The Modern Barber stage at Salon International has always been a game-changer for the barbering community, hosting some of the most exciting talent in the industry...
Master barbers and trendsetters from across the globe took to the stage across the weekend to showcase their skills. This year the Modern Barber Stage promises once again to be an unmissable experience with cutting-edge techniques from experienced barbers who have helped elevate the industry to rising stars who are redefining the craft - each barber will bring a unique perspective and a wealth of expertise that is second to none.
Take a look at the gallery below and keep scrolling to see roundups of what the HJ team saw each day.
The Modern Barber Stage 2024
Saturday 12 October
10.30 - 11.10 Bobby Gordon, Fella
11.15 - 11.55 Mercedes Paginton
12.00 - 12.40 Elettra Guggeri
12.45 - 13.25 Hayden Cassidy
13.30 - 14.10 Stefan Clark
14.15 - 14.55 Eric Way, Rob Wood and OXA
15.00 - 15.40 Charlie Venn
15.45 - 16.25 Toni McCarthy
16.30 - 17.00 Robert Braid
Bobby Gordon and Ben Pitt
Founder of Fella Hair, Bobby Gordon was joined on stage by team member, Ben Pitt. They demonstrated traditional scissor and texture techniques.
Mercedes Paginton
We saw Mercedes Paginton take to the stage to showcase a textured mullet using a clipper-over-comb technique, commenting that the shape-up is her favourite part of a cut: "A cut is not complete without sharp lines.” She also emphasised the importance of setting guidelines and using the correct comb-length to refine areas and blend shapes.
Elettra Guggeri
Elettra Guggeri wowed the audience with a voluminous look with lots of movement, which she created using point cutting and slicing techniques. Although she graduated the hair backwards, she demonstrated the difference of styling hair by using a forward technique: "Styling the hair is a completely different art to cutting," she said.
Hayden Cassidy
Hayden Cassidy gathered quite the crowd as she demonstrated a soft blend with a smooth length, giving her tips and advice along the way. "Our job as barbers and stylists is to educate and give our expertise to clients to build trust and keep them in the chair," she highlighted. Hayden commented on the importance of cutting the top of the hair first to create the right shape and length to enable the perfect blending of a fade to the connection point - the hardest part of the cut.
Stefan Clarke
Senior Barber at Murdock London, Stefan Clark, demonstrated a soft wispy fringe with a taper, noting an increase in requests from clients for styles that offer something softer, more lived-in and "less harsh".
Charlie Venn
Charlie Venn started his classic, shop-friendly, soft look by cutting the top of the hair first to focus on the style, before going in with the clippers to build the shape and blend the look together using the clipper over comb technique. He told the audience his love of barbering comes from classic haircuts.
Toni McCarthy
Toni McCarthy, from Supply, made her Modern Barber stage debut and told the audience that she wanted to bring more styling into men's hair, commenting: "In the same way you plan the haircut, it's also important to plan the styling." Toni emphasised the importance of prep, advising that barbers shouldn't overwork the hair. She sectioned the hair and used straighteners before going in with clippers to creating 90s-inspired blunt curtains and tidying up the neck hair with a razor. Toni was joined on stage by Joey Addison, from Supply 91 on Regent Street. Joey presented a salon friendly, visual solid shape using layers on a curly-haired client. He shared that his inspiration comes from clothing and fashion mags and that he likes to bring out his client's personality in the finished look adding: "It's not entirely about what we take off it's about what we leave and keeping the length in the right places."
Sunday 13 October
10.30 - 11.10 Ian Harrold
11.15 - 11.55 Hairforce 1
12.00 - 12.40 Mic Damiano
12.45 - 13.25 Tariq Howes
13.30 - 14.10 Barber A-ROD and Los Cut It
14.15 - 14.55 Charles Rose and Ryan Lewis
15.00 - 15.40 Kevin Luchmun and Hayden Cassidy
15.45 - 16.25 JJ Savani
16.30 - 17.00 MaxOliver
17.15 - 17.55 Barber.Josh.o.p
Ian Harrold
American Crew ambassador, Ian Harrold focused on one of his favourite things - the curl in men’s hair, commenting: "As hair grows out its a texture hairdressers are not used." Starting with the bottom half of the head Ian worked with a slightly oversized section to give the curl 'room to live', staying square to the head allowed the curl to develop under its own right. Ian's technique then moved on to shear the bottom half before transitioning with a razor to the top, then over directing sections to keep the hair rounder and fuller through the face.
Hairforce1
Hairforce1 invited three barbers from their training academy to the stage for Salon International 2024 to demonstrate skin fades on Afro textured hair. Their advice for students in the audience? “If you want to be a barber, hang around barbers, sit down and watch."
Tariq Howes
BaByliss Pro ambassador Tariq Howes explained that in the session styling industry, its common to not be allowed to cut your model's hair, which is why he decided to demonstrate how you can style textured hair into an afro shape. He shared: "I want to transform my model's hair so it's more neat and compact, which I'll do by wetting the hair and moulding it into shape with my hands, before diffusing to finish."
Charles Rose and Ryan Lewis
STMNT ambassador Ryan Lewis demonstrated impressive scissor work to with a wolf cut whilst ambassador, Charles Rose cut a long, curly style and discussed the products to use. He noted the importance of not drying the hair out adding: “The more the hair feels like a fabric the easier it is to style,” and tht this can be achieved through layering products on. Both barbers discussed educating clients on products to help with retail adding that this also shows off your hair cut and encourages client loyalty, “Not enough barbers get excited about the styling of a cut," shared Ryan.
Kevin Luchmun and Hayden Cassidy
The Andis Global Educators presented trend led looks with a mullet-esque vibe and presented their newest collection, created together. The focus of their presentation was to demonstrate trends and different techniques they’re seeing at the moment and how you can approach different techniques and styles in your shops.
Marie Rainsford and Tony Forrest, Barber.Josh.o.p
The Barber.josh.o.p team shared precise fading techniques that are synonymous with the OP45 methodology. Marie shared tips including adapting the line to the head shape and creating a triangular line from the ear and moving forward to enhance the silhouette.
Monday 14 October
10.30 - 11.10 Cresswell Barber Co. and Wez Jones
11.15 - 11.55 Pete Cranfield
12.00 - 12.40 Zanear Barber
12.45 - 13.25 Barber A-ROD and Los Cut It
13.50 - 14.30 Kevin Luchmun
14.35 - 15.15 Andy Dawson
15.20 - 16.00 Josh Lamonaca
16.05 - 16.45 Carl Taylor
Cresswell Barber Co. and Wez Jones
Owner of Cresswell Barber Co., Natalie Cresswell, was joined onstage by Leif McCreery and Wez Jones to chat all things VAT, building a strong team and what it takes to run a business. While chatting, Natalie set to work on beard grooming, Leif demonstrated a burst fade and Wez showcased an edgy mohawk.
Pete Cranfield
After seeing an increase in requests for Oasis inspired cuts, Pete created a Gallagher brother-style mod haircut, whilst discussing the importance of continuously learning and finding opportunities to learn from the next generation.
Zanear Barber
Zanear took to the Modern Barber Stage to present a curly mullet, combining scissor and clipper work with razor cutting to create an on-trend look. Zanear also used the opportunity to share diffetent tips and trick with the audience, showing different ways to approach the cit depending on your skill level.
Josh Lamonaca
Whilst the team from Menspire demonstrated editorial looks including a flattop mullet and graduation techniques, Josh revealed his latest collection, Race, exclusively at Salon International. Josh shared how this was inspired by the feeling of not being confident in cutting all hair types early in his career and advised taking time to try new looks and create new cuts.
Carl Taylor
Carl Taylor set to work creating texture on a heavy fringe with a cowlick, sharing the best approach to handle this hair growth pattern. He also shared the pros and cons of cutting horizontally versus vertically, and explained the importance of analysing your client's head shape.
