Ollie Foster, Number 47 Barbers, Chester
“2019 is finally going to see the full return of longer hair. It’s exciting, as this time around more barbers are competent working with length, they’re not just specialists in short back and sides anymore. As far as beards go, I’ve started to advise my clients to adopt shorter facial hair. When dealing with designer stubble I always recommend a tapered neck as opposed to a straight line too. This is because of the natural way it will grow out.”
Vincent Quinn, Hard Grind, Dundee
“Current street wear brands are definitely influencing the hairstyles that my customers are asking for. And it’s all about the resurgence of the 90s. The vintage/retro movement is hijacking the limelight from the usual major men’s fashion brands, showing how youth culture is making its stamp. Hairstyles like the bowl cut, the wedge cut and classic curtains are very much in trend for youngsters at the moment. Beards are becoming shorter again, and the transition length between stubble andbeard seems to be the ‘in’ length. Necklines and cheek lines are also more faded than sharp, giving a more roguish, gritty look.”
Callum Marks, Luka’s Barbers, Plymouth
“Scissor work will be huge this year. And colour is getting bigger and bigger for guys that like to stand out from the crowd. I’m hoping to see some contemporary mod inspired cuts coming through, paying more attention to the hair’s natural flow, rather than blunt contrasts. Loads of my guys are ditching their big, Viking like beards. Instead, they’re going for lowe maintenance looks. A great example is a combination of short stubble and a full moustache.”
Liam Hamilton, Hamilton’s Barbers, Redruth
“Loads of my clients have been asking me to make them look like Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, and Brad Pitt recently. I tell them I’m a barber, not a miracle worker. But when you look into the thatch that these celebs are currently modelling on their heads, there’s a clear trend for medium-to-long length styles. Beards are getting shorter, and again, this is being driven by celebrity trends. In particular, these trends are being set among the box office elite. For example, how many of the Avengers donned designer stubbles and short beards in Infinity War last year?”
Luigi Caterino, The Italian Job Barber, Galashiels
“In 2019, I’m expecting to see a lot of clean fades with longer hair on top. The gent in my shop are all asking for a little more length. “Regarding beards, I’m expecting to see lots of guys taking their facial fuzz shorter. It’s no great secret that men are taking better care of their beards today.”
Sophie Collins, Soph’s Barbershop, Llanbedr, North Wales
“A lot of my clients are asking to keep their 
beards reasonably short, faded down from the hair into the cheeks. A few are also asking me to shorten the hair in the middle of their chins emphasising their moustaches and goatees. “I think a lot of this is because people are seeing it more with celebrities and social media influencers. More than ever, men are desperate to keep up with the latest trends set by social media elitist.”