Made for those who want to level-up their fading game.

November 16, 2021 (Sterling, IL) – Raising the bar in the ongoing cordless revolution, Wahl Professional is thrilled to announce the release of their latest tool: the 5 Star Cordless Legend.

Improving on the performance of the corded version of the industry favorite, the 5 Star Cordless Legend is the ultimate Fading Clipper. The uniquely designed blade slide coupled with a deep tooth Wedge® blade allows for a wider range in cut lengths which helps create seamless, blended fades. Crunch Blade Technology™ makes a crisp, crunch sound when cutting to help barbers and stylists know when their fade has been perfected.

Also included are eight patented premium cutting guides with metal clips to round out the enhanced cutting experience.

Interested barbers and stylists can purchase at Wahlpro.com for $149.

“We’re answering an industry need with this,” says International Wahl Educator John Carlo Ramos(@johncarlo_newyork).

BETTER BLADES MAKE BETTER BARBERS

Taking center stage is a special blade that gives barbers and stylists the ability to create a wider range in cut lengths, which helps create seamless blended fades.

“For me, it’s the blade slide and the upgraded metal taper lever,” says International Wahl Educator Garland “G-Whiz” Fox (@thisisgwhizwahlclippers). “This is ideal for soft-line fading and clipper-over-comb. I think cosmetologists will really enjoy using this.”

This innovation should be a go-to for hot looks from Euro cuts to modern bob-lengths and cropped styles.

The 5 Star Cordless Legend is the only clipper on the market to feature the Wedge®blade. Engineered for superior cutting and performance, its deeper, longer teeth work perfectly on thick and textured hair for smooth bulk removal.

POWERING THROUGH

Users will notice two more must-have features: A powerful motor and an even more powerful battery.

The 5 Star Cordless Legend won’t get bogged down in wet or dry hair. It features 100 minutes of runtime between charges and it works corded as well – plug it in and keep on cutting. A smart LED flashes when the battery is low so barbers always know its charge level.

“We knocked it out of the park with this one,” says Fox.

And true to Wahl’s commitment to quality, the Cordless Legend is built to provide years of use.

“This is a premium tool. It can last a lifetime with proper maintenance,” says Ramos.

THE PERFECT PAIRINGS

While the 5 Star Cordless Legend can reduce the number of needed tools, it works best in tandem with a select few to elevate the end look.

“I like using this with the Detailer Li and its high-precision T-Blade. It works well for really detail-oriented designs,” says Ramos.

To round out their growing line of cordless products, Wahl also offers a Cordless Clipper Charge Stand, sold separately.

“It’s a godsend,” says Fox. “You never have to worry about how long your battery will last. Your station is cleaner. And the Cordless Legend just looks good sitting there.”

The 5 Star Cordless Legend is now available for purchase at WahlPro.com. For the latest details about its launch, follow Wahl Professional on Instagram (@wahlpro).

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The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is honored to announce the 33rd annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) finalists. NAHA is the most prestigious professional beauty competition in North America and honors the salon industry’s top artists who push the boundaries of skill and artistry.

For the 2022 awards, the men’s haircutting category has changed to the Barber of the Year Award, giving more emphasis on the skillset associated with the trade of barbering.

“The 2022 North American Hairstyling Award finalists showcase excellence, creativity, and technical ability,” shares Nina Daily, PBA’s Executive Director. “Year after year, we continue to be amazed by the level of talent and elevated artistry shown by these artists.”

To win a coveted NAHA award, artists submit their collections, the Barber of the Year Category is just one out of 14 categories. Development of these collections often take months of envisioning, planning, and shooting. Collections are judged anonymously in three rounds by a panel of esteemed hairdressers, makeup artists, educators, and experts–including Serge Normant, Danilo, Sam Villa, Vernon François, Robert Ham, Antoinette Beenders, Kevin Murphy, Michael DeVellis, Kris Sorbie, Errol Douglas, Tabatha Coffey, Robert Lobetta, Tippi Shorter, and more.

The finalists for the Barber of the Year Category are:

Amanda Dassel

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Ammon Carver

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Kenny Duncan

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Navin Ramgoolam

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Tyler Kelbert

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The competition culminates in an industry wide celebration of artistry at the NAHA ceremony where winners are announced on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at the Long Beach Convention Center Terrace Theater in Los Angeles County and streamed live at probeauty.org/naha. The 2022 NAHA ceremony kicks off with a red-carpet reception from 6:00–8:00 p.m. PST, followed by the awards, featuring artistic presentations from Aveda, L’Oréal Professional Products Division USA, 2021 NAHA Hairstylist of the Year Silas Tsang, and Truss Professional, from 8:00-10:30 p.m. PST.

Tickets for the 2022 ceremony are available at probeauty.org/naha, with special pricing for Professional Beauty Association members.

Celebrity Hairstylist Laila Hayani partnered with heritage men’s grooming brand American Crew to style Kit Harington and Dan Levy for the epic Met Gala event!

“Dan’s entire look for the Met Gala is a true statement of art so he decided we needed to take his hair into a direction that complemented and solidified his look as a whole. In order to do so, we decided on a sleek and slicked-back look with an ultra-shine effect. This gave us the opportunity to try something new and to also highlight Dan’s features,” says Laila.

Laila started with clean, wet hair and applied a pea size of the Fiber Grooming Foam as a primer which also added volume. “Dan has naturally curly hair so we blew his hair out straight to achieve the slicked-back hair. This allowed us to manipulate from a straighter texture and avoids too much a of wave once combed back,” says Laila. She then applied a spritz of water to allow the hair to take to gel and to work it into the hair. The hero products for this look are Superglue and the Firm Hold Styling Cream. She mixed the two together and applied a generous amount through the hair to give it the wet look. Once shaped, Laila continued to apply a spritzing of water to continue to comb through it and manipulate the shape before setting the style. She finished by using a diffuser to apply heat and dry the look and to ensure it set into place. Lastly, she spritzed Alternator for shine and to officially set the look. 

Laila noted: “Kit’s hair look was inspired by old Hollywood: classic, polished, sleek yet effortless style, and the goal was to achieve an ultra-sophisticated look.” 

To complement his naturally wavy, shorter hair for Kit’s Met Gala look, Laila started with damp hair and applied the Fiber Grooming Foam mixed with a small amount of the Fiber Cream. She then air dried it and started to manipulate the look by finger-combing the top to create a slight wave. Once nearly dry, She finished with Medium Hold Spray and small amount of the Fiber set. This prevented a strict hold and allowed for a sustainable flexible effect.”

Products used:

Fiber Grooming Foam – Lightweight, fibrous hair foam that provides long-lasting manageable volume with medium hold and natural shine. Works well with medium to longer length hair. Link to Buy: AmericanCrew.com

Fiber Cream A styling cream that combines flexibility with control gives your hair refined texture and a natural shine finish. For medium hold with natural shine. Link to Buy: Ulta.com

Fiber Fiber-like, resinous product helps thicken, texturize and increase fullness to hair. Provides a strong, pliable hold with a matte finish. Works well in shorter hair, 1-3 inches in length. For high hold with low shine. Link to Buy: Amazon.com

Medium Hold Spray Gel   Enriched with Sage, Ginseng, and Quillaja, Medium Hold Spray Gel provides a natural look and feel with medium hold. Excellent for blow-drying and hair of all lengths, this product can be used on damp or dry hair.   Link to Buy: Ulta.com   Firm Hold Styling Cream A moisturizing formula that tames hair and adds style with low shine and a flexible finish. Washes out easily without leaving residue behind. Provides pliable hold with flexible definition and low shine.  Link to Buy: Ulta.com Superglue Create styles never before possible with high hold, high shine and high definition. For extreme hold and shine. Link to Buy: Ulta.com Alternator Provides a flexible style that gives you control of your image all day. Makes re-shapeable hair styling possible with the use of your hands. Provides a natural look with medium hold and medium shine. Link to Buy: Ulta.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!

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.