement will take place LIVE at Premiere Anaheim February 4th on the Mainstage at the Anaheim Convention Center. This event is the perfect opportunity for industry professionals to come together and celebrate the best in the business.

“We are thrilled for the live, in-person finalist announcement at Premiere Anaheim in February,” said Nina Daily, Executive Director of PBA. “NAHA is a platform for artists to showcase their creativity and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the beauty industry. We can’t wait to see what this year’s entrants have in store for us.”

NAHA is not just a competition but a celebration of the artistry and creativity of hairstylists and makeup artists. Previous NAHA winners include esteemed industry professionals like Sam Villa, Michelle O’Connor, Jalia Pettis, and Nick Stenson. These artists have not only won the coveted NAHA award but are leaders in the industry, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of hairstylists and makeup artists.

Sam Villa, a three-time NAHA winner, is a renowned educator and mentor in the industry. He has worked with top brands and has been featured in numerous publications. Michelle O’Connor, a two-time NAHA winner, is a global artistic director for Matrix and has worked with celebrities like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Jalia Pettis, a NAHA winner in the Makeup category, is known for her work in film and editorial makeup. Nick Stenson, a NAHA winner in the Styling & Finishing category, is a celebrity hairstylist and the artistic director for Ulta Beauty.

Key dates for NAHA 2022 are as follows:

● Entry Deadline: September 21, 2023

● Finalist Announcement: February 4, 2024– live at Premiere Anaheim and livestreamed 

● NAHA 2024 Award Ceremony: June 2, 2024—Orlando

Categories for the 35th Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) are as follows:

●  Avant Garde

●  Barber of the Year

●  Editorial Stylist of the Year

●  Educator of the Year

●  Haircolor

●  Haircutting

●  Hairstylist of the Year

●  Inspiring Salon of the Year

●  Makeup Artist of the Year

●  Master Hairstylist of the Year

●  Student Hairstylist of the Year

●  Styling & Finishing

●  Team of the Year

● Texture

Entrants for all categories must be licensed cosmetologists or barbers, with the exceptions of Student Hairstylist of the Year, Makeup Artist of the Year and Inspiring Salon of the Year.

Information on tickets and hotels is coming soon. For more information, please click here. If you haven’t already entered, now is the time to do so. 

Don’t miss your chance to berecognized as one of the best in the industry. 

Hurry and enter today!

Nikodem Szulc (@nikodemszulcbarber), ambassador for Matakki Scissors (@matakkiscissors), competed for a Guinness World Record – and succeeded! 

He and his team cut the most consecutive haircuts in eight hours – that’s 467 heads! We spoke to the winning barber about what it took to achieve such a huge achievement…

Q: Tell us about the lead-up to the Guinnes Record – what motivated you to try and break the record?

A: My motivation was like ‘Hey, it’s a world record; it’s something special. How many people do you know who did this? Nobody – so you must do it!’ It was a week after we come back from Barber Connect and first, I wanted a break, but then I thought, ‘NO, let’s do it while we’re on the ball!’ 

Q: How did it feel when you achieved this record?

A: We were waiting about 10 months for the official confirmation from Guinness, because of some little problems about the video and few others so it was especially anticipated, and it was like ‘Wow, we did this; I’m the one of 20 who broke the world record it’s amazing.’

Q: Will you try and break any other records?!

A: Who knows! Maybe some day, there will be the attempt to beat our own record, or any other in barbering and cutting hair.

Q: How did you approach the eight hours? Tell us the layout – who helped you, how did you organise the shop, how many people came to get their hair cut? We want ALL the insight!

A: Firstly, I got the phone call from Mario Mayer who organized everything, and he said ‘Hey Nikodem, we’re going to beat the Guinness record, do you want to join us?” And I said, ‘Sure – tell me when and where and what to do!’

My father helped me a lot in this too – his name is Adam Szulc and he’s a worldwide barber and author of Barbering: A Complete Guide to Men’s Haircuts. He was posting on Facebook and Instagram about it. 

We cut about 500 heads and there could be more but there was a minimum length of them. It was 2cm on the sides and back, and 6cm on the top. We had to cut 2cm or more on the whole head, and we had to measure them with the ruler on the side, on the back, and on the top. 

We had to do pictures before and after to prove that we cut those two or more centimeters, so a lot of people sat on the chair and after measuring I was like, ‘Sorry man, your hair is too short to qualify.’

After about six hours, we heard, ‘We did it! We’ve got more cut heads then ours predecessors, but we still cutting to do as more as possible!” Around 100 cuts were disqualified and we don’t know why, but we still cut more than one hundred more than the Australians who won it in 2012!