South Shields barber aims to show he's a cut above the rest

Allan Stone, of Stoney’s Barber Shop, in Laygate, South Shields, will now go head to head with 14 other shaving professionals in March, for the title of North East Best Wet Shaving Barber – and a place in the national finals.

The competition has been organised by men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge and the British Barber’s Association.

National finalists will be pitted against the defending shaving champion Luigi Caterino, of the Italian Job Barbershop, in Galashiels, who has gone on to become the official barber for Rangers Football Club.

Mr Stone said: “After beginning my career as a hairdresser, I made the transition over to barbering some 20 years ago, and haven’t looked back since.

“I’ve been running my own shop for the past 17 years.

“I started wet shaving back in 2003.

”As much as I love the new and evolving styles that are hitting the salons today, I’m a stickler for the more traditional side to men’s grooming – and wet shaving is very much a part of that.

“I have a lot of experience behind me and have every hope it will take me far in the competition.”

The national finals will be held at Birmingham’s NEC in May.

Nick Gibbens, marketing manager at The Bluebeards Revenge, said: “The aim of Britain’s Best Shave is to raise barbering standards across the industry as a whole, inspiring young barbers to reach the top of their game, but also enabling 
experienced barbers to put their skills to the test and see how far they have really come.

“Figures showed the number of barbers performing cut-throat shaves had jumped by a whopping 50% in 2013, and the number continues to rise steadily 
as we see wet shaving making its way firmly back into favour.”