MB SECTION
BARBER TO BARBER
JOSH LAMONACA AND JOE POMPER TURN THE TABLES ON EACH OTHER TO DISCUSS CREATIVITY, BUSINESS, CAREER LESSONS AND STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME
No one is better at being you than you.
Josh Lamonaca is co-founder of barber group Menspire and community platform Mentored by Menspire, and the current British Hairdressing Awards Men’s Hairdresser of the Year. Joe Pomper is General Manager at Murdock London and winner of Modern Barber Business Leader of the Year.
JOSH: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU LEARNT AS A YOUNG HAIRDRESSER THAT YOU USE TODAY?
JOE: Clear communication is the most important tool we have. Whether it’s a consultation with a client, discussing plans with our team or training an apprentice, being concise prevents mistakes and confusion, and keeps everyone aligned.
JOSH: YOU ARE A BARBER AND NOW GENERAL MANAGER. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE BUSINESS SIDE OF BARBERING?
JOE: I’ve always been intrigued by the mechanics of business. Shaping the vision and progression of a brand is really exciting to me. I like getting into the finer details and finding efficiencies that positively affect our operations and ultimately make our barbers happier at work.
JOSH: AS CREATIVES, WE ARE OUR OWN BIGGEST CRITICS. HOW DO YOU JUGGLE THE POSITIVITY AND NEGATIVITY THAT COMES WITH YOUR JOB?
JOE: I learnt early on that I can’t please everyone, and our industry is full of opinions. As soon as I made peace with that, things became easier. It’s about being true to yourself and following your instinct. I know if I’ve tried my best, and that’s all that matters.
JOSH: WE BOTH JUGGLE SO MANY THINGS. HOW DO YOU AVOID FEELING OVERWHELMED? HOW DO YOU PRIORITISE WHAT’S IMPORTANT?
JOE: I plan and prepare as much as possible. My schedule is set weeks in advance, while allowing time for things to change. I always find a quiet moment in the day when I can sit on my own and just think, even if that’s on the train. I constantly review our business, track trends and look ahead. I often have multiple plans for the same scenario, so I can adapt when needed and save time and stress.
JOE: YOU HAVE MANY STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. WHAT INSPIRES YOU AND HOW DO YOU CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO INNOVATE AND EVOLVE?
JOSH: I get bored very quickly doing the same thing, and that’s always been my biggest challenge. I love to take risks, think outside the box and step away from the norm. There have been multiple occasions where I’ve done something and it has then become a trend, and I’m already wanting to do something different.
When I’m on stage, I try not to do the same thing all the time. So I shake it up. I say, this is what I have done, and this is how I’m going to evolve it. I’m going to take it one step further, then further again.
JOE: YOU’VE GOT 600K FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM. DO YOU OVERLY SCRUTINISE YOUR WORK?
JOSH: We’re our own biggest critics, aren’t we! We have to set our own standards. If you don’t like what you’ve done and it’s not up to your standard, then hold it back. Sometimes you scroll back and think, ‘Wow, look how much I’ve improved.’
The key is to always share what you love and enjoy, not whether the world likes it. Be proud of what you’ve done and invest in learning new things that are going to take you to another level. If you keep doing the same thing, chances are you’ll become stagnant.
JOE: WHEN DID YOU START DOCUMENTING YOUR CREATIVE WORK?
JOSH: It was a natural progression from being in the chair, producing beautiful work and capturing it because I was proud of what I’d achieved. Initially, it was about building a portfolio. As a 15-year-old, I thought, ‘If I do hair, I’m going to take pictures of all the patterns and spiky hairstyles I’m doing, print them and put them in my own folder.’
Taking photos of your work is a great reference to see what you can improve and what you could do better. You can even take that photo to someone you admire and ask, ‘How do I make this better?’
JOE: YOU’RE A CO-DIRECTOR AT MENSPIRE. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING?
JOSH: I love being on stage. I enjoy the interaction, engagement and creating a beautiful story. You can make memories with people who might be lacking inspiration and, all of a sudden, they’ve had this experience with you and got that motivation back.
I also love seeing everyone grow. I’ve been in the company for eight years and have seen how much people have developed from when they joined us. I love that.
JOE: WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?
JOSH: Be truly authentic and be you. I’ve seen a lot of people try to be someone else rather than being themselves. We have all been created as individuals with our own creative identity because no one is better at being you than you. Be authentic, and that’s where your true creativity will come to life.