Raw Talent

We open this issue up with an incredible story from our cover star, SCurl Ambassador Angel Raws.

Angel tells us about how determination, taking yourself out of your comfort zone, and accepting new opportunities can lead you to positions of power and respect.

We also talk about his position with SCurl, his experiences as an educator, and his advice for young barbers looking to make it big. 

Old Spice

There are few brand names as universally known as Old Spice.

We all remember their advertising campaigns and their signature scents.

A brand that has survived since 1937 is certainly doing something right, but they have gone one further to step up their game— The Old Spice Barbershop in Columbus, Ohio. We talk to Chris Talbott, Senior Brand Director, to learn a little more about Old Spice’s brand-new venture. 

Hair Art

It is no news to barbers that working with hair is an art, but some barbers out there have given that phrase a whole new meaning.

We talk to hair art pros like Los Cut It, John Carmona, Henry Rodriguez and Assyria Gindo, to learn a bit about the skills and techniques required to create their works of art, where they draw their inspiration from, and the tools and products necessary to get the job done. 

Education

In this industry, you don’t just pass your exam and throw away your books. Education is something that is continuous throughout your entire career.

The day you stop learning, is the day you die. In this feature, we spoke to leading educators such as Kevin Nguyen, Alessandro Comai, as well as mentor/mentee duo turned educational team, Zach Ramsay and Cam Mahar, to learn a thing or two, and find out what the best lessons they have learned over the years have been. 

Summer Haircare

We have had a rough year and for many this summer there is only one goal: live your best life.

So, we spoke to Eufora Style Director, Mirza Batanovic for the best tips for barbers and clients on how to get the best summer hair, and how to keep it healthy and protected in those summer elements. 

Essential Scissors

What might seem like an obvious necessity to any barber: the humble scissor and the skillset that goes with it, has seemed to have somehow gotten lost along the way. However, the art of the scissor is back and sharper than ever.

With tips from scissor-work expert Alan Beak, to advice on maintaining your shears from Washi scissors. This feature is jam-packed with helpful tips on how to keep your skills and your tools from going dull. 

Wahl Professional Announces Release of New 5 Star Barber Dryer

Equipped with two heat and speed settings, this professional dryer is designed for the busy barber.

May 25, 2021 (Sterling, IL) –  Wahl Professional is excited to announce the release of its newest tool, the 5 Star Barber Dryer. This innovative dryer is created for the barber who wants to take their styling techniques to the next level.

The 5 Star Barber Dryer comes with two heat and speed settings, a cool shot button, two nozzle attachments, a professional rotary motor, and a nine-foot cord that allows barbers to create finished looks in a matter of minutes. When developing the dryer, Wahl was inspired to leverage its leadership and deep experience in the field to create an indispensable tool for professional barbers everywhere. Each performance feature on the dryer plays an essential role in the creative process: Speed for shape control, heat for efficiency and smoothing and the cool shot button for freezing styles into place. With a $99 price tag, this innovative 5 Star Barber Dryer is affordable and available for purchase on Wahl’s website here.

Disruptour Team educator Trevor Moots (@tailorfade) says, “This tool completes Wahl’s arsenal, giving barbers everything, we need to be successful behind the chair. Each tool Wahl creates complements the next.”

While regular blow dryers are suitable for medium to long hair, this retro chrome-finished tool is designed for short to medium-length hair. This new dryer is also designed to work with the 1919 Styling and Finishing line, including Wahl educators’ favorites the Matte Control Cream, Fiber Paste, and Firm Hold Gel. As for Trevor Moots, his favorite 1919 product is the Thickening Styling Cream because it gives him shape and control as he blow-dries a client’s hair in place.

Though this dryer was created with the barber in mind, it’s also perfect for hairstylists looking to step up their finished looks on shorter hair. Moots notes that this tool will help hair professionals further express their individual creativity.

“The most exciting thing to me is being able to watch what people create and see how this tool will elevate and shape men’s grooming. As artists, this tool will enhance the art of barbering and styling in ways none of us thought possible,” says Moots.

“Wahl is always looking for new ways to solve a problem for the barbering and stylist community,” says Senior Marketing Associate, Aaron Flick. “For over 100 years, we have been at the forefront of product innovation and quality tools. We are excited to provide a tool that will assist in creating and perfecting the artists’ finished looks.”

As Wahl continues to lead the industry with high-quality products, innovation doesn’t stop there. Along with creating tools, the clipper manufacturer also places a great emphasis on high-quality education. Whether the education is focused on proper tool techniques, retail business, or even how to create editorial looks, Wahl has something for every level of barber and stylist.

To learn more on how to use the 5 Star Barber Dryer click here to see Trevor Moots give an instructional how-to video on how to use the dryer correctly to create quality, finished looks. The product is now available for purchase on Wahl’s website here. For more information about Wahl Professional, visit the website at WahlPro.com or follow them on Instagram (@wahlpro).

Simon Shaw, Global Creative Director of Wahl made MR. Barbers HQ his first post lockdown stop this week, with a high energy training seminar on Problem Solving with Retail. A select group of MR. Barbers team members gathered at HQ to catch one of the industry’s most well-known figures and hear his wisdom on retail best practice. Simon enjoyed his first in-person (Covid safe) event since before the pandemic almost as much as the MR. Barbers team members enjoyed attending.

Simon said “Everyone hates to be sold to, but everyone wants their problems solved. For barbers, solving hair problems should be part of every service. By focussing on the problem, not the product, it shows the customer that there is a solution available and that the barber has done their job.”

Karl Foster added: “We were so happy to have Simon here, his experience is worth it’s weight in gold. We are constantly seeking ways to help our barbers build their knowledge and upskill and this short seminar was much appreciated after a very tough 14 months for our teams.”

Simon dropped golden nuggets of wisdom for three straight hours and the MR. Barbers team were left energised and on track with their retail goals!

Andis Company recently hosted the first ever virtual Copy the Cut Challenge, which saw 50 barbers and stylists competing virtually from their own shop or salon. Participants recreated their best version of the Andis Fluid Vol2 Modern Day Frederick Douglass cut for a chance to win up $500 and an Andis Limited Edition Copper ProFoil Shaver.

Top three winners:

1. Eddieberto Martinez (@_Techneek_)
   • Owner of Techneek Studios in Philidelphia, PA
2. Louis Rexach Jr. (@earsthebarber)
   • Owner of Always on Point Barbershop in Philidelphia, PA
3. Manny Weston (@there__e_go)
   • Student at Hair Lab Detroit Barber School

Dark Stag are proud to introduce you to Bridey Jo and AJ Rapture, two of the UK’s brightest barbers.

The British-based manufacturers of superior barber tools are making a push to offer barbers superior online services to complement their acclaimed equipment; that starts this month, with the onboarding of two official ambassadors spearheading the company’s online expansion.

With work featured in high-profile publications across the barbering and haircare industries, Bridey and AJ truly reflect the modern face of barbering.

On welcoming the pair to the Dark Stag family, founder Andy Wiseman said, “We are very excited to announce, and get started working with, our Dark Stag UK ambassadors AJ Rapture and Bridey Jo. These two great barbering talents are responsible for some impressive work and we can’t wait to share what we do together going forward!”

Bridey Jo

Of the exciting news, Bridey, who runs her own store – Bridey Jo Barbers in Wombourne, Wolverhampton – shared on her socials: “Been keeping this quiet for a while now… I AM SO EXCITED to announce I’m officially part of Dark Stag’s passionate team! I’ve used their tools since I first started out barbering & I’ve not looked back ever since, so it’s a huge honour to be working with such a growing and trustworthy brand. Buzzing to unlock more creative potential together! 🤘🏻✂️”

AJ Rapture AJ, who leads the remarkable team at Hayes’ Rapture Barbers said in his social post about the announcement: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to be part of this amazing brand having already been a fan and user of they’re tools for some time due to their undeniable quality! Dark Stag has integrity and holds true to the heritage of barber tools with a vision to grow and evolve alongside barbers and modern barbering. I am so humbled to have been recognised by them and I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for them! I’m excited for what’s to come! 🙌🏽”

OSMO ambassador and celebrity barber, Justin Carr and his team at That Feeling have hung up their clippers (temporarily of course) and turned their hands to television presenting. Chop & Change is the new bi-weekly game and talk show on YouTube bringing you entertainment, fun, and laughter.

Featuring celebrity guests each week, this will be one to watch for sure.
Justin and the That Feeling team are used to making people feel good with their razor-sharp hair-cuts but with lockdown restrictions meaning they were unable to work for the best part of a year, Justin had time to think about channelling his creativity and energy. His plans for That Feeling have always been about creating more than just a barbershop but to become a lifestyle brand – bringing into the mix music, fashion, production, modelling, photography, rappers, and even content creation, so the Chop & Change series was a natural direction for Justin and his team of creatives.

With 14 episodes planned, the new Chop & Change series guests include musicians Aston Merrygold, Dappy, Tion Wayne, One Acen and Gassed Up Lighties, footballers Dele Ali, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and William Ekong, content creator Sarchie, music producer Hargo and radio presenter Jourdan hosted by Justin and the That Feeling team.

“That Feeling is more than just barbering, we’re all creatives and have this energy and passion to really show how barbering can open up opportunities and be a really exciting industry to be a part of. Chop & Change helps us break out of the barbering box and branch into even more creativity. We want to show the next generation of barbers that anything is possible. This was all financed independently and has taken time to write, produce, film, and edit – something we did during lockdown. I know that content creation and social media is where it’s at, so we need to embrace it and play to our creative strengths. I’ve a great network of well-known clients and friends, so it seemed natural to get them involved in the series,” says Justin Carr, owner of That Feeling Barber Shop and OSMO Ambassador.

Check out Chop & Change, airing every Wednesday and Sunday at 8.30pm on the official Chop & Change YouTube page.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is excited to announce the opening of the 33rd Annual North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), the most prestigious professional beauty competition and awards,
on June 14, 2021. As the top hair and makeup competition in North America, NAHA is the premiere platform for beauty professionals to push the boundaries and bring their artistic visions to life

This year, NAHA will feature the following categories:
• INSPIRING SALON OF THE YEAR
• EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
• AVANT GARDE
• MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• MASTER HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR (by invitation only)
• EDITORIAL STYLIST OF THE YEAR
• HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR
• TEAM OF THE YEAR
• TEXTURE
• BARBERING (replacing Men’s Hairstyling)
• STYLING & FINISHING
• HAIRCUTTING
• HAIRCOLOR
• STUDENT HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR

“We are thrilled to introduce the category of Barbering to replace Men’s
Hairstyling,” shares PBA Events Brand Manager Sheri Rearick. “NAHA has always broken barriers, and our categories will continue to evolve to reflect the pulse of the industry. Expect more changes soon.”
NAHA is also pleased to announce the return of the NAHA Remix! NAHA Remix allows artists to enter previously submitted collections as long as they were not selected as finalists. Remix collections can be updated and must follow the current category and overall NAHA rules and regulations.
NAHA submissions are judged online, in multiple rounds, by a blind panel of judges.
The judging process is completely anonymous with no contact between judges or knowledge of artist names to ensure anonymity and fairness during the judging process.

Key dates for NAHA 2022 are as follows:
Entries open: June 14, 2021
Entries close: September 10, 2021
Finalist announcement: November 10, 2021
NAHA 2022 Award Ceremony: January 30, 2022—Long Beach, CA
For specific category rules and to enter, please visit probeauty.org/NAHA2022. Get inspired and learn more about the most prestigious competition in beauty.

World-leading manufacturer of grooming tools for barbers and stylists, Andis Company, is delighted to announce that renowned barber, men’s stylist, educator and photographer Kevin Luchmun has joined the brand as ‘International Artistic Team Lead’.

INSPIRATION MEETS EDUCATION

In a newly created role that seeks to accelerate Andis’ international presence by building upon its global reputation for world-class tools, education and creative inspiration, Kevin will play a pivotal role in the development of educational programs and artistic directions for photoshoots. He will also be instrumental in the formation of new programs to continually develop the creative and editorial talents of Andis’ audience of creators.

BEHIND THE CHAIR & BEHIND THE LENS

As one of the UK’s most recognisable and respected men’s stylists, Kevin’s technical hair cutting skills have positioned him as one of the industry’s most inspiring barbers, men’s stylists and educators.            

A multi-award-winning stylist spanning barbering and men’s hairdressing, Kevin’s work on editorial photoshoots and collection photography, and the relationship between hairstyling, fashion and the visual presentation of technical cuts, has seen his creativity extend into a signature photography style. As passionate about photography as he is about hairstyling, both are approached and revered in equal measure with his work appearing on the covers and in the pages of international trade and consumer magazines, on the catwalks, online and across social media where Kevin has amassed a following of over 90k on Instagram alone.

According to Angie Perino, Andis Global Education Manager, it’s Kevin’s multi-faceted skills base, creative vision, technical precision and stage craft both as a hair artist and educator that led to the creation of this new role. “We’re so delighted to be partnering with Kevin as we continue to expand our outreach to barbers and stylists around the world. 

“We pride ourselves in providing world-class educational programs and inspiration that provide the road map to a successful career! Kevin will be working closely with our other internationally renowned educators, including Kenny Duncan – our North American Artistic Team Lead in the USA and Canada – to merge all strands of our educator network into a global vision that empowers barbers and stylists to express their individuality, maximise their creative talents and exceed their artistic potential through hair and imagery.” 

THE FIRST MISSION: FLUID VOL3

Following the worldwide success of FLUID Vols. 1 & 2 – a combined artistic hair collection and educational concept that integrates with Andis’ groundbreaking Virtual Education resource, Kevin’s first assignment will be to lead the creation of FLUID Vol.3.  Angie Perino: “This program will include educational videos, learning modules and a stunning look book with steps to teach our learners how to create the featured looks.  Kevin will be contributing to creating a vision for the collection, selecting models, orchestrating photography and video and finalising all details of the final edits. I can hardly wait to see Kevin’s inspiration come through in our very first Andis FLUID collection captured in the UK!”

KEVIN LUCHMUN – ‘JOINING ANDIS WAS MY DESTINY AND A DREAM COME TRUE’

For Kevin Luchmun, joining Andis is a dream come true. Unlike ambassadorships that hinge on commercial arrangements alone, Kevin has long-held a deep rooted respect for Andis and was determined to work with the brand from the outset. “Very early in my career I got the opportunity to work on the Andis stage at Salon International. From that moment I was passionate about Andis and I was always intent on working with the brand. For me there was never an alternative to Andis; I’ve waited a long time for this to come to fruition.

“Now I’ve reached this point in my career and have so many achievements and accolades, the timing and the type of position couldn’t be more perfect. I look forward to working with Angie and the global team to elevate Andis’ brand appeal and educational resource base, as well as highlighting the precision and performance of its industry-leading tools.”

Kevin officially joined Andis on May 1st 2021.

Do you rate yourself enough to compete alongside 120 talented barbers in the Texas Barber Battle and Expo, being held on July 17/18 at the San Antonio Shrine Auditorium in the heart of San Antonio, TX.

The event will be filled with barbers and stylists from all over the United States, competing in a range of battles from the Fastest Fade, Traditional Haircut, Freestyle Design, Fade W/Beard, and a Student Battle (Traditional). 

Attendance at last year’s event was more than 3,500 people, and this year’s event will not only feature the Barber Battle, but will have a range of vendors at the event. There will have educational classes in the morning from several educators/platform artists demonstrating different techniques and products.  

Where:  San Antonio, TX

When:  Sunday, July 18, 2021 with classes starting at 9:30am and the Barber Battle starting at 3pm.

By Who:  Texas Barber Battle & Expo is proudly presented by Wahl Educator and Platform Artist, Rick “Da People’s Barber” Morin.  Rick has traveled all of the United States, Mexico, China, and India educating barbers and stylists different styles of clipper cutting techniques. 

For more details go to: www.txbarberexpo.com

To register to enter for the Barber Battle click here

The first Monday of the month is a special day inside O’Neil’s Barber and Beauty Shop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Children get a free haircut, and a unique opportunity to work on their reading ability, with books sprinkled throughout the shop. Indeed as soon as they come into the shop, they collect a book and become engrossed in the plot prior to sitting in the chair.

Once in the chair, the barbers assist with any difficult or hard to understand words, and enquire about the plot and story that the children have been reading.

Shop owner O’Neil Curtis created the Line 4 Line program in 2014 with volunteer Lucy Perera. Each year this program serves 200 kids aged between 3 to 16 years old.

You can find out more about this amazing program here: https://www.facebook.com/Line4LineBR/