Danny Blair completes Huckle the Barber Lamb’s Conduit Street team.
Where are you from?
I'm originally from the stunning, historic market town that is known as Romford but I now live in St John's Wood with the wife and our cat Michael Douglas.
How did you get into barbering?
I was originally a heart surgeon, but I had incredibly shaky hands, and after the last incident I was sacked. So I became a barber instead. Only kidding. Well, I started out doing women's hairdressing. I did that for six years, then gravitated towards barbering for a new challenge to keep learning. I quickly realised that I preferred the barbering and started to focus on that.
Where were you before you started at Huckle the Barber?
My last job was at a shop called Barber Streisand. Aside from the incredible name, it was a unisex barber, so I was really able to combine all I'd learnt from hairdressing and barbering and hone my skills.
What do you particularly like about barbering?
I love the overall vibe of a barbershop; it's different from a salon, and I feel more at home. More importantly, I think I can offer a really relaxed service where clients can feel they are catching up with a mate instead of just sitting in a barber's chair.
Any career highlights?
I was in a TV advert for an insurance company a couple of years back. They turned up with a 60-person crew to get a three-second shot of me spinning my scissors while looking mysteriously into the camera. I was treated like a bloody celebrity, and I remember thinking that I knew that my scissor spinning abilities would come in handy someday.
And favourite haircuts?
My favourite haircut is the one where the client leaves with the biggest smile on his face; it's why we do what we do. As barbers, we have the ability to make people feel, and look, their best. Someone could be having a really crappy day, and after 45 minutes in the chair they're feeling revitalised, confident and positive.
What's the best advice you can give the Huckle the Barber customer?
Be yourself. Don't be scared to do things just because you're worried about what others may think. If you want to do something, then do it.
If you could cut any famous person's hair, who would it be? And why?
Oh, that's easy. It would have to be Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. He's the coolest and nicest bloke in the world. And I bet he's a right laugh to go for a beer with.
What attracted you to join Huckle the Barber?
Professionally, I know I can learn new skills, working side-by-side with some of the best barbers in London; that's a great confidence booster, and also makes me up my game. Personally, as a newly married man, I needed a better work-life balance. At Huckle the Barber, we are not expected to sacrifice our private lives. Chris, the owner, works really hard to build the name and reputation of the business, so I feel I can focus on what I do best.
When you're not cutting hair, what do you like to get up to?
I adore performing whether it be acting or playing music, I've been playing the drums for 12 years, and I recently started learning to play the piano. There is a table tennis table at Huckle the Barber, and a couple of the guys are pretty good, so I'll be spending most of my time practising my backhand because I'm yet to win a game.
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Huckle the Barber provides high-quality grooming services, including haircuts and wet shaves, for discerning London gents. Visit us in Shoreditch or Holborn. Book your Huckle appointment online.