THE UN-STEREO TYPE

The image of the stereotypical barber is fast changing. This issue celebrates the ‘Unstereotype’ (yep we know it’s not really a word – but it works!). Barbers may once have had a reputation of being loud and laddy, but the new breed of barber could not be further from that image. Tom Chapman (who we interview on page 16) is the epitome of the ‘Un-stereotype’. He’s warm, gentle and sensitive. As are his legion of Lions, part of the Lions Barber Collective who are providing a safe space for their clients to talk about mental health worries up and down the country. That’s why we’ve given them our cover this issue.

You can’t have failed to notice the movement taking place in barbering to prioritise and talk openly about both staff and client’s mental wellbeing. After all, suicide is still the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, and although barbershop clients aren’t all men -a large percentage of them are. Tom is taking practical measures to stop this statistic growing, read all about how the Lions Barber Collective is coming up with new ways to raise money and create safe spaces on page 16.

Another industry figure who’s making barbershops pillars of the community is Common Space founder Danny Abbott. Describing his Notting Hill barbershop as a ‘slow space for the busiest of schedules’ he wants to create a place to get away from it all.

Elsewhere Mike Taylor talks to us about why everyone wants to be a teacher – and why it’s driving him nuts!

Bottom line is: you’ve got to have years of experience to make a good barber educator. If you’re struggling with team dynamics our ‘Personality Tribes’ feature on page 49 is a must read. Getting down to matters of business, don’t miss our article on leases that’s a real go-to for shop owners and our MB Mentor this issue tackles the subject of attracting clients when you move to a barbershop in a new area.

Enjoy the issue! Big love, Modern Barber Team