Stewart Roberts founder of Haircuts4Homeless is appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2022.
Back in November 2014, Stewart was volunteering for the Salvation Army and decided to bring his scissors along. Afterwards, he posted some photos on Facebook and received an overwhelming response. Just like that, Haircuts4Homeless was born.
Haircuts4Homeless, is a charity where skilled hairdressers give their time to provide haircuts for homeless people in the UK.
Today, Haircuts4Homeless is a registered charity with 67 projects across theUK & Ireland with 600 volunteer hairdressers and has given over 40,000 haircuts.
“Whatever the causes of an individual’s homelessness, the consequences can be brutal. Homelessness damages people’s capability: they lose skills; they can’t think think about employment while worrying about housing; their health becomes impaired due to being homeless. It knocks their resilience, self-esteem and self-confidence.”
“There is something very personal about cutting someone’s hair that can be both enjoyable and therapeutic which is something that many homeless people rarely get. Homeless people have many challenges to face, one of them often being low self-esteem. A haircut can have a great effect on someone, giving them a real boost. It’s often way down on a homeless person’s priorities so this service which for most is a luxury proves to be very popular.” Stewart Roberts, founder.
One of people’s basic rights is for them to feel good about themselves and this service can give that to people. It may be “just a haircut”, but it’s the kindness shown that makes a homeless person know that people really care.
“It was such an honour to receive this MBE and a real highlight after two challenging years. I have been working with the homeless for over seven years and no one really knows how much it completes me.
“Having battled with addiction for many years it has given me an empathy and understanding that enables me to make a connection with our guests and quickly form a trust that is essential in what we do.
“It has not been an easy road with covid and challenges to secure funding; however, this award is in recognition of our army of volunteers and guests,” said Stewart Roberts MBE.
The team at Leaf Scissors have produced some simple exercises and advice on how to start making goals in 2022.
The pandemic and its consequent restrictions plunged our industry into the most difficult and turbulent period many of us have ever experienced. And while we may now be adjusting to the ‘new normal’ and life post-Covid, the repeated disruption, uncertainty and disappointment of the last two years has taken its toll – financially and emotionally. For many, making long term plans still feels bold and ambitious – we’ve become so accustomed to rescheduling appointments, holidays and special occasions, that setting goals for the future seems risky.
Feeling demotivated and unfocused can have a knock-on effect in all areas of your life and if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that mental health needs to be a priority. To look after others adequately – your clients and colleagues, for example – you need to first look after yourself.
With this in mind, the team behind Leaf Scissors and Leaf Academy have devised five easy tips to help visualise your future and realise your goals. Whether you’re a salon-based stylist needing motivation, a manager looking to re-energise your team or a freelancer keen to get your mojo back, these simple exercises are designed to create a positive mindset and fuel your ambition for a more successful and productive you, giving you the tools to start the new year with your best foot forward.
1. Switch off
Spend some time by yourself; choose a place that feels peaceful with no distractions. Turn off your phone and think about your life and your goals. Disregard what anyone else’s opinion might be – the process is a personal journey for you. What do YOU want from life? What do YOU want to achieve in your career?
2. Use visual aids
Look for imagery or videos that summarise your goals. Try Pinterest, Google or Instagram, or choose magazines and books that represent the core of a goal for you. Hairdressers are creative artists and having visual cues allows you to really focus on what you want to achieve.
3. Ask yourself four key questions:
• What changes do you want to create for yourself in the next year?
• What changes do you want to create for yourself in the next 5 years?
• What potential issues could you come across whilst implementing these changes?
• In what ways are you committed to creating these changes?
Visualise your future. The world is full of endless opportunities for you, all you have to do is believe that are within your reach and remind yourself of them every day! Bring them to life and manifest them!
4. Make a five-year plan
Commit to doing this regularly in order to re-evaluate your dreams and aspirations.
5. Make your goals a reality
Talk to people about your goals and tell them what it is you want to achieve. Once they’re out in the world and people know about them, they’re much more likely to become a reality.
HM Treasury has confirmed to the NHBF that hair & beauty salons are eligible for the new Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). You must apply to your Local Authority, which each sets its own application criteria and review applications. There is currently £250 million left in the ARG pot in addition to the £100 million announced today.
Richard Lambert, chief executive says: “We welcome this additional financial support for our industry and urge salon owners to check as soon as possible if they are eligible for a grant from their Local Authority. For many people this could be the vital help they need to save their salons from the devastating impact of the Omicron Variant.”
In addition, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak also announced the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) – the SSPRS will help small and medium-sized employers – those with fewer than 250 employees – by reimbursing them for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, for up to two weeks per employee. This scheme will be reintroduced from mid-January 2022.
A CLIPPER STEEPED IN BARBERING HISTORY GETS A NEW COPPER MAKEOVER FOR THE NEW YEAR
Andis® Company, a leading manufacturer of barbering, styling and grooming tools, announced the launch of its iconic Master® Cordless Clipper — a hero tool among barbers the world over — with a sleek, new copper finish. The copper-colored, corrosion- resistant housing, black blades and matching premium charging stand make the Master Cordless Limited-Edition Copper Clipper a visually stunning addition to any station.
“We’re excited to release the Master cordless clipper in a limited-edition copper finish to give barbers and stylists the opportunity to stand out in the shop and express their personal style,” said Angie Vlasaty Peterson, Andis VP of Marketing. “The Master is an icon in the barbering world, evolving from the original corded Andis Clipper to the cordless powerhouse tool of today. Its high-speed performance is why you find it in the hands of today’s top creators — this is a top-tier clipper for the professional who isn’t afraid to let their confidence shine.”
This limited-edition Master’s housing and blade colors are applied using an innovative PVD coating process that is more durable than paint to resist scratching for a long-lasting finish. Each clipper comes equipped with a black Taper blade that adjusts from 000 to 1 to take on anything from tapers to faux hawks and includes a complimentary Fade blade for skin-close results (a $50 value). Both blades feature a 28-tooth cutter compared to the standard 22-tooth for greater precision and performance. The two adjustable blades and a set of five premium metal clip combs allow endless versatility for creating behind the chair.
Similar to the best-selling Master Cordless Clipper in silver, this Limited-Edition Copper Clipper has an incredibly powerful, high-speed rotary motor that’s perfect for sculpting all hair types and styles. The extra long-lasting lithium-ion battery stays strong for more than 90 minutes per charge, so barbers and stylists don’t have to worry about unleashing their creative vision.
You can purchase the new Master Cordless Limited-Edition Copper Clipper exclusively at andis.com. MSRP: $370.00
PANTONE Colour of the Year: Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri
The leading global authority of colour, PANTONE, has officially revealed the Year’s Colour for 2022: PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, a vibrant peri-winkle blue with violet-red undertones.
OSMO® Global Ambassador Michael Convey and owner of Convey Salons, Stokesley shares his thoughts on the new colour trend: “I think the new colour of the year will be very on trend for clients. It’s so soft and pretty and we’ve seen versions of this coming through over the last few months already. Although blondes tend to be warming things up at the minute, I think by the summer 2022, we will see clients starting to play with tones like this. This is similar to how we saw the rebel streak with apricot tones popping just around the face – this will be a great way to introduce clients to the new colour of the year.”
To embrace the new yearly hue, reach for the OSMO Color Psycho in Wild Violet, apply to pre-lightened / bleached hair and leave for 15 – 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and voila, on-trend hair is ready to go.
The OSMO Color Psycho collection is available in 14 incredible shades. The semi-permanent colours can last up to six weeks and the ready-to-use formula is ammonia and peroxide free, and even conditions hair as the vibrant colour is deposited.
Size: 150ml
Price: RRP £8.45
Available from your nearest wholesaler, visit osmouk.com for a list of locations.
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) is calling for government support as the results of its latest poll show that salons and barbershops are experiencing unprecedented levels of cancellations during their busiest month of the year due to clients having to self-isolate or changing their mind as a result of Plan B and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
In a month which usually sees salon columns fully booked and waiting lists in place, 73% of respondents had experienced cancellations, with 56% reporting a reduction in advance bookings following the recent changes to government guidance. More than half the respondents said that the cancellations had already caused a lot of disruption to their businesses. December is the busiest month of the year for the hair and beauty industry, setting salons and barbershops up financially for the quieter months of the new year. Now many in the industry are under extreme pressure to stay afloat.
28% of businesses also reported disruption in the salon due to staff shortages and staff having to self-isolate.
NHBF chief executive Richard Lambert commented: “This situation is evolving rapidly, but it’s already clear that the government needs to act before it becomes a crisis.
“The industry had shown its resilience and was on the path to recovery, but early indications show that that the combination of Omicron and Plan B are having a drastic effect on bookings and footfall in salons during a time in which the sector relies heavily on cash generated in December to get them through the quieter months in January and February. Many of our members tell us their finances are still finely balanced, and this sudden fall-away could be devastating.
“The government needs to provide targeted financial support to help the industry quickly, whether by reallocating existing resources or making new support available. We are also calling for an increase in the 50% discount on business rates for next year and flexibility on repayments of CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) and bounce back loans to offer much needed support to those suffering financial hardship.”
Paul Lofthouse will be celebrating this festive season, having just been named as the winner of the Sam Wall Unsung Hero Award at the brand-new Collective Pride Awards, sponsored by Professional Beauty.
Launched by mental wellbeing and suicide prevention charity The Lions Barber Collective, the Collective Pride Awards recognise the hard work of unsung hair and beauty heroes across the UK, in eight categories – those who not only deliver exceptional services day in, day out, but go the extra mile to help others in a time of need, genuinely making a difference to someone’s life.
Tom Chapman, founder of The Lions Barber Collective said:
“After losing award-winning barber, LBC Ambassador and friend Sam Wall to suicide last year, I wanted to do something to keep his name alive – celebrating those who really look after their clients and the communities they sit within, as well as those who go above and beyond to make a difference to the industry. I am so proud that Paul Lofthouse has been awarded the Sam Wall Unsung Hero Award for the phenomenal work he has been doing within the industry, and work like his is the reason the Collective Pride Awards were born.”
Paul Lofthouse won the Sam Wall Unsung Hero Award for work he has done in mental health diagnosis and treatment, suicide prevention and suicide bereavement services. Paul lost his father to suicide in April 2020, and has dedicated a large amount of his time to working with Hospitals and looking services in Hertfordshire & Essex to ensure mental heal this treated as seriously as physical health and that support is available for those who need it.
He said:
“It is a huge honour to win this award and I dedicate it to my Father, who we lost to suicide and my Mother who we lost to Covid-19, both in April 2020. I look forward to collecting my award in January.”
Tickets to the Awards Ceremony, which is taking place on Monday 17 January at the Barber Surgeon’s Hall in London. Tickets are now available to purchase via Eventbrite.
Jim Shaw of Toni&Guy, Billericay, offers some advice on how to make sure you are fully prepped for the new year.
2022 is only a month away and it’s important that we are prepared for the New Year in order to get it off to a smooth and successful start.
Think about your service menu – are there any additional men’s services you could be offering? Men no longer just want to come into the salon/barbershop for a haircut anymore, they want to come for a pampering experience, which may include having a facial or manicure or even just adding some additional hair or beard treatments. Talk to your clients now about what services they would like to see in the salon, do some research and offering something exciting to your loyal clients for the New Year, which may also attract new clients into the salon too if you’re offering something that your competitors aren’t.
Put in plans to motivate your team – coming back from time off during the Christmas period can be hard and you want your team to be as motivated a possible to be able to deliver the very best services to your clients. Start to look now at training sessions that may be available at the start of the New Year. Training could be via yourself, another industry men’s hairdresser or barber, or even a men’s haircare brand. Keep your team inspired to allow them to ensure they want to deliver their very best when they come to work.
Communicate with your clients – clients are the key to our success and we should always be communicating with them to encourage them to come back to our salons/barbershops and to show them that we care. It’s a good idea to put into action a plan on how to better communicate with clients in the New Year, be this via social media, newsletters or text messages. Tell your clients what you have been working on and also inform them of anything new happening in your salon or barbershop. This could be new products, new services, new team members or also any offers or discounts you are offering that may encourage them to come in in the New Year.
Keep your salon/barbershop looking its best – Covid has been around for some time now and it’s not going away anywhere anytime soon. Client’s want to feel comfortable and at ease visiting your space and know that your cleanliness and safety measures are of a high standard. Take some time during the Festive period to have a clean and to ensure all safety measures are up to scratch. Take photos of your space looking as gleaming as ever to help attract clients in the New Year.
Think about the quieter months of January/February now – It’s a great idea to encourage clients to come book into the salon/barbershop for their January/February appointments now to try and fill spaces in these quieter months as much as possible. In December, talk to your clients about booking in for their next appointment in January/December and also try to encourage clients to book gift vouchers as Christmas gifts that their loved ones can enjoy in the New Year. You may also want to look into some offers you can promote in January/February to attract clients to make bookings. Promote these now to get as much return as possible. You can also think of fun ideas such as handing out cards to your clients who come in during December with a discount if they book in January or February. This is also a nice little way to say thank you to your clients.
With the busy period almost upon us, this month already seems to be crazy busy for many stylists who are squeezing in as many clients as they can, working longer hours and taking less breaks.
But while the financial return may be great to see, your mental and physical health can take a battering. Matrix Artist Ambassador, Ria Kulik, believes it’s important to recognise the symptoms of burnout before it’s too late – both in yourself and your team.
“I start to notice when the smallest of things are making a person really stressed, when you start clock watching to see how long it is until your next sleep, then sleeping but waking up just as exhausted, feeling like you have lost touch with friends and family, like you are on a relentless hamster wheel, wondering when you will enjoy your job again, finding that others are irritating you more,” she explains.
“Even though you should say no, you just say yes to everything, and throwing yourself into more work to try and regain the spark for the job. I’ve been there before myself when you feel like your brain is completely full, it feels like it’s about to burst, and it can’t cope with any more questions from people, problem solving or decisions to make other than the task in hand at that particular moment in time. That’s the point I can tell when someone needs a little reassuring and possibly a hug that things will be OK..
Ria says there are five steps to take to avoid feeling overwhelmed
Self care You are the priority. If you care for yourself first, then you will be able to care for your clients better. If you think you are burnt out, then today is the day you put yourself first.
Set professional boundaries Mainly the hours you work. Pick how many hours you are going to work and stick to them, you can’t be accommodating to everyone, and it will encourage clients to become more organised in the future which will help you feel organised in your day to day. Stay away from doing ‘favours’ by coming in early or staying late for people. Protect yourself and ask them to find another appointment that suits them.
Turn that phone off Another big one for people is being contacted by clients at any time of the day and night. With social media and emailing being a massive part of how clients contact you, only contact clients during your working hours. Or set aside time in a day to get back to those clients. A polite, automated message explaining this goes a long way; people understand and it takes a massive pressure off you.
Enjoy the little things in life Make sure you have booked some real down time away from work. Whether it is seeing friends and family or going to your favourite spa for the day, put that phone on aeroplane mode and allow yourself to enjoy life.
Plan to invest in yourself and your skills. Taking a day away from the grind and educating yourself is a great way of boosting yourself up and is a great way to meet others in the same position.
Ria’s top tips for avoiding burnout
Set boundaries.
Stick to your allocated working hours and schedule.
Turn your phone off or put it away for a day on your days off.
Give yourself some me time, even if it’s just 15-minutes a day of quietness. Close your eyes and check in with yourself. Maybe with your morning cup of tea? Dog walk? In the shower.? Even better, try meditation.
Make sure you laugh at least once a day. It releases natural, happy endorphins that will help you feel so much better and help connect you back to your old self.
Reconnect with friends and family and ask to see them for an hour to spend some quality time. This will help ground you back down to earth and help you see what really matters in this life.
Allow yourself to feel upset and sorry for yourself for a day if that’s what you need to do to cope with the daily grind of it all. Spend some time on your own doing nice things just for you.
Ria describes the symptoms to look out for in your team
Exhaustion, no matter how much time you give yourself to relax, you don’t/can’t relax.
Feeling overwhelmed. The little things start becoming big problems for you to handle.
No balance between work and life.
Feeling very Stressed.
Sometimes can feel anxious and suffer more with controlling your mental health.
Becoming resentful of your job. Loss of enthusiasm.
ELITE barber Kyle Ross is set to serve up a trim for tennis royalty ahead of an auld enemy grudge match that is being played in Aberdeen.
Multiple grand slam winner Jamie Murray OBE is bringing his “Battle of the Brits” event to the city – a live Scotland versus England tennis match featuring some of the biggest names in the sport.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 28: Jamie Murray partner of Olivia Nicholls of Union Jacks in their doubles match against Alastair Gray and Eden Silva of British Bulldogs during day two of the St. James’s Place Battle Of The Brits Team Tennis at National Tennis Centre on July 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images for Battle Of The Brits)
The doubles legend – who is also the older brother of Wimbledon winner Andy Murray – sought out the services of Kyle, 32, who has won multiple awards as managing director of the city’s Sovereign Grooming.
The tennis star admitted that a gruelling schedule of matches and events has often left him struggling with an unruly mop of hair, so he was determined to do something about it.
Jamie, 35, said: “When you are in the public eye the pictures and videos captured are documented for life and it’s a normal human reaction, that if you see something you don’t like you will pay more attention to it in the future. I’ve learned that first hand.
“Being on the road has its challenges and getting a good hair cut is one of them. Every new country brings the risk of a bad hair cut and I’ve had many in my time, including recently in California where I had to put up with it for a few days as ironically all the barbers were shut!”
Jamie is the tournament director of Battle of the Brits, which takes place at the P&J Live Arena on December 21 and 22. Kyle and his five-strong team will be visiting the city’s Hilton Hotel, where both teams are staying, to take care of any pre-match grooming requirements.
Jamie added: “Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand as it helps you be more confident – and in my case, hopefully play better.”
He will be joined on court by brother, Sir Andy Murray along with other Scottish tennis stars including Jonny O’Mara and Cameron Norrie. The English team is made up of Joe Salisbury, Jack Draper, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 22: Andy Murray (l) and brother Jamie Murray socially distance as they chat on the player’s balcony during practice for the Schroders Battle of the Brits at the National Tennis Centre on June 22, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Battle Of The Brits)
Delighted barber Kyle said: “It is a really proud moment for Sovereign Grooming to be asked by Jamie to provide our services. We’re looking forward to helping the team get prepped for their upcoming matches and hope the Scotland team come out on top.
“We may even have a few hand tips that the teams will be able to take to the court.”
Jamie’s grooming tips for life on the road are simple: to stay on top of a hairstyle he advised finding a style that is easily suited to your routine to ensure it is maintainable.
He added: “Lockdown was certainly an interruption to my usual grooming routine. Like many others, my wife ended up being my barber and sometimes we’d just shave it all off to make it easier to manage.
“When we managed to get back into training it was funny to see my coach and team arriving with their untamed hair for the first time.
“Since we couldn’t go to the barbers for such a long period of time, I now treat it like an experience and actually enjoy going whereas previously it used to be a necessity.”
The star also explained how the tennis event is coming to Aberdeen because the players were keen to find a venue outwith the central belt.
He said: “There’s also the fact that the P&J is a great venue. Local people normally have to travel far to see anything live, so its nice to give bring world class tennis to their doorstep.
“The event should be good fun as it will give players the chance to represent their home nation as normally we’d play as Great Britain. Everyone, including both players and spectators, have a vested interest in how their individual country performs so it should create a bit of friendly competition.”
Acclaimed Barber, Kyle Ross who has been garlanded with a string of industry awards, set up Sovereign Grooming in Aberdeen’s Union Street in 2016. It was an immediate hit and he has since attracted investment to open salons in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
He was named Best Barber UK at the International Barber Awards in 2017, a year which also saw him named Scottish Men’s Stylist of the Year. In 2018, he was named Best Barber at the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards and in 2019 was shortlisted for GQ Magazine’s Barber of the Year title, one of only a handful of stylists outside London to have been shortlisted.
