MENTOR
WHAT WAS YOUR ROUTE INTO BARBERING?
Daniel Rymer shares how he started out in the industry with barber student Dylan Lee
DYLAN LEE, BARBER STUDENT
“I’m currently training to be a barber and would love some insight into how you started out and some advice on the next few years of my own career. What got you interested in barbering to start with and how old were you? I’m 25 and I already feel like I’ve got into the game later than most! What training path did you end up taking? And finally, what would you say is the most important thing for all new barbers to think about when they are just starting out?”
DANIEL RYMER @DANIEL_RYMER , CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF DANIEL RYMER MALE GROOMING, BRISTOL
“I came into the barbering world later than most. I started my path aged 25 after being at university. My mother was a mobile hairdresser when I was growing up, so I was surrounded by hair. At 18, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but because I loved art and building things, I decided to go to University and study product design. Whilst there I pretended that my mother had trained me to cut hair, and after a few dodgy cuts I found my feet – and a new passion!
After leaving university I set my mind on pursuing men’s hair and fashion. After a few arguments with my parents about not wanting to do women’s hair, I enrolled onto a beginners course at TONI&GUY Academy in Manchester and achieved my NVQ level 2. From taking the course I knew that it definitely was men’s hair that I wanted to focus on, and I started emailing TONI&GUY salons around the country to see who would take me on.
Eventually Jim Shaw in Billericay, Essex took me in and helped me build my confidence as a male grooming specialist. I used to see Jim’s work in look books all the time when I was training, so it was an honour that he gave me my first salon job.
”THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO NEW BARBERS IS – DON’T BE AFRAID TO PUSH YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE”
After two years with Jim, I moved back home to Bristol to open my own salon which celebrated its fifth anniversary last year. I also now work internationally as a session stylist and have had some amazing opportunities.
The biggest piece of advice I would give to new barbers is – don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try to be unique. Look for a shop that will allow you to be creative, always watch and learn from the team around you, network and reach out to industry leaders to help you progress as a barber. Good luck!”