NHBF Presents Sofa Talk: Raising the Standard Inside Modern Barbering with Phil Jarman

In this episode, we sit down with legendary British Grand Master Barber Phil Jarman, whose 35+ year journey has taken him from a traditional barbershop in Scotland to stages all around the world.

Phil shares how his career began, the early challenges he faced, and what kept him passionate about barbering for decades. From old-school apprenticeship culture to today’s fast-evolving industry. A strong focus of the conversation is education and standards. As the founder of the Phil Jarman Academy, Phil breaks down what separates good barbers from great ones, the importance of mastering core skills, and why traditional techniques are still so important.

To find out more about the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) visit: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home/

What is NHBF Presents Sofa Talk?

Honest conversations with the people shaping our sector.

Welcome to Sofa Talk, a monthly podcast from the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), diving behind the scenes of the hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics industries. Each episode brings you candid conversations with entrepreneurs, working professionals, creators, innovators, and leaders. Voices working across these four field, sharing their real-world experiences, lessons learned, and insights into growing a business or career in our sector. Expect practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and relatable stories that reflect the ups and downs, opportunities and challenges of running or working in a salon, spa, barbershop, or aesthetic clinic.

Whether you’re a salon owner, a stylist, a barber, an aesthetic practitioner, or simply interested in the broader hair and beauty world - Sofa Talk will offer you honest, useful, and inspiring ideas to take away. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and join us each month for a new conversation.