Barbershops and salons in certain areas of California have been able to reopen and operate indoors as officials announced an update on Wednesday 2nd September.
Those in Los Angeles County have been allowed to reopen with limited indoor services and will be in line with the state recommended reopening guidelines. Los Angeles County Supervisor announced the update on Wednesday 2nd September:
“LA County’s Health Officer Order will be updated to allow hair salons and barber shops to resume indoor operations at 25% capacity. Options for increasing capacity will be re-evaluated three weeks after Labor Day.” (@SupJaniceHahn, Twitter)
At a COVID-19 briefing, Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis added that barbershops and salons would be able to open and operate at limited capacity as of the 3rd September if they were in line with all of the Health Officer Orders.
Counties in the San Francisco area have also begun to reopen, but only outdoors at the moment, with barbershops and salons not expected to resume service indoors until late September.
Henkel North America’s Beauty Care Professional business has officially launched STMNT (pronounced statement), a new brand offering a range of effective, high-performing grooming goods with superior formulas and prestige packaging – designed to be accessible to all regardless of gender or style.
Sofie Pok aka @STAYGOLD, Julius Arriola aka @JULIUSCAESAR and Miguel Gutierrez aka @NOMADBARBER all collaborated on the brand to raise the standard of grooming products across the barbering industry. The range contains four lines of products; lines specifically curated by each creator plus a general care line. The products range from shampoos, conditioners and all-in-one care products to pomades, sprays and powders for both long and short styles.
Caleb Foltermann, General Manager of STMNT Grooming Goods, said “Over the past few years, barbering and grooming have evolved. Modern barbering is all about making a statement. It is sophisticated, lifestyle-driven, and genderless. We wanted to pioneer a brand that was authentic to the movement and made grooming products accessible to all. These three creators embody what it means to be a modern barber and they have the deep expertise to formulate products that are truly effective.”
STMNT is available at Ulta from September 2020, with suggested retail pricing ranging from $11.95 – $24.95.
For more information, follow STMNTGROOMING.com and @STMNTGROOMING and make your statement with the hashtags #STMNTGROOMING and #MAKEYOURSTMNT.
As we wave goodbye to one of the strangest and bleakest summers we’ve ever seen, at BarberEVO we’re hoping to brighten up your autumn days with a splash of colour. Issue No.22 is bold, make no mistake about that!
The latest edition of our 104 page, printed magazine is brimming with inspiration and advice from some of the industry’s biggest names. As you flick through your copy, you’ll see how they’ve been fighting to make sure that this comeback is a success and that the barbering industry won’t be disappearing again any time soon.
We delve into everything from tech to going green (environmentally, that is). Danny Robinson shares details of his futuristic new Danny & Co. shop, while we look at the latest innovations in barbershop technology, and on the other end of the scale, all-natural brands and barbershops.
We focus on tattoos, from independent artists like Quyen Dinh, to studios like Deerheart Collective, finding out how the pandemic has affected them day-to-day.
Our interview with the always colourful Tom Baxter is a great read – he tells us about his fantastic new educational series, and why the industry needs to go back to basics when it comes to colouring techniques.
We’re also speaking to some fantastic barbershops from all corners of the UK to find out how they’ve found things post-lockdown. Luka Chitty of Luka’s Barbers tells us about his incredible new project, Together Create, which he hopes will inspire small, local businesses to come together and create something beautiful.
This issue really is about coming together and supporting the industry, local businesses and artists in this very weird period in time. I hope reading it brings a little spark of hope to your day and inspires you to check-in and support each other.
Stay safe, stay creative, and look out for your community – we’ll get through this together!
Over the past year, approximately 60 Black barbers in Mississippi have received training to engage their clients in discussions about mental health.
Mississippi is one of six Southern states ranked in the bottom 10 for mental health care access. Hairdresser and teacher at Trendsetters Barber College in Jackson, MS, says “As a barber, people listen to our advice a lot, and the training just brought that out more.”
Wiggins received training courtesy of The Confess Project, an Arkansas-based group that teaches Black barbers across the South how to integrate emotional support into general ‘shop talk’ and remove the taboo of emotional conversations in environments like male waiting rooms.
“I’ve had clients (before) who committed suicide, clients who had depression,” Wiggins said. “This has made me pay attention more to different words a client might use. Or if a client wants to let others get before them, basically they don’t really want a haircut and maybe want to talk more. It makes me pay more attention, because it may be something that could save that person’s life.”
Founder of The Confess Project, Lorenzo Lewis, has worked with barbers across Southern states to provide barbers with the tools to support their clients. The results so far have been encouraging: “On the micro level we’re working to build stronger, healthier relationships,” Lewis said. “On the macro level, we see that poverty may be decreased. Men come in the shops that have better employment outcomes and better mental health.”
Two hairdressing entrepreneurs have joined forces to spearhead the growth of a new hair replacement system venture.
International award-winning barber Sam Wall and salon owner Rob Wood have teamed up to grow Novo Cabelo, a new business founded in the North East to help popularise the emerging phenomenon of hair replacement.
The concept, already hugely popular in the US, is now reaching the UK and allows men and women to regain hair without having to undergo a hair transplant. A hair replacement, which lasts between three and five months, is proving to be an effective and cost-effective option which is becoming more established in the UK marketplace.
Novo Cabelo – which translates as ‘new hair’ in Portuguese – is working with people across the North of England to help them regain the look they want, including post-cancer patients who have lost their hair through medical treatment.
The business is also working with several salons to help them discover the concept of hair replacement, as a means of introducing new, potentially revenue-boosting initiatives as they continue to reopen after months of lockdown.
Sam, who travels the world to create the styles of A-list stars, will be carrying out hair replacement systems from his base at Hidden Heights Creative Studio, in Gateshead. Novo Cabelo is his latest entrepreneurial venture, following the launch of his eponymous ‘Mr Sam Wall’ product range and 5:AM membership service.
“This is an exciting concept which has only quite recently come over to the UK, but I heard about hair replacement systems while I was in the States working and I was amazing how real and natural they looked. They are a great alternative to a transplant, which can be quite a traumatic and invasive procedure, and the cost makes it very accessible for so many more people,” said Sam, who recently joined Rob and his team at Novo Cabelo.
“This is something totally new for me and it’s really exciting. As a stylist, I travel the world helping people to achieve the looks they want, and educating aspiring barbers in how to create that for their clients, and that is what our profession is all about. Through being able to offer hair replacement systems, I’ll be able to help clients feel great about their appearance in a whole new way.
“The interest we have had has been phenomenal, there is a big demand for this service, and we can’t wait to start helping people to rediscover their confidence through turning to Novo Cabelo. I’m really grateful to the team for allowing me to be part of the business.”
Follow @novocabelohair on Instagram to keep up to date with the venture.
While this year has seen a lot of events and competitions cancelled or postponed, Wahl is keeping spirits up by going ahead with its annual British Barber of the Year competition.
Past winners include Carl Taylor of Murdock Barbers of London, Keune ambassador James Beaumont and Andrea Raymond, who now has a place on the Wahl Artistic Team.
2019 winner Carl Taylor
Wahl have said that this year they will be ‘doing things a little differently,’ with more details on this to be released in due course. In the meantime, barbers can submit their entries via wahl.co.uk and completing the entry form.
Barbers are encouraged to submit four images showcasing their best work along with a biography on themselves and their career.
Finalists will be contacted and provided with further details once entries close on 26th October 2020.
Government officials have warned the NHBF that they will close the hair and beauty sector if they don’t follow safety guidelines.
The NHBF is launching the #DoItRight campaign to ensure hair and beauty professionals across the UK understand exactly what is required of them to keep working and reduce the risk of further restrictions or lockdowns.
The NHBF want to stress how important it is for everyone to follow the guidelines and operate in a COVID secure way to protect yourselves, your employees, clients and to protect the industry from being locked down again.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has issued a statement to the NHBF which says all businesses are at risk of receiving formal action from local authorities if they are not following their risk assessments. Failure to comply with an enforcement notice from a local authority officer can lead to prosecution in the criminal courts and penalties including fines or up to two years’ imprisonment.
In England, the main points that people need to remember are:
Wearing a visor – the guidelines which were updated on 14 August now say you must also wear a Type II face mask for extra protection
Using a booking-only system and maintaining social distancing in the workplace
Frequent washing of hands
Using screens and back-to-back/side-to-side working
Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and tools, especially after each client
Contacting clients before appointments to check if clients have COVID symptoms, in which case they must cancel
The rules are slightly different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but they apply to everyone working in hair and beauty: hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians, beauty therapists, eyebrow and eyelash professionals and beauty aesthetics practitioners, including mobile workers in hair and beauty.
Hilary Hall, chief executive of the NHBF says, “We have worked hard to ensure hair and beauty salons, barbershops and individual professionals can get back to work but because some are failing to follow the guidelines, they are putting the whole industry at risk. We’ve launched our #DoItRight campaign to help hair and beauty businesses across the UK understand the guidelines that apply in their part of the country. The last thing any of us want is to face further restrictions, further lockdowns or a second spike in coronavirus infections. The impact on our industry would be devastating. Please do your bit to help and show you’re putting the industry first as well as protecting the safety of your teams and your clients.”
Barbershop management tool Squire has announced the suspension of subscription fees. The move, which will see all subscription fees waived until 2021, will provide further support to the barber industry.
The app allows users to discover barbershops, book appointments, and pay for haircuts directly from your mobile. Customers are charged $0.99 to book appointments, which is added at checkout.
The app has staff management, marketing and POS capabilities for barbershops, and has, at time of writing, over 2,000 partners.
Since we saw you last, the industry has welcomed plenty of changes and made the most of the comeback, different though it may be. And here at BarberEVO, there have been some changes, too.
Behind the keyboard at the moment is Jenna Robertson, your new Editor. I’m thrilled to join the team at BarberEVO – my incredible predecessor Amy has left some big shoes to fill, but has also left me with a very exciting role to take on. I’m so looking forward to getting to know our community of readers and contributors (who really are the rock stars of the barbering world), and continuing to bring you fresh, inspiring content.
And what a time to join! Our North American comeback issue is as exciting as they come. Our cover star is none other than Layrite legend Donnie Hawley, who shares some pearls of wisdom from his 25 years in the business and tells us the origin of the famous Layrite Deluxe Pomade.
We also take a look back at our incredible EVOLive series, sharing some of our favorite quotes and insights from barbers, brands and industry leaders, and we find out how other countries are coping post-lockdown, from the UK to the UAE.
We talk to Director of Education at Barbicide, Leslie Roste, on what the team have been doing during quarantine to support the industry, our columnist and SCurl Ambassador brings us a thought- provoking piece on the Black Lives Matter movement, and a host of leading barbers share their thoughts and advice on how to fix those pesky DIY home haircuts that I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of over the past few weeks!
Our columnist Kenny Duncan delivers a thought-provoking piece on the Black Lives Matter movement, and why it’s more important than ever for people across the globe to educate themselves on racial injustice.
We’re also looking out for you – while protecting yourselves and your clients is of the utmost importance, it is just as important to look after your own wellbeing, in both body and mind, so we’ve put together advice on how to prioritize your mental and physical wellbeing in these crazy times.
We also delve into retail – an important resource for barbershops keen to claw back some of that lost revenue. You’ll find invaluable advice from Elliott Chester, Sosa and Bona Fide Pomade, who continue to use retail to their advantage.
It feels great to be on Team EVO, cheering on an industry that is so dynamic and fighting so hard to push through these uncertain times. I hope you enjoy our comeback issue, but in the meantime, stay safe, stay positive, and look forward to brighter days ahead.
The Fellowship of British Hairdressing has been forced to put its annual PROJECT: Men project on hold for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that the 2020 team will rollover with the project into 2021. There’s now room for three new hairdressers looking to develop their skills to join the mentoring scheme.
PROJECT: Men launched in 2019 to provide insight and education on all aspects of men’s hairdressing and grooming, from essential barbering techniques to presentation and photoshoot skills. The team comes together monthly to enjoy a mentoring session led by industry experts, who in the past have included Danny & Co, Hayden Cassidy, Johnny Shanahan, Andrea Raymond and the Master Barbers.
The team also have the opportunity to gain on-set experience and join Jonathan as he works on fashion week shows and live stage work with the Fellowship at Salon International.
Of the Project, Jonathan says: ‘I’m honoured to be Project Leader for PROJECT: Men for a second year. Men’s hair is something I am so passionate about and I think there are so many incredible avenues to explore from the salon all the way to the stage. This is going to be a jam-packed year full of things I only wish I could have had when I was starting out.’
PROJECT: Men is suitable for anyone looking to gain more experience in men’s hair – there’s no age limit and applicants do not need to have experience in barbering.
To apply for one of the three places available, applicants should fill out the form available at www.fellowshiphair.com and send three images of their men’s hair work. The closing date for entries is 12pm on Thursday 24 September 2020.
