Zanear Kurd: Why Every Barber Needs to Step Out of the Shop

In his latest Modern Barber column, barber and educator Zanear Kurd shares why the best way to sharpen your skills might be to put the clippers down and step outside the shop. Zanear shares why attending hair and barbering events can reignite your passion, expand your network and give you free access to world-class education you won't find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for fresh techniques, creative inspiration or career-defining connections, his advice is simple: the next step in your growth could be just one event away.

What Happens When You Leave the Shop?

Let’s be real - standing behind the chair every day can drain your spark if you’re not careful. You get busy, cutting just to get through the day, and before you know it, you’re stuck in the same routine. If you want to keep that fire alive and actually enjoy what you do, you’ve got to step out of the shop now and then and get yourself to hair events.

Even better, these events aren’t just for barbers to learn from barbers. Being surrounded by hairdressers is honestly one of the biggest blessings. I’m a barber through and through, and I have deep respect for the talent in our industry, but I’ve found hairdressers can open your eyes to a whole new perspective. A few weeks ago, I recently went to an industry event and it was so much more than just cutting hair. It was art, fashion, lifestyle; it fired me up and filled my head with ideas I couldn’t wait to bring back to my clients.

Here’s what many people don’t realise: the artists you see on stage often charge hundreds of pounds for private courses, but at these events, they’re sharing their knowledge, tips, and real-life tricks for free. You can stand there, watch them work up close, listen to how they break things down, and walk away with skills that will level up your craft. All without spending a penny.

And let’s not forget how lucky we are in the UK. We’ve got Salon International, Barber Connect and so many other world-class events happening right on our doorstep. People travel from all over the world to attend, and it would be a missed chance for us not to take advantage of what’s right here.

If you want my honest advice, the next event you need to get yourself to is Salon International this October in London. It’s three days of pure inspiration and easily one of the best events I’ve ever attended. The energy, the education, the connections - you can’t get that anywhere else.

And here’s something I’ve seen proven again and again: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” At these events, you meet barbers, hairdressers, educators, and brand reps who can open doors you didn’t even know existed. You never know who you’ll bump into, who will inspire you, or what conversation could change your entire career. I’m not just sharing advice, I’m speaking from experience. Getting out to events gave me fresh energy and helped me grow in ways that changed my career and my life. So, grab a mate, mark your calendar, and take that first step. Trust me, your future self will look back and thank you for it.