iSalon have introduced a whole new way of working, getting rid of contracts, and bringing in a more salon friendly way of working with subscriptions. The last eighteen months have taught us as an industry that we need to be adaptable and flexible, iSalon understand this and have introduced affordable subscription software for salons. This new business model gives salons the freedom to work in a way that works for them.

This brand-new subscription plan from iSalon allows salons to pay for their software on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. Existing customers have the option to transfer to this new payment plan to save money or maintain their contract with full support. New customers will have access to iSalon software at an affordable cost. From just £19 a week, this software is available for less than the price of a haircut, virtually paying for itself.

As part of their mission to become more sustainable, iSalon have linked this business update with their mission to be more sustainable with the software company pledging to planta tree for every new subscription. By signing up to iSalon’s subscription plan, not only will salons gain flexibility and incredible value for money, they will be helping the environment too.

iSalon Software, Head of Sales Mike Waldon commented;

“It was important to us to introduce this new business model to cater to the needs of all salon owners. We felt it was important to ensure our software is accessible for those on different budgets that want a reliable system that will enable them to work more efficiently in the salon. Being able to link this with our sustainability mission is an excellent addition.”

For further information on iSalon Software, please contact Rebekah@ajc93.com.

Business consultant Phil Jackson from Build Your Salon believes it doesn’t have to be lonely as a salon owner!

With 20 years in the salon industry and a passion for innovation, Phil Jackson is an international business coach offering a unique perspective on the challenges of salon ownership. Phil works with many salons, barbershops, and spas around the world to build a business they can feel proud of, making sure they look outside the box and consider all aspects of the business.

Why is it our experience of running a business seems to be defined by feeling let down? Why IS it that you can’t seem to talk to your partner, other local business owners, or even your best friend about what’s going on in your business?

SO many salon owners turn to team members because they want to connect with someone who is in the business with them-someone that understands the day-to-day pressures we’re facing.

I’ve done it myself. Selected the Chosen One in my own team. The one who seemed to ‘get it’. That odd individual who stood apart from the rest of the crowd and I felt could be inducted into some kind of circle of trust. And they let me down.

Either left (how dare they?!) or failed to back me up (rude!) or committed some other flavour of salon treason.

But ultimately (as with everything) it’s your own fault. You see, they’ve built different muscles to you. Let me explain.

Physical muscle isn’t built through just ‘toning up’. To build a bigger muscle the fibres of the muscle need to be damaged or injured. Then your clever body builds a stronger, denser bit of muscle. So, what does that have to do with you as a salon business owner?

Well, every time someone quits, every time you deal with being let down by a supplier, every time you cope with a day from hell, you’re building entrepreneurial muscle.

Take complaints, for example; I remember vividly the first customer complaint I got. I recall sitting on the stairs at the salon and crying for pretty much a whole day. To be fair, I had given a customer a lousy haircut, but I’d done my best and I was devastated. I was in that horrible bit of our career where you’re newly qualified and building experience.

Then I got another complaint.

I was upset, but maybe not quite so much. And though I never wanted to get to the ‘water off a duck’s back’ stage, with each complaint the pain gets a little less. Why is that?

It’s because you’ve built a complaint-handling muscle. You’ve been damaged and repaired in a more resilient way.

So, all those things you deal with as a salon business owner are building your entrepreneurial muscles. Which is why nobody else gets you and your team can’t relate. Even if they see what you see, they have a different journey of growth. They’re not getting damaged and rebuilding like you are.

Lonely, isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be. Lean into the industry. We’ve been through so much together that we can put the days of waspish competition behind us now. It’s time to build genuine industry connections. Join trade associations, attend events, hang out in industry networking groups online and build your new tribe.

The latest issue of BarberEVO UK and Ireland is OUT NOW.

Get your copy here!

Feelin’ Festive

The latest issue of BarberEVO UK and Ireland is OUT NOW. This issue is packed full of advice, features and trends to keep you up to date with what’s current.  

Gracing the coveted front cover (even if we do say so ourselves) is Parlous Barbershop, the recently announced winners of the Wahl Barbershop of the Year. Parlous are huge advocates of Takara Belmont and we have a feature highlighting this iconic brand and what the chairs and furniture means to barbers.

We also have the first reactions from both Reece Whitehouse who won the Wahl UK Barber of the Year, as well as Rico Ugur Aydemir of Parlous Barbershop as they stepped off stage with their shiny new winning trophies.

Furniture

Your barbershop design and furniture says so much about you, and the clientele you are going to attract, and we speak to Kingsman Barbershop about their furniture choices and why Takara Belmont was the brand they invested in. We also have an informative list of things to keep in mind when picking furniture for your shop.

We speak to many barbershop owners about what brands they opted for, and why longevity and quality will always win out when it comes to buying furniture.

Barbershop focus

Our barbershop focus is on Stag Digbeth, in Birmingham, an incredible combination of barbershop, cocktail bar and coffee shop. They are mixing it up, literally, on the decks, with ‘barber sessions’ nights, that have guest barbers cutting model’s hair using head torches to see what they are doing while the party rages around them. It sounds epic. If you fancy a slot with the headtorch… give them a shout, they are open to inviting talented barbers to showcase their skills.

Technology

Technology is now essential in everyday life, and we are now reaching the point where barber booking apps have become an essential barbershop management tool. The features list of the apps is extensive, have you checked them out properly, and are you using them to their fullest potential? We take advice from those that rely on them heavily to send out reminders and taking that all important deposit when clients book to decrease no-shows. Since implementing payment at the time of booking, The Academy Barbershop has found a 25% increase in retail sales… have a read and find out how it managed that with the help of its app.

Christmas Retail

The silly season is just about upon us, and that means back-to-back appointments and the chance to really go hard on the retail side of the business… you’ve got to have something to see you through January! We speak to several barbers who have strategies and plans in place to increase retail sales from now – don’t wait. Plus, we found a nice selection of barber-related Christmas Gift Sets that would be perfect to sit on your display shelves for an easy solution for the chaps that don’t know what to buy their loved ones.

Movember

Finally, we must mention Movember, which is a huge movement within men’s health and an incredible charity that many barbers support.

We have already seen lots of barbershops taking part in raising funds, and we applaud them all. We have a chat with Dan Davies of Gould Barbers, which partners with Movember, about why the charity are the one to support… it only takes growing a mo – even your granny can do that!

Get your hands on the latest edition here.

The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW! This issue is headed up Taylor Perry who is front and center of this action-packed 104-page, beautifully presented issue. 

Taylor shares his journey from working 12 hour shifts behind the chair to taking his career to a new level by introducing Scalp Micro Pigmentation to his skillset. And now that he has taken the step to educate this fantastic revenue earning skill, the sky’s the limit. 

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Events are back! And we are loving the energy that has infiltrated the industry now that barbers have had some much-needed creative contact. We feature a review of the CT Barber Expo and look ahead to Fusion Beauty and Barber Expo which is coming up in October.

NAHA announced its winners and we caught up with Nieves Almaraz to talk about picking up the last men’s hairdresser award before it is renamed ‘barber of the year’ category.

BARBERSHOP FURNITURE

Your barbershop says a lot about your brand, and your clientele will judge you on that before they walk in the door. We have a cool feature on barbershop interiors and furniture and talk to the owners of some of the hottest shops in town about their furniture and design choices. Barrelli Barbers with their masculine décor, Floyd’s 99 colorful murals and we enjoy the urban retreat that Dapr Grooming Parlour have created. 

As well as looking at some creative spaces, we talk to the experts about what to think about before you hand over any cash for a barbershop chair, and why buying the best will always be a good investment.

MUSTACHE/BEARDCARE

Where there are beards, there is revenue to be earned. Elevate your beard trims by adding exclusive element to your service. Adding moisturizers, oils, that extra neck massage give license to elevate prices and offer a more luxurious experience. The beardologist, Khristian Santana and Lex Andre of Marvelous Barber Lounge talk us through their exclusive beard and mustache techniques.

Also talking beards is Nasee Yehuda, and Elliott Chester, both talking about making best use of beard and shaving products that they believe in. 

ADVICE

As always, our columnists have their fingers on the pulse of what you need to know. Tyrik Jackson talks insurance, what you need to know and what you really need to make sure you are covered for. Also, we have the talented Whitney Ver Meer talk about following your own path in this industry and the pros and cons of working for someone or taking the leap and going it alone to work on commission. There’s lots of options but finding the right one for you is essential. 

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

Entries are closing soon! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity.

Wahl UK want to celebrate and recognise the hard work we all see everyday, so once again they are looking to crown a new Wahl British Barber of the Year.

BarberEVO are thrilled to be the official media partner for this years contest!

To enter, go to the submissions area here and tell Wahl UK why you think you’re worthy of the title Wahl British Barber of the Year. 

Wahl want to hear about your barbering career so far and your ambitions for the future, this is your opportunity to sell yourself. You’ll also need to submit up to 4 images showcasing your best work. Make sure these are the best possible representation of your work, Wahl want to be impressed!

Furthermore, Wahl are also crowning the British Barbershop of the Year.

Do you work in an outstanding barbershop that provides exceptional customer experience?

Do you have a unique environment that sets you apart from every other shop? Are your staff the best in the business?

If this sounds like your barbershop, you’re in with a chance of being crowned Wahl Barbershop of the Year 2021.

For the chance to lift the prestigious Wahl British Barbershop trophy, ENTER your submissions TODAY here.

Finalists will be contacted and provided with further details once entries close on 4th October 2021.

The JVN haircare line is a collaboration between Amyris and Jonathan Van Ness: hairstylist, Emmy-nominated TV personality, New York Times best-selling author and podcaster. Jonathan Van Ness introduced JVN as a haircare line that see all beauty, serves all beauty, and honors the uniqueness in each person.

Before becoming a TV personality, author and podcaster, Jonathan worked as a professional hairstylist between Los Angeles and New York. His role on the hit TV show, Queer Eye, is to help both men and women build hair and skincare routines, and feel empowered by their grooming routines, to feel their most confident self.

The tagline for the JVN is “Come as you are.” Jonathan Van Ness said: “JVN allows everyone that uses it to find their best hair self, feel beautiful, and show the world that they can look better than ever while being confident in their choice to bring clean beauty to their hair.”  With this sentiment in mind, the JVN line is both gender and texture inclusive.

The JVN line also prides itself on having the most innovative and up-to-date ingredients, prioritizing the performance of its products. They have also made efforts to make the line as sustainable as possible, saying@ “We stand as allies with other mission-driven organizations, and find unexpected ways to take care of our community and the planet. JVN products are packaged in infinitely recyclable materials like aluminum and glass.”

For more info, go to jvnhair.com

Worried you missed your chance to enter into the most prestigious awards event in the industry? Well, today is your lucky day, as NAHA has EXTENDED their entry period for 10 extra days, and will be accepting submissions until September 20th, 2021.

Plus, artists who don’t have time to shoot new collections, can submit previously-entered collections via the NAHA Remix category. And, of course, Editorial Stylists can enter their editorial work without shooting anything new.

What’s New in 2022:

• Men’s Haircutting is now Barbering

• Texture requires a minimum of three photos that incorporate Coily, Curly, Wavy, or Straight hair
• Haircolor entries must include the formula and process 

More information about the categories can be found here.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of North America’s Hair Awards! Enter here!

The latest issue of BarberEVO UK and Ireland is OUT NOW.

Get your copy here!

This issue has Sheldon Edwards the unofficial barber for the England football team proudly taking centre stage on our front cover.

Sheldon talks to us about his career, his work with the Premier League footballers and how he influences hair trends with the creations he comes up with for the stars of the football field.

IT MAY BE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO SUMMER, BUT SAY HELLO TO AUTUMN, AND OUR 28TH ISSUE OF BARBEREVO UK AND IRELAND

After a glorious summer, it’s time to bring back the wooly jumpers and back-to-school cuts. As the world continues to open back up, it has been great to see some of your faces IRL at some of the events that took place in the last few months. Seeing and hearing the great feedback from all of you only lights that fire under us to continue to provide the best magazine for barbers, filled with entertaining, educational, and inspiring content! Enjoy.

Male grooming:

The modern gent expects more than a short back and sides and a squirt of aftershave. You’ve got to up your game! We have picked up great advice from Parlous Barbers, Robert Rix and House Martin barbers about how to elevate your grooming services to cater for the needs of the higher end of the market, and the revenue that is there to be tapped.

Euro barbers:

We can all see what trends, tools and products are the ones not to miss here in the UK and Ireland, but what’s is creating a buzz on the continent? Diego’s barbershop in Spain is a unique place with barbering tied in with music, tattoos and a true family atmosphere. Read about how he values his team and the passion he brings out in them for barbering and music.

Over in the Netherlands, the famous Schorem Barbier shop creates its own waves by specialising in styles from the 1940s to 1960s. Milky the Barber talks us through his move from the states to standing behind the chair in this most special of places and the trends that are raging in Europe.

Franchising:

The best of both worlds? A franchise offers you the freedom to own your own shop while being bolstered by a recognisable brand. We speak to the owners of four MR Barbers shops and talk about how they have welcomed the additional support that a franchise offers and the opportunities that have come their way. Also talking franchises is Jack Rabbits and Jacks of London, discussing the educational support and the enviable career path that is open to barbers in a franchise business.

EVO EXCLUSIVE:

The Fellowship of British Hairdressing and BarberEVO teamed up to produce an incredible new collection with the talented team members of PROJECT: Men, led by Jonathan Andrews. The theme: Footballers on the terraces and the team went above and beyond to produce an incredible set of images and hairstyles that fit the brief perfectly.

Cocktailing:

Mix it up and see what happens? No need! We have a selection of top barbers who are willing to share their top cocktailing mixes, find out what works, and when to apply them. Find out what brands work well together and the unique looks that can be created with a little knowledge of what you’re putting on the hair and why.

Get your hands on the latest edition here.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) announced the winners of the 2021 North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA). The announcement took place on Sunday, August 29th at their awards ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, during Cosmoprof North America.

NAHA is known as the beauty industry’s most prestigious competition in North America – honoring the top artists and creative talents who have pushed the boundaries of skill and creativity.

NAHA celebrates the industry’s leading talent and features 15 categories of excellence across hair and makeup artistry, including the new Inspiring Salon of the Year and Educator of the Year award categories.

“This was an unprecedented year for NAHA, yet the heightened creativity and sheer artistry represented were among the most impressive in the competition’s history,” shares Nina Daily, PBA’s Executive Director. “The industry rallied to channel energy into groundbreaking innovation and camaraderie, and we couldn’t be prouder of the winners, finalists and everyone who put so much passion and energy into making tonight such a success.”

NAHA 2021 was hosted by A-list celebrity stylist and Living Proof Global Creative Director Michael Shaun Corby and featured artistic presentations by Silas Tsang and the Ulta Beauty Pro Team. The event was live-streamed and available on-demand for those who were not able to attend in person.

2021 NAHA Awards Winners:

• Men’s Hairstylist of the Year- Nieves Almaraz

• Avant Garde- Sharie Valcin

• Editorial Stylist of the Year- Danielle Keasling

• Educator of the Year- Sam Villa

• Haircolor- Suzanne Sturm

• Haircutting- Stephen Moody

• Hairstylist of the Year- Silas Tsang

• Inspiring Salon of the Year- Square Colour Salon + Spa

• Makeup Artist of the Year- Nohemi Capetillo

• Master Hairstylist of the Year- Ruth Roche

• #NAHAMoment- Lauren Moser

• Student Hairstylist of the Year- Alisha Kemp

• Styling and Finishing- Nick Stenson

• Team of the Year- Julie Vriesinga

• Texture- Ammon Carver

To watch the awards ceremony on demand, including interviews from the red carpet, please visit https://www.bigmarker.com/professional-beautyassociat/NAHA-2021-Livestream

Celebrating their 100th Anniversary, MIZUTANI is running their World Cutting Photo Contest, with entries open until the 31st of August, 2021.

MIZUTANI announced: “Upon popular request, from all around the world, the World Cutting Photo Contest is back! Show us your passion and creativity! STYLE GOES ON!”

This year the contest will be separated into three categories, with a special prize for each winner. With world-class judges from around the world, such as Bertus and Leen from Shorem Barber in the Netherlands, Josh DeMarco from the DAPR Grooming Parlor in the USA, Julius Caesar, Alan, and Reece Beak from RUGER. Barber in the UK, Whitney VerMeer from USA, and many more huge names.

The categories are:

Classic Men’s Style. In this category, Judges are looking for the best classic cuts, with detail and accuracy.

Men’s Avant-Garde Short Style. Judges are looking for barbers who are willing to break out of their shells and show the most innovative styles.

Ladies Avant-Garde Short Style. Test your limits, and let your creativity fly in this category, creating striking ladies’ short styles. Some of the prizes include a Live Virtual Class at Shorem, MIZUTANI’s Cut Master Set, and an opportunity to appear in Japanese and international barbering magazines.

Don’t miss your chance, entries are open until August 31st! Enter NOW!