Beyond the Fade: What Really Makes a Great Barber?

Featuring Ji — Director of Sonder Mens & Sonder Academy, Sydney

 

Hosted by Belinda Mindset

The Learners Voice — in collaboration with Belinda Mindset, Education and Concept Hair

 

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🎙️ Episode Overview

 

Barbering is huge right now.

 

Social media is full of fades, fashion, status, packed shops, awards and barbers building impressive personal brands.

 

But here’s the question we explore in this episode:

 

Is status and success really what makes a great barber?

 

In this special international episode of The Learners Voice, Belinda Mindset sits down with Ji, Director of Sonder Mens and Sonder Academy in Sydney, Australia, during Hair Festival Australia.

 

Ji’s story gives learners a very different perspective on success.

 

Because behind the growth of Sonder is something much bigger than barbering skill.

 

It’s education, consistency, integrity, discipline, teamwork, culture and a genuine desire to keep improving.

 

And there is a very personal connection to this conversation for Belinda.

 

Ji is part of the journey of Belinda’s son, Rhys Hillman, who travelled from the UK to Australia to pursue his own barbering dream and is now part of the Sonder team.

 

This makes the episode about much more than business.

 

It’s about what employers actually look for in young barbers — and what learners can develop long before they become technically brilliant.

 

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✂️ From Teen Barber to Building Sonder

 

Ji shares how his barbering journey began as a teenager, cutting hair while still at school.

 

His early experience taught him the intensity of a traditional barber shop — the pace, teamwork and atmosphere.

 

But he and his business partner eventually saw an opportunity to do things differently.

 

Sonder was built around a clear vision:

 

• Appointment-based barbering
• A premium client experience
• Strong education
• A recognisable brand
• Consistency
• Team culture
• Continuous development

 

What began with two young barbers has grown into a much bigger vision incorporating barbering, education, leadership and opportunities for the people within the business.

 

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🧠 Do You Need to Be the Best Barber?

 

One of the biggest lessons Ji shares is how his approach to recruitment has changed.

 

Initially, he believed he needed to find the best barbers.

 

Now he sees it differently.

 

You don’t necessarily need the best barber. You need the best person.

 

Technical skills can be developed through training, practice and mentoring.

 

Character is much harder to teach.

 

Ji explains why honesty, integrity, work ethic, accountability and attitude can ultimately be more valuable than having the strongest technical skills on day one.

 

For learners, this is a powerful message:

 

Your skill matters. But who you are matters too.

 

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🌱 What Really Makes a Great Barber?

 

This episode explores the qualities that sit underneath technical ability.

 

1. Education

 

A great barber never thinks they’ve finished learning.

 

Ji talks about creating a culture where education is continuous — not something that ends when a qualification does.

 

1. Consistency

 

Doing something once doesn’t make you good at it.

 

Doing it repeatedly, reflecting, correcting and improving does.

 

Ji’s advice is simple:

 

Focus on the input, not the outcome.

 

Put the right work in consistently and improvement becomes inevitable.

 

1. Integrity

 

Who are you when nobody is watching?

 

Ji explains why integrity is fundamental to the Sonder culture.

 

Knowing your own values gives you a framework for making good decisions — especially when things become difficult.

 

1. Work Ethic

 

Success isn’t always glamorous.

 

There are early mornings, long days, setbacks, difficult conversations and periods when the results don’t appear quickly.

 

Ji shares the reality behind the growth of Sonder — not just the success people see online.

 

1. Emotional Intelligence

 

Belinda reflects on something she noticed when meeting the Sonder team in person:

 

The kindness, emotional intelligence and genuine happiness they showed when seeing each other succeed.

 

That matters.

 

A great barber doesn’t just know how to cut hair.

 

They know how to work with people.

 

1. Client Care

 

The haircut is only part of the experience.

 

Listening, consulting, understanding what the client wants and making them feel valued are all part of becoming a professional.

 

1. Presentation

 

Belinda and Ji discuss one of the Belinda Mindset cards:

 

First Impressions Count.

 

Your appearance, hygiene, hair, clothing and overall presentation communicate something before you even begin the consultation.

 

If you want clients to trust you as someone who understands style, your own presentation becomes part of that trust.

 

1. Product Knowledge

 

Retail isn’t simply about selling products.

 

It’s about knowing them well enough to make a genuine recommendation.

 

Understanding ingredients, benefits, application and suitability allows you to confidently explain why a product could make a difference to your client’s hair.

 

Education creates confidence.

 

Confidence creates better conversations.

 

And better conversations create better client experiences.

 

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❤️ Rhys Hillman — From Dreaming About Australia to Sonder

 

This episode brings Rhys Hillman’s story full circle.

 

Rhys was previously a guest on The Learners Voice — Episode 6, where he shared his own journey and ambitions in barbering.

 

Now, in this episode, Ji explains what stood out about Rhys when he was considering joining Sonder.

 

And the answer wasn’t simply his haircutting ability.

 

Ji recognised something deeper.

 

Character.

 

Rhys had demonstrated:

 

• Persistence
• Work ethic
• Determination
• A willingness to learn
• Teamwork
• Accountability
• Integrity
• A genuine desire to improve

 

Rhys contacted Sonder several times because he genuinely wanted the opportunity.

 

Ji explains that this persistence showed something about Rhys’s character.

 

And when the conversation eventually happened, the question wasn’t simply:

 

“Is he technically good enough?”

 

It was:

 

“Is he the kind of person we want in our team?”

 

That is a hugely important lesson for every learner listening.

 

Don’t just work on your portfolio.

 

Work on yourself.

 

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🎧 Listen to Rhys — Episode 6

 

Rhys’s original The Learners Voice episode gives listeners the other side of the story — hearing directly from him about his journey, ambitions and desire to build a career in barbering.

 

The Learners Voice — Episode 6: Rhys Hillman

 

Listen to Rhys’s Episode 6 on Podbean⁠

 

Listening to Rhys’s episode alongside this conversation with Ji creates a brilliant mentor-and-learner story across two episodes.

 

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🔥 The Sonder Culture

 

One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation is culture.

 

Sonder isn’t simply about creating barber shops.

 

Ji describes a vision for an ecosystem where people can continue to grow without reaching a ceiling.

 

That means creating opportunities for people to progress — whether that’s becoming a better barber, educator, manager, business owner or eventually partner.

 

For learners, the message is:

 

Don’t just look for a job. Look for an environment where you can grow.

 

And when you become part of a team, remember that you also contribute to the culture.

 

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💭 What Does Success Actually Mean?

 

Ji challenges the traditional idea of success.

 

Is success:

 

More followers?

 

More shops?

 

More money?

 

More recognition?

 

More status?

 

Those things might be part of someone’s journey.

 

But they don’t necessarily define success.

 

Ji’s bigger ambition is to create an environment where the people around him can achieve their own version of success.

 

That’s a very different definition.

 

So ask yourself:

 

What is YOUR version of success?

 

And perhaps even more importantly:

 

What are you doing today to get closer to it?

 

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🚀 Ji’s Advice to Learners

 

If you’re starting out in barbering, this episode is packed with lessons.

 

Don’t obsess over the result.

 

Focus on your input.

 

Practice.

 

Ask questions.

 

Learn from people better than you.

 

Accept feedback.

 

Be consistent.

 

Look after your clients.

 

Build relationships.

 

Take responsibility.

 

Develop your character alongside your technical ability.

 

Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom.

 

And don’t confuse being visible with being successful.

 

Social media can show people your work.

 

Your character determines whether people want to work with you.

 

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🎯 The Learners Voice Challenge

 

Before your next day in college or the salon, ask yourself:

 

Am I trying to look successful — or am I actually becoming successful?

 

Then ask:

 

• Am I learning every day?
• Am I practising enough?
• Do I accept feedback?
• Do I care about my clients?
• Can people trust me?
• Do I contribute positively to my team?
• Do I take responsibility when things go wrong?
• Would an employer want to invest in me?
• Am I becoming the kind of professional I would want to work with?

 

Because being a great barber isn’t just about the haircut.

 

It’s about the person holding the clippers.

 

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🌏 About Ji

 

Ji is a Director of Sonder Mens and Sonder Academy in Sydney, Australia.

 

His barbering journey began as a teenager and has developed into a career combining barbering, education, leadership, business and personal development.

 

Through Sonder, Ji is passionate about creating a strong learning culture and helping people within the business continue to develop and achieve their own version of success.

 

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🤝 Thank You to Pivot Point UK

 

A huge thank you to Pivot Point UK, supporting education and professional development across the hair and beauty industry.

 

Pivot Point’s commitment to education, innovation and high-quality learning resources aligns perfectly with the message of this episode:

 

Great professionals never stop learning.

 

Visit Pivot Point UK⁠

 

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🧪 Colour Me Safe

 

This episode is also supported by Colour Me Safe.

 

Smarter. Safer. Simpler. Patch testing for professionals.

 

Colour Me Safe is helping professionals rethink the way allergy testing is approached, with a method designed around testing with the actual product being applied.

 

Client safety isn’t an optional extra.

 

It’s part of being a professional.

 

Visit Colour Me Safe⁠

 

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💛 About The Learners Voice

 

The Learners Voice is hosted by Belinda Mindset and created to amplify the voices of learners, mentors, educators and industry professionals.

 

Through honest conversations, the podcast explores the reality behind careers in hair and beauty — including the challenges, confidence, opportunities, mindset and people that shape professional journeys.

 

The Learners Voice is a collaboration with Belinda Mindset, Education and Concept Hair.

 

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🌟 A Final Message for Learners

 

Don’t just chase the next opportunity.

 

Become the person who is ready for it.

 

Don’t just learn the haircut.

 

Learn the profession.

 

Don’t just build your social media.

 

Build your character.

 

Don’t just chase status.

 

Build something you are proud to be part of.

 

And remember:

 

Your voice matters.

 

Your journey matters.

 

You matter.

 

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📚 Free Resources for Learners & Educators

 

If you’re a learner, mentor, lecturer or salon owner, Belinda Mindset has free resources available to support learners and teams.

 

Visit the Belinda Mindset store and scroll to the bottom of the page.

 

Explore Belinda Mindset Resources⁠

 

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