New graduate razor-sharp

Geraldton men can get a clean shave from the first barber to qualify in Geraldton in about 30 years.

Jackson McEvoy, 25, is not your average barber — he is the first to receive a Certificate III in Barbering since the course began at Central Regional TAFE in Geraldton.

Barbers were trained through barbering apprenticeships until about 30 years ago when the qualification was ceased because of a lack of demand for the trade.

But demand has increased and the trade certificate was introduced at Central Regional TAFE recently. Having already achieved a Certificate in Hairdressing, Mr McEvoy was able to complete the barbering course on March 24.

“I started in hairdressing, so I skipped the first year of my apprenticeship and did about a year’s worth of a hairdressing apprenticeship and then I just finished doing 12 months of a barbering apprenticeship,” Mr McEvoy said.

He didn’t realise it had been this long since someone else had acquired his specific qualifications.

He said there was a difference between his training and a regular hairdressing course. “Before this course you had to get your Hairdressing Certificate and, in that, do a week’s worth of men’s barbering and that would qualify you as a hairdresser,” he said.

“Once you finish you can just decide that you’re a barber and only do men’s hair, whereas with this course now there’s a difference in that they go more in depth with the shaving and men’s haircuts, styles and techniques.”

Mr McEvoy had been working as a hairdresser at Get Your Locks Off hair salon for about two years.

He said his qualification was a benefit to customers because it provided comfort to know he was trained in specific areas such as cut-throat shaving and men’s styling.

“With the cut-throat shaving you’ve got to be hygienic, that’s paramount so you know that they’ve got that high-quality training,” he said.

“It’s not just jam-packed into a week’s worth of a hairdressing qualification.”

Pino Faugno and Joe Iaria are among other barbers in Geraldton who have qualifications as barbers.

Mr Faugno at Mario’s Men’s Hair Stylists said he received a barbering qualification 35 years ago.

“I did mine in 1982 in Europe, so it’s totally different but it was just strictly men’s hairdressing,” Mr Faugno said.

“You learn how to shave so you learn how to strop up your razor and you learn how to sharpen your blade and then you get a balloon and you shave that, so if it pops you’re no good.”

Mr Iaria at Cut Throat Joe’s barber shop received a qualification 27 years ago by doing a joint hairdressing and barbering course.

Mr Iaria said one of his staff was looking to start the same course Mr McEvoy completed.