Kacie Nguyen, founder of Sunkissed Salon in San Jose, California was named the Salon & Spa Grand Prize Winner and Calen Koenig, owner of Electric Barbering in Williams, Arizona was named the Barber Grand Prize Winner. The Takara Turns 100 Contest was announced in conjunction with the celebration of Takara Belmont’s 100^th Anniversary. Participants were asked to share their dreams, experiences, and success stories for an opportunity to take home a grand prize package.

“Our team received many incredible submissions in the Takara Turns 100 Contest from a lot of amazing beauty and barber professionals around the nation,” said Kohei Fujimoto, COO at Takara Belmont USA, Inc. “It is truly an honor to celebrate our customers and their stories.”

“We couldn’t be more grateful or proud to be a part of every one of their journeys,” said Koji Orita, Executive Vice President of Takara Belmont USA, Inc. “It’s because of them and their enthusiasm for their profession, industry and for our products, that we can celebrate over 100 years of business.”
Sunkissed Salon, located in San Jose, California, values not only their client’s lush locks, but their client’s time and overall salon experience as well. Their mission is to provide the best experience they can, helping their clients achieve their beauty goals.

“When I started Sunkissed salon, I wanted to make sure our salon met every high-end expectation…so of course, I had to go with the best, which is Takara Belmont. Our chairs, stations, shampoo bowls & rollerballs are all Takara Belmont”, said Kacie Nguyen, Founder of Sunkissed Salon.

In 2016, Kacie Nguyen purchased her first commercial unit, a fresh build with nothing inside. Through hard work and dedication, the empty shell was transformed into the thriving salon that it is today.

“I’ve worked hard to be able to open my own salon. It’s basically my second home therefore I only want what’s best”, said Kacie.

Sunkissed, featuring dark hardwood floors, tall brick walls and white subway tile is a small slice of the Big Apple in sunny California. Whether a client is getting shampooed in a relaxing RS Luxis shampoo unit, taking a selfie of their new ‘do on the tan leather couch in the reception area, or helping themselves to coffee and a snack in the kitchenette, this salon makes any guest feel right at home.

Electric Barbering is a two-chair shop, established in an old courthouse building, located in a historic Arizona town with proximity to the Grand Canyon and Route 66. Their goal is to create an atmosphere where clients will enjoy the haircut experience and depart looking forward to their next appointment.

Calen Koenig, founder and owner of Electric Barbering, spent many years in the construction industry. He found his passion for barbering later in life after being laid off as a HVAC technician. While unemployed, a friend told him about a barbershop. This barbershop changed Calen’s life, inspiring him to work in an industry that made a positive influence on people’s everyday lives. After attending barber school, he spent 7 years working through different shops before returning to his hometown. Life came full circle when he was handed the keys to a space that held memories of many life milestones including his own high school graduation. Calen transformed this space into the town’s first barbershop. His ability to build a unique and memorable brand with a shop design that features two vintage 225 Belmont chairs and a collection of western cowboy and 70’s motorcycle décor, has turned Electric Barbering into more than a shop, but a destination.

“I want to live simple and provide a quality space for people and enjoy my time. The [225 Belmont] chairs get much praise because they don’t ask for attention, but they are too interesting to ignore and that’s the type of space I hope I’ve created,” said Calen.

For more information about the winners and their stories or to view images of their salons and shops, click here. The Takara Turns 100 Grand Prize Winners, Runner-ups, and Honorees can be found on Takara Belmont’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

Release boasts a stronger motor, cooler blades, and an eye-catching color.

Style or substance? Flash or function?

Proof that cutting tools can have it all, Wahl Professional introduces the next generation of the world’s most popular professional clipper.

The new 5 Star Gold Cordless Magic Clip® has everything you love about the Magic Clip® – blades that blend hair seamlessly and an ultra-lightweight feel that’s comfortable to hold all day. Plus, features that take it to the next level, including a more powerful motor, blades that stay cooler thanks to new titanium and DLC coatings, plus a sleek new gold finish that’s complimented by an included matching premium, weighted charge stand and a full set of premium cutting guides with metal clips.

“There’s nothing else like this on the market,” says Wahl Professional Educator Garland “G-Whiz” Fox (@thisisgwhizwahlclippers). “The way it cuts. The way it looks. The way it feels in your hand.”

Power Meets Pizazz

You can’t help but stare at how these clippers look in the light. And barbers and stylists who use them can’t help but notice the difference.

The stronger motor cuts through thick, wet, and textured hair easier than ever, and yet the new blade surface stays cooler than ever.

“These titanium and DLC coatings reduce the friction of the blades’ surface,” said Fox. “So, even though the blades are rubbing together faster, they stay cool.”

These DLC blades also stay sharper longer and resist corrosion, all while barely making a sound.

“Smooth and silent,” says Fox. “It’s a cutting experience on a different level.”

Full Package

The Wahl 5 Star Gold Cordless Magic Clip comes with:

• Lightweight, ergonomic design that’s comfortable to hold all day
• Patented stagger-tooth™ blades with titanium and DLC coatings
• Matching gold and black premium, weighted charging stand
• 8 patented premium cutting guides with metal clips
• Long-lasting, lithium-ion battery
• New gold color

Barbers and stylists who have the golden touch—and want a clipper to match—can purchase the 5 Star Gold Cordless Magic Clip beginning August 15^th for $229 at wahlpro.com or by visiting their local distributor.

Two years ago today, shops across the United States begun to reopen after a lengthy lockdown due to the Pandemic, BarberEVO worked with Gillette on keeping your clients, your staff, and yourselves safe.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) can be a major investment and Gillette wanted to do its part for the barber community by providing equipment that helped better protect those of you who were just getting back at work, along with your valued clients.

To help keep the barber community safe as shops were reopening, BarberEVO teamed up with Gillette to donate 20,000 protective face shields to barbers across the United States.

This was part of a larger relief effort to support workers, relief agencies and communities on the front lines of the pandemic. To date, Gillette has produced and donated more than 300,000 face shields for health care workers in response to the needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lots of barbers across the US received their face shields and sent out their gratitude online:

“Shoutout to @Gillette for sponsoring our sweet new face shields! Shaves and facials have never been safer!”

Prodigy Salon// @prodigysalon

“The Gillette face shields are great…Our clients love them and it gives them peace of mind to come in the shop to get a haircut – thank you!”

Marcus Williams// Marc Republic, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“#Salute to BarberEVO & Gillette for donating these face shields to barbers!”

Sipp the Surgeon// The Art of Barbering, Grand Prairie, Texas.

“The face shields help me out so much by protecting my clients and I from spreading anything around. Knowing I’m protected allows me to be at peace when cutting, I’m not so worried about the virus and I can focus on the haircut and taking care of my clients.”

Josue Morales// Sway Styles, Detroit, Michigan.

“We love the new Gillette face shields! They’re super light and comfortable. Not only are they providing important extra protection for all the barbers, but our clients also appreciate them because it shows we’re taking their safety seriously as well.”

Erik Zaiatz// Bostonian Barbershop, Boston, Massachusetts.

Denman’s annual Stage Star UK & Ireland 2022 Competition has now launched and the search is on for the newest exciting hair platform artist. The competition is now in its seventh year and welcomes hair professionals seeking to boost their careers, build their profiles and find their chance to shine. It’s the perfect competition for stylists that stand out from the crowd, have the passion and skill to make an impact but have been waiting for their opportunity to share their creative vision and techniques in front of a live audience.

The winner will receive:

-A shoot with award winning photographer Des Murray.

-A year of education and creative guidance from world leading academy Allilon plus one-to-one sessions with Denman Ambassadors!

-The opportunity to work with the Denman team on their creative shoots, attend prestigious industry events and gala dinners, work on product development and of course receive a comprehensive set of all Denman products and tools!

The four shortlisted finalists will get the chance to showcase their skills live on the Main Stage at this year’s Salon International in October in front of a panel of industry experts and a packed live audience. The finalists will need to demonstrate the preparation, skills, stage presence, creativity and the Denman product knowledge to warrant being crowned Denman Stage Star 2022. PLUS this year the competition is global as our UK finalists will be joined on stage by the STAGE STAR USA winner.

James Forte winner of last year’s competition says “Since I’ve won Stage Star my career has skyrocketed. I have had VIP access to prestigious industry events, attended multiple photo shoots, and received fantastic mentoring and training. My shoot with Des Murray has also finalised in the Newcomer of the year category of the British Hairdressing Awards! Denman has taken me under their wing and taken amazing care of me. I couldn’t recommend the competition highly enough. Just give it a shot!”

How to enter?

Entering Denman Stage Star 2022 is simple and can be done online using your laptop, tablet or smart phone.

Enter now with three easy steps:
1. Send Denman your social media links
2. Create a 2-minute video explaining why you should be the next Stage Star Winner.

Optional:
3. Send Denman your portfolio or website if you would like to provide additional examples of your work

STAGE STAR closes on August 26th!

Send all entries to stagestar@denmanbrush.com.

The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW.

Get your copy here!

STYLING SUMMER

The latest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW! This issue is headed up by Barbero Bengie who is front and center of this action-packed 104-page, beautifully presented issue.

Freestyle king Bengie talks about his work with Caliber and why the relationship with the brand has been an enriching experience for him and his career.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

SUMMER

Summer is the time to switch up the cuts and we have a great range of summer trend suggestions that will keep you on point during the summer months. It looks like the crop is standing the test of time and we see what products are the summer heroes.

TEXTURED HAIR

Afro textured hair needs specialized skills to product amazing results and Luster’s SCurl take us through their recommendations to keep afro hair in pristine condition. We also hear from Tyrik Jackson about the benefits of having the skills to cater for any hair type that sits in your chair. Also talking texture, Ivan Zoot gives his thoughts on the appropriate tools to use to help make textured hair behave. Also talking texture is @drizzyxgroomer who has taken his afro textured hair onto the next level.

EDUCATION

Education counts, so says every top barber in the country. It’s the way to make your name in this industry. We had a great talk with the CT Barber Expo educator of the year Danni Avila who has taken his education online for the Hispanic community with ground-breaking success. Also discussing his thoughts on how best to educate the barbershop team is Joe Agnello from City Image Barbers and international educator Kenny Duncan shares how he adapts his education techniques when he is educating from the stage.

We also speak to Allison Cuts, who has recently trained up in SMP to see how that has changed her career and we have a close look at Wahl’s education offering, as well as the in-depth education system that Johnny B’s Haircare offers to its potential ambassadors.

FURNITURE

Barbershop furniture sets the tone of your shop, and we have a great range of choices and options to look over. But first we talk to Rob Hammer who has been capturing the barbershops of yesteryear in his outstanding book ‘The Barbershops of America’ and he has some thoughts on how furniture changes the dynamic. We talk to several barbershops, a couple of them, Honest Barber and Spanky’s, have very distinctive styles, and they tell us what works for their shop ethos.

We hope you enjoy this issue! You can order your print copy here. 

Industry Leaders Join Forces Through Sortis Holdings to Elevate, Empower, and Expand the Barbering Workforce

Fellow Barber, a New York-born chain of elevated barbershops, today announced an agreement with Sortis Holdings, Inc. (OTC: SOHI) (“Sortis”) that will merge the grooming company with Seattle’s iconic Rudy’s Barbershop (“Rudy’s”). This merger will elevate the barbering industry and empower its combined workforce. It also aligns Fellow Barber with original lifestyle brands with purpose and impact. The Sortis team is building a platform that enables sustainable growth, cultural equity, and scalable innovations for brands with things to say. The goal is to unite consumer brands with a strong point-of-view and unique brand identities, a passionate customer base and a deep commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).

With the market for upscale men’s grooming growing across the country, the merger with Rudy’s is a natural fit. Behind Rudy’s is Sortis Holdings, a Portland, Oregon-based platform company enabling highly scalable, experiential lifestyle brands to accelerate growth and impact. Sortis acquired Rudy’s out of bankruptcy in 2020, bringing back the brands co-founders to return the DNA that makes the Rudy’s experience so unique. Despite being forced to close its doors during the onset of COVID-19, Fellow Barber prevailed and both brands are now uniquely positioned for growth as they remain largely unaffected by the residual effects of the pandemic such as supply chain delays, inflation, and employee retention.

“Rudy’s Barbershops has always been an inspiration to me,” said Sam Buffa, CEO & Founder of Fellow Barber. “We recently had an opportunity to purchase a few of the former Rudy’s locations in LA, which was a dream. Now, we will be able to operate side-by-side for a common goal – bettering the industry for our skilled barbers and spreading the barbershop culture to even more excited clientele, especially as the men’s grooming market continues to grow rapidly.”

As part of the merger, Buffa will lead both Fellow Barber and Rudy’s Barbershops. His 15-plus years of experience in the industry has been spent finding solutions to better the barbering industry and bring back the esteem it once held by way of a barber-first approach. Those experiences position him well to partner with Ryan Suddendorf, who will become the VP and COO of Barbershops, to guide both brands through their next stage of growth.

“This merger was a natural fit for two iconic brands,” said Paul Brenneke, Executive Chairman of Sortis. “The opportunity for growth in this industry will be driven by these brands’ consumer and barber-first approach. We are well positioned to leverage capabilities, specifically digital, to expand consumer reach and bring new barbers into the industry.”

“When Alex, David, and I founded Rudy’s, we worked to build an inclusive space that focused on connection, care and community,” said co-founder Wade Weigel. “That simple mission is at the core of barbershops, and we’ve long admired Fellow Barber for taking this charge to heart. We’re excited to build on these shared values as we continue to grow under a united sense of purpose.”

While Fellow Barber and Rudy’s will continue operating as separate brands, the merger provides a common infrastructure that provides access to capital, real estate strategy expertise, creative and operational talent, and cutting-edge digital capabilities. Education is also a primary focus for Fellow Barber and Rudy’s, which plans to expand its existing apprenticeship program with the launch of a barbering academy that brings hands-on education to licensed, professional stylists and barbers from all over the country.

Both Fellow Barber and Rudy’s will continue to explore expansion opportunities in their respective regions with Fellow opening three new locations in New York City this year, which includes their recently opened flagship in Hudson Yards. Similarly, after the recent opening of their Downtown Beaverton, OR location in June, Rudy’s also is set to launch two additional locations in 2022 and early 2023 in Totem Lake, WA and Cedar Hills Crossing in Oregon.

About Fellow Barber
Founded by Sam Buffa and William Tigertt in 2006, Fellow Barber is committed to elevating the craft of barbering. Often credited for the revival of the time-honored barbershop traditions, Fellow Barber’s expertly trained barbers provide classic cuts and straight razor shaves to a discerning clientele who seek a hassle-free, yet high-quality experience without the pretensions of a salon. By leading the barbershop renaissance, Fellow Barber has spawned a new barbering subculture, raised the overall barbering wage nationwide, and created new jobs.

Since opening its first shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Fellow Barber has independently expanded to 11 locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco – all of which have a unique aesthetic inspired by the diversity of the neighborhood and clientele. The brand also developed its own line of expertly crafted, professional quality grooming products, which is carried in select barbershops and retailers, and online at FellowBarber.com, SAKS.com, Amazon.com, and Nordstrom.com.

About Rudy’s Barbershops
Since its founding in 1993, Rudy’s Barbershop has been the authority on effortless style, combining self-care with culture. They pioneered the modern barbershop movement and redefined a new generation of beauty and grooming, starting with one location in the grungy heart of Seattle and expanding down to PDX, NYC, ATL and PHX. Rudy’s now operates 31 locations in five states and has a line of grooming products sold at Rudy’s, online and through select retailers nationwide.

About Sortis Holdings, Inc.
Sortis Holdings, Inc. (OTC: SOHI) is a collection of brands that combine creative vision with business acumen. Sortis intends to power its brands across hotel & lodging, coffee, food & beverage, and beauty & wellness to drive culture forward, uniting purpose and profit to thoughtfully scale its companies and offer exceptional experiences to its customers. To learn more about Sortis, please visit sortisholdings.com.

With people being the greatest strength and resource, John Paul Mitchell Systems® (JPMS) is pleased to announce the appointment of globally renowned professional educator Stephen Moody as Artistic Director.

In his new role, Stephen joins fellow Artistic Directors Robert Cromeans, Colin Caruso, Paula Peralta, John Mosley, and Editorial Director Noogie Thai in developing seasonal trend reports and crafting hairdressing curricula. He will lead the development of innovative education programming for a new Paul Mitchell Professional Academy in Santa Monica, CA. 

“With our company’s commitment to education, I am thrilled to welcome Stephen to John Paul Mitchell Systems. As one of the world’s most accomplished educators, Stephen will help our salon partners to further elevate their craft and success as salon professionals,” says Angus Mitchell, JPMS Co-owner and Artistic Director of Education.

As the exclusive distributor of Paul Mitchell in the UK, Salon Success share their excitement on the news:

“Education has always been at the heart of Sally Salon Services supporting our hairdressing community. As  the sole distributor for Paul Mitchell in the UK,  Stephen Moody joining Paul Mitchell as Artistic Director is such exciting news for us all. Stephen’s illustrious career has been focused on educating hairdressers globally and we look forward to working closely with him in the future.” Jeremy Inns, Senior Director, Full Service Sales – Sally Europe

A 30-plus-year veteran of the Sassoon organization, Stephen has developed and managed the Sassoon Academies throughout the world. His role included leading the Vidal Sassoon artistic team, supporting product development, hosting virtual and live education, training educators, and developing seasonal trends for photo and video shoots.

For the past nine years, Stephen has served as Global Education Dean for a leading professional brand. He has developed revolutionary education to arm salon professionals with the intellectual and creative tools to increase their earning potential. During the pandemic, Stephen pivoted to the digital and virtual space, and hosted 200+ hands-on seminars throughout the world.

Stephen holds many titles and awards, including 2021 NAHA Haircutter of the Year. He was also a finalist for NAHA 2021 Educator of the Year, and he will soon receive the coveted Intercoiffure Mondial Knight Award in Paris.

A haircutter and career educator, Stephen says, “I am thrilled to join JPMS, a company whose heritage and commitment is fully aligned with mine—dedicated to helping hairdressers excel in their craft and enjoy a highly successful career.” According to Jason Yates, President of JPMS, “Bringing Stephen on board, with his globally recognized name, reputation and strength in educating, reinforces our commitment of support to the professional salon community. As a fellow hairdresser and educator, I have known Stephen to always be relatable, approachable, and full of fresh ideas. He is a perfect cultural fit for JPMS, and we could not be happier to have him in a leadership role with our artistic team.”

…and get discovered thanks to Booksy

Singing along with famous musicians and head banging to guitar solos are part of what makes being in the crowd of a music festival so exhilarating. Now, imagine being backstage, not as a fan, but as a beauty professional responsible for those artist’s head turning hairstyles on stage. You can win chance to style some of the country’s most popular musicians through Booksy’s Get Discovered Backstage contest and make this dream a reality.

Booksy, the leader in booking and business technology for the beauty industry, has partnered with Idle Hand Collective (@idlehandcollective), a group of traveling barbers and hairstylists who provide complimentary haircuts to top performers and artists at music festivals around the world. Idle Hand Collective understands how difficult it can be for touring artists to get a show-stopping haircut or style, so they have spent a combined 30+ years on the road helping performers and other professionals look and feel their best before their gigs.

Booksy and Idle Hand Collective have joined forces to create this once in a lifetime contest for beauty professionals. Imagine the opportunity to cut and style hair for some of the country’s top music artists and having the chance to Get Discovered Backstage! Barbers, stylists, braiders, and nail artists have a chance to win a unique opportunity to showcase their talents backstage at major music festivals across the country like Riot Fest, Furnace Fest, and EDC Orlando from September to December 2022.

This contest supports Booksy’s “Get Discovered” campaign which launched in early 2022. Thanks to this contest, beauty pros now have the opportunity to Get Discovered Backstage by well-known performers and share their work just like they can get discovered by new clients on Booksy’s marketplace.

Booksy providers from across the country can enter to win the opportunity to join Idle Hands Collective and a current Booksy Ambassador this summer at one of many well-known music festivals all around the US and provide service to artists preforming at the event.

This talent-based contest officially kicks off on July 11^th, 2022 and will run through November 2022. Many beauty pros will win the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work on nationally acclaimed artists at one of over 20 multiple-day music festivals. This is YOUR chance to shine.

To enter this contest, visit www.booksy.com/blog/us/get-discovered-backstage/. Booksy providers must meet these three eligibility requirements:

1. Must have an active Booksy account
2. Have at least 10 reviews on your profile
3. Have cumulative profile review rating of at least a 4.8 or above

Category-specific winners will be selected on a rolling weekly basis beginning in August, with the first participating festival in September. Booksy Ambassadors will be on hand and act as a mentor to the winners. Winners will also be able to experience exclusive one-on-one education, as well as learn and ask questions about the industry.

An opportunity to create the look of your favorite artists that have been on the top of your playlists does not come around often, so act fast and enter now.

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app or visit Booksy.com/biz to learn more.

On Sunday, June 26^th,  amongst the hustle and bustle of the ISSE2022 show floor, stood 4 beauty entrepreneurs ready to make their pitch for a shot at $10,000 to take their business dreams to the next level.

WorthUp Alliance founders Ted Gibson and Jason Backe were inspired to establish the program based on their own careers as beauty entrepreneurs. As celebrity stylists, salon owners, and product innovators, they have seen and done it all! Worth Up is uniting a coalition of change agents, dream makers and expert advisors like Ted and Jason who are committed to nurturing and empowering emerging entrepreneurs through education, business coaching, mentoring, networking and start-up capital grants.  The Dream Capital program consists of a mentorship period where finalists meet for weekly sessions with Ted, Jason and guest mentors leading up to a business pitch where the winners are determined. This season’s guest mentors were Zan Ray and Tom Collins from Global Beauty Business Academy and Jenny Strebe, founder of Aiir Professional.

At the conclusion of the mentorship season, finalists of the grant competition traveled to Long Beach to present their business proposals in person to a panel of industry heavy hitters. This season’s judges included Founders Ted Gibson and Jason Backe along with:

Matty Conrad – Barber, Educator, and Founder of Victory Brand Products

Janine Jarman – Curl Cult Founder, Hairroin Salon Owner, Educator and BCL Mentor

Nina Tulio – Salon Business Educator, Former Salon Owner, BCL Mentor and OligoPro Ambassador

Dionne Phillips – Luxury Lash Expert, Pioneer of Lash Extensions, Educator, Esthetician and Salon Owner

As each finalist made their pitch, the judges asked probing questions about the beauty pro’s plans, finances, and vision for their business while scoring against a standardized rubric. After deliberations, the Dream Capital Grants were allocated awarding $10,000 to Erika Martin-Ware, $5,000 each to Misha Mills and Michelle Robertson, and $3,000 to Ebony Smith. The finalists were awarded live on the main stage Sunday afternoon, followed by a celebratory toast hosted by Beauty Changes Lives. 

Beauty Changes Lives is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and equipping the next generation of beauty professionals by providing valuable resources, scholarships, education, and mentorship opportunities. In a time when it’s never been more important to support the industry, all proceeds raised from the Beauty Changes Lives Experience will go to changing the lives of beauty professionals. In 2021, the organization raised over $700k in scholarships, and has awarded over 700 scholarships since it’s founding. Beauty Changes Lives is shaping the future of the industry.

To learn more about Worth Up Alliance please visit https://beautychangeslives.org/worth-up-alliance/.

Meet the winners of the Spring 2022 Dream Capital Grants here: https://beautychangeslives.org/dream-capital/

On Monday, June 27, 2022 at Medinah Country Club, Andis was a featured hole partner at the outing where funds benefitted Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  In just one day, over $1.2 million was raised and will go directly to the hospital.

As well as raising an incredible amount for charity, celebrities in attendance received Andis products including: the At Home inCRED Clipper, inEDGE Trimmer, reSURGE professional shaver, and the inLINER Corded Trimmer. 

Celebrity guests included: Kerry Wood, John Brotherton, Roger Clemens, Jim McMahon, Fred McGriff, Kenny Lofton, Kevin Butler, James “Big Cat” Williams, Brian McCaskey, Dan Pasqua, among many others.