Keen to showcase the best in local talent, TrendLife Interviews would like to introduce Men’s stylist Jez Djemil of MR. Barbers Hertford.
Who was the first person you cut? How old were you and did you get paid?
Having trained as a hairdressers in hobs academy at the age of 17 and specialising in cutting, my first hairdressing experience was in Hertford town at Hobs. I can remember how difficult it was to gather the coordination of holding the comb and scissors together to be able to cut a one length.

I used to cut men’s and women’s hair whilst I was at Hobs and my first barbering experience I can remember was cutting my brothers hair on a model night. I used clippers for the back and sides which felt much more comfortable and enjoyable, this is when I realised I enjoyed cutting men’s hair more than women’s. As a trainee, I never got paid for my haircuts until I was 19 and working on the shop floor.
What route did you take to be come a stylist/barber?
I started at hobs salons in Hertford at 17 years old and attended The Hob collage in Camden London, this where Is where I gained my NVQ Level 2 qualification. After completing my NVQ I then went to the hob academy where I specialised in cutting and styling, this was to enable me to work on the shop floor. After working at Hobs for 4 years I then decided to change my path and go into the world of barbering.
Currently I am working in Mr barbers Hertford, I’ve been there since the shop opened and the shop is now coming up to its 1st year anniversary.
What do you remember about going to the barber as a kid?
When I was young everyone used to go to the same barbers as it was on the route to school and everyone seem to like their cuts. They were family run business owned by the dad and his two sons. I used to love having my haircut as a kid but I’ve always been very fussy about the way I wanted my hair to look and the way it was cut.
Knowing I was so particular about my hair I always thought I’d be able to become a barber and be that one person everyone wants to get their hair cut by.
What do you think the biggest men styling trend has been in 2019?
Although skin fades have been about for many years they seem to be becoming more and more popular in 2019. I say this year most guys are going short with their hair even down to clippers on top.

However kids seem to be going the opposite and keeping their hair longer on top and going back to the ‘curtains’.
And 2020, what do you think will be trending in a year’s time?
Next year in 2020, I think people will be going for a more textured style cut on top but still keeping the side short. This year guys have been growing their beards more than ever, next year I can see most guys keeping their beards and keeping them long.

There are plenty of barbers across Beds, Bucks and Herts to choose from. How do you ensure you keep clients happy and coming back?
The key to keeping happy clients is having good customer service and doing a good consistent job. The barbers is a good place for people to come and have a chat and to maybe talk to their barber about things they wouldn’t have the confidence to with other people.
Our booking system is now becoming popular in the shop, it allows the customers to chose their time slot and cut out the waiting time. As daily life becoming busier it’s become a popular option to book via the Mr Barber app.
If you are a good barber you should be able to maintain and gain new customers wherever you go.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen in your years in barber shops?
I’ve seen a few crazy things whilst I’ve been in the barbering industry, The funny ones are where customers have come in with a half shaven drunken haircut which their mates tried to do before a night out.
If you could style one celebrity client, who would it be and why?
If I had to style and cut any celebrities hair I’d have to choose David Beckham. He’s been known over the years for his iconic hairstyles and he is one of the top trendsetters in the world, his current hair style is one of my favourites so far.

Favourite stylist/barber?
My favourite hairstylist has got to be Vidal Sassoon, as he changed the world of hairdressing and has become one of the most influential hairdressers in history.

My favourite barber is Rob The Original, he’s so unique and collides the world of art and barbering into his cuts.

If you were not a barber, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t a barber I would probably go down the creative route and do something in the world design. I’ve always been into drawing and creating my own style.