As we all know, barbering was once viewed as a low paid job for the less academically inclined but now it’s a genuine creative conduit for serious business men and women. We speak to cover star Arod who, through tireless self-promotion, relentless social media mastery and his perfectly honed craft, charges $350 for the VIP service at Elegance Studio.
The opportunities are now there in this incredible industry for those willing to reach out and grab them.
Alongside telling individuals stories, we take a look at how the ever-expanding barber subculture bleeds into other creative disciplines like fashion and even surfing and skating.
All this and much more can be found inside Issue #2 of BarberEVO North America.
Actions speak louder than words. And by combining two words for the first time, Wahl Professional will make the act of cutting hair easier than ever with their newest advancement: the Cordless Senior.
After a long-awaited unveiling, it’s finally available in the U.S. market.
“The Cordless Senior is something you always wished for as a barber but would never believe could happen in a million years,” says Wahl Education and Artistic Team (W.E.A.T.) member Garland “G-Whiz” Fox. “And here it is, the Cordless Senior, the most powerful Wahl cordless clipper hands down.”
For barbers and stylists looking for a heavy duty cordless clipper with strong cutting power, the new Cordless Senior is the tool to take precision on-scalp fading, clipper-over-comb and bulk hair removal clipper techniques to the next level.
“It has been amazing to hear the buzz around the world about the launch of this clipper,” says Anne Marie Kollias, National Sales Manager for Wahl Professional. “The iconic corded Senior is celebrating 65 years on the market this year, and we are thrilled to now introduce the Cordless Senior and provide more options for barbers and stylists.”
The build-up to the release of the Cordless Senior has been captivating artists and audiences through a mutual excitement for the launch.
“As each day passed, globally the hair world spoke and tuned in on what was happening,” said W.E.A.T. member Julius ‘Caesar’ Arriola, who attended Salon International last October for the launch of the Cordless Senior in the U.K. “Everyone wanted a piece of the action, whether they were at the show or not.”
The precision, speed and power of the Cordless Senior was demonstrated by W.E.A.T.’s Garland “G-Whiz” Fox on the Wahl Professional stage and in the classroom at the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show in February.
“That was the first and only time that the Cordless Senior was available in U.S., and it sold out on the first day of the show,” says Fox. “We reserved one to be awarded to a Wahl class participant who came to the stage afterward and could answer five questions in one minute. The winner, who answered everything right, plus the competitive nature of this, that’s how bad people wanted to get the Cordless Senior. “
The Cordless Senior is at the forefront of design and technology. In the industry where almost everyone is looking for cordless alternatives, the Cordless Senior is the premier option, combining high-performance, precision technology with nostalgic historic value.
“It’s absolutely one of my favorite tools,” says Arriola. “It doesn’t fail to deliver exactly what it’s made for: Precision, power, and durable performance…all without a cord holding me back.”
Running on a lithium-ion battery (70-minute run time) with a powerful motor and precision cutting blade, the impact this tool cuts with places it at the forefront of haircutting technology.
Additional features, such as a 5-Star surgical fade blade, higher blade speed, more torque, a powerful cordless motor, and heavy duty aluminum cover lid and iconic design all make the Cordless Senior an elite tool within the industry.
Describing how the Cordless Senior compares with the Cordless Magic Clip, Fox remarks: “There is no way to pick one and not the other. The Cordless Magic Clip and Cordless Senior are unique in their own ways and you need to have both or you’re not official.”
Both blades are flat precision, with the allowance of zero-gapping. The Cordless Magic Clip boasts a unique stagger-tooth blade which makes smooth blending effortless, while the Cordless Senior blade quickly removes hair with laser-sharp accuracy.
“Both tools demand their own pedestal, but work very much hand-in-hand with each other,” says Arriola.
“Picasso could never have made his art with one brush and one paint color,” adds Fox. “The blade on the Magic Clip and power and precision of the Senior give you the perfect fade. Knowing what tool you have and how to use it, puts you above the average in your cutting skills.”
As for maintaining your tools, the first step begins with reading the instructions on how to extend the life of the motor and preserve the blade.
“Proper oil and cleaning are key,” says Fox.
“As always, be sure to use Wahl Blade Ice after every haircut,” says Arriola. “Then use Wahl Clini-Clip Disinfectant Spray to ensure full sanitary conditions for everlasting performance and routinely follow the 5-point oil process using Wahl Oil to keep the blades running smoothly.”
Barbers and stylists who are looking for a lightweight but remarkably powerful clipper with even more cutting versatility will be ready to increase their artistry with the Cordless Senior.
“I believe this clipper will be a favorite of our long-time Wahl fans and will attract a new fan base looking for a lot of power in a cordless option,” says Kollias.
“It’s just different,” says Fox. “It’s a different feel, different flow, it’s almost magical.” For more information about the launch of the Cordless Senior, please visit http://wahlpro.com/.
50p from each tub sold is donated straight back to The Lions Barber Collective; helping the charity to raise awareness and prevent male suicides all over the world.
Premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new hair gel in collaboration with men’s mental health charity The Lions Barber Collective.
The Bluebeards Revenge Hair Gel has been developed especially with barbers in mind to provide them with a professional, multipurpose product that can handle both retro spikes and modern textured masterpieces.
Most importantly, 50p from each tub sold is donated straight back to The Lions Barber Collective; helping the charity to raise awareness and prevent male suicides all over the world.
Founder of The Lions Barber Collective and award-winning hairstylist Tom Chapman was heavily involved in the development of this new product. He said: “Collaborating with our friends at The Bluebeards Revenge in any way is a privilege. But to have the chance to develop a product alongside them that actively helps to support our work while giving back to the barbering community is phenomenal.”
“I have always dreamt of developing hair products, so to collaborate on a product that I use every day was very exciting. Hair gels have come such a long way in recent years and now offer so much more than the brightly coloured concoctions of the past.
“The hair gel we have created with The Bluebeards Revenge reflects the evolving landscape of men’s hairstyling and is an essential product for barbers. Its versatility means it acts as a fantastic cutting agent, enabling hairstylists to create neat sections and partings in both long and short wet hair. It also works perfectly as a pre-styling product, meaning stylists can create hold and shape in the hair with very little product residue. Add to that its classic barbershop fragrance and strong hold and it’s a really rounded product that is head and shoulders above the supermarket slimes!”
The Bluebeards Revenge’s commitment to raising awareness and preventing male suicide can be seen on the inside of every hair gel’s carton.
Bradley Wicks, a spokesman for the brand, said: “The inside of our cartons have been branded with life-saving information from The Lions Barber Collective. Upon opening the carton, barbers and their clients can read all about the support available to them: whether that’s how to become an official Lions’ Barber, or where to find the right support to fight back against the stigma that surround mental ill health in men.
“The latter has even attracted the attention of world-renowned suicide prevention charity Samaritans, who have kindly allowed us to include their contact information to signpost men to appropriate help at any time.”
A year has passed since the success of the first BarbersRide and we are delighted to announce its return! Born out of love of barbering and motorbikes, BarbersRide is a yearly charity event incorporating riding and barbering seminars with some of the UK’s top names in the industry.
Experience five exclusive barbering seminars hosted at Harley-Davidson® dealerships across the country with some of the industries finest barbers demonstrating their skills up close and personal. Each seminar is followed by an after party, before hitting the roads again the next day.
The trip is made up of 5 seminars at £30 each. Each event includes a goodie bag worth £15 from our sponsors for the first 20 bookings at each event. Here are all the seminars you can attend:
As a leading manufacturer of clippers and trimmers for professional barbers and stylists, Andis recognises the need for world-class education. To expand its already strong team of professional educators, Andis names renowned barber, Hayden Cassidy as the latest addition to their global education team.
Branded as one of Ireland’s most successful barbers, Hayden challenges herself by fusing fashion into creative editorial work, showcasing the best of her ability through exciting collaborative projects. Hayden has continued to establish her position in the industry, growing an international platform that has captured the imagination of barbers.
A rising talent in barbering fraternity, Hayden began her career in Ireland amidst the boom of the industry, taking influence from the US barbering and hairdressing scenes. Establishing a clean, signature look which is appreciated around the world, she works alongside fashion magazines, photographers and artists to create looks which fuse fashion with today’s barber industry. Pushing her talent and artistic vision, she specialises in men’s hair, merging techniques from every aspect of barbering, inspired by her travels through different countries and cultures. Taking place on stages across Europe, Hayden will be based in Germany working alongside some of the top barbers of our generation to fly the Andis flag.
Andis Education Manager, Jessica Zeinstra says: ‘We have been courting Hayden for a while now and feel that her knowledge, passion and skill will create an engaging education platform for barbers to follow. Her global reputation and creative talent will be a strong asset to the Andis education team.’
Inside issue nine of EVO UK and Ireland, we bring you the usual dose of all things barbering from exclusive interviews to product reviews and lifestyle features.
We loved every minute at the CT Barber Expo and also at the Great British Barber Bash London and the Scottish Hair and Beauty Show, but there’s no time to rest on our laurels. There are plenty more incredible events to look forward to in the coming months on both sides of the Atlantic. We’ll be at Barbercon, Mark Gaye’s Irish Barber Expo, Barber Connect (J8), Barber UK (X60), GBBB Glasgow and the NI Barber Convention. You know the drill by now. Swing by and say hello to the EVO gang!
Many would argue that barbering was previously viewed as being cheap and cheerful. We would argue that by in large this is no longer the case. The question does remain, however, how can a haircut be worth £250?
Yep, that’s right. Inside, we talk to Instagram’s most followed barber, Arod. The Holywood-based barber has amassed an impressive 1.2 million Instagram following and charges top dollar for the VIP experience at Elegance Studio. He discusses how you can create a higher value service for your clients. Adee Phelan certainly knows about providing high value services too; he was the man behind David Beckham’s mohawk and he discusses his impressive career with Larry The Barberman.
We also sit down with SB Academy owner Vicki Smith to discuss women in the barbershop. I know, I know, it’s been done to death and the consensus is that women are no longer a novelty in our industry. We are certainly seeing more women at the top of the game, but is this indicative of what is happening in barbershops throughout the land? Vicki isn’t so sure.
We recently launched BarberEVO North America at the CT Barber Expo and you can read our reviews of that show and of Barber Bash London inside. As always, there is far too much to list so I’ll just let you get on with it!
Risks are a part of life. They don’t always pan out. But when everything falls into place, something truly special can happen.
Wahl Professional took a risk last summer when they debuted the first ever online barber battle. And the response they received from the barbering community paid off for them – and for the best of the battlers who took a chance on entering.
Just ask Benny Machado, the Grand Prize Winner of last year’s battle, and an honorary member of the Wahl Education and Artistic Team (W.E.A.T.) in 2018.
“Winning has sparked a passion to help others and has given me the platform to do so. I’ve met so many professionals and received valuable advice.”
Wahl Professional will provide that same unique platform for artists to showcase their skills to the world with the second iteration of their barber battle, scheduled to launch June 1.
“As a 99+ year company, Wahl Professional strives to be on the forefront of innovation in
all that we do,” said Aaron Flick, Senior Marketing Associate, Professional Division, Wahl Clipper Corporation. “We are looking to grow and separate ourselves from the pack even more in 2018.”
And the changes Wahl Professional is making to the battlefield – the website itself – will play a big part in that separation: Namely, user-friendliness.
“Updates have been made on the mobile development side for a sleeker look and feel.
We also have improved on the login process to allow users to create a login and submit
their entry in multiple steps (instead of all at once),” said Flick.
Another change is the actual competition cuts barbers will be judged on. Like last year’s
battle, participants will have to show their mastery of a Classic Bald Fade and a Creative Design of their own choosing. This year, however, they can choose either the Pompadour or Textured Crop as one of the three cuts for the judges’ consideration.
Wahl Professional has also upped the stakes.
While the grand prize winner will receive a one-year membership on W.E.A.T. and the
entire 5-Star line, valued at over $1,200, 2nd place will be awarded a position in the newly unveiled Wahl Select Barbers program, which is a new addition to this year’s battle.
The top three winners will also receive notoriety on the Barber Battle website, and 1st-10th place will all have their work showcased on Wahl Professional’s social media channels.
The winners will be announced in September and entrants will have from June 1 – June
29, 2018, to submit their videos.
However, if there’s one thing both Wahl Professional and Machado can attest to, it’s the
time needed to make the work standout.
“The only thing that I would’ve changed was waiting until the last minute to make the
video. Which created lots of stress and sleepless nights,” said Machado.
To give yet another incentive, Wahl Professional is rewarding those who submit their
entries promptly.
“We will offer a new 5 Star Retro T-Cut for the first ten full video submissions,” said Flick.
What advice can be offered to those looking to show their mettle? That depends on who
you ask.
Flick gives more tactical advice: “Study the rules and hire a videographer (or use a good
camera) to showcase your cuts in high quality.”
Last year’s champ offers something a little more inspirational.
“Don’t think about it too much! Just go for it, be smart on your model selection. Don’t take
this opportunity for granted,” said Machado.
Those looking to take risks of their own are encouraged to learn more and register at www.wahlbarberbattle.com.
Mention the name 5-Star Senior or Magic Clip and what comes to mind? Most likely it is the precision, power and ease of fading that barbers and stylists rely on from Wahl Professional’s 5-Star Series for their multi-cultural clients.
Now look again, because precision fading with the name Wahl 5-Star is taking on a new gold-star design. Every one of the tools will receive an update and be revealed over the next month.
“Each product will progress into the new 5-Star look at different times during the second quarter of 2018,” said Tracy Vock, Senior Product Manager, Professional Division, Wahl Clipper Corporation. “The completion date for the full line to be transferred over to the new look and feel is the end of May.”
As the new 5-Star look begins to unfold, each of the classic styles will be transformed by a consistency in look with gold color accents as the dominate design feature, along with easily identifiable Wahl logos that are laser cut into each tool.
“Think of it as an enhancement to the products,” says Jesey Nicholson, Senior Graphic Designer, Professional Division, Wahl Clipper Corporation. “The new look was designed with barbers in mind, providing the consistency of tools for the busy barber and stylist. Gold levers and switches throughout the line separates the 5-Star products from our other clippers and trimmers.”
The idea for the new gold-star look originated from discussions on the line in general and working with Wahl’s marketing team and design engineers to test samples and colors to finalize the style.
“I’m excited about the upgrade to the 5-Star Senior clipper that gives this product a lot of class,” says Nicholson. “The black and gold accents balance well together and give the product more of a high-end look that reflects the product’s performance.”
Barbers will also notice a color change in the attachment combs in some trimmer sets to help elevate the appearance of the line.
“There are not any new features for each product,” says Vock, “Each product is already unique, so we basically gave the line a face lift, so to speak.”
Just last year, a similar update to the Wahl Designer Clipper Family of tools was introduced, featuring a classic black color scheme to keep everything consistent in that line.
“We are focused on making the Wahl 5-Star Series look consistent and upscale,” says Nicholson. “Our customers love our products, so making the looks consistent as well as enhancing the packaging was an easy decision.”
The branded look of the new 5-Star packaging reveals a clean design on the front. On the back of the package, pertinent information easily identifies how each product differs, and printing enhancements to the package design make the products stand out when displayed on store shelves.
As for marketing the new line, Wahl Professional created first-class product videos to help show off the new looks, along with website updates and social media posts to reflect this new design. Those interested in learning more about the new 5-Star line can view the latest product improvements at http://wahlpro.com/products/5-star/.
The celebrity and multi award-winning barber Tom Baxter has been named the new Brand Ambassador of the professional haircare brand OSMO. This title arrives after many winning collaborations such as The Great British Barber Bash events, where Tom Baxter brought to the stage not only his impressive skills but also demonstrated how OSMO’s products helped him to refine and perfect his techniques.
Tom Baxter began his journey in the barbering world as a teenager, enjoying multiple successes and quickly becoming a YouTube and Instagram sensation. Recently, he achieved the title of 2017 British Master Barbers ‘UK Barber of The Year’.
OSMO immediately recognised a reflection of their own brand values when observing Tom’s style and his skill when using the grooming range. Sinéad McLaughlin, OSMO marketing executive says: “We are really excited to have Tom on board; we love his forward-thinking style of cutting and his unique use of the products. Tom’s inspiring work is an outstanding opportunity to share our philosophy and deliver a clear message on what the brand has to offer.”.
Tom Baxter continues “I am honoured to become OSMO’s Brand Ambassador. I have been working with the brand for a while now and I wanted to bring our collaboration to the next step. I am looking forward to see what we’ll be able to achieve together in terms of cutting, colour and styling”.
Celebrity and multi award-winning barber, Tom Baxter held a haircutting marathon to support the charity Tiny Lives Trust. The ‘Baxter Barberthon’ started at 8am on Sunday, 29 April until 8am on Monday, 30 April 2018 at Tom Baxter Hair salon (Newcastle upon Tyne).
The event ran for 24hrs with no breaks; the salon was constantly crowded with clients keeping Tom busy for the whole day and night. Friends and colleagues joined Tom to support him and help with his mixed clientele of men, women and kids. The team’s efforts were rewarded; the haircutting marathon raised £3000 that will contribute to buy special incubators/cots that will improve the living conditions of many young children.
Partner of the event was the leading professional hair range OSMO, who provided the attendees with their hero products. Sinéad McLaughlin, OSMO marketing executive says, “It was an honour for OSMO to support the event; we work closely with Tom and we didn’t hesitate to help and knowing that with a small gesture, you can help improve many lives.”.
Tom Baxter continues “The haircutting marathon was a success! Time is the most precious thing we have and dedicating 24hrs exclusively to raise money for a good cause, it’s fantastic. I got a lot of support from my team and friends so it was also a good test for everyone.”
To keep supporting Tiny Lives Trust, the donations are open via the dedicated giving page.
Alongside telling individuals stories, we take a look at how the ever-expanding barber subculture bleeds into other creative disciplines like fashion and even surfing and skating.
Actions speak louder than words. And by combining two words for the first time, Wahl Professional will make the act of cutting hair easier than ever with their newest advancement: the Cordless Senior.
