He took the third final place for Barber of the Year 2018!

The final for Barber of the Year 2018 will be decided at the Swedish Barber Expo in Stockholm on September 1 on World Beard Day. In total, just over 45 barbers will have settled for the four final places. In April, the first two finalists were selected for the West Coast and Southern Sweden. Yesterday it was time for semifinal 3, which was held at Stucklife Barber in Stockholm. Ten barbers from Eksjö, Linköping, Norrköping, Nybro, Skövde, Sundsvall, Säffle and Västerås were registered.

Judge Cari Forsgren from Barberia Havana, who won Barber of the Year 2017, and Kenneth Johnsson “freeSir2.0”, master barber with 33 years in the industry, judged the beard trimming according to seven different criteria. The barbers worked on their own model and had 45 minutes to freely trim and style their beards.

– This semi-final was the one that was most even, the barbers were really high quality. The winner excelled in that he worked with all techniques, including threading and waxing of nose hair. It was a bit of a show and felt very professional, says Cari Forsgren.

The winner was Ali Alahama from Troy Salon in Nybro. In second place came Zamo Berggren from Granlo Herrfrisering in Sundsvall.

Kenneth Johnsson also wants to highlight the semi-final’s youngest participant so far, Sargon Kanoun from Sigges Barbershop in Skövde, who at the age of 18 impressed the judges.

– He worked with such calm, had a really good technique and used all tools. It’s unbelievable that you are so mature at that age – he will be among the top in a few years.

The last semifinal for the East Coast will be decided on May 27 in Stockholm. The four finalists will compete in the final in front of an audience at the Swedish Barber Expo on September 1, with an international jury selecting the winner.

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