REVEALED: Toowoomba's best barbers of 2023

Whether their specialty is a skin fade or cut-throat shave, Toowoomba is full of extraordinary barbers. See who was voted the region's best here.

Whether their specialty is a skin fade or cut-throat shave, Toowoomba is full of extraordinary barbers.

Whether their specialty is a skin fade or cut-throat shave, Toowoomba is full of extraordinary barbers.
In a bid to recognise the region’s most talented masters of the trade, The Chronicle asked readers to nominate and vote for who they believed were Toowoomba’s best barbers.
While nearly 40 barbers were nominated, seven barbers came out on top after receiving overwhelming support from the public.
Check out the list of barbers who received the most votes below.

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Addison Manning. Picture: Nev Madsen

1. Addison – Addison’s Barber Shop – 22% and 5. Darcy McGregor – Addison’s Barber Shop – 5%
With more than a decade of experience in barbering under his belt and after running his successful store Addison’s Barber Shop for the past three years, it is no wonder Addison Manning was voted the region’s best barber.
Taking out the competition with 22 per cent of votes, the Addison’s Barber Shop owner first opened his Ruthven St business in August 2020, despite the uncertainty of Covid-19 looming.
The character-rich shop is filled with vintage signage, greenery and timber floors.
Posting to social media in lieu of the shop’s third anniversary, Mr Manning said expressed his gratitude to his team and customers.
“We have grown in the best kind of way,” he said.
“Blessed to have the staff and clients that we have … to the next three years.”

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Darcy McGregor. Picture: Contributed.

Meanwhile, Addison’s Barber Shop staff member Darcy McGregor also received several nominations and votes, coming in sixth place overall.
The popular barber who has worked in the industry since 2016, first joined the Addison’s team in 2020.

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Sarge Tirabzon. Picture: Supplied.

2. Sarge Tirabzon – Sarge’s Barber Shop – 15%
While the uncertainty around the height of the pandemic sadly left many business owners shutting up shop permanently, it was when Sarge Tirabzon took the risk to start his own barber shop.
Fortunately, the decision to start Sarge’s Barber Shop paid off and has allowed the talented barber to do what he loves every day.
“Sarge’s Barber Shop was my dream,” he said.
“I appreciate it every morning when I open my doors.”
Originally from Istanbul in Turkey, Mr Tirabzon moved to Toowoomba five years ago and opened his own shop after living in the Garden City for just 12 months.
Influenced by his culture, the talented barber said ear flaming, which is the Turkish practice of removing hair from ears using a small flame, was one of his favourite services on offer.
Working as a barber for nearly two decades, Mr Tirabzon said alongside his team of five employees, he loved making clients feel good about themselves.

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Erhan Demirkan. Picture: Supplied.

3. Erhan Demirkan – Erhan the Turkish Barber – 9%
Hard work and dedication to the trade are some of the secrets behind Erhan Demirkan’s successful career.
Originally from Istanbul, Mr Demikan immigrated to Australia many years ago, but has been living in Toowoomba for close to a decade.
The passionate barber opened his own shop in the Australia Arcade on Duggan St in 2021, but has worked in locations across the globe, including Melbourne and London.
“I have worked on cruise ships as a barber all around the world for two years,” he said.
“(Toowoomba) feels like home … I would like to say a big thank you to my Toowoomba family for all the support."
The owner of Erhan the Turkish Barber shop, has been working in the industry since 2000 and said his favourite part of the job was seeing the smile on the faces of his loyal clients.
While his favourite technique is the traditional Turkish shave, Mr Demirkan said providing high quality, consistent and respectful services were paramount in his field.

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Joel Watson. Picture: Supplied.

4. Joel Watson – Joel’s Barber Shop – 7%
At the young age of 15, Joel Watson began working at a hair salon every Saturday, but quickly discovered his passion for barbering.
By the time he had turned 21, Mr Watson co-owned a barber shop and now more than 30 years later, he has dedicated his entire life to the trade he loves.
“I had an interest in the history of barber shops and saw the opportunity to re-invent traditional barbering,” he said.
“At that time there were only few older, well-respected barbers in Toowoomba (so) this was a first for Toowoomba as it brought a huge change to the barbering industry and the concept really took off.”
In 2008, Mr Watson and his wife Susan opened their own business Joel’s Barber Shop and the couple moved their successful business to its new Eastville location in April this year, alongside their first ladies salon Mosta Hair.
“Throughout the past three decades, I have witnessed the industry undergo significant changes and advancements,” Mr Watson said.
“It has been particularly rewarding to have had the opportunity to train and employ barbers who have gone on to establish successful businesses in Toowoomba.
“While the core principles of barbering will always remain unchanged, it is your unique ideas and determination that truly set your business a part from the rest.”
The business owner said he was grateful for his “dedicated employees who really believe in the Joel’s brand” and his clients.

https://origin.go.couriermail.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Ashley-Hill-Core-Benefits-Toowoomba.jpg

6. Ashley Hill – Core Benefits – 4%
After struggling at school, Ashley Hill made the decision to leave at the age of 15 and commence her barbering apprenticeship in one of the Garden City’s oldest barber shops at the time.
Falling in love with the trade, Ms Hill who has been working in the industry for the past 13 years, was then offered a position at her dad Warwick Bumstead’s shop Core Benefits.
In addition to barbering services, the appointment-based business offers several different grooming treatments including massages, waxing, dry-needling, laser hair removal and more.
“My father offered me the opportunity to bring barbering to his forever-growing men’s health grooming business,” she said.
“Core Benefits is the only small business of its kind in Toowoomba – it’s a place where men can come and get the works done.”
Grateful for the support she has received from her clients, Ms Hill said making others feel good about themselves and helping to fill other’s cups were her favourite aspects of the job.
“We know our clients on a first-name basis and love that they are part of our Core Benefits family,” she said.
“I love that they feel comfortable and we love to have a laugh.”

Voted as one of Toowoomba's top seven best barbers is Kieran Hopps. Picture: Supplied.

7. Kieran Hopps – Ikigai Barber Shop – 3%
A dolphin trainer-turned barber may sound like the punchline to a joke, but for Kieran Hopps, this interesting career jump was what landed him his dream job.
The former SeaWorld employee who used to train dolphins at the theme park’s Gold Coast resort turned to barbering five years ago and has never looked back.
“I quit dolphin training because I got sick of waking up at 3am to head down to Bli Bli to feed the dolphins,” he said.
“Whenever my mates and I would get together for drinks, someone would want a haircut, so I just stuck my hand up … looking back, they were probably tragic haircuts at the time but I (really enjoyed it).”
Since changing careers, Mr Hopps also opened up his own business Ikigai Barber Shop last year, alongside his friend Chris Hatch, at the Plaza Circle, in Highfields.