ABOUT
Welcome home
Dan’s Barbershop is your place for the very best in men’s haircuts, beard trims and traditional cutthroat shaves
Located on historic Lower Marsh in Waterloo, the space combines luxury with contemporary industrial aesthetics and a subtle nod to our family connection with Asia
It is a space designed for London’s everyman to enjoy and experience the richness of a revitalised barbering culture
Built with love, it’s a place for you to call a home away from home
Why not drop by and grab yourself a Hiver beer, Glenfarclas whisky or Ruby Lucy ice tea
FRANCESCO
Hi, I’m Francesco. I’m Italian but have living in London since 2016. I love this city as it provides all the opportunities you need to follow your dreams and is the perfect place to build a career
I first started cutting my friends’ hair when I was 16 and soon realised it would be my future creative endeavour. I trained at a hairdressing and barbering academy whilst working at a local salon. I then made the decision to move to London to both improve my technical skills and sample everything such a vibrant city has to offer. For the last five years I’ve been working in a unisex salon in Soho, cutting across a range of length and styles. Working on longer lengths, styling and colour, as well as traditional mens cuts has helped me become an incredibly versatile barber
As a barber, I take great responsibility in my work. I always listen to a clients’ wishes and make sure I provide a cut that is not only suitable for them but easy to recreate at home. There’s nothing more satisfying when a client leaves your chair looking and feeling fantastic
I’ve recently finished a degree in music and song writing. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was little and doing this degree was a great way for me to study my passion and further develop my songwriting skills. Like being a barber, music enables me to think and act creatively
Favourite hairstyle: Taper fade at the back, low fade at the sides and a medium length on top, styled a little messy. I prefer a natural finish with matte paste or clay and cuts that are easy to style at home and feel comfortable during the day
Favourite product: Atacama Salt Tonic by Nomad Barber. It’s a stronger product than you think, lasts well during the day, provides volume and leaves hair with a clean texture
Favourite style icon: Zac Efron with short hair at the sides and a bit messy on top
Favourite experience as a barber: My two years at the academy in Italy were amazing. I learnt so many techniques that I still use today. I was able to attend live events and was thoroughly impressed and inspired by the creativity of experienced stylists
Favourite album: Continuum by John Mayer. Every single track on the album is a masterpiece and the quality of the guitar is fantastic
Favourite film: Joker. I was impressed by Joaquin Phoenix (and he’s incredibly stylish of course!)
Favourite book: The Second Coming by John Niven. An ironic book, very fun but with a strong meaning
Favourite travel destination: The south of Italy because it is full of historic sites, little towns and beautiful landscapes by the sea. And, of course, the food is amazing
Favourite place in Waterloo: Vaulty Towers, a nice pub with stunning interiors
LUCA
Hi, I'm Luca and I tend to think of myself as an old soul in a young body. I’m fascinated by the multitude of cultures and traditions of London, it’s just such a diverse melting pot
I started my barbering journey at the age of eighteen. Initially it was more of a hobby than a plan for the future, but did slowly make me lose interest in my engineering degree. In 2013 I obtained my first official barbering qualification and I haven’t looked back since. I moved to London to begin my barbering career and it was a decision that radically changed my life. I’ve had a lot of fantastic experiences living and working in different parts of the city and it was by far the best decision I’ve ever made
For me, the philosophy of a haircut is simple - understand what the client wants and make sure you do it to their liking. The end result is a happy client and a satisfied barber
Favourite hairstyle: A skin fade pompadour. It’s always a pleasure mixing the classic the with the modern and the result is always very aesthetically pleasing
Favourite product: Arica Matte Paste by Nomad Barber. It’s a lovely versatile product that can be used across a number of styles whilst keeping a natural, relaxed finish
Favourite style icon: David Beckham. He’s the modern man's hairstyle icon. With so many versatile styles, he’s stayed bang on trend from his prime until now
Favourite experience as a barber: Working at The Roguery in Cambridge. It was great working somewhere which was more than just cutting hair. Working in collaboration with the Brew Project, we provided a place for clients to eat, drink and unwind and leave looking and feeling good. It also provided me with the opportunity to take part in and experience working at a number of industry events
Favourite album: Hollywood's Bleeding by Post Malone. A brilliant album, made all the better by a cameo from the phenomenal Ozzy Osbourne
Favourite film: Shutter Island. An absolutely amazing masterpiece, with DiCaprio's acting making it even better
Favourite book: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It was this book that sparked the pleasure of reading
Favourite sporting achievement: Going through a rigorous body transformation process at the gym. An amazing body changing experience
Favourite travel destination: Southern France. It’s one of those fantastic places you can never get bored of
Favourite place in Waterloo: Definitely the Leake Street Arches!
DAN
Hi, my name’s Dan and I’m one of those rare beasts - a native Londoner
After a successful career in digital marketing, I decided to follow my passion for men’s grooming and retrain as a barber. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made and I haven’t looked back since! After a number of years working at the top of the industry, I’m now the proud owner of my very own barbershop in Waterloo
I fell in love with barbering because it’s the perfect combination of craftsmanship, creative flair and the lost art of conversation
I have three golden rules for the perfect haircut. Firstly, the cut should look great through the eyes of the client. Next, it should be simple and straightforward to style at home. Finally, there needs to be longevity between cuts. It should continue to look good and easy to maintain before your next visit
Favourite hairstyle: There’s two. Heavily textured longer lengths and a classic buzz cut. Although opposite ends of the spectrum, both embody the raw, unvarnished effortlessness of je ne sais quoi
Favourite product: Nangai Balm by 34.4º. It’s perfect for taming my curly mane and helps hydrate my dry and damaged greys
Favourite style icon: Boca-era Maradona. Big curls and bucketloads of swagger
Favourite experience as a barber: Without a doubt a traditional cutthroat shave live on the Lorraine show on ITV. Travelling across America cutting hair and training staff was also an unforgettable experience
Favourite album: London Calling by The Clash. But Sympathy for the Devil is definitely the greatest song ever written
Favourite film: Apocalypse Now and anything by Quentin Tarantino
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Favourite sporting achievement: Playing against (but getting thrashed by) Sparta Prague’s u12s. “The Invincibles” of 2004
Favourite travel destination: New Zealand and a Kruger safari are strong contenders. But it has to be our once in a lifetime trip to Japan in 2016
Favourite place in Waterloo: Leake Street Arches, specifically Draughts and Banh Bao Brothers. Our neighbour Johnny Skates Records is a real hidden gem