SO DIEUWERTJE THANKS FOR AGREEING TO SIT IN OUR CHAIR, NOT EVERYONE WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE SO CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF PLEASE?

 

I’m Dieuwertje Prins, 21 years old (nearly 22 on 22 November this year ) and I live in Sluis at this moment. I started as a beauty specialist in the company of my mother in 2012. I followed the eduction of beauty specialist, make-up artist and I got inspirited for the hairdressing craft. I decided to do an eduction for hairdressing and barbering and started my own barbershop 2 years ago in the company of my mum.

 

There happened a lot of things the last year, I decided to enter (some) competitions and was nominated for 4 times in 3 months and I became Barber of the Year Europe 2015 in Wales.

 

Before I became I was thinking to start another business in future and I thought 10 months about that. This month I have announced that I’m going to move to Manchester 31 December 2015 and gonna start a new barbershop together with Christian Booth, named: Prins & Booth barbershop. I’m really looking forward to our collaboration and there gonna be a lot of new thins happen in 2016 !

 

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE ON A CAREER IN GENTS HAIRDRESSING, AND AT WHAT STAGE IN YOUR CAREER DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE GOING TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOU HAVE BECOME?

 

While doing haircuts, I got many questions off the men like: “Can you shave the lines of my beard or can you do a hot towel shave”? So I decided to look on the internet and I saw there was some education for it and I began some courses and educators. After a bit of education I opened my barbershop and it gonna be busier and busier.

 

I created my own cutting techniques and share it on facebook, twitter and instagram. After many good comments, I decided to enter 5 competitions. I was nominated for The Barberias Conecanto In Barcelona, Coiffure Awards, Barber Battle and The Barber Awards. At 28th June 2015 I became Barber of The Year Europe and that was the begin of everything.

 

SO YOU HAVE TRAVELLED ALL OVER THE WORLD WINNING AWARDS AND TROPHY’S AND NOW WE SEE YOU HAVE SET YOU SIGHTS ON BECOMING A WORLD CHAMPION BARBER, MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE, WHAT HAVE YOU WON SO FAR AND WHAT IS DRIVING YOU TOWARDS BEING THE BEST BARBER IN THE WORLD?

 

I was nominated for 4 competitions, but won The Barber of The Year Europe Award in 2015. After winning this award, all eyes are focussed on me.. I got many sponsors and many companies asked to me to be an ambassador of their company.

My life went in a short time in a flow and it go really fast. I keep doing make new creations and like to inspire many people. Because I received that grand award in June, I want to go one step higher.

I like to inspire the world and to get the biggest awards. It gives me a kick and a good feeling, and it gives me a drive to work forward and to look for new creations in the fashion world.

 

SO YOUR AN AMBASSADOR FOR MATTAKI SCISSORS. YOU’RE ALSO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEMBER ON THE HAIRBOND ARTISTIC TEAM WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY AND AS A BARBER?

 

Its really great to be ambassador of these companies. For example Matakki is a company who sells scissors and James Curd gives me a great deal of support in this industry. Also the colleagues inspire me and it’s good for your development in your future career.

 

I test all the scissors, give them recommendations and promote them on social media. This the same for Hairbond. I’m now in the artistic team and everybody inspire each other. I’m also International Master Barber by the British Master Barbers. It gives me a good feeling an its a strong collaboration to help everybody and to make international career.

 

SO YOU RUN YOUR OWN CUTTING WORKSHOPS TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU TEACH, WHAT PEOPLE ATTENDING WILL GAIN AND HOW AND WHERE YOU RUN YOUR TRAINING COURSES.

 

After winning the award I got a lot of message by social media asking if I give barber courses. After many question I decided to start an academy and to teach hairdresser/barbers. I prefer to give courses in small classes, so I can teach them 1 one 1.

 

In one course I teach 4 people in 8 hours long, how I do haircuts/shavings/beard trims. The benefits of the small groups are that people can ask my whole the time question, can have a good look how you have to do the techniques and hear my secrets of doing some haircuts. I have made my own technique and wrote it down on papers.

 

All people who entered my courses can do very good fades and pomps.

 

WHAT ARE YOU STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AS A BARBER AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND WHAT DO YOU HATE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?

 

That’s a difficult question ?? Hahah.. I don’t want to be arrogant but my strengths are doing pompadours, fades eg. It’s strange to say but I can’t mention a weaknesses a a barber, maybe the thing you don’t doing women haircuts? I like the barber industry, the strong collaboration with other barbers.. it’s like a real family.

 

The only thing that I hate sometimes, that I read sometimes that people place bad comments below some pictures of barbers. I think you have to learn from each other, get inspired and give them stimulant in doing different haircuts. Its the only way to go forward in this industry and get a place in the fashion world.

 

THE GENTS HAIRDRESSING INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY BOOMING WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE CONSIDERING A CAREER AS A BARBER?

 

Do your own thing.. don’t copy work from other barbers, but make it like your own. The good thing is, if someone see your picture without a name and can recognize its yours. I think that’s an important thing.

 

SO YOUR ON FACEBOOK TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM HOW IMPORTANT IS SOCIAL MEDIA TO YOU?

 

Social media is one the most importants ways of connecting people. Maybe I can say it’s the most important way of connecting people. Its the cheapest easiest way and everybody is looking everyday on Facebook, twitter and instagram.

 

I like to use the hashtags, cause you can reach the whole world. Also people get inspired by others in this way and see which products or equipment you use. For example I always use the hashtags of the companies who I’m an ambassador for. You can see how easy it is for you to reach many people.

 

THE INDUSTRY AS WE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IS REALLY PICKING UP MOMENTUM, WHERE DO YOU SEE BOTH YOURSELF AND GENTS HAIRDRESSING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

 

I think the barbershops are gonna be hot, because the last years were the 20’s/30’s looks fashion. But if you look to the fashion like clothing you see its gonna be change and it looks more like the 80’s again.

 

I think, but I can say its gonna be change to the 80’s looks in the future 2 years. Why? You can recognize all the times came back., so also the curls and Beatles looks. Only one thing: not all the barbershops go away, but it will stay. You can still go for a hot towel shave are for treating your beard or a classy men haircut, but the barbershops in 2016 will follow the fashion trends.

 

SO WHEN YOUR NOT CUTTING HAIR, TRAVELLING THE WORLD, WINNING TROPHY’S AND AWARDS OR TEACHING ON ONE OF YOUR WORKSHOPS,WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?

 

Hahah your question are not stupid, but this is a stupid one for me.. I don’t do much things in my spare time. A few years ago I had the time for doing sport (I played field hockey and golf), but I don’t have any time for it now. If I have now some spare time, I’m going for example to a restaurant, have a drink with friends or doing some trips.

 

I also like drawing and photography. It’s more artistic, I like to do Urbex Photograpy.. make some pictures of old and empty buildings with some history.

 

Dieuwertje thank you very much for your time and good luck in the future.