Britain’s Best Barber Apprentice - Sirak Kebede

Ruffians are delighted to announce that one of our recent recruits, Sirak Kebede, has won the coveted “Best Apprentice” award by industry top dogs Modern Barber at their 2022 Awards.
 
Sirak arrived at Ruffians last year fresh from barber school. He’s since progressed to a fully fledged barber, splitting his time between our Covent Garden and Shoreditch barbershops.
 
Thanks to his skill, hard work and dedication to his newly honed craft, Sirak’s progress has been impressive. His entry into barbering is somewhat unorthodox, and this may go some way to explaining his rapid rise in the field.
 
Sirak joined the Army straight from school, serving in the Paratroopers for many years. In 2021, after seventeen years, he decided that the time was right for a fresh challenge and he left aged thirty three, unemployed for the first time in his life.
 
He decided that he wanted to learn a trade for job longevity, progression and enjoyment. Subsequently, he enrolled into barbering school at the earliest opportunity.
 
This coincided with being the year that he returned to London and had his first child. Oh, and he’s also starting a law degree concurrently. No one could suggest that Sirak does things by halves.
 
Ever since, Sirak has commited a huge amount of time and effort into barbering, so for us this award is not only just, but also unsurprising.
 
Here we take the opportunity to find out a little bit more about the man himself, and what this award means to him.
 
What made you choose barbering as a career upon leaving the Army?
 
I knew straight away that I wanted to learn a craft that I could become obsessed with. Some of my other former colleagues had opted to train as electricians or plumbers but this didn’t seem quite right for me. I was looking for something more creative.
 
I wanted something that would give me purpose, fuel my ambition and grant me social utility. I wanted to be a useful member of the wider community.
 
What has been the most challenging aspect of your career change so far?
 
For me it was understanding that certain concepts need to be combined with patience and understanding.
 
My immediate reaction is to go at things at 100mph, but that won’t always make you understand the concept any quicker. By giving myself the time and space to grow as a professional really helped me to understand what I had to do to succeed.
 
Any tips for budding barbers looking to get into the industry?
 
Follow the right example. Pick a barber that is doing well and outline what makes them successful. Keep watching, digesting and learning until you formulate something that works for you.
 
Also, you must be able to dig in and outwork your peers. This is the only way to separate yourself and be recognised.
 
What are your favourite hairstyles to cut?
 
My favourite hairstyles are the classics; something that the normal guy can wear with confidence and pride.
 
I genuinely believe that the short, back and sides is a great haircut, it just has to be done right.
 
Any hopes for the mens hair industry going forward?
 
My main hope for the industry is a simple one: that it continues to grow and showcase the very best talent that the UK has to offer.
 
Who’s your one to watch for next year’s award?
 
Jason Fairbank is a huge talent who’s been quietly grafting away for quite a while now. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on as he will be turning heads with his work in the very near future.
 
Should you wish to sample Sirak’s talents for yourself, appointments can be booked with him at our Shoreditch branch on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and in Covent Garden on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.