Barbering services in Bulgaria have their long traditions, but over the 1990s those almost disappeared as a segment of hairdressing – the market was flooded with beauty salons, mostly for women. So, today many men prefer to shape their beard or shave at home. “That is exactly what we want to change! We want to explain that men can look more stylish, more masculine. Yes, sometimes it costs money and time, but the vision received will be more precise,” says Kiril Moskotov, the owner and manager of the Head Hunters barber’s shop.

Kiril was born in Bulgaria, but lived in Ukraine for long years. He is an educated marketing expert and has worked as an IT specialist, but at one point he decided to turn his hobby into a career.

“My father is a Bessarabian Bulgarian,” Kiril says. “I have always wanted to come to Sofia or another major city in this country. When I visited the capital in 2015, I realized that it was the place I wanted to settle down in. Then I failed to find a place to have a modern hairdo – it was just an empty market niche. So, I asked myself: couldn’t I become the person that would take care of Sofia men’s vision.”

Kiril Moskotov’s barber shop is not simply a place where one can shave and have a haircut. The atmosphere here is special, the music played is rock and hip-hop and only male cosmetics is offered.

“We want our barber’s shop to be a place where a man can spend an hour without having regrets afterwards,” Kiril says. “Our goal is each barber to develop at least good acquaintance with each of the customers. The atmosphere is aimed to be relaxing and the service received is not the only thing envisaged. That is why a glass of whiskey, or one beer, or a cup of coffee, or some male magazines on the tables are always the bonus added.”

Individual approach is the next indisputable advantage of the barber’s shop – the skilled master barbers will provide a piece of advice on the overall vision of the person – whether it would be longer hair or beard, or anything…

“It’s now fashion to have beard,” Kiril says. His subjective point of view is that 80 - 90% of men look better with beard.

“Beard is not simply a matter of masculinity only – one can fix his face with it. If it is thin, you may grow beard in order to make it broader and more geometrical. The beard can hide your double chin. Many tend to think that the growing of a beard will save them time in the mornings, but this is pretty wrong, as any beautiful beard requires lots of care with different cosmetics. You should go to the barber’s no less than twice per month, or spend like 30 minutes at home shaping it,” Kiril warns.

It is a whole culture to be a barber nowadays, not just some craft. There has been growing interest, as many young people want to do that. So, Kiril Moskotov has decided to open a Barber Academy which will become a fact in September.

“Skills are the most important thing, but we will also issue a document for completed professional training. There are not only newcomers, but also many professional coiffeurs who would like to become barbers and vice versa. Being a barber is vocation, work and lifestyle. I guarantee that if anyone opts for it, there is no way that he or she will give up afterwards…” Kiril Moskotov states.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev