At just 24 years old, Ky is quite the maverick. He's a talented hairdresser that's obsessed with barbering and for Ky it's ALL about the collaboration. It's an approach that has seen his profile grow as a blogger, as a barber, as a session stylist and as a creative thinker. MB chatted with him on the way to the skate park'
MB: Can you give MB the lowdown?
KCW: I'm from the Lake District. I originally studied music but liked cutting my mates hair so when I needed a job it seemed natural to do hair. I never looked back.
MB: Call yourself a barber?
KCW: I do women's hair but why not call myself a barber? Back in the Lake District I paid my own way to study cut throat shaving and I am really into that regal gentleman look. I research, study and practice all the traditional techniques for men's cutting and grooming. It's got the richest heritage and you can create a brilliant service and experience for men beyond a cut.
MB: So what's the future of barbering?
KCW: There is a need to really embrace proper skills and get into historical and technical barbering. It's now totally normal to see someone dressed well with a great pomp, ripping it up at the skate park and great skills are on show everywhere. Social media has made it accessible to everyone.
MB: You got just nominated at the Male Lifestyle Blogger Awards for kycutwilson.co.uk. Why blog?
KCW: I started blogging about three years ago because my sister moved to the US and I wanted to show her what I was up to. I realised quickly that it's a brilliant way to connect to like minded people. I keep it evolving and let it mature along with me. The blog is an expression of me and my brand but it's also an expression of all the amazing people that I collaborate with from the designer Johnny Moss at scratch-creative.co.uk to the manager at the Crate Brewery, Bar and Pizzeria in Hackney Wick.
MB: You choose some unusual methods to showcase your skills. Tell us about them?
KCW: Like I said, I'm into collaboration. I started #Ifoundmyhairdresser as a way to open interesting conversations, to create awareness and make people look twice. I work outside on the street. It looks random but it's not. I've connected with some great local businesses that way.
MB: What's next on your list?
KCW: I want to look to foreign cultures to study traditional skills that I don't currently have like ear flaming. It's all about really building a massive experience based on tradition for men.
