The latest issue of BarberEVO UK and Ireland is OUT NOW.

Get your copy here!

This issue has Sheldon Edwards the unofficial barber for the England football team proudly taking centre stage on our front cover.

Sheldon talks to us about his career, his work with the Premier League footballers and how he influences hair trends with the creations he comes up with for the stars of the football field.

IT MAY BE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO SUMMER, BUT SAY HELLO TO AUTUMN, AND OUR 28TH ISSUE OF BARBEREVO UK AND IRELAND

After a glorious summer, it’s time to bring back the wooly jumpers and back-to-school cuts. As the world continues to open back up, it has been great to see some of your faces IRL at some of the events that took place in the last few months. Seeing and hearing the great feedback from all of you only lights that fire under us to continue to provide the best magazine for barbers, filled with entertaining, educational, and inspiring content! Enjoy.

Male grooming:

The modern gent expects more than a short back and sides and a squirt of aftershave. You’ve got to up your game! We have picked up great advice from Parlous Barbers, Robert Rix and House Martin barbers about how to elevate your grooming services to cater for the needs of the higher end of the market, and the revenue that is there to be tapped.

Euro barbers:

We can all see what trends, tools and products are the ones not to miss here in the UK and Ireland, but what’s is creating a buzz on the continent? Diego’s barbershop in Spain is a unique place with barbering tied in with music, tattoos and a true family atmosphere. Read about how he values his team and the passion he brings out in them for barbering and music.

Over in the Netherlands, the famous Schorem Barbier shop creates its own waves by specialising in styles from the 1940s to 1960s. Milky the Barber talks us through his move from the states to standing behind the chair in this most special of places and the trends that are raging in Europe.

Franchising:

The best of both worlds? A franchise offers you the freedom to own your own shop while being bolstered by a recognisable brand. We speak to the owners of four MR Barbers shops and talk about how they have welcomed the additional support that a franchise offers and the opportunities that have come their way. Also talking franchises is Jack Rabbits and Jacks of London, discussing the educational support and the enviable career path that is open to barbers in a franchise business.

EVO EXCLUSIVE:

The Fellowship of British Hairdressing and BarberEVO teamed up to produce an incredible new collection with the talented team members of PROJECT: Men, led by Jonathan Andrews. The theme: Footballers on the terraces and the team went above and beyond to produce an incredible set of images and hairstyles that fit the brief perfectly.

Cocktailing:

Mix it up and see what happens? No need! We have a selection of top barbers who are willing to share their top cocktailing mixes, find out what works, and when to apply them. Find out what brands work well together and the unique looks that can be created with a little knowledge of what you’re putting on the hair and why.

Get your hands on the latest edition here.

Celebrating their 100th Anniversary, MIZUTANI is running their World Cutting Photo Contest, with entries open until the 31st of August, 2021.

MIZUTANI announced: “Upon popular request, from all around the world, the World Cutting Photo Contest is back! Show us your passion and creativity! STYLE GOES ON!”

This year the contest will be separated into three categories, with a special prize for each winner. With world-class judges from around the world, such as Bertus and Leen from Shorem Barber in the Netherlands, Josh DeMarco from the DAPR Grooming Parlor in the USA, Julius Caesar, Alan, and Reece Beak from RUGER. Barber in the UK, Whitney VerMeer from USA, and many more huge names.

The categories are:

Classic Men’s Style. In this category, Judges are looking for the best classic cuts, with detail and accuracy.

Men’s Avant-Garde Short Style. Judges are looking for barbers who are willing to break out of their shells and show the most innovative styles.

Ladies Avant-Garde Short Style. Test your limits, and let your creativity fly in this category, creating striking ladies’ short styles. Some of the prizes include a Live Virtual Class at Shorem, MIZUTANI’s Cut Master Set, and an opportunity to appear in Japanese and international barbering magazines.

Don’t miss your chance, entries are open until August 31st! Enter NOW!

A creative throw down was just what was called for after the longest lockdown ever and so the teams at MR Barbers put their heads together in planning a professional photographic shoot. With industry photographer Liam Oakes on board, six barbers came together from across the MR group to create a collection that delivered on diversity and creativity.

Joe Peacock from MR Barbers St Neots, Connor Chesterton from MR Barbers Hertford, Ellis Girling of MR Barbers Braintree, Phillip Brooks and Iain Rogers of MR Barbers Colchester and Jake Hickey of MR Barbers Sawston and Newmarket pre-cut two models each before giving them a final polish and styling on the day. The plain white tee’s kept clothes styling minimalist so that the hair could take centre stage.

Joe Peocock said: “We used an Instagram group to share ideas and images and chat about the cuts we would create, so that we had a broad range of cuts from directional to classic with a little colour in there too.”

There were no model no-shows even though the shoot fell on the Euro’s Final day. There was beer and pizza to keep the creative juices flowing and everything went off without a hitch.

Phillip Brooks said: “It was a great day and it was inspiring to meet up, work together as a team and see other barbers work.” 

You can see more of the collection in the upcoming issue of BarberEVO UK, and keep an eye out at @barberevo

As Covid restrictions come to an end, it’s never been more important for businesses to stand out from the crowd. And with many customers keen to tackle the climate crisis, being a more sustainable barber could give you the edge while doing good for the planet.

A recent survey of 1,000 small business owners found that nearly a quarter (21%) worry about missing out on trade because their business is not sustainable enough, while nearly half (42%) of consumers say they are more likely to visit a business that cares about sustainability.

The good news is there’s a simple first step your barbers can make to not only help it become more sustainable, but also make energy management easier; get a smart meter installed.

Smart meters replace traditional analogue energy meters and can help businesses keep better track of their energy use and consumption. Whether you rely on a collection of clippers or a handful of hairdryers, a smart meter will give you access to information on how much energy is used day-to-day, helping you find ways to reduce it.

Having a smart meter installed will not only bolster your barbershop’s eco-credentials, but also help make your business energy easier to manage.

The technology, available at no extra cost from your business’ energy supplier, ensures accurate bills by sending meter readings automatically so you can spend time making people look and feel great.

To help you be even more efficient Smart Energy GB offers barbers a selection of quick and easy steps to help your barbershop stand out as an eco-friendly business:

1. Recycle smarter – Buying refillable products will drastically cut down the packaging waste and also save you a bit of money.
2. Use an eco-hairdryer – New and improved versions of the trusty hairdryer are more energy efficient and come in recycled packaging and plastic. As the most popular appliance used to fix a bad hair day, an eco-hairdryer will help cut your carbon footprint while fixing your hair. 
3. Keep cool – Using cooler water to rinse hair is not only great for the scalp and your hair’s condition and shine, it’s also more efficient. While it’s not everyone’s preference, asking your customer if they’d prefer it could offer another step towards to a lower energy bill.
4. Avoid aerosols – Non-aerosol hair sprays will last 3 or 4 times longer than the aerosol versions and can be a great way to hold down that one curly lock that just won’t stay in place. What’s more, you can pick them up for the same price!
5. A simple solution – For those customers unsure of what style to go for next, offering a low maintenance hair cut could pass on the saving with less need for heated appliances and products when they get home.

To find out if your business is eligible for a smart meter, contact your energy supplier. You can then arrange a date and time suitable for you for your installation.

Once installation is complete, your installer can show you and your staff how your smart meter works so you can get on with being green.

Find out more at: https://www.smartenergygb.org/en

The BarbersRide barbers started the first leg of their journey yesterday, Sunday the 8^th of August, taking on the longest section of the journey, from Liverpool to Glasgow. The forty-odd riders gathered on the 7^th of August from all across the UK, in aim to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, and to ride their motorbikes across the north of England and into Scotland, stopping at reputable barbershops along the way.

Having gathered at Cut Throat Pete’s Barbershop in Liverpool on Saturday, the barbers’ first full day of riding was nothing short of eventful. True to the Scottish reputation, the riders experienced nearly every variation of weather; including thunder, lightning, and torrential downpour.

Luckily, the night’s event was hosted at the lovely and atmospheric House Martin Barbershop in the City Center of Glasgow. Owner Stephen Martin was there to give all the riders a warm Glaswegian welcome, with high-quality whisky to warm up with! The night continued at the bar next door, the Howlin’ Wolf, where the riders exchanged stories and prepared for their next day’s journey to Fort William.

After their stop at Fort Williams Stag&Buck barbershop, the riders will continue on to Dundee, stopping at Hard Grind Barbershop. Wednesday, the barbers will visit Ultimate Grooming in Yarm, then finish their journey together at Lords’ Barbering in Leeds on Thursday.

BarberEVO was able to catch up with the barbers during their stop in Glasgow and hear a bit about their involvement and love for BarbersRide. One said: “To take on this ride, you have to be a little crazy, love bikes, and love being a barber. That’s what makes it so fun, and the long, wet days like today, worth it!”

Stephen, owner of House Martin said: “It feels great to be able to get involved in the fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation, and host members of the barbering community in the shop again. It has been a long time since we have been able to get together and hold an event like this, and it was an honour to be able to represent Glasgow in the BarbersRide event!”

We wish the riders the best of luck for the remainder of their journey, and applaud their efforts and bravery for weathering the storm to raise money for a worthy cause like the Make a Wish Foundation!

To learn more, or to donate to the cause, click here

Every hairdressing service should be warm and inviting for the client and ergonomically perfected for the stylist, and both of these essential attributes are perfectly embodied in the NEW Coff styling chair by Takara Belmont.

With a slimmer backrest, that lends itself perfectly to cutting longer hair, 360˚ lockable rotation delivered via three base options and removable seat cushions making it easy to clean, the Coff is fashioned around the needs and demands of every stylist. For the client, the Coff is extremely comfortable with a deep cushioned seat and padded armrests ensuring supreme comfort and luxury that is felt in every salon visit.

With performance reliability and durability assured, the Coff delivers consistently high standards of comfort and service whilst capturing the essence of modern hairdressing that can be configured to complement any interior design from a wide range of upholstery colours.

For more information, contact Takara Belmont on 0207 515 0333 email hairdressing@takara.co.uk or visit the contact page at www.takarahairdressing.co.uk

Prices: £1200.00-£1380.00 + vat

With great hair comes great responsibility – at least that’s what the team at leading men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge believes. That’s why they’ve worked around the clock to launch a brand new range of zero waste shampoo bars for men!

This new range has been developed especially with eco-conscious men in mind, providing a plastic-free alternative to bottled shampoos. In fact, every bar saves the use of two plastic bottles, which is particularly important considering it’s now estimated that Brits throw away around 520 million shampoo bottles every year.

Launching on April 27, this new vegan friendly range features a trio of solid shampoos with three unique fragrances to choose from – Classic, Cuban and Original. Each of these SLS and paraben free bars are enriched with coconut oil to provide vital hydration to damaged hair, while effortlessly washing away build ups of dirt, sweat and styling products.

On the release of these small-but-mighty bars, Brad Wicks, Head of Marketing at The Bluebeards Revenge, said: “As a brand, we’re really proud of the steps we’re taking to create a more eco-friendly range for our customers.

“At the beginning of 2020, we made it our mission to improve the recyclability of our products, with a goal to drastically reduce the amount of virgin plastic and single-use packaging we use by 2022. The launch of our new 100% plastic-free Shampoo Bars not only shows our determination to meet this goal, but our commitment to continue improving for the future.”

HAVE YOUR SAY IN SAPIO RESEARCH’S SURVEY AND BE IN WITH AN CHANCE TO WIN £50.

Sapio Research are looking for barbers from all different backgrounds to share their knowledge on all things hair, from education and inspiration to where you buy your products.

The survey will take no longer than 15-20 minutes to complete, and for 50 random respondents, they have a £50 cash prize to give away.

Your experience and understanding of the hairdressing industry is invaluable, and your feedback will help to make improvements and put your needs first. Rest assured that all of your answers and the information you provide will be entirely confidential.

To start the survey click here.

With both bars and barbershops back open today, April 12, one brand-new barbershop is taking the pressure off decision making, by offering fresh pints while clients get their post-lockdown cuts.

As of today, April 12, Head Quarters Barbers & Beverages are opening three brand-new shops in Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Middlesbrough.

Wanting to create a traditional barbershop with a modern twist, owner Mike Racz said: “Our mission is to bring one of the oldest professions into the 21st Century.

“We’re introducing new technology across the board from booking systems to the shop floor.”

Booking is available via their app, with live waiting times – so customers know when the next barber is free.

The stunning shop interior features traditional personalised barber chairs from REM as well as have a complete self-serve bar.

So far, some of the first customers of HQ today have been Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, Glenn McCrory, former IBF World Cruiserweight Champion, and Leo Percovich Middlesbrough FC Coach.

Richard Bland, HQ managing director, a former director and shareholder of the well-known SAKS Franchise chain, said: “When I heard about this new business idea, I knew I had to be part of it. We’ve had a lot of fun – mixed with a lot of hard work – to perfect what we want to be an exciting change to the way barbers are run.

“Hairdressing has been hit really hard by Covid. We are thrilled to be able to offer 30 jobs across our first three salons. We will also be offering conversion courses for hairdressers wishing to work for HQ – working for us will be a career, not just a job.”

For more information, go to https://head-quarters.co.uk/

The time has now come for one voice to represent the many industry professionals from all parts of the hair, barber, beauty and nail sector joining together, working together for the betterment of the sector.  The British Hair & Beauty Collective is finally here!

Hairdressers, Barbers & Beauty professionals across the UK have been calling for the fragmented personal care sector to be fully represented for many years. More recently, the Coronavirus pandemic exposed the weaknesses in the industry exposing fault lines that have been with us for so many years.

The Government have now recognised the need for the Personal Care Sector to be given their own department within the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy  (BEIS) team to help with the many issues surrounding Covid-19, compliance and more moving forward.

Therefore, The Hair & Barber Council along with Salon Owners United have formed a collaboration and are now delighted to launch ‘The British Hair & Beauty Collective’  – a much needed unification and collaboration with one voice representing all in the sector, able to talk to Government directly as one collective and giving us a clear strategy for the future.

Applications to join the ‘Collective’ will follow shortly.

Keith Conniford, Registrar and CEO of The Hairdressing Council, trading as The Hair and Barber Council: “The fragmentation of our sector has been an issue for many decades, one of the main reasons successive Governments have never taken our industry seriously. Very sad to say, this situation is becoming worse instead of better, and unless things change we will never be taken seriously or regarded as the professional industry we truly are. With the launch of this totally inclusive and equally represented Collective, we have a real chance to make a make a significant difference that will change the perception of our industry for generations to come.

Collette Osborne, founder of Salon Owners United said: “As a salon owner who employs many hair and beauty professionals and like many other salons, we feel there are far too many voices claiming to represent us, which can be very confusing. This has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic and the many challenges that now follow, so it’s now time for us to be represented by those working in the industry for the industry. I am personally delighted that this much awaited change has finally come which will help to calm the confusion and build a more inclusive and supported industry”

Contact details for Salon Owners United 

Collette Osborne

collette@hairven-salon.co.uk

Contact details for The Hair & Barber Council  

Keith Conniford

keithconniford@haircouncil.org.uk