Tips from the best barbers in Kyiv for hair care

As part of the joint special project by MOONSTORE and Phillips, we continue to highlight different aspects of men's fashion, and this time we talked to two experienced barbers: Roman Osypenko from Tommy Gun Barbershop and Andrii Dolhykh from Lumberjack Barberhouse. They told us about the current state of barbershop culture in Ukraine, how to choose your barber, which local products are worth using for face care, and why you shouldn't dry your beard with a towel.

___________________________________________________ How can you tell a good barber from a bad one? And how do you even find a barber who is right for you?

Roman Osypenko from Tommy Gun Barbershop (hereafter T.G.B.): Choosing a barber is a very responsible matter and you need to approach it seriously. You have to understand that you are trusting your hair to someone, and your appearance depends on the right haircut. Often, new clients come based on recommendations from friends who have already had a haircut with a certain barber. If you decide to find your barber on your own, you can check out reviews and barbers' work on social media or on the barbershop's website. These days, this information is easy to find. You can also come to the barbershop in advance and talk to several barbers. Ask them for advice and to suggest a haircut that suits you, and based on what you hear and your own feelings, make your choice.

Andrii Dolhykh from Lumberjack Barberhouse (hereafter L.B.): There isn't a checklist of visual signs to tell a good barber from a bad one, but there are things you should pay attention to when choosing a barber. First of all, visit the website of the barbershop you're interested in. In the 'Our Barbers' section, read what they say about themselves, see how they look, and maybe at this stage you'll already be able to pick the right barber for you. The second stage is when you visit the barbershop, when your chosen barber greets you and you see in person what you 'chose' virtually, how he looks, how he's dressed, how he talks, and how he smells (booze/cigarettes or cleanliness). The third stage is the barber's workstation. If you sit in a dirty chair and there is hair on the combs – say 'Stop.' The simplest way to find a good barber is Facebook or Instagram. Professionals always have something to show and they keep up their social media.

Who are the main clients of your barbershop, how would you describe these people?

T.G.B.: We have people of different ages and professions coming to us, including students and top managers, football players, politicians, and artists. They are all united by one thing — confidence in themselves, in their actions and decisions, and a clear idea of how they want to look. We don't care who you are — if you come to us, you'll get a consultation and quality service.

L.B.: Our clients are men roughly from 20 to 45 years old. All absolutely different people, united by just a few things — communication, friendship, mutual help, a bit of haircuts and some whiskey. Verbal communication is when we open up a little to each other, but still keep things professional. Communication through the tools/haircut creates a certain level of client-barber relationship. By mutual help, I mean the barber's ability to give his client a better haircut, and the client (for example, a dentist) — a discount on dental work. Over time, these relationships can become friendly, and the barbershop, as a mediator, provides a place where this communication happens.

At what level is the barbershop culture in Ukraine? What should our barbers and salons strive for?

T.G.B.: Barbershop culture in Ukraine is now at an early stage of development. Unfortunately, not all barbershops that open understand this very culture. Often, they are opened by people who don't really get it, but over time, even they start to catch up. Now you can invite a professional barber who can give a master class, train the staff, and improve the quality of their haircuts. You need to always stay hungry for new knowledge and never stop learning, even if you're a pro at what you do.

L.B.: Barber culture in Ukraine is developing rapidly, the barber profession is becoming more and more popular, and new barbershops are opening. Barbers have become more open to communication, sharing experience and knowledge, and master classes are being organized. Barbers look up to world leaders and strive for growth and professional development. Barber schools and academies are opening. Soon there will be large-scale events like barber battles. Barbers are developing their own style, which is already recognized abroad. The global barber community has already appreciated the work of Ukrainian barbers and publishes our guys' work in the biggest barber groups. This year, Josh Lamonaca — one of the founders of MENSPIRE Salon, UK — came to Odesa for a three-day master class. Now these guys are teaching their technique to the whole world and Ukraine is not left out. I'm sure we're moving in the right direction, the culture will keep developing, we'll cut better, improve service quality, and barbers will become an integral part of every man's life.

Tell us about the main care rules that most clients don't know or regularly break?

T.G.B.: Let's put it this way, most clients before visiting us have never used styling products for their hair, and if they have, they weren't the right ones for their hair type or specific haircut. You need to understand what you want from styling. What level of hold, what level of shine? Do you need to keep volume or slick your hair down? We consult everyone and suggest how to choose and use a product at home. We explain the difference between pomade and clay, and how to choose the right mustache wax or beard oil.

L.B.: The first mistake is rubbing your beard with a towel. This mechanically damages the hair cuticle, which is responsible for shine and texture. The second mistake is drying your beard with a hairdryer first and then applying oil. The right way is to apply oil to damp hair, then dry with a hairdryer. The oil will open up and activate its ingredients under heat. The third and most common mistake — is not about skipping haircuts for two months and then saying your hair grows badly because of a bad cut. Visit your barber regularly and trust them. They will recommend care products, give you tips on styling your hair at home, and advise you on the right haircut schedule.

Which products from domestic brands for care can you highlight?

T.G.B.: There aren’t that many domestic manufacturers of men’s care products on the Ukrainian market. Among those available, we can highlight brands like Ducky Pomade, Pepperboy, Scissor Hands, Manly Club. Personally, we use styling products from the Kyiv guys at Ducky Pomade and Pepperboy every day, they offer pomades, pastes, and clays for hair with different levels of hold and effects. The most popular are matte styling products—they’re easy to apply and reliably hold your style all day.

L.B.: We fully support domestic producers. For example, the company Beardan’s makes products for mustaches and beards. The Brem brand is basically like family to us—the creator of this cosmetics line works at Lumberjack Barberhouse and produces various types of hair styling products. Also, the Kharkiv-based company Manly is represented on the market with a range of styling and beard care products. All of them are just as good as foreign brands.

What methods and products for taking care of your face in general, and your beard in particular, can you recommend to our readers?

T.G.B.: You need to constantly moisturize your facial skin with cream, and for your beard, there are special balms and products that deeply moisturize both skin and hair, protecting them from negative environmental effects. Beard oil strengthens and nourishes the hair structure, prevents excess oil, gives a healthy shine, softens the hair, making it thicker and more manageable.

L.B.: Wash your face with warm water, use a scrub and a moisturizing cream, don’t rub your beard with a towel, dry it with a hairdryer after applying beard oil to damp hair, and use balm for a dry beard.

Looking good is easy—just put these care tips and rules into practice and you’ll see results in no time.

Author Yuliya Strelkova http://moonstore.it/sovety-luchshih-masterov-kieva-po-uhodu-za-volosami/