MODERN BARBER STAGE

12.45PM, MANIFESTO

MANIFESTO 12.45PM

Manifesto is an award-winning salon headed up by co-owners Corrado Tevere and Mikey Pearson, plus Head of Education, Rino Riccio. They opened their first salon in Leather Lane,

Holborn in 2016 and soon followed with another shop at the end of 2018 in Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross. They’ve carved out a whole new take on men’s hair; the way it’s cut, the way it’s styled, the way it’s perceived. “Our speciality is ‘cut technically, style naturally’ and is an approach that represents our work and our background as session stylists,” explains Mikey Pearson.

“We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Modern Barber stage at Barber Connect, where we will be bringing our latest collection to life, and we’ll be sharing information on the education courses we have to offer. We are loving the softer looks right now. They look more natural and individual rather than something off the production line and can’t wait to show you our latest looks.”

Our advice would be to mingle, speak to fellow barbers and hairdressers and share knowledge whenever possible.

Embrace adaptability and create inclusive environments. Clients are looking for an experience that reflects their values and individuality. Be open to learning, engage with your community, and explore new ways to make your clients feel valued.

1.30PM, CHARLES ROSE

CHARLES ROSE 1.30PM

Charles’s love of hairdressing started in his parent’s salon, where he first saw the artistry and social interactions that define the industry. From there, he spent a decade at Electric honing his skills before taking the leap to open his own business, Crate Cheshire, which has since grown to include three salons and an academy.

“When I was first learning, short haircuts provided a huge challengethe precision, creativity, and mastery required to get them right was something that intrigued me. As I grew in my career, I saw an opportunity to offer a blend of traditional barbering techniques with the high-end experience of a salon. This allowed me to create a niche where clients could get both a refined haircut and a relaxed, approachable atmosphere. Right now, I’m loving the resurgence of textured and layered styles. It’s a refreshing departure from the rigid, cleancut styles that have dominated in recent years. This trend allows for a lot of creativity and personal expression, which aligns with my approach to hairdressing. Whether it’s a textured quiff, layered crop, or a modern take on a classic style, these trends offer flexibility and can be tailored to suit a wide range of clients.

“I’ll be demonstrating some of the latest techniques in short hair styling and showcasing our approach to a gender-neutral salon environment. Expect to see some innovative techniques, detailed breakdowns of popular styles, and perhaps a few surprises that blend traditional and contemporary approaches.”

2.15PM, CARL TAYLOR AND CURTIS BURKE

CARL TAYLOR AND CURTIS BURKE 2.15PM

Carl Taylor has been cutting hair for almost 10 years, starting his career as a hairdressing apprentice where he learnt the technical side of cutting hair which gave him a solid foundation, before he fell in love with men’s hair. Four years ago, he opened his own salon, combining his hairdressing and barbering skills for truly bespoke offerings to his clientele.

“At Barber Connect we will showcase technical cutting and a lot of creativity as well as being really informative so everyone can come away with something new. It’s great that we’re seeing so much creativity at the moment and clients are wanting to experiment with mullets, wolf cuts, shaggy looksit shows how much the barbering industry has grown and transformed from being an in-and-out service to being bespoke to clients’ needs and styles.”

Curtis Burke will be joining Carl on stage, showcasing his favourite methods of finger placement, cutting lines, over direction and elevation. He may have only started his barbering career three years ago, but his love for barbering and men’s hairdressing is infectious, as he tailors his cuts to his clients to ensure they enjoy the haircut as much as he does.

“At Barber Connect you can expect me to showcase scissor work combined with fading, something I do a lot of in the barbershop. Trends I am enjoying at the moment are lower beard fades, which include a nice, clean, sharp feeling from the fade and line up, whilst also allowing a raw edge through the length left around the chin and moustache area, creating a nice shape and accentuating the jaw.”

Learn as much as you can; this is an industry where we can always learn no matter our experience, fully submerge yourself in this industry, watch cutting tutorials, subscribe to tutorials and cutting courses, and attend hair shows.

3PM, GEORGE SMITH

GEORGE SMITH 3.00PM

George Smith was destined to be a great hairdresser as both his parents are award-winning hairdressers. Now, along with his sister they all work at Smith England where George is manager and men’s specialist. He has already scooped several big industry awards including the British Hairdressing Awards Men’s Hairdresser of the Year 2022 and International Modern Barber of the Year at the AMBAs. “I focus on all aspects of men’s hair and at Barber Connect I think there will be a lot of clipper work and skin fades, so if I can introduce a bit of long men’s hair into the pot, I will. Messy, undone texture has always been my choice and it seems to be popular with the younger crowd currently. I’m excited to see where it goes next!”

Focus less on the socials and absorb what will improve YOU. Increasing your ability means you can increase your prices. Increasing your prices will improve your quality of life.