In News by Aaron Flick
Hello all! This week I was able to cross off a “bucket list” item and begin Barber School. My journey in the beauty industry began almost 30 years ago in …
In News by Aaron Flick
When choosing a tool, it is important to look at the motor type. Wahl Professional tools come in two different types of motor style: Rotary and Electromagnetic. So, what are …
Benny is a passionate man for the culture of barbering and the beauty industry. From winning the most excellent student in barbering workshop at high school graduation in 2002 to winning the first Wahl Online Barber Battle in 2017 he demonstrates his dedication and continuous effort in his growth and professional development. The now W.E.A.T. member continues his journey as an educator sharing his knowledge with the intention to be a voice that educates, motivates, and inspires fellow colleagues to grow in their careers. Even while being in a platform that many may admire Benny pursues continuous education in this he communicates that learning is a never-ending journey and that a good leader not only has followers to whom he has the responsibility to influence in a positive manner but that a good leader also has the responsibility to follow those that procced them and have the experience to take them to the next level. Benny is characterized for his versatile approach to men’s grooming, for his Caribbean touch and having a humble heart.
“Hard work and perseverance is what keeps me driven” says Nguyen, Wahl’s 2018 Barber Battle winner. Having a motivated mindset from a young age, and a philanthropic spirit, Kevin has traveled to Vietnam, China, Philippines, Hawaii and Mexico to donate his barbering services to the less fortunate. Overwhelmed with joy knowing he can disseminate his passion and knowledge through Wahl Education & Artistic Team, Kevin is forever dedicated to improving himself for the industry. Attending countless hair shows, seminars and competitions (winning 25 trophies to date) inspires Kevin to continue gaining knowledge and understanding the responsibility to give back.
A multi-award-winning artist licensed as a master barber, cosmetologist and instructor. Known for her innovation, originality and impeccable design work, Corina remains humble and dedicated to this competitive and fast-moving industry. An advocate for philanthropy, she continues to give back by sharing her industry knowledge accumulated from over 20 years of experience. Striving to motivate, educate and inspire through teaching, Corina uses her social media presence to interact and share her authentic style with those across the world.
Little did Tracey Nugent-Bracewell know that she would be the driving force behind the new Wahl Men’s Method Course Book when she was prepping hair for one of the most magical platform stage performances at a NYC trade show 20 years ago. But that’s what happens when absolute determination and a passion for hair fuse into one’s life calling. Tracey has done just about everything – excellently – at some point during her versatile career: National Educator, Cosmetology Instructor, licensed barber and cosmetologist, and most recently: Education and Artist Coordinator for Wahl Professional, U.S. And while Tracey is just as comfortable behind the chair as she is in the classroom, her infectious personality has led to countless students finding their true potential with every curriculum she creates and every classroom she leads. Tracey is a huge believer in the promise of Wahl’s potential and is unshakable in her drive to make significant contributions in her position as a W.E.A.T. member.
As Director of Education for Wahl Professional, Laura VanderMoere shares her extensive knowledge with the W.E.A.T. members so they can grow internationally and as industry influencers while upholding the standard in Wahl education. With over 30 years of combined experience as a Master Barber and Barber Instructor, Laura skillfully generates and directs all educational opportunities and events for Wahl. She also develops education globally while frequently traveling to share her knowledge with Wahl’s global partners. Laura joined W.E.A.T. in 2008 and has dedicated her career to education, program development and the progression of the barber industry. One of the goals Laura actively pursues is to reach professionals who don’t have the opportunity to attend shows in bigger cities; leaving no artist behind. In addition to her 30-year imprint on the industry, Laura strives to be an agent of change in transforming the industry to dissolve industry titles and embrace creativity, encouraging artists to challenge mental boundaries to be versatile in their skillsets and with their tools.
With his sharp ability to learn and succeed, Jose Barba is a testament to the advantageous initiative of investing in yourself. Jose’s unrelenting determination propelled him to attend multiple additional classes before even graduating from barber college. Not only completing his classes and training, Jose chose to learn from the experts in local barbershops and salons at every chance he could get. Now, Jose has emerged as an expert, participating in training classes, hair shows and barber battles regularly, even educating a group of barber students in China last fall. Jose’s experience in straight razor shaving, detailed men’s haircutting, cutting and fading with metal blade sets, shear cutting and color services have served as a platform for Jose to step into any environment and thrive. Quickly becoming a revered industry barber, Jose Barba’s artistry and enthusiasm to delve into evolving trends such as urban barbering have shaped him into a well-rounded artist on the rise.
Passionate about hair, Miguel Rosas opened his first barbershop in his teens, routinely being the first to show up at his shop and the last to leave. You’ve seen Miguel from his numerous television appearances battling the best of the best, winning him over 25 trophies. One of his most notable achievements includes his first place win on Cedric’s Barber Battle, garnering him a $15,000 prize and championship belt. He shines not only as a good barber, but an excellent role model. He is known for executing intricate designs and portraits, along with his positive attitude, bringing new ideas and the ability to intrigue others while educating and demonstrating new haircutting techniques. Creative and innovative with his hairstyles and designs, Miguel joined W.E.A.T. to provide education that opens your eyes to different ways to cut hair. Armed with his mission, he won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Naturally charismatic, Julius ‘Caesar’ Arriola’s animatic stage presence encapsulates the passion shared within the hair industry. Julius ‘Caesar’ specializes in precision fading, clipper over comb, point cutting and heavy textures—all executed in mixing classic barbering methods with progressive new ideologies. His strengths include traditional and urban men’s hairstyles, with diversity in all hair textures, from straight to coarse hair. Julius ‘Caesar’ has shared his talents globally, performing and teaching in some of the biggest hair convention stages including in Hawaii, Toronto, London, Prague, Tokyo and more. Joining the Wahl Education platform had been a long-term dream and goal of his, and having it come to fruition is nothing short of amazing. Progressively growing within the industry, Julius ‘Caesar’ is sure to evolve exponentially with the W.E.A.T. family, discovering not only more about the world he’s surrounded by, but discovering more about his own self along the way.
A true artist, Andres ‘Dre’ Reyes shines in his artistic ability. His creativity, passion and commitment accompanied with his many skills and talents, including videography/photography, graphic design, illustration and art in general. He fully embodies the notion that hair is where art and design meet. Andres ‘Dre’ aims to elevate the creative status within the industry, working on a platform to showcase talent and creative insight. His experience in men and women’s cutting, clipper cutting, hair tattooing/designing, in addition to the technical skills of managing and marketing his own barbershop and production company while educating within the industry makes him an elite artist. Being a member of W.E.A.T. allows his passion for the industry to thrive while collaborating with some of the best in the industry, all in addition to giving back to others—a gratifying sensation.
Owner of Jacob’s Barber Shop Inc. salon and educational brand How To Fade Hair Inc., prominent hair artist, business owner and educator, Nieves Almaraz maximizes his potential within the industry’s limitless possibilities. Licensed in both cosmetology and barbering, Nieves is recognized for his advanced yet simplified clipper cutting techniques, such as Chicago graphic hair designs—also known as hair tattoos—in addition to his blending and fading techniques. All of his techniques can be translated in both English and Spanish, expanding the capacity of his education to reach even more professionals. Initially inspired to pursue a career as an educator in the industry after attending hair shows as a student, Nieves is proud to be a part of W.E.A.T. and represent Wahl Professional, the world’s leading clipper company.
Utilizing knowledge from both her barbering and cosmetology backgrounds, Lauren Milner brings a wide perspective of haircutting to demonstrate to professionals of all skill levels new ways to improve their techniques, helping lead to increased efficiency. Quick to pay it forward and share her experience in men’s haircutting, she joined W.E.A.T. to help others advance their clipper cutting techniques. But behind Lauren the great hair artist is an exceptional businessperson and social media guru. You can follow Lauren online as she creates content on barbering, education and of course, her favorite Wahl tools. Her strengths in social media, customer service, retail sales and salon productivity maximize her versatile potential behind the chair. With her passion equates the pragmatic business aspect of the industry—the combination at which Lauren excels.
Bilingual and dual-licensed, Juan ‘Jay’ Ramos breaks language barriers in haircutting education, making him an invaluable asset to the industry. A master of fading, cutting hair is his strongest passion, creating change with his hands and his favorite pair of Wahl clippers. Juan ‘Jay’ first started as a cosmetologist and is now a phenomenal barber. Skilled in cutting diverse hair types and translating information well, teaching is ingrained in his skillsets. You can see his work from the Barbershop 3 Mobile Grooming Tour. Owner of multiple salons, Juan ‘Jay’ ventured from behind the chair to share his knowledge and creative cutting techniques to help strengthen industry professionals’ skills. His drive to motivate others armed with his bilingual talents allows him to seamlessly translate talent and techniques in his education, teaching nationally in English and internationally in Spanish in such places as Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru.
As the owner of a cutting-edge men’s barberspa and a dual- licensed artist, Shelley Craft uses her distinctive business leadership skills and southern charm to focus on the customer experience within the industry. With over two decades of salon experience, she has an inclusive focus on all hair types, including men, women and children’s hair. Shelley aims to close the gap between the barbering and cosmetology mindset by encouraging hair artists to add to their sense of creativity behind the chair with the ability to maneuver a multitude of tools. Shelley finds creative inspiration all around her, putting her own spin on nationally-evolving trends and reveling in new challenges with enthusiasm. She now spends most of her salon time working on men’s hair: the smallest canvas for a hair artist. Shelley’s ability to examine hair textures and growth patterns allow her to determine the best tool for the situation while making her fundamental to the barbering industry and the W.E.A.T. team.
Schooled in barbering and proud to have his dual-license, barber Instructor license and a successful business Flawless Barber Shop in Corpus Christi, Texas, Rick Morin, also known as “Da People’s Barber,” brings hair diversity to W.E.A.T. with the ability to execute flawless cuts on all types of hair textures. Recognized as one of the top 50 barbers in the country, Rick’s skills position him as one of the most successful barbers today. A chameleon in talent, he can shift his skills to fit his clients’ needs and Wahl’s needs, whether in the U.S. or in any part of the world. A U.S. Army veteran, Rick didn’t seek out barbering. Instead, barbering chose him. After being honorably discharged following a knee surgery, Rick was tasked with writing the next chapter of his life. With some guidance from his wife, Rick made the leap and enrolled in barber school—graduating one of the most successful barbers today.
Highly respected among the beauty, barber and fashion cognoscenti for his innovative, evolutionary approach to hair, third-generation master barber Gustav Mendoza routinely creates breathtaking and modern hair while pushing industry boundaries. Gustav delved into the industry to make creative, high-fashion haircuts that are easier, faster and better with clippers. Gustav graduated with high honors and earned an AAS degree in barbering, cosmetology, esthiology and nail technology. Together, his education and training led him to join the Wahl Education and Artistic Team, teaching stylists and performing groundbreaking hair shows. Gustav’s specialties cover the entire spectrum of hair, including clipper cutting, razor cutting, refined cuts, impressive finishing work and straight razor shaves. He now teaches specialty master barbering workshops, hands-on clipper classes and certified educational seminars with Wahl Professional.
Kristi Faulkner, engaging educator, multicultural-inspired artist and salon owner, is an avid enthusiast for the industry. Picking up her favorite pair of Wahl clippers has turned out to be a life-changer for Kristi. She’s the first to tell you that because of Wahl, she has had the opportunity to do what she loves, and to travel the world, from her hometown of Clearwater, Florida to São Paulo, Brazil. Kristi joined W.E.A.T. to share her enthusiasm and delve into her passion for education, teaching nationally and globally. Always striving to learn more, Kristi continuously strengthens her techniques and encourages her students to learn different hair textures to be more prosperous in the industry, especially multicultural haircutting techniques. Her specialties include custom design parts, precision bald fades, tapers and women’s tailored haircuts. A natural communicator, Kristi’s well-versed knowledge has led to new opportunities, creating a platform for success and connecting her to industry leaders.
From cutting hair at the age of 13 to becoming the owner of three barbershops, hair artist Anthony Barmer, a successful business owner, brings his extensive expertise in clipper cutting to Wahl and W.E.A.T for more than 18 years. An expert with any Wahl tool and all hair textures, he is known for his diverse skillset and ability to take clipper cutting to the next level, using clippers in ways that others cannot. Proficient in clipper over comb and texturizing, his go-to technique is “raking,” a technique in blending that Anthony elevates to new levels. Anthony seamlessly connects with all crowds, thanks to his inclusive clientele. Anthony is known for exuding confidence, whether he is in the classroom or performing on stage. His love for the people and the industry shines through in his education platform, consistently inspiring and motivating crowds to be their best at their skills and in business.
A champion barber, top educator and award winning stylist, Christina Goree surpasses the industry standard. With over three decades of experience and advanced haircutting training for Emmy award winning stylists for the Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (I.A.T.S.E. Local 706), Christina has worked in all facets of show biz and hair care, including men and women’s grooming, long and short trend cuts, hair coloring and texture specialization both here and across the globe. Dominant on social media, her competitive and aggressive nature has upheld her position in the industry as an icon and influencer. Limits don’t stop Christina, she has a special talent for motivating, inspiring and challenging others to be their best while she works to be the best herself. One of the greatest rewards from working in the industry is working as a mentor to some of the top professionals in the industry. But Christina truly works for RESULTS. Results from hard work and dedication. Between traveling and teaching, she never forgets to reflect on her gracious opportunity to change lives.
Pivot Point-trained, Cosmo instructor, American Board certified hair colorist, barber Tom Quigley has challenged himself in every possible way throughout his highly technical career in the salon. Seeking out some of the industry’s top education to learn from the best, he turned to clipper cutting years before the barbering craze and his choice has paid high dividends. Tom’s top knowledge, hair artistry, adaptability and most importantly, humbling work ethic make him a fierce stylist. Tom proves that haircutting skillsets are not inclusive to geometric, short or mechanical, but can be visual with movement—considering all the factors in creating a haircut. His approach is methodical, yet he makes clipper work look easy. Known for his clipper styling techniques that combine barbering with styling, his vast knowledge proves beneficial, practical and successful for all who watch him perform.
Bio coming soon!
Licensed master barber and cosmetologist, licensed barber and cosmetology instructor and W.E.A.T. platform artist Garland ‘G-Whiz’ Fox is recognized as a global educator and master competition judge. Licensed in the state of Illinois and Indiana and certified to teach in the UK, Garland ‘G-Whiz’ made his way to the top with passion and determination. His ability to attract and captivate a crowd with his raw talent and sense of humor places him as a go-to barber for major television, film and record companies. This paramount combination also allows him to inspire other professionals in education and leadership. Multi award-winning barber Garland ‘G-Whiz’ aims to make a difference in others’ lives through his passion for hair and education, gaining residency in each of their hearts. Garland ‘G-Whiz’ is honored to share a piece of his dream and his gift each place he travels throughout the world with Wahl Professional and W.E.A.T. to perform, educate and introduce new products.
From grooming horses at the young age of 14 to owning a salon today, April Guiliani Amarillas has always been skilled with a pair of clippers. April is known for her fluency in all aspects of men’s and women’s techniques, along with inventing new techniques as she learns new ways to approach hair. Her clientele is as diverse as her skillset, cutting hair for local celebrities, professional baseball players, reality TV stars, along with contributing work for select music video productions. She owns City Salon and Spa in the Scottsdale area, while also contributing her expertise as an instructor at a leading Cosmetology school. Proficient in all things related to haircutting, barbering, permanent texturing, and hair colouring, April’s passion for hair doesn’t stop at the salon. She also shares her skills with the homeless, receiving national recognition for spearheading a local event for the homeless. April credits her success story to the sentiment, “Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable.”
