STMNT was created with a distinct message, and that was to rewrite the standards of grooming, looking back over the last year, does the group feel they are on their way to achieving that standard?

“Yes!” says Sofie, “We stayed very true to our intention for the brand. We were very careful and deliberate in our messaging, both when we started and in the growth since then.”

As a gender-neutral product range, STMNT has seen incredible uptake in both salons and barbershops. Sofie adds: “There are so many people, from all walks of life that travel to and from shops everywhere. We want to encourage everyone to understand that grooming products are not just for men!”

The founders are the people who know how to use these products best. Hit us up with a cocktail that will blow our minds.

Jules steps forward to take this one. “Recently, Shine Paste x Beard Oil cocktailed together, raked thru towel damp hair, and blow-dried through has been a favorite! It’s a unique mixture that gives a very sleek all-day finish that acts as a heat protectant via the beard oil with the natural structure for shape via the shine paste.”

The range at the moment has two branches, the styling range, and the care range. Are there any thoughts of extending?

Jules says: “We feel like we have a strong foundational range but plans to extend the range is definitely a major consideration down the line!”

It’s a major undertaking launching a brand-new brand, product development, marketing etc. How did you all cope with the challenges that came your way?

Miguel says: “It’s been an interesting experience, obviously being in the middle of a pandemic had changed it from the normal routine you’d be in launching a new brand. As we’ve been working away hard on the brand since 2017 it’s more of a natural progression to see the launch and it’s amazing to see the response we’ve had. Knowing we made all the right decisions as a team prior to launching by the buzz around the brand in its first year is fantastic.”

It’s been an amazing process to take the idea from just that to an actual range. What’s been the fun part?

“I love creating,” says Miguel, “Just like Jules and Sofie. The whole process from throwing ideas around to watching it all come to fruition is fantastic. We have a lot of synergy between us and this makes the process even easier.”

And the big question, in five years’ time, Jules, Sofie, and Miguel are sitting around a table, what are you discussing and where will you be in the STMNT journey?

Sofie says: “Our products have helped barbers/stylists/ and people around the world feel and look their best. This is something I am so proud of. I love the fact that STMNT is such a quality product line and has created an extremely loyal line of users. I am proud to be a co-founder of such a quality line!”

Jules adds: “In this day and age, I think it’s important to appreciate the NOW and to foresee the future is something that I’d like to be mindful of, yet do not want to put solid expectations for. So much can change in the blink of an eye, and the world literally has seen that happen with the pandemic. I think we are all focused on continuing to build day by day, with the goal to have STMNT help bridge the gaps in our industry and be the platform to tell our own story. I’m grateful for all the amazing feedback and response we have received so far. If I were to look at where myself, Sofie, and Miguel were at five years prior til the present day… based on that, I can say the next five years should mirror that evolution and success, on a much higher precedent.”

And Miguel concludes: “Honestly, considering we started planning this nearly four years ago, in another five years’ time we’ll probably just be blown away by how time has gone so fast. Hopefully, we are talking about the shoots and shows we got to do together post-pandemic versus the zoom calls during it, haha.”

STMNT is available for purchase in-store and online at Cosmo Prof STMNT Mens Grooming products (cosmoprofbeauty.com)

Paramount Beauty stmnt | Paramount Beauty, Life of Riley Salon Supply Magento Commerce (lifeofrileyss.com), ISC Solutions ISC Solutions | Fully Optimized Cross-Function Supply Chain Management (iscsupplysolutions.com) and Beauty Craft Beauty Craft

Nick Prosseda’s Modern Male Barbershop is hosting “Grow-A-Pair” Cut-a-Thon on Sunday, September 12^th, with 100% of proceeds from the events to be donated to Abington-Jefferson Health.

Nick Prosseda, the visionary behind seven Modern Male Barbershops throughout Montgomery County, including Modern Male Barber Academy — a barber training facility which opened in 2019 at 209 W. Main Street in Lansdale — will be hosting his annual “Grow-A-Pair” Cut-a-Thon event on Sunday, September 12^th to help raise money for Abington-Jefferson Health while also raising awareness for prostate cancer.

The fundraiser, an annual awareness campaign and fundraising initiative under the Modern Male Barbershop brand since 2011, will take place on September 12th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lansdale location. Since its inception, Prosseda has raised nearly $50,000, including $10,000 last year during the pandemic, which he said was “pretty amazing, to say the least”.

“We’re already on pace to raise $30,000 this year,” said Prosseda. “The reason this fundraiser exists is to pay it forward to those in need. If it wasn’t for my father or grandfather passing from cancer, I would have been supporting another charity. You cannot take wealth without giving it back.”

The annual campaign is organized to not only raise money but also to help men receive prostate cancer screening and treatment. Prosseda lost his father to cancer at the age of 10 when his dad was 39. Now the exact same age as when his father passed, Prosseda is making sure that others can avoid what he went through. “My dad passed away because he was too proud to get checked out and schedule routine checkups. I know that I’m doing the right thing by helping others understand the value of cancer screening and regular examinations.”

The event will feature discounted haircuts for donations, as well as donated food, drinks, and live entertainment. Donations are welcome at the event, as well as until the end of September, all of which will be directed to Abington-Jefferson Health. Prosseda is also hoping to attract 100 barbershops to participate in the fundraiser in 2022, but in the meantime, he is very excited for the new businesses who have decided to join in the Grow-A-Pair event this September, including J’s Barbershop at 3723 Old Capitol Trail in Wilmington, Delaware.

“J’s is now doing their first cut-a-thon, and we are very excited about that,” said Prosseda. “Justin, the owner, has reached out to other shops in his hometown and they are collecting donations at their registers as well. As more people become aware and educated, more and more people will be able to schedule routine checkups and hopefully avoid serious health issues.”

Learn more about Nick Prosseda and his brand by visiting http://modernmalebarbershop.com.

Wahl Professional Lead Educator, Nieves Almaraz has been crowned the Men’s Hairstylist of the Year at the 2021 North American Hair Awards (NAHA).

The winners were announced at ceremony held in Las Vegas on August 29th.

Almaraz (@howtofadehair) has been a Wahl Professional educator for the past eight years. Most recently he’s been leading the Wahl Professional Disruptour Trifecta to bring high-end barber education in intimate settings to stylists and barbers across the U.S.

Chicago, “The City of Big Shoulders,” was the inspiration behind the NAHA submission created by Almaraz. A nod to the urban richness that defines his hometown combined with a futuristic photography approach, Almaraz found his niche in the Men’s Hairstylist of the Year category. “Stick to your roots, honor your legacy”, is Nieves’ approach to his creative process.

“We’re thrilled for Nieves and so proud of him.  He’s an amazing barber and artist and deserves all the recognition he’s earned,” says Lisa Finucane, U.S. Director of Education. “He’s an integral part of our education team and is helping Wahl Pro bring so many opportunities to barbers and stylists who want to learn more.”

When not working with Wahl, Almaraz owns and runs Jacob’s Barber Shop and How to Fade Hair educational academy in Cicero, IL.

To learn more about Almaraz and his passion for barbering education and cutting hair visit wahlpro.com/education/team.

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

Sid Rodriguez, owner of the Elite Barber Shop in Hewitt, teamed up with Viento Fuerte and David Santibanez – to sponsor the Back-To-School Bash this past week at the First Baptist Woodway Church in Waco, TX.

Sid cut hair for five hours, free of charge. Other barbers and stylists joined in, as kids received free cuts, backpacks, school supplies and free food.

Pastor Rene Maciel said, “It was an amazing event to assist families starting back to school and we also had a chance to pray with several families about the new school year.”

Once again, a local barbershop and its owner has played a vital role in binding a community together. We salute Sid and his friends who participated in this wonderful charitable event.

The Connecticut Barber Expo X and associated events will take place August 14 – 16th, 2021, and be held at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

Finally, after several reschedulings due to the Covid19 Pandemic, the tenth anniversary of CT Barber EXPO, organised by legendary Jay Majors, has finally arrived. As the official media partner, we at BarberEVO can’t wait to see what this weekend has in store.

On Saturday, August 14, 2021, the Expo will start off with the 2nd Annual International Barber Grammys / Pre-Party from 8:30 PM to 2 AM. This will take place in the Ballroom at Mohegan Sun, in Uncasville, CT. This is a dress to impress, black tie affair.

On Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Educational Seminars will take place from 8:30 AM to 2 PM. The Educational Seminars will be presented by some of the industry’s most respected educators. The Barber Battle and Expo will occur from 2 PM to 9:00 PM.

On Monday, August 16, 2021, the Educational Seminars will take place from 8:30 AM to 2 PM. The Barber Battle and Expo will occur from 2 PM to 7:30 PM.

Sharpen your skillset, and rub arms with some of the biggest barbers, stylists and educators in the industry, such as @ivanzoot, @vicblends, @andyauthentic, @kduncangrooming, @andyfademaster, @lici_ladybarber, @be.lechendary, @v.hugostyles, @micdamiano, @diego_djdgaf, @barber.josh.o.p, @bossiocuts, @iamtyrikjackson, @thebizlawyer, @rumbarber and @cutthroat.mike… Just to name a few!

Plus, visit BarberEVO at booth 407!

For additional information, please visit www.ctbarberexpo.com.

If you missed Wahl Professional’s first leg of the Disruptour, you’re in luck. The nationwide educational experience is back at it this month with three more stops, beginning in Chicago. Attendees will learn two trendy haircuts, social media best practices, photography tips and the latest product information from the nation’s top educators.

Last year’s ‘tour went on an unexpected hiatus due to the pandemic. But the desire to serve communities with an education-first mindset about how to best use tools behind the chair only grew stronger during the break.

“We sat and thought about how we wanted to relaunch in 2021. We wanted to see how we could reach people in a different way,” said Lisa Finucane(@lisafin1), Wahl Pro US Director of Education. “People were looking for a connection, not just to a brand, but to each other.”

To that end, the 2021 Disruptour is demystifying clipper cutting education by breaking down the barrier between the company and communities with a shared experience.

ENERGIZING THE EDUCATION

This year’s setup is different, but excitingly so. Every educator is assigned a table with at most five attendees, allowing everyone to feel a stronger, more intimate connection to the material being presented. And while the core group travels to every stop, each experience promises to be different.

“There are new people that join at each location, so you won’t get the same experience twice if you decide to go to multiple shows,” says Finucane.

For example, attendees will be able to earn Continuing Education credits in Chicago, purchase products in Atlanta, and party with a year-end celebration in Miami.

Attendees will feel at ease no matter which city they travel to. “This is one of the least intimidating experiences anyone will get. You’ll learn something no matter your skill level,” says Finucane.

GETTING BETTER IN EVERY CITY

The Disruptour has been to Austin, Boston and Nashville already, with noticeable progress at every stop.

“(Austin) was a little scary since we were still in the midst of Covid, but once we got there, everyone felt a sense of relief and a lot of healing came from this show,” says Finucane. “The team really started to gel in Boston and everything came together in Nashville. Communities were coming back into the light again after a dark time.”

MORE IS ON THE WAY

Plans are already being made for an evolved 2022 Disruptour.

In the meantime, barbers and stylists should be on the lookout for popups that include information about different tools and the 1919 haircutting system, along with a full-force, one-stop-shop for cutting, styling and finishing.

HOW TO ATTEND

Tickets for the Disruptour are available exclusively online. VIP tickets can be purchased and come with a limited-edition Disruptour Clipper, two mannequin heads and hands-on instruction.

On July 15^th Senate Bill 803 was voted to be amended by The California Assembly Business and Professionals Committee. The barbering industry oppose these amendments, which lead to a protest at the capital.

The amendments were initially brought forward in February 2021, by Senator Richard Roth who represents the following constituencies in California; Riverside, Perris, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Moreno Valley, Norco, Corona, and Eastvale.

The bill severely reduces the number of hours training a student hopeful in barbering, or cosmetology, will have to undergo. The hours would dip from between 1500 to 1600, to 100.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of LaRan Professional Hair Care System, Lorenzo Griffin and his wife, Wanda, are among the frontline line of the opposition. Griffin has been in the industry for 35 years and believes the amended bill will eventually relax the entire cosmetology and barbering industry to a negative standard.

In a petition created to stop the amended bill it states “SB-803 doesn’t make cosmetology education any cheaper, it simply removes a third of the education. Buying a car for 33% off seems like a great deal until you realize that the car you bought is missing a third of its parts.”

You can read more about the petition here.

Due to the regulations in Tennessee, it is required for local barber and cosmetology students to obtain 1,500 hours of training before becoming fully qualified. This has led to certain career-paths in the industry to be financially unobtainable for a lot of people.

Furthermore, most monetary aids have year-long waiting lists, leaving the majority of people having to borrow from the government for their tuition, meaning they start their already challenging career in financial hardship.

However, with help of the ‘Tennessee Promise’, which was launched in 2015, this means there a whole new era of industry hopefuls that this cycle of near (or actual) bankruptcy will not effect.

Since the state launched the initiative, almost half the number of college students taking out government loans have stopped, at about 40%. Student’s debt load also decreased by about 32% on average reports the Journal of Higher Education, which was published in April 2021.

This has led to some capacity issues however, but overall, the ‘Tennessee Promise’ has had a massively positive effect regarding becoming a student locally.

Tennessee has spent around $80 million towards updating renovation public trade schools, which adds to the hope that this may solve the capacity issues in the future.

Chicago Police have stated victims were inside the Creative Salon, located in Lawndale, Chicago, around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday 28th of July, when the gunmen entered and opened fire.

Both the 50-year-old barber and 22-year-old client were shot in the chest, and rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, were both of them succumbed to their injuries and were announced dead.

Among the witnesses were the owner of the shop, other employees, and a mother and child. All staff were working when the incident first happened. Creative Scott, the owner of the shop, said “I tried to save him, man – I did, (he) was definitely not the intended target. It was basically, you know, the individual that was in the chair.”

CCTV captured everything that happened in the thirty seconds it all took place, however the gunman did have their faces covered and no charges have been made as of yet.