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Next Stop, Haircut

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.

Barber Closes Shop After 64 Years

One of South-Jersey’s most well-seasoned barbering establishments will finally close its doors after over six decades of service to its community.

Donald Thompson, who has been cutting hair at Don’s Barber Shop for 64 years, says “I enjoy what I do. So consequently, I didn’t really consider this a job”.

Don started his career in 1954, starting as an apprentice as under the tutelage of local barbers, and after starting up his own store 1957 many of his clients would follow with him.

I’ve got lots of good people and they’re friends, they weren’t so much customers,” he added.

Carl Shaw, who has trusted Thompson with his hairstyle since he was a child, and a very loyal friend and client to the shop says “He cut my dad’s hair. I came here as a little boy. We’ve been friends ever since,” said Shaw, who is 70 years old. “Don was in the Army and I was in the Air Force, and so, we talk a lot about the service.”

Don’s Barbershop houses many, many trinkets and collectables, and history buff Shaw has always found them to add to the allure of the shop, making it a museum of sorts and stable of the town in so many ways.

Mr Thompson says “I enjoyed it, and people knew that I enjoyed it, so a lot of people contributed to me,” he said. “Old telephones, old shaving mugs, antique bottles, pictures, a little bit of everything.” He continues “I’ve sold probably 75-80% of what I had already. We had 15-20 people a day come in here and buy things.

Having worked all of his life, Mr Thompson hopes he can finally enjoy the spoils of retirement however he does know himself, and has stated he will get “clipper itch” and has already been offered part-time work another establishment.

Time flew and I don’t have any regrets about going here in the first place,” he said. “I was very fortunate and very happy and my children were happy. A nice life.

Loved and Respected Barber Remembered After Passing

On the weekend of the 4th of July the barbers at Gee’s Clippers gathered to celebrate the life of their friend, Yosef Timms, also known as ‘Jay’ or ‘Jay Da Barber’ professionally, who was tragically killed outside his shop, Fade Lounge, on Thursday 1st of July.

His friends gathered to lay flowers and light candles outside his shop to remember what has been described as “a highly infectious laugh” and endless pride in his work, paying very close attention to every haircut he gave.

Timms was in a fight with several unidentified people, when a member of the other group pulled a gun, striking him. He was shot not long before 12:30pm

Owner of Gee’s Clippers, Gaulein “Gee” Smith, was Timms’ ex-employer, having worked with him for six years before he left and started Fade Lounge, said that Timms was one of the very best he has ever worked with.

“What wasn’t he good at? Tapers, afros, fades, every hairstyle — he really didn’t have a weakness. He was like the Kobe Bryant of barbering. He had an unbelievable gift in barbering. He came to Gee’s already extremely talented” Smith said.

Timms was eager to learn from the best and wished to one day to start his own business and Smith took him under his wing.

Timms was also a father-to-be, and his mentor Smith was only informed of this after his passing “He was planning on surprising us,” he said. “He would have been a good father. He would have asked questions for what he didn’t know. He was inquisitive”.

There has been a massive online reaction to the news of Timms’ passing, with Smith making an impassioned plea online “Too many of us are leaving here too young, too soon”.

May he rest in power.

The Professional Barber World Series Launches in Less Than a Week!

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!

“Just a Little Off the Top, and a Vaccine Please”

In a previous article we spoke of the unlikeliest pairings, vaccination centres for COVID and black-owned barber shops, were about to find their way together.

Well as the weeks went on, this action came into play and we now understand how this amazing idea can operate.

Chicago native Channel Coleman partnered with the City of Chicago to help her clients and neighbours in Englewood, which is a predominantly black neighbourhood in the town, with the lowest vaccination rate in the area.

To help fix this, they launched an ingenious incentive – cut for a jab.

This new project is taking place just weeks before the deadline of President Biden’s objective to make sure at least 70% of American adults had their first dose of the vaccination by Independence Day. And as Black Americans are lowest number of vaccinated people, in terms of racial and ethnic groups, this substantially helps bring healthcare to those have more barriers to get to it.

The shots just happened so fast. I think that’s what was kind of scaring people. And then you have people just having different reactions to it” says Coleman.

This incentive is aptly named “Vax and Relax” and allows anyone over the age of 12 to receive a haircut and tickets to the American theme park chain, Six Flags, in exchange for a shot of the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Many health experts have concluded that many people form disadvantaged areas with low-income families cannot afford to take time off work or travel to vaccination sites – and this opportunity allows people not only to receive the healthcare they are entitled to, but are also rewarded for it.

The 2022 North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) Entry Phase Opens TODAY June 14th, Including Barbering Category

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:

• INSPIRING SALON OF THE YEAR

 • EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

• AVANT GARDE

• MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• MASTER HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR (by invitation only)

• EDITORIAL STYLIST OF THE YEAR

• HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR

• TEAM OF THE YEAR

• TEXTURE

BARBERING (replacing Men’s Hairstyling)

• STYLING & FINISHING

• HAIRCUTTING

• HAIRCOLOR

• STUDENT HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR

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.

NAHA 2022 Call For Entries!

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is excited to announce the opening of the 33rd Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), the most prestigious professional beauty competition and awards,
on June 14, 2021. 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

This year, NAHA will feature the following categories:
• INSPIRING SALON OF THE YEAR
• EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
• AVANT GARDE
• MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• MASTER HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR (by invitation only)
• EDITORIAL STYLIST OF THE YEAR
• HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR
• TEAM OF THE YEAR
• TEXTURE
• BARBERING (replacing Men’s Hairstyling)
• STYLING & FINISHING
• HAIRCUTTING
• HAIRCOLOR
• STUDENT HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR


“We are thrilled to introduce the category of Barbering to replace Men’s
Hairstyling,” shares PBA Events Brand Manager Sheri Rearick. “NAHA has always broken barriers, and our categories will continue to evolve to reflect the pulse of the industry. Expect more changes soon.”
NAHA is also pleased to announce the return of the NAHA Remix! NAHA Remix allows artists to enter previously submitted collections as long as they were not selected as finalists. Remix collections can be updated and must follow the current category and overall NAHA rules and regulations.
NAHA submissions are judged online, in multiple rounds, by a blind panel of judges.
The judging process is completely anonymous with no contact between judges or knowledge of artist names to ensure anonymity and fairness during the judging process.

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. Get inspired and learn more about the most prestigious competition in beauty.

Andis Announces Kevin Luchman As International Artistic Team Lead

World-leading manufacturer of grooming tools for barbers and stylists, Andis Company, is delighted to announce that renowned barber, men’s stylist, educator and photographer Kevin Luchmun has joined the brand as ‘International Artistic Team Lead’.

INSPIRATION MEETS EDUCATION

In a newly created role that seeks to accelerate Andis’ international presence by building upon its global reputation for world-class tools, education and creative inspiration, Kevin will play a pivotal role in the development of educational programs and artistic directions for photoshoots. He will also be instrumental in the formation of new programs to continually develop the creative and editorial talents of Andis’ audience of creators.

BEHIND THE CHAIR & BEHIND THE LENS

As one of the UK’s most recognisable and respected men’s stylists, Kevin’s technical hair cutting skills have positioned him as one of the industry’s most inspiring barbers, men’s stylists and educators.            

A multi-award-winning stylist spanning barbering and men’s hairdressing, Kevin’s work on editorial photoshoots and collection photography, and the relationship between hairstyling, fashion and the visual presentation of technical cuts, has seen his creativity extend into a signature photography style. As passionate about photography as he is about hairstyling, both are approached and revered in equal measure with his work appearing on the covers and in the pages of international trade and consumer magazines, on the catwalks, online and across social media where Kevin has amassed a following of over 90k on Instagram alone.

According to Angie Perino, Andis Global Education Manager, it’s Kevin’s multi-faceted skills base, creative vision, technical precision and stage craft both as a hair artist and educator that led to the creation of this new role. “We’re so delighted to be partnering with Kevin as we continue to expand our outreach to barbers and stylists around the world. 

“We pride ourselves in providing world-class educational programs and inspiration that provide the road map to a successful career! Kevin will be working closely with our other internationally renowned educators, including Kenny Duncan – our North American Artistic Team Lead in the USA and Canada – to merge all strands of our educator network into a global vision that empowers barbers and stylists to express their individuality, maximise their creative talents and exceed their artistic potential through hair and imagery.” 

THE FIRST MISSION: FLUID VOL3

Following the worldwide success of FLUID Vols. 1 & 2 – a combined artistic hair collection and educational concept that integrates with Andis’ groundbreaking Virtual Education resource, Kevin’s first assignment will be to lead the creation of FLUID Vol.3.  Angie Perino: “This program will include educational videos, learning modules and a stunning look book with steps to teach our learners how to create the featured looks.  Kevin will be contributing to creating a vision for the collection, selecting models, orchestrating photography and video and finalising all details of the final edits. I can hardly wait to see Kevin’s inspiration come through in our very first Andis FLUID collection captured in the UK!”

KEVIN LUCHMUN – ‘JOINING ANDIS WAS MY DESTINY AND A DREAM COME TRUE’

For Kevin Luchmun, joining Andis is a dream come true. Unlike ambassadorships that hinge on commercial arrangements alone, Kevin has long-held a deep rooted respect for Andis and was determined to work with the brand from the outset. “Very early in my career I got the opportunity to work on the Andis stage at Salon International. From that moment I was passionate about Andis and I was always intent on working with the brand. For me there was never an alternative to Andis; I’ve waited a long time for this to come to fruition.

“Now I’ve reached this point in my career and have so many achievements and accolades, the timing and the type of position couldn’t be more perfect. I look forward to working with Angie and the global team to elevate Andis’ brand appeal and educational resource base, as well as highlighting the precision and performance of its industry-leading tools.”

Kevin officially joined Andis on May 1st 2021.

Sign Up For The Texas Barber Battle And Expo

Do you rate yourself enough to compete alongside 120 talented barbers in the Texas Barber Battle and Expo, being held on July 17/18 at the San Antonio Shrine Auditorium in the heart of San Antonio, TX.

The event will be filled with barbers and stylists from all over the United States, competing in a range of battles from the Fastest Fade, Traditional Haircut, Freestyle Design, Fade W/Beard, and a Student Battle (Traditional). 

Attendance at last year’s event was more than 3,500 people, and this year’s event will not only feature the Barber Battle, but will have a range of vendors at the event. There will have educational classes in the morning from several educators/platform artists demonstrating different techniques and products.  

Where:  San Antonio, TX

When:  Sunday, July 18, 2021 with classes starting at 9:30am and the Barber Battle starting at 3pm.

By Who:  Texas Barber Battle & Expo is proudly presented by Wahl Educator and Platform Artist, Rick “Da People’s Barber” Morin.  Rick has traveled all of the United States, Mexico, China, and India educating barbers and stylists different styles of clipper cutting techniques. 

For more details go to: www.txbarberexpo.com

To register to enter for the Barber Battle click here

Baton Rouge Barbershop Combines Reading with Haircuts

The first Monday of the month is a special day inside O’Neil’s Barber and Beauty Shop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Children get a free haircut, and a unique opportunity to work on their reading ability, with books sprinkled throughout the shop. Indeed as soon as they come into the shop, they collect a book and become engrossed in the plot prior to sitting in the chair.

Once in the chair, the barbers assist with any difficult or hard to understand words, and enquire about the plot and story that the children have been reading.

Shop owner O’Neil Curtis created the Line 4 Line program in 2014 with volunteer Lucy Perera. Each year this program serves 200 kids aged between 3 to 16 years old.

You can find out more about this amazing program here: https://www.facebook.com/Line4LineBR/