MODERN BARBER STAGE

PLAN YOUR FIRST DAY AT BARBER CONNECT, STARTING WITH THE MODERN BARBER STAGE

If you’re looking for inspiration, education and a chance to meet your hair heroes, the Modern Barber stage is the place to be. We’ve invited some of the industry’s most exciting talent to present their latest collections, and commercial styles for you to take back to the shop.

10.30AM, MIC DAMIANO

MIC DAMIANO 10.30 AM

Two decades ago Mic Damiano joined his parent’s salon – and he hasn’t looked back! A college tutor creating designs in the hair ignited his passion for barbering, blending his love for art and drawing with the craft of hair styling. Mic has clinched many titles including Afro Barber of the Year, and now educates for Wahl and has his own salon in Bedford. “My focus lies in hair designs and Afro hair. I’m aiming to bring some serious energy to Barber Connect, giving the audience a thrilling performance while also showcasing my skills with the latest Wahl clippers. I want to inspire others and leave a lasting impression with my passion for barbering.”

Barbers in 2024, my advice is to stay true to yourself. Be original, don’t just copy trendsset them. Believe in your own style and work ethic. Remember why you chose barbering in the first place, and let that passion drive you. Don’t let social media sway you from your path. Stay focused, work hard, and the results will follow.

11.15 AM, KEVIN VORLEY 

KEVIN VORLEY 11.15 AM

Kevin is the owner of K Barbers Emporium and an Andis Global Educator.

12.00PM, IAN HARROLD

Ian credits the Prince’s Trust for starting him on his career, when he received a grant at the age of 21 to set up his first barbershop in the North West. Since then, he’s competed as part of a British hairdressing team, had his own academy teaching barbering and for almost two decades, has been the Lead Educator for American Crew as well as being an award-winning member of the Global Allstar Education Team.

An all-round barber, Ian says: “At Barber Connect, I will be focusing on razor cutting as I feel that the razor is the most under-rated tool in our kitbag. I will be showcasing how it can be used to add texture, movement and direction to different types and lengths of hair. At the moment I’m loving very relaxed, textured hairthink 90s Brit pop. I’m seeing lots of texture in out-grown styles which gives us as barbers plenty of opportunities.”

IAN HARROLD 12.00 PM

My biggest piece of advice is to price your service right for your business not what someone else is charging. Price is not an ego, it’s a maths equation.

12.45PM, TARIQ HOWES

TARIQ HOWES 12.45 PM

As soon as he left school, Tariq Howes did an apprenticeship at a classic Greek family-run barbershop and stayed there for three years before moving to another barbershop that focused on different textured hair types. He then opened his own barbershop at the age of 20 in Cardiff where he made a name for himself offering textured hair and more modern haircuts with people travelling to see him. He’s now had his salon for almost 15 years and has a strong clientele, many of whom have been with him since day one.

“I’m an all-round barber but typically I’m known for specialising in Afro hair,” he explains. “I’ve always been passionate about Afro hair even when I started as an apprentice and over the years, I became known for being able to cut textured/ Afro hair so naturally that became more my clientele.

All barbers should keep things fresh, learn a new technique or skill and if you’re a salon owner hire some youth and apprentices. I always find it motivates me and reminds me of why I do things by teaching others.

“At Barber Connect I will definitely be showcasing some textured hair techniques and hopefully get a chance to show some of the session styling as well as barbering I create on the shop floor. When it comes to trends, I’m happy to see people being more explorative with their hair; it’s nice to see people stepping away from just having a simple cut, short back and sides or taper fades. I’m seeing more Mohawks, frohawks, mullets, longer grown out shapes coupled up with tapers. Slick pomps are something I’ve noticed in my shop which keeps me excited and motivated.”

1.30PM, BEN VOWLES, BILLY COLES & STEFAN CLARKE

BEN VOWLES, BILLY COLES AND STEFAN CLARKE 1.30 PM

Ben Vowles originally started hairdressing with TONI&GUY before moving into barbering in 2016 with Murdock London. He enjoys working on softer, more lived-in styles and is loving the resurgence of the ‘bed head era’ as more clients want messy, lived in textures. “I’m really looking forward to taking the stage at Barber Connect. As a team we will all be presenting something slightly different and I will be working on a softer, mid-length shape that all barbers can use in their barbershops.”

Billy Coles, store manager at Murdock London, began his career at the age of 15. Taper fades are his favourite cutting technique to make any type of hair look clean and smart. “Mullets are my favourite style as they are so much fun. As barbers, I think it’s important we are clear on what we are doing and to be honest with any challenge we may face not only with clients, but with each other. “

Stefan Clark started his barbering journey four years ago, where he originally fell in love with the craft in his garage. He moved to London and can now be found at the Murdock London Covent Garden store. “I love working on all types of men’s hair, working with both long and short styles. Clean classic shapes are my favourite. At Barber Connect I’ll be showcasing a midlength scissor cut, using techniques like graduation, elevation and disconnection, creating a shop-friendly hairstyle that is easily maintainable at home as we follow the natural growth patterns of the hair.”

Put in the time, put in the effort but give yourself time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Learn the craft properly and enjoy the process. And always remember without your clients you won’t get anywhere so look after them!

2.15 PM, RYAN LEWIS

RYAN LEWIS 2.15 PM

2.15PM, RYAN LEWIS Ryan Lewis’ journey into barbering started at the age of 14 where he worked as a floor sweeper, watching the barbers at work and absorbing the atmosphere. Sixteen years later, he now owns his own shop, Club Thirteen in Hull. Along the way, he’s collaborated with other talented barbers and participated in industry events. “For me, barbering isn’t just a job - it’s a lifestyle and a community,” he states. “I specialise in blending traditional barbering techniques with modern trends. I enjoy the mix of old-school craftsmanship and the innovation that comes with modern trends. It gives me a chance to honour the past while staying relevant and appealing to today’s clients.

“I love connecting with other barbers and sharing what I’ve learned over the years. On stage, I will be showcasing real techniques you can take back to the shop. Shows like Barber Connect are great for learning more inspirational, avantgarde type styles but it isn’t necessarily what you will use daily (which isn’t a bad thing!), however I want to bring some day-to-day techniques to the forefront that will enhance the services you offer day in, day out. I believe in the power of community and love sharing knowledge, so be ready for an outpouring of all I know!”

My advice for barbers in 2024 is to never stop learning. The barbering industry is always evolving, with new techniques, styles, and tools emerging regularly. Keep an open mind, stay curious, and seek opportunities to expand your skills. Attend workshops, collaborate with others, and embrace the community around you. Most importantly, always stay humble and remember that every client who sits in your chair is an opportunity to make a positive impact.

3.00 PM, JOSH LAMONACA 

3.00PM, JOSH LAMONACA Josh originally started training in men’s hairdressing before moving into women’s hair. He instantly loved the creativity that it involved, but found he excelled at cutting short hair so decided to focus on men’s hair. It was while working at HOB Salons that Josh first discovered his passion for educating. “Passing on knowledge especially between men and women’s hair was a niche that didn’t really exist, it was common with women’s hairdressing, but there was no crossover. That’s where my passion first started. The most important part of the barbering industry is continual professional development and shows like Barber Connect showcasing barbers and barbering education. A haircut is powerful, someone smiling in front of you because of what your hands and your head have been able to do.”

JOSH LAMONACA 3.00 PM

You have to work smart. Find the right educator, the right environment, the right system that is the smartest thing you can do. I would say to any new barber, find that mentor, find that environment that can propel you, accelerate you, direct you, project you into the best possible version of yourself.

3.45PM, SAM ELLIOT AND DEXTER ‘DAPPER’ JOHNSON

SAM ELLIOT AND DEXTER ‘DAPPER’ JOHNSON 3.45 PM

Dexter Johnson calls himself a hairdresser by trade and a selftaught barber by nature. His grandad gave him some Wahl clippers and the rest is history.

Now, he specialises in all grooming aspects of men’s hair styling, particularly in the art of finishing touches and precise cutting techniques. He works with all hair types and textures, from Caucasian, to Afro and Asian hair, and is loving the androgynous trend that is popular right now.

“I’m loving the 90s revival. It’s a trend I live and breathe myself and take a lot of inspiration from – it’s so relevant right now,” Dexter says. “When you see me at Barber Connect, I’ll be presenting an engaging and innovative demo, filled with essential insights. You’ll gain a deep understanding of our unique approach and what drives us at TONI&GUY.”

He’ll be joined on stage by Sam Elliot, TONI&GUY Academy Educator. Sam’s journey first started when he was a 16-yearold apprentice at TONI&GUY, completing three years of training. Now, collaborating with the artistic team on campaigns and shoots ignites his passion for creating and inspiring through imagery and over the past nine years, he has won several awards for his creativity, including most recently Men’s Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional.

“I specialise in mid-length to longer shapes, using the TONI&GUY philosophy to merge the hairdressing world into the barbering world. I like to focus on working with natural textures, using the hair as a canvas to create something new and individual to each person.

During my presentation, you’ll see elements of precision, technique, and visual cutting alongside fashion forward looks. I’ll be sharing my take on both future and current trends and give you an insight into the ways we cut and mould hair at TONI&GUY to create bold, charismatic and strong shapes to suit the model’s individual personalities.”

Don’t just specialise in one thing, work at all aspects of barbering, grooming and hairdressing – then find your niche. Try not to focus solely on one aspect and always be prepared for any scenario that comes your way. Trying and failing is the best way to learn what your style and taste is. Embracing trial and error not only helps to identify what you like and dislike, but fuels motivation to create new ideas.