Eight of Croydon’s finest barbershops will soon be offering free on the spot blood pressure tests to their clients in an attempt to raise awareness and potentially give life-saving advice.

This scheme started in April and is a UK first being run by London South Bank University (LSBU), Croydon BME Forum, and Off the Record.

The groups provide eight barbers who have customers in Croydon with the training they need to diagnose. Among them are Lambeth, Southwark, and Bromley to deliver the blood pressure checks at their premises, an effective way to detect for issues. About 30% of men in the UK are believed to have high blood pressure and problems relating to it.

The project is inspired by a successful health venture in Los Angeles barbershops, which resulted in 68% of those diagnosed with high blood pressure in said barbershops leaving the study with more healthy blood pressure levels.

The eight barbershops participating are:

• Da Ace Of Fades (Thornton Heath)
• The Barber Shop (Croydon)
• Finishing Touches (Mitcham)
• Yian the Barber (South Norwood)
• Cutter Hair Doctor (South Norwood)
• J & D Doyleys (Thornton Heath)
• House of Bertrand (Bromley)
• Juls The Hair Klinik (Mitcham)

Have you heard of Stormzy, Anthony Joshua, and Lebron James? Well Mark Maciver has – he’s worked with all of them. Work such as this has recently led Maciver to be named part of this year’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs List by the Black Business Sow.

Slider Cuts is located Hackney Road, the space between Hackney and Tower Hamlets, since 2018, but the brand has been around for about 10 years. Mark left Camden, London, in 2004 and has been in the Hackney area ever since.

Maciver said “When I was working in another shop my nickname was Slider. So when I decided to set-up a website for myself I called it Slider Cuts”.

Currently Maciver is one of the biggest and most sought-after Black Barbers in the United Kingdom, but still feel gratitude towards this announcement from the Black Business Show. He stated that “It’s an honour”.

Image: complex.com

On Saturday the 17^th of July, the Kerala state government announced new relaxations of its Covid restrictions including opening differen media, retail, and hair and beauty services. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stressed that restrictions are still necessary in the state to control the pandemic situation.

Chief Minister Vijayan announced the following relaxations, which are based on categories on Saturday.

Category A areas comprise of those regions where the test positivity rate is less than 5%, while category B areas are regions where the positivity rate is between 5% and 10%. In category C areas, the positivity rate is between 10% and 15%. It is above 15% in category D areas.

Among the places allowed to open and operate again are Bakrid concessions, electronic shops, places of worship, the production and shooting of film, and of course, barbershops and beauty parlours.

Beauty parlors and barber shops will be permitted to function on days when other shops are approved in A and B category areas. However, the owners of the shops have to ensure all staff members have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Image: www.ptieducation.org

Andre’s Barber Shop recently gave free haircuts to its local community members on Monday as part of their initiative to take a step towards peace in their city of Rochester, New York. The barbershop owner, Andre Morrison, says that his mission is to educate the younger generation about how they can use preventive skills pertaining to violent situations.

“Some of the more negative images are placed out here especially for the youth, that’s what they see and that’s what they pick up so it’s important for us as community members and leaders to put out positive situations that they can follow,” said Morrison.

The room was a buzz, with both people and clippers that is, for the “cuts for peace” initiative. Not only did the kids get goodies such as haircuts, snacks, and balloons. This was also an opportunity to have an open conversation about what violence is, and what types of violence they may have been exposed to.

“We asked them questions, ‘OK what do you think some of the causes of this violence out here is?” and “What do you think some of the answers to solving it can be?” Morrison said.

The barbershop also teamed up with the Rochester Police Department, who also came along to the event, not only to answer any questions but to offer “Safe Child Identification Cards” – these are created by by scanning fingerprints, the information is logged in the New York State Safe Child database in case of an emergency.

image: www.whec.com

Myke Cummings, the co-owner of Barber Metrix with his wife Domina have been operating a new style of barbershop on wheels.

“I operate my business as a judgment free zone. We have real good conversation, positive conversation,” said Cummings. He then continues “I used to work in a barbershop with a lot of people, a lot of co-workers. I didn’t feel safe working in that environment when Corona hit, so me and Domina, my business partner, we got creative and came up with this concept,”

Since the beginning of 2021 they have worked from a nearly ruined bus parked at W 125 Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in New Work. 

“When we got the vehicle we had to take out rows of chairs that was in here because it was rows of seats, you know, this was like a church bus,” said Myke.

After months of renovating the floors and installing seats for clients, they hit the ground running, or driving, last Christmas Eve. 

“The first couple of days that we actually opened it was a little nerve-racking,” said Domina Lazaro, co-owner of Barber Metrix. “We weren’t sure how people were going to take our business. After the first couple of weeks, we started to see the clients come in. We got so many more walk-ins than the last place he was cutting hair at.”

The couple joins the growing number of other mobile barbershops popping up throughout Harlem. Linwood Dillard is known as ‘Da Barber Godd’ and claims he’s the first mobile barbershop in the neighbourhood.

Some of the biggest names in the barbering industry have all grouped together to bring one of the most exciting and most anticipated barbering competitions to date!

We have already done a small ‘meet the judges’ on our Instagram but in case you missed it, we have;

• Sid Sottung – Global Andis Educator with over 30 years in the industry
• Baldy – Owner of Baldy’s Barbers and Lead Global Educator for Andis
• Simon May – Founder of Dapper Dan and owner of Wolf & Co Barbers
• Brandi Lashay – Owner of The Barber Doll House LLC and Babyliss Barberology Platform Educator
• Colin Petrie – Founder of Hard Grind and part of the American Crew Elite Team
• Tyrik Jackson – CEO of Premier Barber Institute & Sharper Image Barbers

The prizes for the winner promise to be career changing; a cover shoot with us, BarberEVO, a DSLR camera to make sure your photos are always sharp as your cuts, £500 voucher from Barber Blades, a five-day training course from Sid Sottung himself, and £400 credit from Nearcut!

Submissions open July 1st 2021, so make sure you’re following @probarber_worldseries on Instagram for all the updates!

On June the 13^th (2021) Andis hosted their second Copy the Cut Challenge on Zoom. Across the United States battled virtually to “copy” the 1921 Fade from Andis’ FLUID Vol. 2 book. The prizes for the competition were as follows: 1st Place: $500, 2nd Place: $300, 3rd Place: $200. The judging was broken down into subsequent categories – 1) Overall look 2) Quality of fade 3) Precision of lining 4) Quality of styling/finishing techniques.

And the winners are as follows:

1st Place 
Brandon Negron
Instagram: @philly_barber
Shop: Philly Barber Studios, Philadelphia, PA

2nd Place
Marvin Johnson
Instagram: @Organic_ju1ce
Shop: Hall of Fades Barbershop, Largo, FL

3rd Place 
Eddieberto Martinez 
Instagram: @t3chneek
Shop: Techneek Studios, Philadelphia, PA

Guest judge Kristal Jnaz posted this to her Instagram after the competition came to its exciting close “What a time. A barber battle through Zoom?! Same firing passion, hard work and dedication to execute the cleanest cut. I’ve attended barber battles since cosmetology school back in 2014 and it’s amazing to see how we adjust with time.”

The competition is still available to watch on Andis Instagram page, @andisclippers, and they have announced the next competition will take place in August! Good luck to all the hopefuls out there, and congratulations to the new Andis Master, Brandon Negron!

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA), the largest and most inclusive national trade organization representing manufacturers, distributors, salon and spa business owners, and licensed beauty professionals, is excited to provide two important reminders regarding NAHA. As the top hair and makeup competition in North America, NAHA is the premiere platform for beauty professionals to push the boundaries and bring their artistic visions to life.

The first is to announce the call for entries for NAHA 2022 opens June 14th. The second is to provide details regarding the live awards show for NAHA 2021, which will take place August 29th at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Tickets are on sale now.

Call for Entries Opens June 14th for NAHA 2022

Categories for the 33rd Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) are as follows:

New in 2022, NAHA is replacing the Men’s Hairstyling category with Barbering. Additionally, NAHA is bringing back NAHA Remix, which allows artists to enter previously submitted collections as long as they meet certain criteria.

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.

Key dates for NAHA 2022 are as follows:

Entries Open: June 14, 2021

 Entries Close: September 10, 2021

 Finalist Announcement: November 10, 2021

NAHA 2022 Award Ceremony: January 30, 2022—Long Beach, CA

For specific category rules and to enter, please visit probeauty.org/NAHA2022.

Tickets Now on Sale for the 2021 North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA)

NAHA 2021 will take place on August 29th at Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center. NAHA is the must-attend event for the who’s who of the beauty industry, where attendees experience the magic of the red carpet, mingle with the best and brightest in the business and watch artistic vision come to life.

Usually held in Long Beach in January, NAHA 2021 was pushed back to August to ensure it could remain live and in-person. “This will undoubtedly be an unprecedented event,” shares Nina Daily, PBA’s Chief Marketing Officer and incumbent Executive Director. “The level of artistry that will be on display, set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, is just what the industry has been craving.”

 NAHA 2021 will be hosted by Michael Shaun Corby and will feature a Mainstage Performance by 2020 NAHA Hairstylist of the Year Silas Tsang, an Artistic Presentation by Ulta, and many other surprises.

For pricing and information on VIP packages, as well as special offers exclusively available to Professional Beauty Association members, visit probeauty.org/naha. For media credentials, please contact press@probeauty.org or fill out this form.

Chicago-based barber, Deshon Mcadory, has been charged with first-degree murder of former patron Christian McDougald. The shooting took place at Mcadory’s barber shop.

The Chicago-based barber has been accused of shooting a customer for not paying the $15 for his haircut.

The Chicago Sunday Times reported on Sunday that Mcadory has been held on bail valued at $250,000, the 40-year-old is being charged with first degree murder of his 31-year-old former client.

McDougald started arguing with barbers in Mcadory’s barber shop, which is located in the Chicago-based suburb, Maywood at around 4pm. It has been reported that McDougald followed Mcadory into the back of his shop, which is where the incident took place.

After being rushed to Loyola University Medical Centre, but was pronounced dead at the establishment. Anthony Burch, Mcadory’s attorney, explained to the court that Mcadory is a licensed gun-carrier, and was retreating to the back of the shop when he was followed, he also categorised McDougald as an “aggressor”.

Burch then went on to present Mcadory as a model citizen and member of his community with strong business ties, while highlighting McDougald had two previous convictions.

Mcadory’s business partner was also charged in connection with the shooting, 43-year-old Samuel Williams also appeared at court on Sunday for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. His bail is set at $25,500.

Black-owned salons and barber shops are set to be turned into possible COVID vaccine sites, says Health officials.

City Health Officials and the National Association, as part of a White House initiative, has established a plan to help train Black-owned hair salons and barber shops to help provide accurate information and dish out vaccines where possible, along with providing information says Lori Tremmel Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of NACCHO.

On Wednesday the Biden Administration said they were teaming up with multiple organisations such as the Black Coalition Against COVID, the University of Maryland Centre for Health Equity, and the Shea Moisture company. The initiative is to be called “Shots at the shop” is to engage black-owned barbers and salons throughout America to promote vaccine education and have local outreach.

This could be an indicator as to why salons and barbers have been chosen to host these educational events, Freeman goes on “The role that NACCHO’s going to play is trying to match barber shops and beauty shops with local health departments, so that we can forge a relationship there and figure out if any of these business locations can also become vaccination sites or what it would take for that to happen”.

For generations salons and barbers have been safe havens for African American people, especially in the time of segregation. They could gather in numbers feel safe in their community, and now decades later the safe space of feeling continues and discuss topics such as health and wellbeing.