3 mins
CUTTING EDGE
UK BARBERS LAUNCH #OURDOORISOPEN CAMPAIGN
Barbers across the UK have launched an #OurDoorIsOpen campaign to inspire men to open up about mental health issues. The aim of the campaign is to ensure those whose mental health has been badly affected by lockdown get the help and support they need.
It is the latest initiative from the Lions Barber Collective which encourages barbers to create safe places for men to open up and offload and provides training to empower the barbers themselves to listen, recognise the signs of poor mental health and signpost clients to appropriate support services.
Lions Barber Collective founder and CEO Tom Chapman wants lonely or worried clients to feel like they can confide in their barber upon reopening. He wants to give barbers access to tips and training so they can listen and support those who are struggling.
Tom said: “A barber can see up to 200 people a week. Although most of the industry will see about 12 people a day and in a post-lockdown world opening hours will be extended to fit in desperate clients, the hair and barber industry’s reach is just phenomenal with an infrastructure that is accessible to most.”
Go to thelionsbarbercollective.com for more information.
MENTAL HEALTH STATS
1 Suicide is the biggest killer for men under 45 in the UK and when asked 28% of men said they haven’t sought out medical help.
Source: National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health report
2 More than two thirds of adults in the UK (69%) report feeling somewhat or very worried about the effect COVID-19 is having on their life.
Source: health.org.uk
3 The most common issues for UK adults are worrying about the future (63%), feeling stressed or anxious (56%) and feeling bored (49%).
Source: health.org.uk
RAW TALENT BARBERING COMPETITION AT BARBERFEST
The Raw Talent Barbering Competition, sponsored by VTCT, is being introduced by Modern Barber, BARBERFEST and Mike Taylor Education to give barber students and junior barbers a platform to showcase their skills.
The final will take place live at the first BARBERFEST on Monday 5 July at Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel, Brighton. There will be a live competition area for the next generation of barbers to show the industry what they can do. Plus, there’s a £250 prize up for grabs!
Entrants need to provide up to four images of one haircut they have done as well as a short description of the look and the inspiration behind it. Finalists will be invited to recreate the look live at BARBERFEST.
Entries are open until Friday 21 May 2021 at 5pm. Go to modernbarberawards.co.uk to enter.
TRIM VERSUS TIPPLE
There was more demand to book a barbering or hairdressing appointment in April than to book a visit to a pub, according to research by hair and beauty wholesaler Capital Hair and Beauty.
The results found 24% of those surveyed were eager to book a hair appointment compared with just 15% wanting to book a slot in a pub beer garden.
The survey of over 1,000 UK adults also found nearly half the nation (45%) would be willing to pay a fee to fast track their hair, barber or beauty appointments.
Capital Hair and Beauty marketing manager Samantha Shamplina-Burkwood said: “It’s easy to see just how much the nation have missed hair, barber and beauty professionals and it really has brought home to many just how much we rely on them to help make us feel like a more fabulous version of ourselves.”