WELCOME TO THE FIRST BARBEREVO NORTH AMERICA EDITION OF 2021. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE THE BACK OF 2020 AND LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXCITING YEAR AHEAD.

We are committed to continuing to deliver a combination of creative content, inspirational features with the biggest names in the business, and the very best of real-life business advice to ensure we keep everyone rolling in the right direction. 

With that in mind, events and tradeshows are top of our list in this issue as we talk to those in the know. The organisers of the events, that we miss so much, talk about the chances of them going ahead, the challenges they face with staging them in a pandemic and the hopes for the ones that are scheduled for this year.

This issue’s barbershop focus has some cool places featured. Barbers are so proud of their shops, whether they are traditional, cutting edge, minimalist, or are designing with Instagram in mind, the design is so personal, and how you choose to furnish your shop, and the décor you choose, can make or break the visual. We’ve found some knock-out barbershops that have opened their doors to BarberEVO, talked us through their décor decisions, what works for them and what they love about their shops.

A hugely important part of the hair industry right now is how it can be more sustainable. We have spoken to hair professionals who have taken their personal commitment to being eco-friendly and carried it through to their shops and their business practices. Whether you want to commit fully or just make a small change, have a read of our eco feature and see what changes you can make to be a little gentler on the planet. 

Last, but certainly not least, The Barber Authority’s Steve Vilot lets us into some tour secrets as he and his band of elite barbers provide grooming services for international rock starts and the world’s top athletes. It’s a great read, and his commitment to elevating the image of barbering is commendable.

You can order your printed copy of the new edition right here.

As of the 25^th of January, Health Officials have lifted the Regional Stay at Home Order in California and put the state into the ‘Purple Tier.’

This allows ‘personal care services’ such as barbershops, hair salons, and nail bars to operate indoors. However, Health Officials ask that businesses operate at 25% capacity, and continue to social distance and wear face masks where applicable.

Until the 25,^th California had been the only state in which barbershops and hair and beauty salons were under strict regulations to stay closed.

Thankfully, the ICU percentages and case rates have remained low enough over the last month for restrictions to be lifted enough for beauty industry professionals to get back at it.

Andis Company has today released the second volume of ‘FLUID’, an Andis Hair Tech publication embracing heritage and the natural beauty of multi-cultural textured hair. 

Featuring work from Andis Creative Leads, Eric Cheek and Kenny Duncan the publication has five looks created using a selection of Andis tools. 

Angie Perino, Managing Director for FLUID and Global Education Manager for Andis Company. “Kenny and Eric are world renowned for their talent and skills as educators within the beauty and barber industry. They did an incredible job of creating looks that allow learners to expand their skillset, preparing them to service any type of hair pattern they encounter. Their creative techniques will inspire the industry to continue reaching for its fullest potential.”

The publication includes step-by-step guides on how to achieve each look, including the tool for each step, suggested techniques, and tips for perfecting the cut. For barbers and stylists who may be less experienced with textured hair, the book also contains a hair pattern terminology guide, outlining the types of hair by size and pattern, along with other terms commonly used when cutting and styling hair.

Fluid Volume Two is available for purchase here for $14.95.

For many men, a trip to the barbershop is much more than just a luxurious effort to alter their aesthetic appearance. For many, their barbershop has become a safe place to chat about their lives, and their barber, a friend and confidant. Many barbers may joke that they find them feeling more like a therapist than a barber ­– but what if you could provide barbers with the tools to do both?

Lorenzo Lewis did just that. After spotting a deficiency in mental health care for Black men and boys in the United States, Lorenzo Lewis founded Confess Project Barber Coalition in 2016. Their goal is to bridge the gaps in mental health care for Black men and boys, by providing barbers with the resources and skills to listen and talk to their clients about their mental health wellbeing in a judgement-free safe space.

Lewis noticed that African American communities in the United States were terribly under-resourced and underrepresented in terms of mental health care and support. However, he found that the importance of the barbershop’s role in improving and promoting mental health in men, specifically in African American communities, had been previously overlooked.

Through workshops hosted by the Confess Project Barber Coalition, barbers are given education, resources and training to talk to their clients about mental health, and to point them toward further help and solutions. Since 2016, the Barber Coalition has trained more than 200 barbers across the United States to be mental health advocates.

During the last year, throughout the pandemic, African Americans have been disproportionally affected and racial injustices and police brutality have only increased the Black community’s need for mental health resources. Meanwhile, many barbershops have been forced to close and the in-person workshops have had to be put on the back burner. However, that won’t stop the Coalition’s efforts to continue to support their communities. The group has started hosting online training courses, group support calls, and individual check-ins for member barbers.

Lewis’ goal for the Confess Project Barber Coalition to that the messages and lessons taught go ‘beyond the barbershop,’ showing men and boys that it is okay to talk about their emotions and to ensure that they know they are valued in society, and that there is a community behind them.

For more information and resources, visit www.theconfessproject.com

There’s no getting away from the hardship that having to close your barbershop can bring. Barbershops in Ontario are currently unable to open due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as part of a province-wide declaration of emergency and a stay at home order.

However, the folk at Chrome Artistic Barbering are able to remain open, despite this. They are offering their clients auditions for $37 each to participate in their podcast and documentary, by being filmed having a discussion about their lives whilst getting a haircut.

While hair salons and barbershops are not permitted to open right now in Toronto, film production is permitted.

Despite the controversial nature of this, owner Alicia Hirter told local press that it wasn’t a case of exploiting any loopholes. Camera’s, lights and microphones were already set up in the shop, and this had been planned for some time ago.

You can visit the Chrome Artistic Barbering Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/chromeartisticbarbering/

Legendary Ontario barber Frank Filice has hung up his clippers one last time, leaving behind a notable career, with clients ranging from Premiers, Politicians, Bureaucrats and Journalists.

“Frank the Barber” cut hair in his basement shop at the Ontario Legislature, which explains those intriguing clients, for over 45 years.

Frank was known for being neutral, fair, balanced, and good with secrets… “What is said in the barber’s chair, stays in the barber’s chair” was his motto, according to Speaker of the Legislature Ted Arnott, no doubt one of Frank’s regulars!

Frank originally arrived in Toronto in 1960, aged 16, from his native Calabria in Italy.

We wish Frank, who was clearly a local legend, the happiest of retirements!

Barbering entrepreneur and Boston native Erik Zaiatz announced this past weekend some exciting news for fans of his incredible Bostonian Barbershop experience.

A third location is planned for his hometown of Hanson, MA. And even better still, it will be in the exact same location his Grandfather had his barbershop in over 70 years ago.

The third Bostonian Barbershop will bring that special Bostonian feel to residents of Hanson, and will no doubt include several nod’s to the days of Don’s Barbershop. We wish Erik and the team every success and look forward to seeing the new shop upon completion.

Check them out on Instagram or Facebook for some exclusive behind the scenes footage of the build out: https://www.facebook.com/bostonianbarbershophanson/

A 6 year old kindergartener from Galesburg, IL, recently donated much of her hair to a charity that can use it to help produce wigs for those without hair due to medical reasons.

The inspirational Delaney Pickrel said, “I did it because I thought it would be cute and I wanted to help kids who didn’t have hair.”

Her sister in law, Raylyn, a stylist for 15 years, who works at Glory Days Corner Barber Shop did the honours. The hair will be donated to Children With Hair Loss – a cause that she loves being able to support.

We salute young Delaney for her awesome gesture, and urge you to also support www.childrenwithhairloss.us if you can!

We love this story!

Legendary Sea Cliff, NY barbershop Bart’s has continued to operate, despite plans to close last October.

Owner Joe Mazzeo had announced back in October his plans to close the establishment, with the 78 year old having worked in the shop that his father, Bartolomeo had opened, since the early 1960’s.

The Coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent lockdown last year actually forced Joe towards ‘a taste’ of retirement ahead of schedule. However he has since reopened, but is still passionate about selling the business to another barber who can take the business on.

Good luck to Joe. Joe is the epitome of what barbers mean to the communities they serve. We salute you Joe!

The UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have decided to move responsibility for the personal care sector (which includes hairdressing, barbering and beauty) into a separate BEIS sector team moving forward.

So why is this important?

Well it should, in theory, put this sector on a level par with other sectors that BEIS looks after.

Many key UK industry figures including the Hair and Barber Council and the National Hair & Beauty Federation have commented that this can be viewed as a major step forward. It will ensure that there is now a department responsible for working with and engaging with the hair and beauty sector.