Meet Zephyr™ — A New Kind of Clipper Experience

Not every haircut starts with speed. Some start with trust. 

For many clients, a trip to the barbershop or salon is routine. But for those with sensory sensitivities, the experience can quickly become overwhelming. The sound of clippers, vibration, touch, and the unpredictability of the environment can create stress—turning what should be a simple service into a challenge. 

For today’s professionals, the service experience matters as much as the end result. Creating an environment where clients feel calm, safe, and supported is becoming a new standard—one that extends beyond technique and into trust. 

That mindset sparked a meaningful partnership between Andis and The Sensory Safe Solution—an organization focused on helping businesses better support individuals with sensory sensitivities. Together, they set out to explore how tools and education could work together to create more inclusive, comfortable services. 

The result is Zephyr™, a professional clipper designed to support calmer, more predictable appointments without compromising performance. 

Designed for the Experience Behind the Service

Zephyr™ was developed with both performance and client comfort in mind. It features an ultra-quiet motor to support lower-stimulation services, dual speed settings (3,500 and 5,500 SPM), and up to three hours of cordless runtime—delivering the flexibility professionals expect in everyday use. 

But its purpose goes beyond specs. Every detail is designed to help reduce potential stressors during the service, allowing professionals to create more controlled, predictable experiences in the chair. 

More Than a Tool

Across the industry, there’s growing recognition that client comfort and emotional experience are essential to long-term success. For many families, finding a professional who understands sensory sensitivities can be life-changing—building confidence, routine, and trust over time.

Zephyr™ represents a step forward in that direction, supporting professionals who want to expand their services while better meeting the needs of a wider range of clients.

The Bigger Opportunity

As the industry evolves, inclusivity is becoming a defining factor in how barbershops and salons differentiate themselves. Professionals who adapt are not only enhancing the client experience—they’re strengthening relationships, building loyalty, and creating more welcoming spaces for everyone. 

Because sometimes, the most impactful innovations aren’t just about power or precision—
they’re about how clients feel in the chair. 

Learn more about Zephyr™ and the partnership with The Sensory Safe Solution:
Explore Zephyr™

It’s officially summer, and we have plenty to celebrate in this landmark 50th issue of BarberEVO. Packed with inspiration, creativity, business insight, and the industry’s leading voices, this edition shines a spotlight on the people, brands, and trends shaping the future of barbering around the world.

Cover Story: L3VEL3 Makes History

This issue opens with one of the biggest achievements in modern barbering. Our cover story celebrates L3VEL3’s remarkable accomplishment of winning the NAHA Barber of the Year title for a third consecutive year. We sit down with this year’s winner for an exclusive interview, exploring the dedication, creativity, and drive behind such an extraordinary achievement.

Joining the conversation is Carlos Pagan, better known as Drastic Barber, who shares his own insights into success, innovation, and what it takes to remain at the forefront of the industry.

In the Chair

Our latest In the Chair feature highlights Cherry the Barber, whose journey is a powerful story of resilience, determination, and growth. From overcoming challenges to building a successful career, Cherry offers valuable lessons and inspiration for barbers at every stage of their professional journey.

One to Watch

Every issue, we shine a light on emerging talent, and this edition introduces Angel Pagan. As a rising name within the industry, Angel is making an impact through creativity, ambition, and a fresh perspective that positions them as one of barbering’s most exciting talents to watch.

International Spotlight

We catch up with internationally recognised Australian barber Will Green, whose reputation extends far beyond his home country. In this exclusive interview, Will discusses his career journey, building a global profile, and the opportunities that come from pushing boundaries and embracing new challenges.

Creative Focus

Creativity remains at the heart of barbering, and this issue explores the many ways professionals can continue to evolve their craft. From colour work and braiding techniques to creative cutting, styling, and finding your unique artistic voice, we speak with industry experts who share their advice on staying inspired while continually raising the bar.

Interiors

Great spaces inspire great work. In our interiors section, we take a closer look at some of the industry’s most impressive destinations, including Sanctuary Atlanta, Treehaus Barbershop in Glasgow, and Santana’s innovative concept that combines barbering, scalp micropigmentation, tattooing, and education under one roof. Each space demonstrates how thoughtful design and vision can elevate both the client experience and business success.

Business Matters

Building a successful brand requires more than technical skill. In this issue’s business feature, we explore the realities of growth and expansion, examining the advantages and challenges of franchising versus remaining independent. Industry leaders share their experiences and advice on creating sustainable businesses that can thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Plus Much More

Alongside these features, Issue 50 is filled with expert insights, product innovation, education, and the latest industry developments from around the globe. Whether you’re looking for inspiration behind the chair, practical business advice, or a glimpse into the future of barbering, this milestone edition delivers something for every professional.

Welcome to BarberEVO Issue 50.

On May 30, 2026, during Premiere Orlando, one of the beauty industry’s largest professional events, Booksy welcomed barbers, hairstylists, creators, educators, and industry leaders to its annual brand party, an evening dedicated to celebrating the people shaping the future of beauty and barbering.

Booksy’s Big Top Event hosted guests in a vibrant, circus-inspired venue with thoughtfully curated activations including custom fragrance experiences, a caviar bar, and photo booths. More than a party, the event brought together professionals from across the country for a night of connection, conversation, and community, while highlighting a growing industry shift. Today’s beauty and barber professionals are increasingly operating as entrepreneurs, educators, content creators, and personal brands, in addition to providing services behind the chair. While technology continues to transform business operations, beauty services and barbering remain fundamentally a human profession built on trust, creativity, confidence, and connection.

The event served as a platform to showcase how technology can support—not replace—the professionals driving the industry forward. In 2025 alone, Booksy powered more than 215 million appointments and helped providers save an estimated 7.7 million hours annually through automated scheduling, payments, marketing, and business management tools.

“At a time when AI and automation dominate conversations across industries, beauty and barbering continue to prove that human relationships remain at the center of exceptional experiences,” says Gus Murillo, Director, Global Creative & Community at Booksy. “Technology can simplify operations, but it can never replace the creativity, culture, and personal connections that professionals create with their clients every day.”

Beyond efficiency, attendees discussed how those time savings translate into opportunities for growth, education, creativity, and personal well-being.

The evening also highlighted the stories of several Booksy ambassadors whose careers reflect the changing landscape of modern beauty and barbering:

• Joel Torres, an internationally recognized hairstylist and educator, shared how simplifying business operations has allowed him to focus on traveling, teaching, and inspiring professionals around the world.
• Timmel Horne discussed his journey from managing appointments through direct messages and phone calls to building a business that extends beyond barbering into podcasting, education, and personal brand development.
• Lonnie Horne spoke about leveraging technology to create operational consistency, enabling him to pursue additional entrepreneurial ventures while continuing to grow his influence within the industry.
• Mr. Official, a respected figure in barber culture, reflected on the evolution of barbering from traditional shop management to modern entrepreneurship, while maintaining the strong sense of identity and community that has always defined the profession.

As the industry continues to evolve, Booksy remains focused on helping professionals spend less time managing administrative tasks and more time building businesses, careers, and communities.

“Behind every appointment is a real person, a real relationship, and a real story,” added Murillo. “The conversations throughout the evening reinforced that the future of beauty isn’t less human—it’s more intentional, more connected, and more empowering for the professionals who make this industry what it is.”

Download the Booksy Biz mobile app for free or visit booksy.info/learn-more to learn more.

This Father’s Day, BEVEL is doing what it’s always done, showing up for Black men in an unforgettable way.

Meet soccer-enthusiasts and Influencers, Obi Uchendu and his son Tobenna Uchendu (nicknamed “Starboyy”), the father and son duo at the center of BEVEL’s newest Faces of Atlanta’s campaign, and BEVEL’s guests to the 2026 FIFA Word Cup game on Father’s Day! 

At a moment when the world’s eyes are on Atlanta, BEVEL turns its lens on the people who make the city what it is, celebrating the individuality, cultural pride, and distinct style of its Black community — not as a trend, as a commitment.

The new BEVEL Faces of Atlanta campaign launches on June 9th, 2026 and showcases the love of soccer passed down from father to son. Coached by his Dad Obi, Tobenna’s drill routines have routinely gone viral on Instagram, and Obi shares what grooming means to a father raising the world’s next soccer prodigy.

Obi first discovered BEVEL at his barbershop and immediately felt recognition. He felt the brand spoke to him and understood what it meant to take pride in your appearance and your culture. A grooming brand he felt he could pass down to his son. In the Atlanta-shot campaign, Obi shares the impactful mantra instilled in him by his mother: “Look the way you want to be addressed.” It’s a lesson he carries with him every day, and one he’s passing down to Tobenna as he begins to earn recognition of his own. “It felt good to see a brand that culturally represented me and my son,” Obi shared.

BEVEL revolutionized the standards of men’s grooming and personal care products and is renowned for creating premium products that cater to Black men and men of color with curly/coily textured hair and melanin-rich skin. BEVEL continues to uplift and empowering Black men and their experiences, recognizes that grooming is an essential part of every man’s self-care, confidence, mental health. Engineered for the best, by the best, with same precision that separates a good athlete from a world-class one, separates BEVEL from every other grooming brand on the shelf. BEVEL understands what elite performance requires a complete grooming that’s built for you, not adapted for you. BEVEL products instill confidence in men that lasts beyond the field, and to every walk of life. The campaign amplifies the importance of self-care for men who seek to perform at their best in every area of their life, and trust BEVEL products.

On Father’s Day, June 21, Obi and Tobenna will take their seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as guests of BEVEL to watch Spain v Saudi Arabia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A journey that began with backyard drills and a father’s belief, culminating in a once-in-a-lifetime experience neither of them will ever forget. The kind of moment BEVEL was made to celebrate.

Royal Kapper LLC, a Florida-based grooming products company, announced the expansion of its distribution network for a premium professional clipper care spray crafted without harsh chemicals.

As the global barbering industry continues to grow, professionals are demanding products that deliver exceptional performance while reflecting the elevated standards of today’s modern barbershop. Royal Kapper was developed to meet that demand with a premium formula that helps cool, clean, lubricate, and protect professional grooming tools while supporting daily maintenance routines.

Proudly Made in the USA and developed by an in-house chemist, Royal Kapper represents a new generation of professional clipper care products focused on quality, performance, and craftsmanship. The formula was designed to deliver professional-grade maintenance while being crafted without harsh chemicals, offering barbers a premium alternative for the care of their clippers, trimmers, and shavers.

“Barbers invest heavily in their tools, and proper maintenance is essential to performance and longevity. Royal Kapper was created to deliver a premium clipper care solution that professionals can trust every day.”

Designed For Professional Use

Royal Kapper Clipper Care Spray is engineered for use on professional clippers, trimmers, and shavers.

The formula helps:

• Cool blades during operation
• Remove hair and debris
• Lubricate moving components
• Help protect metal surfaces from

Available in two premium scent profiles, Cherry Bourbon and Unscented, Royal Kapper is stocked in 15.5oz aerosol cans.

Expanding Across Professional Barber Channels

Royal Kapper continues to expand its presence through professional barber supply distributors, grooming retailers, educational institutions, and industry partners throughout North America and international markets. The company remains focused on building long-term partnerships that support the growth of professional barbering worldwide.

CT Barber Expo 2026

Royal Kapper exhibited at CT Barber Expo 2026, one of the premier barbering events in North America. The event provided barbers, educators, distributors, and retailers the opportunity to experience the product firsthand and learn more about wholesale, distribution, and partnership opportunities.

About Royal Kapper LLC

Royal Kapper LLC is a Florida-based consumer goods company focused on developing premium grooming and barbering products for professional use. Proudly Made in the USA, the company develops products designed to support the performance, maintenance, and longevity of professional grooming tools. Royal Kapper’s flagship Clipper Care Spray is crafted without harsh chemicals and designed specifically for professional barbering environments.

As Father’s Day gifting shifts away from novelty and towards meaningful luxury, heritage British brand Kent Brushes is championing a return to craftsmanship, ritual and longevity with its Father’s Day 2026 Gift Guide.

Established in 1777, Kent Brushes has spent nearly 250 years creating grooming essentials that quietly become part of everyday life, from handcrafted hairbrushes and combs to beard brushes and traditional shaving accessories.

At a time when consumers are increasingly seeking authenticity, quality and products built to last, Kent’s collection taps directly into the growing appetite for heritage-led self-care and elevated daily rituals.

“Men’s grooming is no longer trend-driven alone,” said Zoe Cosby at Kent Brushes. “There’s a growing appreciation for products that feel timeless, functional and personal, pieces that become part of someone’s routine for years, even decades.”

The New Luxury? Everyday Essentials Done Properly

This Father’s Day, Kent Brushes spotlights grooming tools that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern performance:

• Military brushes crafted from natural wood and bristle blends for healthy, polished hair.
• Handmade combs designed to glide effortlessly through the hair
• Beard brushes and grooming sets for modern grooming rituals
• Traditional shaving brushes handcrafted using techniques refined over centuries
• Curated gift sets offering elevated, effortless gifting solutions

Among the standout launches is the LPF3 Pure Flow Military Brush, a sleek, contemporary interpretation of Kent’s iconic military brush design, created for everyday hair and beard grooming.

Other hero products include the gym-bag-ready AH11G, the shine-enhancing PF10, and the luxurious handmade MHN2T, crafted in Kent’s UK factory using traditional methods, and the incredible cashmere clothes brush.

Grooming Gifts That Carry Meaning

Unlike disposable gifting trends, Kent Brushes products are designed to last, often becoming sentimental pieces passed down between generations. From the pocket comb carried daily for years to the shaving brush that transforms routine into ritual, the brand’s products speak to a quieter, more enduring form of luxury.

“Good grooming tools don’t just look beautiful – they become familiar, reliable and personal.”

Heritage Craftsmanship Since 1777

Holding a Royal Warrant across nine consecutive reigns, Kent Brushes remains one of Britain’s most iconic grooming brands, continuing to manufacture many of its products in the UK using time-honoured techniques and the finest materials.

With Father’s Day 2026 expected to see continued demand for practical luxury and heritage gifting, Kent Brushes positions itself firmly at the intersection of tradition, craftsmanship and modern grooming culture.

Booksy, the go-to booking, management, and discovery app for barbers and beauty professionals globally, is excited to announce the launch of the “Icons of Dallas” out-of-home campaign. As a part of this community-led marketing campaign, Booksy will award free billboard advertising space to 20 local beauty and barbering professionals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to promote their businesses and generate visibility, potentially reaching 80,000 impressions. Submissions open May 25 and run through June 7 via the contest website.

Designed to spotlight local beauty and barbering professionals, the campaign will provide selected participants with a full creative package, including a professional brand photoshoot, custom billboard design services, and professionally edited photo selects. Each billboard will also direct potential clients to book featured professionals directly through the Booksy app.

“Many local beauty professionals don’t often have access to marketing opportunities of this scale, and Booksy wants to help amplify their businesses,” said Gus Murillo, Director, Global Creative & Community at Booksy. “Our community of beauty professionals and barbers is at the center of everything we do, and this campaign is another way for us to celebrate their talent while supporting their growth.”

To be eligible, entrants must either already be a Booksy provider or create a Booksy account during the application period. Applications open May 25 via the contest website.

The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has welcomed the Government’s new crackdown on organized crime operating through high street businesses, while warning that enforcement must be intelligence-led and must not unfairly stigmatize legitimate barbershops, salons, beauty businesses and clinics.

The Home Office has announced a major package targeting rogue businesses linked to money laundering, tax evasion and illegal working, including a new High Street Organised Crime Unit to coordinate action across law enforcement, Trading Standards and Government departments.

The NHBF said action is urgently needed to protect responsible high street businesses that pay their taxes, follow the rules, invest in staff and maintain safe, professional standards.

The NHBF is calling for a level playing field and fairer regulation across hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics. 

It has worked closely with the Government as it campaigns for stronger enforcement against tax evasion, illegal working and non-compliance, alongside intelligence-led action that targets criminal activity without damaging the reputation of legitimate businesses or the sector as a whole. 

The latest NHBF State of the Sector survey highlights the scale of the challenge. Published in February 2026 and based on 423 responses, it found that many businesses were working hard with little financial room to spare. Among respondents, 51.5% said trade was steady rather than strong, 30.3% reported that business was quiet or very quiet and 54.8% said they were either just breaking even or already operating at a loss.

The same survey found that fair competition and enforcement are major concerns for the sector, including within barbering. Respondents reported that suspicious activity and wider non-compliance can create unfair competition and reputational harm for legitimate businesses. 

The NHBF has said it will continue to press for enforcement that targets non-compliance and criminal behaviour while protecting legitimate operators from being caught up in damaging generalisations.

Darran Gould, NHBF board member and owner of Gould Barbers, said:

“Legitimate barbershops, salons and beauty businesses are the backbone of high streets across the UK. They pay their taxes, train apprentices, follow health and safety rules and support their local communities.”

Legitimate businesses simply cannot compete with illegitimate businesses They should not have to compete with rogue operators who ignore the rules, evade tax, exploit workers or use high street premises as cover for criminal activity.”

This crackdown will also protect the public.  Hair & beauty professionals are highly trained not just in their craft but compliant in health and safety with rigorous hygiene standards as well as being fully insured. UK clients deserve the right to know that they are entering a fully compliant barbershop or salon, feeing totally safe and comfortable. What the Government has just announced is a real step forward. Let’s hope this is the start of a level playing field.”

The NHBF’s survey also found that the biggest cost pressures facing businesses were National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increases, employer National Insurance Contributions and energy prices. 

The NHBF said the announcement should be part of a wider strategy to support high streets and compliant small businesses.

Enforcement must be matched by wider reform so that responsible businesses are not pushed into survival decisions while rogue operators are allowed to undercut them.

For this look, keep the taper low and tight while leaving extra weight through the front hairline to create a crisp, structured line-up. The clean blend around the sides and neckline keeps the cut sharp, while the fuller textured top allows the natural curls to remain the focal point. Leaving more length through the fringe area helps enhance the overall shape, frame the face, and gives the cut a more modern, fashion-led finish.

The key to this style is working with the client’s natural texture rather than trying to over-style it. The curls should look controlled, defined and soft with natural movement throughout the top. Keeping the taper low prevents the fade from overpowering the shape and creates a better balance between the tight sides and the textured length on top.

For styling, use a moisturising curl cream to hydrate and define the curl pattern, then finish with a small amount of matte paste for added texture and hold without creating shine. Apply the products through damp hair, focusing the curl cream through the mid-lengths and ends before lightly distributing the matte paste through the top for separation and control.

Diffuse on a low heat and low speed setting to maintain curl definition and minimise frizz. Avoid overworking the hair while drying, as separating the curls too much can create unwanted volume and take away from the clean, defined finish of the cut.

The finished result is a sharp, wearable style that combines clean barbering details with natural texture — modern, versatile and effortless for clients wanting a fresh but low-maintenance look.

Follow Bailey Snowden for more inspiration and style guides.

Sola Salons, the largest salon studio concept in the country, proudly announces its 2026 Faces of Sola Visionaries, nine beauty and wellness entrepreneurs driving industry change and community impact.

This year’s visionaries include a bridal hairstylist who founded the Sensory Chair Project, a hairstylist and educator who’s been with Sola Salons nearly two decades, and a Google-employee-turned-hairstylist who founded a trauma-informed medical sanctuary that engineers custom, texturally accurate cranial prostheses, ensuring no one has to compromise their cultural identity to heal.

With nearly 100 years of combined industry experience, this year’s diverse class of recipients comes from all walks of life with expertise spanning hair, tattoo, skincare, and more, but they share one common thread: their commitment to excellence both in and outside the salon.

“Every year, this long-standing program gives us the chance to recognize a group of incredible Sola Pros who represent the heart of this community,” said Daryl Hurst, President & COO of Sola Salons. “I love how our professionals always show up with passion, creativity, leadership and a real drive to raise the bar for what it means to build a business independently.”

“This year, we wanted to represent the community of Sola professionals in a more natural and holistic way,” added Tracy Ramos, Sola Director of Pro Community. “Rather than focusing on social media followings, we wanted to showcase people who were engaging in their communities – both within the industry and their local areas. We held video interviews with each applicant, and based our decision on the individuals’ personal stories, and the impact they are making in their communities. That’s why we are calling it the Faces of Sola Visionaries.”

Meet Your 2026 Faces of Sola Visionaries:

• Bridal Hair Abbey Jae | Wilmington, DE
• Barber Alex Sharkey | Cedar Knolls, NJ
• Tattoo Artist Alex Quinn | Warwick, RI
• Color Specialist and Hair Stylist Caroline Kim | Los Angeles, CA
• Esthetician Emily Clark | Chicago, IL
• Hair Stylist Pich Seng | Houston, TX
• Barber Rashleigh Béaton | Euless, TX
• Hair Stylist Rachel Swire | Atlanta, GA
• Hair Stylist and Cranial Prosthesis Victor Scotti, Jr. | Arlington, VA

Each of the 2026 Faces of Sola Visionaries brings a distinct expertise and mastery of their craft, from mentoring and educating the next generation of beauty professionals to leading nonprofit initiatives and driving meaningful change across the industry. This talented team has also participated in some of pop cultures’ biggest moments including the GRAMMYs, New York Fashion Week, the Emmy Awards, Milan Fashion Week and more.

They will have the opportunity to represent Sola Salons at a variety of events, photo shoots and editorial opportunities, while helping inspire the next generation of independent business owners.

“We want people of all walks of life, with all different kinds of stories to be able to picture themselves at Sola, and to picture a future,” Tracy said. “That’s what this is all about, to share those unique stories, and say to the industry, ‘Hey, look at our community of 20,000 professionals and the impact they’re making, not only
within Sola, but in the wider industry.'”

In its 11th year, the Faces of Sola is an annual program that spotlights some of the impressive entrepreneurs who make up the more than 21,000 professionals within the Sola community. The company’s mission is to not only provide spaces for independent professionals, but to support them with the tools, education and technology needed to build thriving businesses. This program gives the Sola community the chance to celebrate the achievements of some of the industry’s brightest. 

To learn more about Sola Salons or how to join the community, visit www.solasalons.com.