Florent just wasn’t feeling inspired as a hairdresser anymore, but when he took up his clippers for the first time and tried to do his first zero line, he was exhilarated and he just knew that barbering was something that he could see himself doing time and time again! He had realised that working as a classic hairdresser just wasn’t giving him that creative adrenaline that he was beginning to experience as a barber.
He began using You Tube as his barber resource, looking at tutorials and teaching himself techniques with the assistance of various videos. However, he knew deep down that he wanted to become a top class barber and would need professional training. That is when he immediately thought of London School of Barbering as he had heard so many good things about our school from other people in the industry. So taking our Masters NVQ 3 in barbering was a no brainer for him.
As soon as he graduated with us last May 2016, he was passionate and driven which lead him to open up his own barbershop called New School Barbers in France where he was born. A year later and he is one of the busiest barbershops in his town. He also works with a tattoo artist in his shop and is looking to employ at least two other barbers – so the future is looking bright for him.
Read more about his success story below in his interview….
LSB: What is your name and Instagram tag if you have one?
FP: My name is Florent Petrini. I don’t have an Instagram tag but here is the Facebook page of the barbers I work for – New School Barbers Facebook.
LSB: What did you do before barbering?
FP: I was actually a classic hairdresser before I decided to take the career path of barbering.
LSB: When did you realise barbering was the profession for you?
FP: I realised I wanted to be a barber when I picked up my clippers for the first time and tried to do my first zero line, it released excitement in me and I knew that I had found something that I would love doing every day.
LSB: How did you feel about making the transition into barbering, and why did you choose LSB to learn the trade?
FP: As I was a kind of You Tube tutorial barber, I wanted to make it professional and LSB was clearly the best school from what I heard from other people. I can honestly say that after completing my course, LSB is the best school out there for barbering!
LSB: What course did you take at London School of Barbering, and what were the highlights of for you?
FP: I did the Masters NVQ 3 in barbering course which was three weeks long. The best thing I remember the most about the course was the amount of models we had access to cut in a day ( sometimes 4 or 5 ). No other place I had went to study at was that much focused on practicing every day and it has proven that it is definitely the best way to learn the barbering trade!
LSB: Tell us about your journey since you have finished with LSB?
FP: Just after finishing my LSB course, I was fully confident and I knew I was clearly ready to open up my own barbershop in my country France where I was born. One year after opening, I’m the busiest barber in town. I’m working with a tattoo artist in my shop and now looking to employ at least two other barbers – so the future is looking bright!
LSB: What has been your proudest moment so far as a barber?
FP: Proudest thing is when a client sits in my chair and says: “do what you want”. That’s the moment you know how much they trust you, your skill and creativity, and that’s simply the best feeling in the world.
LSB: If you could have anyone in your barber’s chair, who would it be and why?
FP: I would have loved to have my grandfather in my chair, but he passed before I became a barber.
LSB: Do you take inspiration from anything when cutting hair, such as music, fashion, film or art?
FP: My inspiration is from the street. I always look at hair and beards as I’m walking down the street. I particularly love that kind of home made haircuts ( such as punk ones etc.. ). I’m taking some of their disconnections or ideas that I translate in a proper haircut done in my shop.
LSB: Anything further to add?
FP: Have a look at my amazing customised clippers on my website: www.newschoolbarbers.com
