The Fellowship for British Hairdress Project: Men team leader Simon Shaw took the team to his home of barbering, Wahl HQ for a day of education as well as a tour of the history of the brand from its inception to the current day.
The team were joined by Fellowship Spotlight Award winner Yasmine Hassan from Joe and Co, who joined the team working on mannequin heads learning new techniques with clippers on all lengths of hair.
Member George Smith said: “For the first time ever I did a full haircut with a set of clippers and I loved it! It really opened my eyes that there is so much you can do. To jump back into the traditional barbering techniques was really interesting and I just loved it! Best day of our mentoring year so far!”
Janene Hawkins added: “The day kicked off with an amazing tour of the Wahl heritage, then onto the academy where a lesson on the maintenance of clippers was given. During the afternoon we completed two haircuts the Rocker and a low mushroom fade. Mic Damiano was on hand to give us lots of help where required.”
Roisin Murphy said: “I absolutely loved the day at Wahl headquarters. It was really great to see the history behind the brand. We started with some demos then we recreated the look straight after. Overall, the day was really insightful to learn about the brand and the barbering industry. I felt I’ve come away with new knowledge to using different clippers.”
Yasemin Hassan who joined the team, commented: “Highlight for me was actually seeing the history of Wahl and the innovation. There were three parts to the training, I loved how hands on it was and creating looks with equipment I haven’t used before. One thing for me which I thought was incredible, especially because I love working with long hair, was using a Wahl Clippers to create a long hair look. I loved learning about the different equipment. Simon was great with the demonstration, and I loved creating the long hair look using clippers which is something I definitely want to experiment with a model at Joe and Co!!! It was fun learning new techniques to fading and brushing up on barbering essentials like clipper over comb and clipper over comb.
PROJECT: MEN TEAM LEADER: Simon Shaw
PROJECT: MEN TEAM MEMBERS: Alex Burt – Teddy Edwards Cutting Rooms Emma Simmons – Salon 54 Sophie Fedoriw – Safy B’s George Smith – Toni&Guy Tammy Reynolds – Tammy Reynolds for Hair Leanne Jones – Leanne Jones Hair Studio Janene Hawkins Bush – Sir & Co Barbers Blayre Turnbull – Urban Hair & Beauty Scott Musgrove – Scott Musgrove Hair Ian Young – Pompadour Roisin Murphy – Hairven Salon Group Lucy Melvin – Diamond Appearance
Learn from the Andis International team for inspiration and education to ‘CREATE YOUR WAY’
As a world-leading manufacturer of barbering and grooming tools, Andis’ recent global rebrand has not only repositioned the company across every aspect of its products, culture and value proposition to the industry, and professionals at every stage of their career, it has redefined expectations.
Now, more than simply choosing Andis for its world-class tools, the company provides an unrivalled depth of resource spanning education, support and mentoring. From people entering the profession to the most seasoned professionals, Andis’ offering has been tailored to exceed the needs of every barber, backed with leading-edge tools and accessories.
A key part of Andis’ offering is their global education team and training resources – most notably with the launch of their new virtual education website. Spearheaded by Global Education Manager Angie Perino, some of the industry’s most renowned professionals including International Artistic Team Lead Kevin Luchmun, North American Artistic Team Lead Kenny Duncan and UK Education Team Lead Baldy, are inspiring international barbers with virtual education, stage presentations, international show appearances, creative collections and cutting techniques using Andis tools.
The Andis Creator Stage headlines at Barber Connect
On 12-13 June, Andis takes this interaction to new levels as over 30 Andis educators, ambassadors and speakers descend on the Telford International Conference Centre and take to the main stage at Barber Connect. As one of the industry’s most inspirational gatherings of barbers from the UK and beyond, over 5,000 visitors can expect a never-seen-before ensemble of some of the world’s most creative barbering and men’s grooming talents.
Get set for inspiration + education
With nine segments being showcased over the 2-day event, the Andis team will present an eclectic mix of international trends and cutting techniques. From North American to Australian and UK Trends, to visual presentation of the latest Fluid Vol.3 collection and Andis Freestyle Design, visitors can expect to be immersed in an array of creative content on the Andis Creator Stage. Additional segments include Tom Chapman, founder of the Lions Barber Collective focussing on Mental Health Awareness and Mike Taylor Education talking barber training and apprenticeships.
“We’re flying our amazing team of educators from all corners of the world to Telford to inform, inspire and educate barbers at Barber Connect,” says Angie Perino. “Never before has Andis brought together so many talented barbers together in one place for what’s sure to be a not-to-be-missed experience. We’re leading on education and creativity and, of course, we’ll be showcasing the very latest Andis tools that empower barbers to exceed their creative potential and forge their own creative identity in this amazing industry. We’re so thrilled to be there and can’t wait to see you all!”
Experience Andis in action at Barber Connect at the Telford International Centre on 12-13 June.
Develop your barbering ability, confidence, and knowledge at the Great British Barber Bash one day masterclasses, dates have been announced around the country.
St Austell 19 June Jersey 11 July Belfast 17 July Glasgow 7 August Manchester 14 August Cambridge 21 August Dublin 4 September Cork 5 September Edinburgh 11 September Galway 18 September Aberdeen 2 October Limerick 23 October
Demonstrations by the GBBB brilliant educators in the morning followed by hands-on models in the afternoon. Perfect for barbers and stylists who want to take their barbering to the next level.
The one-day course is for barbers who want to improve their skill set in barbering. (Not suitable for beginners).
You will see two demonstrations in the morning, and in the afternoon work on the model of your choice.
The day will inspire and motivate, you will see the latest techniques both in cutting and styling. All full day attendees will receive a certificate of completion.
Eco warriors Easydry are celebrating an epic week of eco-friendliness! Sustainability has always been at the core of Easydry and this week marks several milestones in this eco mission.
Carbon Footprint – 10 year anniversary!
Almost 20 years ago, Easydry introduced the worlds first compostable, disposable towel product. Then ten years ago, Easydry first measured the carbon footprint of their product. This incredible milestone is definitely a cause for celebration! Easydry, at this time, also looked at the entire life-cycle of their patented disposable towels and measured the carbon footprint.
Easydry’s published their 2011 Environmental Report which included a summary of an independent Life Cycle Analysis which was commissioned by Easydry to compare their eco-friendly, disposable towels with cotton ones. The report includes a comparison of water usage, carbon emissions, the use of toxic chemicals and the use of land (which would be suitable for crop cultivation).
They then compared Easydry to cotton towels and have uncovered the following startling quotations and statistics:
Easydry fibre production uses 10 to 20 times less water than cotton production. Easydry uses approximately 319 litres of water to produce 1kg of fibre whereas 7,000 to 29,000 litres of water are needed to produce 1kg of cotton fibre
There is no scientific evidence to support the belief that cotton is ecologically superior to industrially produced cellulose fibres.
“Cotton has one of the greatest environmental impacts of all agricultural commodities during its processing” according to the WWF.
“Modern man-made cellulose fibres have a clear potential in reducing the environmental impacts over cotton and petrochemical synthetic fibres” according to the University of Utrecht.
Easydry is the first disposable towel company to have a full life-cycle measured Carbon Footprint!
As founder and CEO, Anne Butterly explains:
Anne Butterfly
“When you look at the environmental research on Easydry disposable versus cotton towels, you can clearly see that Easydry is significantly kinder to the environment. It may sound contradictory but a single-use product, in this case, an Easydry disposable towel, has a lower carbon footprint, water, lower electricity usage and less environmental contamination than a reusable cotton towel. Cotton towels require frequent high temperature washes and drying cycles. This consumes huge quantities of water and electricity while releasing chemically contaminated water and microplastics into the environment. Easydry fibres are 100% biodegradable and compostable, whereas cotton towels are often mixed with synthetics and often end up in landfill sites where they take 1000’s of years to fully break down.”
FSC Recertification Audit Passed – 10 years of chain of custody certification!
The second piece of good news for Easydry this week is that they have passed their FSC recertification audit and can now celebrate ten years of being FSC Certified!
FSC Certification means that a company is manufacturing from ethically and sustainably managed forests. It also means that the company does not participate in illegal logging, child labour, forced labour or discrimination.
The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, not for profit, non-government organization that was established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
Easydry has FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) for their product and their entire supply chain. This means that every step of the process has been externally audited and certified. This is a complicated process and is very difficult to achieve. Easydry first achieved this elusive certification ten years ago and, passed their second re-certification audit this week.
Founder and CEO, Anne Butterly explains:
“I saw ten years ago that this coveted external certification was a great way to show that Easydry was focused on sustainability and human rights. This was then and still is a priority for us today! FSC Chain of Custody Certification means that an external body has audited our entire supply chain and has certified us to this standard. We are incredibly proud to have achieved this and retained it for ten years.”
Easydry is the only disposable towel company to have their entire chain of custody certified to this standard. It is incredible to have achieved this, let alone to have held this for ten years!
Industrial Compost, Home Compost and Seedling Certifications!
Easydry towels have always been made with 100% certified composable fibres. However this was not enough for Easydry Founder and CEO Anne Butterly. She continued to push for even more! Easydry has now achieved an exclusive trio of external certificates from global experts TUV Austria to bolster their environmental credentials.
Easydry has now proved that their products are suitable for Industrial Composting, Home Composting and they also achieved the Seedling certification.
Butterly is particularly delighted to announce today that Easydry towels are now certified as suitable for the newest standard – Home Composting. This newly launched standard is certified by the esteemed TUV Austria – a global expert in certification to these and other standards. Butterly explains:
“We have always sought external certification to prove our claims. We know it is crucial for consumers and businesses to trust the brands they buy from. We are so proud to have achieved this trio of certifications from TUV Austria – “Home Composting”, “Industrial Composting” and “Seedling”.
Easydry is the only disposable towel company globally to be certified to these three standards: OK Compost Industrial, Seedling, OK Compost Home!
When it comes to getting ready for the big day, it’s not just the brides who will take several trips to the salon months before, but the grooms too. On the big day men will be wearing the most suave outfit of their life and they will want their hair, along with any facial hair, to compliment this, says Jim Shaw, owner of Toni&Guy, Billericay
With that in mind, in order for their hair and beard to look its very best for the day, men should book in for a few appointments in the months prior to the day to ensure they can discuss and practice the cut and style they would like to have with their hairdresser and ensure they are happy with it. They will also be able to see how the cut looks grown out and see if they like the cut worn best fresh or with it slightly grown in. From this, they will be able to have an idea if they would like their hair cut just before the wedding or if they would like to get it cut a few days-a week before to allow the style to settle.
The same goes for if the clients has any facial hair – they may want to experiment with different cuts/beard styling in the months before the big day to see what look they like best, and what works in harmony with their hair cut and compliments their facial features.
Some men may want to opt for a more natural, effortless look on their wedding day, which enhances their natural hair texture, whereas others may want a more sleek and polished appearance. Discuss with your client what they will be looking for, try some styles on them a couple of months before the day and show them the products you are using. Let them get a feel for the products in their hair and see if they prefer a shiny or matte finish. Spend a good amount of consultation time with your client to ensure you know what they want before you start creating some styles for them.
Polished, precise hairstyles are a firm favourite amongst grooms and for this look, I love to apply a pomade into the hair and then use a blow-dryer to slick the hair back off the face or to one side, giving a sleek and smooth but dramatic finish with height. If a groom does want a lot of height on their big day, they will want to avoid getting too much of their hair cut in the lead up to it and will instead want to opt for trims that will allow their hair to grow whilst still looking healthy.
For those with curlier hair types, who may want to embrace their style on their big day, it’s a great idea to help define the curls and allow them to really look their best. I love to use a curl defining cream or a mousse in the hair, which not only helps define the curls but also gives them body and bounce. Regular trims are a must for those with curly hair to keep the curls looking pristine and free from damage and flyaways.
It’s a good idea to suggest to your male clients getting hair treatments in the lead up to the day in order for their hair to look and feel in the best condition possible. This is particularly important for gents with longer hair who will be more prone to damage and split ends and will want to keep their hair free from frizz.
To keep hair and facial hair looking its best in the lead up to the big day, clients should also ensure they are using the correct products. A scalp treatment is great for ensuring the hair is free from any dead skin cells and a good quality professional shampoo and conditioner are a must to keep hair looking healthy, nourished, smooth and shiny. Men may also want to avoid using heated styling tools where possible to give their hair a break and try to restore the condition as much as possible for a few months in the lead up to the wedding. Instead, experimenting with texturising sprays, pomades and gels is a great choice, and many of these also work to condition the hair at the same time.
For beards, men should always wash their beard with a beard shampoo/wash to keep the hair looking smooth and slick and free from dead skin cells. A beard serum is also beneficial to keep the beard moisturised, soft and to tame any unruly hairs, whilst also nourishing the skin underneath.
For grooms it’s important that they have a fabulous experience in the salon and feel special in the lead up to their wedding. On the day of their appointment for their wedding cut and style and grooming services, offer them additional treatments to give them the complete pamper experience, such as a manicure or a facial that will have them leaving the salon looking and feeling their best. Ensure their face is free from any unwanted hairs (nose, ears) and that the client is 100% happy with their finished look upon leaving the salon.
The latest addition to the OSMO IKON Blonde Elevation family is the new Yellow Colour Additive. Created after responding to customer demand, OSMO IKON Blonde Elevation range allows the creation of a bespoke blonde colour service for clients, regardless of their individual hair demands and needs. This multi-use, neutralising solution is suitable for use with any lightening formula with no compromise on development time. Colourists can create a quick solution and get excellent results, which is perfect for saving time in busy salons.
The Blonde Elevation collection currently includes Premium Violet Lightening Powder with Bond Builder, Freehand Clay Additive with Kaolin Clay, the Colour Additive Starter Kit, and Colour Additives in Blue, Green, Red and Violet to help counteract brassy tones delivering the perfect super-clean base pre colour application.
The new OSMO IKON BLONDE ELEVATION YELLOW COLOUR ADDITIVE works to:
Neutralise violet undertones
Is perfect for use as a pre-pig tool on blondes to replace the missing colour pigments of the desired target level
Is designed to be mixed with the existing 4 Colour Additive shades to create the perfect colour palette – e.g., Yellow + Red = Orange
Can be added to bleach with a low volume of peroxide for a beautiful sun-kissed blonde result
Can be added to a leave-in conditioner such as Wonder 10, asa top-up colour treatment or to help mask violet tones in blonde shades
Lesley Stitt, OSMO Global Educator, explains; “Blonde Elevation is about creating bespoke blonde techniques for your client. The ColourAdditives are cocktailed with your lightening powder and developer to help develop the tonal effect you want. With this new Yellow Additive, you now have all the primary colours so can create a rainbow of additives to tackle any colour correction and neutralise any colour you come across. As colourists we all know how hard it is to shift blue from a colour correction but if you combine the new Yellow Additive with the Red Additive to create orange, this will ensure a clean base for your blonde colour service.”
Business consultant Phil Jackson from Build Your Salon, offers these tips for managing your money within the salon.
We are living in turbulent times and even world events occurring far from home are having an impact on your business. Energy prices are on the rise and it won’t be long before our manufacturers have to pass increased costs along to our salons.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So much seems outside of your control. There are, however, a few simple moves you could be making to protect your business and ensure you remain profitable.
Firstly, review your prices. I’m hoping you do this regularly anyway, but I’ve heard of a few salons that are delaying their pricing review ‘until things settle down’. To be blunt, things won’t settle down any time soon and you run the risk of running on reduced profit in the meantime. Holding out to see what your suppliers are doing could mean delays of weeks or even months. Far better to decide your prices on the information you have now and make an educated guess on what might happen in the next couple of months. Then implement any changes sooner rather than later.
Price reviews can cause a little upset with your customers (though few will expect your prices to remain the same, particularly in the current climate). You can take some of the sting out of the increases and ensure your prices are set where they should be by reviewing prices more frequently. Six-monthly price reviews tend to mean smaller increases and some services may not need reviewing at all. In times of drastic change don’t be afraid to increase sooner than that. I am certain your customers would rather that than see you operate at a loss or even have to close your doors for good.
Changing prices is far easier if you have made the decision to finally ditch physical price cards. Make your pricing available online or alternatively, if you have something you want to physically give your customers, exclude the prices and instead provide them with a link or QR code where the latest prices can be accessed. That means that changing your prices is a simple two-minute job rather than paying hundreds of pounds for a print run of price cards. It’s also friendlier to the environment than binning a box of unused cards.
Encourage online bookings. Not only does it mean you can take bookings 24/7, it means your customers are shown the latest, up-to-date prices at the point of booking too. It will never suit everyone but it can make a huge difference to your business, particularly if you implement a booking fee to reduce no-shows.
Finally, take the opportunity to review your costs. Some increases are unavoidable but shop around as much as you can for utilities and other supplies. Even 1% of costs saved can make a massive difference to your profits over a year. Sadly, we can’t exclude wages from this review. If you set your commission to an affordable level a few years ago but your fixed costs have increased, either your variable costs (including commission) will need to reduce or you are going to have to reduce your profit margin. Remember to take legal advice before making changes to contracts or pay.
There is currently an affection for small businesses and salons that means your customers are less price sensitive. The best way to weather a financial storm is to remain nimble, adapt quickly and keep a firm grip on those things you can control.
Mick Phipps, host and co-founder of THE PODBARBER’S WELLBEING PROJECT podcast is channelling his wisdom and energy into a project that will revolutionise school-age mental healthcare forever.
Mick is working with a local high school to create a safe space where children can share their feelings with appropriate adults, without judgement.
Mick says, “This was an opportunity to make a difference in my own community. This is the school that I went to and the school my children will attend, and I knew that my platform with the Podbarber Podcast and my place in the community as a barbershop owner could make an impact. I’ve raised over £20,000 in funds and over £10,000 in donated time from tradespeople to make this amazing space within the school – a place where children can talk openly about their feelings. It’s a mental health first aid unit for the student body and the first of its kind in the country.
The Pandemic has left our youth with huge mental health challenges, and they aren’t being properly addressed. This light, bright space is safe and secure and will serve as a place where children can sit with their feelings in a healthy way, rather than become isolated and end up feeling worse.”
Mick is on a mission to arm our youth with the emotional literacy they need to build mental resilience and protect themselves as they grow. He has conducted extensive research and spoken with teachers and mental health professionals to design the space. At a time when government funding is scarce and when 1 in 6 children aged 6-16 have a diagnosed mental health issue, this project will make a real difference.
Mick adds, “We are creating a place where, in their moment of crisis, children will have the confidence to know they can be supported by a caregiver in privacy and comfort. Conversation really is the cure.”
“Turn Up the Heat – a special night of inspiration for salons, hairdressers and barbers – in association with Wahl”
Join Booksy in Bristol for the hottest ticket of the summer with a live masterclass from two of the UK’s leading Barber and hairdresser, Alan Beak and Pedro Plastic, plus lots of exclusive content and entertainment.
It’s time to turn up the heat and step into action so the summer season doesn’t slow you down. Booksy, in partnership with Wahl, invite you to join us for a special night of inspiration, education and entertainment. Here’s what you can expect
A masterclass in hairdressing and barbering from Alan Beak and Pedro Plastic
A presentation from Alice McNails on how to maximise brand partnerships
Access to exclusive offers and incentives from Booksy and Whal
A 3-course dinner and drinks plus entertainment
This event is absolutely FREE to attend for industry professionals and will fill out pretty quickly so register today to guarantee your seat.
Venue: Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel Address: Broad St, Bristol BS1 2EL Date: Monday 20 June 2022 Time: 7pm – 10pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Following its 75th anniversary, the Fellowship for British Hairdressing has unveiled its plans for the next 75 years to come – with new initiatives, a new direction and new faces to lead it into the future.
With President Robert Eaton at the helm, the Fellowship is embracing the diversity of the industry, the challenges it faces and the opportunities available with the launch of its Executive Board, Fellowship members who have come together to share ideas, inspirations and determination to take the British hairdressing industry to new levels. Each member not only brings a wealth of experience, but will also be responsible for driving the Fellowship forward.
Robert explains: “The launch of our dedicated Executive Board is about recognising the great work that has already been done, celebrating our heritage and driving the Fellowship forward in a fresh and modern way.”
The Executive Board members are:
Robert Eaton, President
Ashleigh Hodges, Vice President
Andreas Stavrou, Chair
Michelle Griffin, Vice Chair
Karoliina Saunders, Chancellor
Colin McAndrew, Head of Business
Nick Irwin, Head of Creative
Simon Shaw, Head of Education
Ken Picton, Head of Finance
Barry Stephens, CEO
Rob added: “Hairdressing is an exciting career and our Executive Board want to inspire people both new to the industry and those who have worked in the industry for many years. We will be collaborating and bringing the industry together from all corners of the UK and inspiring, educating and motivating salon owners, salon stylists, freelance independent stylists and barbers, as well as our product houses and our press. Working together we want to re-energise the next generation and make them realise what a diverse, inclusive and exciting industry this really is.”
