...where would you recommendย to brush up on my barbering skills?ย
Barbering in the Film & TV industry has become a staple skill for any MUA. Whether that be working on a Period Drama or in a Contemporary Crowd room, giving a buzzcut, fade or just a short back and sides is part of your average working day.
We at The Mill searched far and wide when we were looking to update our scissor skills and found that there are hundreds of courses out there and not all of them are what they seem! So here we hope to help get you the right training, catered to your needs and budget.
1) Barbering Intensive- Creative Media Skills- ยฃ349.00 for 2 Days : Creative Media Skills offer some of the most industry specific courses out there. They are created and designed by working Hair and Make-up Artists for working Hair & Make-up Artists with a strong knowledge already of barbering, but that just need a refresh. We would not recommend this course for total beginners who have no clipper experience but for those with some knowledge this is perfect! With courses running throughout the year and bursaries available, this course will fit perfectly into your busy working schedule.ย
2) Introduction to Barbering- West Thames College- ยฃ320 for 10 days (Across 10 weeks) :
West Thames College has a great history of wonderful students and tutors, teaching everything from Period Hair and Make-up to Prosthetics and their Introduction to Barbering is second to none when it comes to tutors and training. It offers a gentler approach to learning the basics of barbering, allowing total beginners to get to grips with the fundamentals of cutting mens hair. We would recommend this to any recent graduate or student still studying at a makeup school. It is an evening class so can fit perfectly around your course and at a really low cost for the amount of time you are given, we feel it is a really great course for newbies. You leave with the basics and can then go on to specialise later down the line.ย
3) London School of Barbering-ย NVQ 2 Barbering- ยฃ3980 - London/ Manchester (Various)- 9 Weeks Full Time:
London School of Barbering has a reputation for producing some of the best new barbers out there. Set in a salon environment, working on real clients from day 1, this is the real deal when it comes to barbering training. You will leave fully equipped to be a barber, which may not be necessary for working MUAโs who dabble in hair cuts, but for those wanting to be booked as a Barber, this could be the course for you. It is a commitment as it is a full time course, but 9 weeks fly by and at the end you will have the confidence to cut any french crop, wet shave like Sweeney Todd and do a short back and sides with your eyes shut!ย
4) Total Barber - 2 Week Basic Barber - ยฃ1250 OR MUA Film & TV Barber Course (price on request) :
Total Barber is a bit of a new kid on the block for Barber schools but it has really picked up the pace and is the talk of every Crowd Hair and Make-up Room as it offers bespoke MUA Barber Courses that allow you to jump in and out around your filming schedule. It is this flexibility that has made it very popular in the Hair and Make-up Industry. Wether you go for a bespoke course, focusing on particular period hair cuts, that may cost a little more or you go for the 2 Week Basic Barber course you will leave with great knowledge and skills that doesnโt break the bank or prevent you from working either. This is a great place for total beginners or proโs that want to focus on a certain area of barbering.
Whether you have never picked up a clipper or you are looking to nail the Peaky Blinders undercut we hope our barbershop quartet will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to expand your work network and CV.
