Celebrating Our Female Barbers
International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in all fields, including industries that are traditionally male-dominated. This year, we want to highlight the female barbers at Barbershop Express and the impact they are making in the grooming industry.
Barbershop Express was co-founded in 2015 by Bianca Panozzo, a veteran of the hair and beauty industry. Her vision was to bring the sophistication and trendiness of UK high-street barbershops to more accessible locations in Australia. With 14 successful barbershops operating in WA & QLD, Barbershop Express has an array of female barbers across the network. This International Women’s Day we spoke to two of our top female barbers in WA, Madi Groombridge from Barbershop Express Joondalup and Kelli Duncan from Barbershop Express Rockingham to hear about their barbering journey.
Q: What inspired you to become a barber? How did you start your journey?
When asked what inspired them to become barbers and how they started their journey, Madi and Kelli had different stories to share. Madi revealed that her clients were the driving force behind her decision to become a barber. "It was actually the clients who inspired me to become a barber," she said. On the other hand, Kelli had always enjoyed cutting men's hair, even before she officially became a barber. "The huge variety of cuts kept me on my toes with new styles coming out all the time," Kelli said. Eventually, Kelli realized that her male clientele outnumbered her female clients and decided to make the switch to barbering. Despite initial doubts about her ability to work in a barbershop, Kelli's experience at Barbershop Express Rockingham changed her perspective. Thanks to the support of Express Retail Group, she is now the Barber Trainer for their Western Australia stores, marking her 10th year of doing hair.
As for their journey, Madi started as a hairdresser and was taught how to cut men's hair during her apprenticeship. By the age of 16, she was already on the floor full time. On the other hand, Kelli worked under three different companies during her apprenticeship, each with its own unique management style. After qualifying, she chose to work as a mobile barber for greater stability and control over her hours. As she noticed that a significant portion of her clientele were men, she made the transition to become a full-time barber.
Q: What are the biggest challenges associated with being a female barber? What tips do you have for female barbers who want to succeed?
When asked about the biggest challenges associated with being a female barber, Kelli shared that it's not being seen as a "traditional barber." "The amount of times I've been asked for a 'real barber'," Kelli said. "For a long time, barbering was a male-dominated industry, and a lot of men still want that experience. You have to have a thick skin and be able to give and take some banter." Madi added that ignoring stereotypes that "men are better" is important for female barbers to succeed. "My biggest tip for any female barbers would be to ignore the stereotypes that 'Men are better' and to just focus on becoming the best you can be," she said.
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of being a barber?
Both Madi and Kelli agreed that the most rewarding part of their job is seeing the difference a haircut can make someone feel and uplift their mood. "Being able to change someone's entire appearance in 20 minutes, it's incredible what a haircut and shave or beard shape can do!" Kelli said. Madi added, "The most rewarding part of my job would be seeing the difference a haircut can make someone feel and uplift their mood."
Q: What's your favourite cut style at the moment? Any trend predictions for 2023?
When asked about their favourite cut style at the moment, Madi said that she loves a good skin fade, while Kelli enjoys the challenge of a mullet. "Having grown up in Rockingham, I have seen my fair share of mullets," Kelli said. "Being able to take someone's mullet from lifeless and limp to full and texturized is an internal high five moment for me."
Madi predicts that in 2023, there will be a lot more experimentation with fringes and texture, as people start to move away from the more traditional cuts. "I think we're going to see a lot more texture and fringes," Madi said. "People are starting to want something different, and I think we're going to see a lot more creative cuts in the coming years."
Kelli, on the other hand, thinks that the mullet will continue to be a popular choice, but with some modern updates. "I think the mullet is going to keep going strong, but we're going to see some more modern twists on it," Kelli said. "We're going to see a lot more texture and layers, and I think people are going to start playing around with length a lot more."
Q: What does International Women's Day mean to you?
When asked about what International Women’s Day means to them, Madi and Kelli both emphasized the importance of celebrating women's achievements and empowering one another.
“For me, International Women’s Day is about celebrating women’s accomplishments and contributions to society.”
"For me, International Women's Day is about celebrating women's accomplishments and contributions to society," Madi said. "It's a reminder to continue empowering and supporting one another to achieve our goals and dreams."
Kelli echoed these sentiments, adding that it's also an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done. "International Women's Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the strides we've made towards gender equality," she said. "But it's also a reminder that there is still a long way to go, and that we need to keep pushing for change."
Regardless of what the future holds, one thing is clear: Madi and Kelli will continue to be at the forefront of the grooming industry, pushing boundaries and creating innovative cuts that are sure to turn heads.
If you're looking for a great haircut or shave, make sure to check out Barbershop Express and their talented female barbers. And on this International Women's Day, let's celebrate the achievements of women like Madi and Kelli, and continue to empower and support one another in all industries.