Get to know hj's men's afro barber of the year graham grimshaw

We caught up with current HJ's Men's Afro Barber of the Year winner, Graham Grimshaw, to chat about how life has changed for him after the award, as well as the benefits of entering the Salon International competition. What have you been up to since winning HJ's Men's Afro Barber of the Year? I've been doing what I do best, and that’s keeping my clients happy! I have also been overseeing a renovation at the shop which is nearly finished now. What has been the highlight of your year so far? My highlight was winning HJ's Men's Afro Barber of the Year competition. It's created a platform for me to showcase my skills at various other hair shows. I've met so many amazing people who have asked questions about how I work and my techniques. In the future, I hope to teach and and put on more classes covering all aspects of Afro hair. Do you think UK barbershops are where they need to be in terms of their Afro barbering skills? No, I don't. As the urban scene has changed, Afro-Caribbean techniques are being widely used within the European market. But to bring change to the industry they need to get their own skills to Afro barbershop standards. What experience or skills did you gain from taking part in the Afro Barber of the Year competition? There are so many things I have learnt from this competition, from being able to finish a cut in a set time to making a haircut look totally finished in a set time, or being able to show the judges your skills the way you want them to see it. Having competed in HJ's Men's Afro Barber of the Year competition twice, I can honestly say I can enter any competition now with no fear of being in the limelight. It’s given me unbelievable confidence in myself. What advice do you have for anyone entering this year? Look at what’s current and what cuts are going to make people ask questions. When I won the competition, everybody wanted to know how to do the wave I created. You want to choose a haircut that will get people talking. Also, remember to keep calm because your hands will shake like mad! Any new projects that you are working on? At the moment I’m working on something massive that is going to change the barbering industry. It's something unique and that we will all benefit from. For now I can't say, but everybody will know soon! I’m also working on a Wave Starter Kit that will have wax, a brush, do-rag and some very helpful tips, all in one lovely gift box. To follow in Graham's footsteps, check out the competitions on offer at this year's Salon International here. They are free to enter and for the Men's Afro competition all you have to do is send a photo of a trend-led Afro look you have created to be in with a chance of competing at Salon International 2018. Plus, if you are a finalist in the competitions you get free entry to Salon International. Bonus! Don't forget to book your tickets now for Salon International 2018