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Hey Reader,

Around this time for the last couple years, I typically offer some hot takes on the 'State of the Barber Industry'. This year will be no different. Let's explore.

Embracing Look & Learns

Look Learns are hand-on, education focused events typically hosted at a local barbershop. They provide a platform for new and rising educators to share their approach and techniques in a conversational environment. Sometimes ticketed and sometimes not, we're seeing Look & Learn events pop up everywhere.

From a barbershop owner perspective, they can be incredibly strategic from a barber retention and barber recruiting lens. Shops that host these events are often known for crafting a team culture that is growth-minded and forward thinking. These are the teams that attract hungry and humble barbers looking to grow their barber careers, while also developing a brand reputation amongst their communities that attract new clients.

These events aren't going anywhere. If anything, we'll probably see more and more shops begin to integrate these look and learns into their regular calendar.

Gender Neutral Spaces

Shear cutting techniques have been trending in the barber community for a while now. Mid-length hairstyles have forced many barbers to adapt and learn how to give an all shear haircut. And now, we're on the edge for another frontier: longer hair.

For a barber who has embraced shear cutting, long hair is a natural progression. If you're tracking with hair sectioning, elevation, graduation and layers, then you're steps away from long hair. When I was at World of STMNT LA, there were female models getting long haircuts from barbers. That stuck with me.

Fast forward to today, we're on the cusp of a very special educational event that might be catalyst for this new wave. Master Women’s precision cutter Jay Mahmood & EDUCO ACADEMY are hosting a groundbreaking educational event that bridges the gap between Men’s and Women’s precision hair cutting. Learn more through this post.

I'd love to see a world where we see more collaborations like this one: men's grooming educators x hairdresser educators.

Community over Everything

After all, community is in the DNA of every barbershop in the world. As we consider these trends in education, they really point towards the desire for community. As barbers selflessly serve their communities, we also need to be connected to our own communities. Not just any community, but spaces that are growth-focused.

Many of us have goals and visions for where we'd like to go and it's crucial we find people and places that bridge us towards achieving those dreams.

But, let's be honest, there are pockets within the barber community that just aren't interested in growth. If you happened to be looking to grow, getting connected into these communities is vital and career changing.

It all reminds me of a quote we hear often, but for me, first heard during my podcast interview with Cray Gerada years ago.

And there seems to be a lot of going together lately. I'm here for it.

Alright, finished with No.108. See you next time!

Written by: Matthew Mendoza​​
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