Hj's barber of the year 2016: ky wilson

Why is now an exciting time to be involved in men’s hair and barbering?  What's exciting for me personally is how diverse it has become and how much interest is being shown towards the male market, creating many more opportunities for a entrepreneurs like myself! We are spoilt for choice now for grooming products and gadgets. More and more hairdressers/barbers are honing their skills, each one of us pushing each other to become better at this craft. How creative can you be with men’s hair? You can be as creative as you want to be with men’s hair, including facial hair. The only limits come from within ourselves and the thing about our industry is that it comes down to taste and opinion. What sets your Business The Social apart from other barbers? It’s a private humble salon situated off the beaten track; hand-built from the walls it's located in, to the mirrors, crafted by a good friend Backyard Denim who also makes my barbering aprons. The simple fact it's not on the high street, with no shop front! You actually have to ring me to come and open up the rusty gates of the warehouse to let you in. We provide a creative, pressure free environment. Our music playlist is made up only from the artists whose hair I am lucky enough to cut/colour, making it a much more personal experience. Who inspires you in men’s hairdressing? I very rarely look towards other hairdressers for inspiration, it's normally other brands that inspire me. Someone who has always inspired me outside the industry is Jonny Cupkaes, founder of a food-themed clothing brand. What are your career highlights to date? It's been an endless overwhelming journey since entering this industry. I definitely feel the fast-paced ups and downs keep me entertained and help me focus on how to improve myself, my services and the people around me. Nine years in and winning awards, working backstage at fashion week, art directing campaigns, education and inspiring others and working closely with music artists - it's been pretty crazy! But I have to say, hand building a space that I love to work in and inviting my guests into with no finical backing is most certainly up there with the best. It's who I am, it's what I do!