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2018 begins with the promise of many things: new gluten-free diets, treason charges against Mr. Trump, and fresh opportunities to grow our personal and professional lives. But gluten-free means no beer, so we can’t condone that. And we can’t really help Mueller nab Trump (although we would). What we can do—and will do—is help with that last one. JD’s is bringing a new series of advanced barber classes to the Gastown shop.
We will be offering three advanced workshops: clippers, scissors, and facial hair. Developed by founder Judah Down, and barbers Graham Carr and Weldon Hogue, these classes are offered to those with some experience barbering but wish to hone their craft and thrive in this competitive industry.
Each class is structured around hands-on experience and learning. As part of their education, each participant will perform a supervised haircut on a model of their choice, be invited to a free refresher course, and receive bonus information on barbering in the age of social media—how to leverage Instagram and photography to improve your cuts and market your skills.
Barbers wield many tools as part of the trade, but clippers are king. This class will guide you towards fast fades, while preserving the quality of your cuts. We’ll address common mistakes, how to avoid them and how to overcome them. Included in this class is a breakdown of style theory—identifying and understanding the different hair types, blow-drying, and finishing a cut with precision.
If clippers are king, scissors are queen. Advanced scissor-work includes a breakdown of the whole cut, including client consultation and evaluating hair / face types to determine the best style for your client. From there, we explore cutting different hair types, how to understand lines, why working smart is better than working hard, and foolproof cross-checking.
Transform bushy beards and finicky moustaches into works of groomed art. This class, focused on facial hair, teaches everything from trimming and linework to the hot-towel shave. Master tricks for towel wrapping, debate the values of shaving oil versus cream, and learn proper sanitation and blade disposal techniques.
January · 16, 18, 23
February · 13, 1, 20
March · 13, 15, 20
April · 17, 19, 24
May · 15, 17, 22
June · 12, 14, 19
September · 11, 13, 18
October · 16, 18, 23
November · 13, 15, 20
Classes are priced at $500.00. Contact reception@jdsbarbershop.com to reserve your spot.
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If you’re not familiar with the name ‘dopp kit’, it’s because you probably know them as toiletry bags. But these aren’t those clear plastic bags that you pack with toothpaste, a comb, some shampoo, and a condom before a work trip. The JD’s dopp kits are a callback to the original concept—a crisp design introduced by Charles Doppelt in the 1910s. These bags were so well-made that the American army provisioned troops with them for both World Wars. The bags soared in popularity when the soldiers returned home; they had been tried and proven.
All of JD’s dopp kits are made in collaboration with Red Flag Design. The Vancouver company is known for their durable products and clean designs. Working out of a shop close to the Gastown location, they were our first and only choice to manufacture the bags. Available in a fashionable black or a canvas green that honours their history, the kits are perfect for travelling or keeping cabinets tidy.
As part of JD’s holiday promos, we are offering the bags filled with selected products, from pomades to gift cards. Pick one up for yourself and keep your tools tidy, or as a gift for a well-groomed loved one.
]]>If you missed the recent announcement, we're hosting a party this Thursday. In a bid to Make Gastown Great Again, we're throwing open the doors and pouring beers to celebrate our 13th Anniversary. The party will be paired with the brilliant and hyper-colourful work of Vancouver artist, Jean Paul Langlois.
We sat down with JP to learn a little bit more about his work, his inspirations, and give a taste of what to expect Thursday evening. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, hit up the Facebook event and check that little box. You're going to want to.
]]>We sat down with JP to learn a little bit more about his work, his inspirations, and give a taste of what to expect Thursday evening. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, hit up the Facebook event and check that little box. You're going to want to.
What was your introduction to Spaghetti Westerns?
At fifteen, I dropped out of high school and made some older friends. They exposed me to foreign films and art films. When all I'd ever seen was shit like Indiana Jones or the Dumpling Gang, a movie like Fistfull of Dollars blew my little teenage mind.
What draws you to the imagery of the Wild West?
My love of country music? Joking. I love the starkness of the landscape, the look of some gunslinging thug just sitting on his horse. There's something timeless, perfect... One shot tells the whole story.
Do you have a formal education in colour theory? What makes you decide to paint a horse pink or a cloud green?
I've just been painting a long time. Eventually you figure out how colours affect each other. I usually get inspired by seeing a set of colours together, maybe from a cartoon or some fancy new sneakers. Once I start, I just work it out as I go.
What's your favourite colour?
Anything but brown.
How do you think Western themes apply to contemporary times?
Not much has changed—cowboys are still killing Indians, lynching blacks. Everyone's looking for that gold, packing guns...
Have you seen some of the modern Westerns? Do they hold up to the classics?
I like the genre blending Westerns like Bone Tomahawk or Dead Birds. Tarantino's last few movies were good too. The Australian film The Proposition is an all time fav. But there's a quality to the classics that can't be recaptured. That being said, I watch a lot of old garbage just to find the occasional gem.
What spurred the shift from the Fake Indians series to these new works featuring samurai and apes?
It's just the next logical phase. The story needs new blood, different characters. They all look good on horseback so they fit into my world.
Do you have a favourite Japanese classic?
I love Yojimbo and The Hidden Fortress but Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman movies are my fav. He's a very deep character. There's actually a Western remake called Blindman with Ringo Starr... It's not the best...
If you could share a beer with one director and one painter, who would they be?
Emily Carr and Peter Jackson. Joking, although her monkey was probably entertaining.
I think Richard Prince and Werner Herzog. I'm sure Werner would hog the mic but at least he'd be funny and interesting. And I'd just like to be seen hanging out with Richard Prince. Both those guys just do what they wanna do—they don't give a fuck. And most of what they produce is gold.
What's your favourite thing about Gastown?
The commitment of the street people. They just keep that party rocking. No matter how far away welfare day is, rain or shine, in the doorway of a fancy bistro or the middle of the street they just rocking it out, keeping it real.
What should guests expect at the opening Thursday?
A party is what has been promised. So we shall deliver a party!
]]>We’re having a party. A big one.
It’s the thirteenth anniversary of the Gastown shop, and after thirteen years of watching the neighbourhood change around us, we decided it was time to relive the glory days.
]]>It’s the thirteenth anniversary of the Gastown shop, and after thirteen years of watching the neighbourhood change around us, we decided it was time to relive the glory days. The days when Gastown was rough-n-tumble instead of designer-chic. When there were no hip taco bars, no glitzy furniture stores, no Kit and Ace … just a scrappy little barbershop and the shoe store next door. Store veterans might remember those parties, affairs that would shut down Abbott street and strip surrounding beer stores of their stock. We’re not going that big … yet… But we’re recapturing the ghost of Gastown past, and we want you to come—and bring friends.
At 8pm on Thursday, May 18th, the shop’s doors will reopen. Chairs will be moved. Records will be spinning, courtesy of DJ Plan and DJ Shit La Merde. Granville Island beer will be flowing. And on the walls? We are excited to host the neo-expressionist work of Vancouver artist, Jean Paul Langlois. Acid eyed cowboys staring down sprawling landscapes of pink and blue. Polka dot apes and patterned steeds.
His paintings are hyper-colourful daydreams inspired by Spaghetti Westerns, samurai tragedies and Planet of the Apes. JP’s work will hang for a month—the exhibition is kicking off in tandem with our anniversary party. This way you can convince yourself that partying on a Thursday is fine because you’re really just being cultured. If you can’t make the party (which is tragic, consider cancelling your other plans), you’ll be able to see his unique paintings while getting a cut until June 18th.
As the clock strikes 11pm, we won’t turn you into a pumpkin, but we will shoo you into the neighbourhood to host your own after-party. Ski-ball at the Met, anybody?
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Victoria came to Vancouver after growing up in Victoria, BC (yes, she’s heard all the jokes already) and started working for JD’s while still attending Blanche Macdonald. She entered what she called “Judah’s boot camp”, intensive training sessions where the boss reeducated her in the fine art of cutting hair: different ways of holding clippers, new angles to consider and hot shave training that had her gliding a razor across his own head. I am not sure if there’s a correlation between Judah’s cranium and loving hot shaves, but it’s funny that both Weldon and Victoria mentioned this particular task while being interviewed and then claimed it was their speciality. Either Judah has a magic head, or Victoria just loves treating her clients well and making them feel fresh and rejuvenated… The second is more likely. After boot camp, and some time apprenticing at the Vancouver Club, Victoria headed to Dunbar as a full time staff member.
Bre was introduced to the JD’s team through Weldon. The pair were close friends at VCC, which they both attended for hairdressing. While she didn’t get run through the same Judah boot camp as Victoria, Bre was drilled by the Dunbar manager to the same particular standards. Bre’s cutting skills even made TroyBoi’s Instagram story that day, captioned with “fresh trim alert”, so you know the training worked. I’ve got the feeling he’s not the first person to come away from her chair looking fly either. With spacers in her ears and covered in beautiful tattoos, Bre probably isn’t who you’d expect to be hanging out in Dunbar, but she has this wonderful charm that immediately puts anybody at ease. Friendly, funny and talented, it’s no surprise that neighbourhood mothers and British rap stars love her work.
Both barbers talked in length about the shop’s family vibe. Nearby one of the city’s major private schools, the shop gets teenagers hunting for ways to stand out—whether it’s stars shaved into their fade, racing stripes for that extra bit of speed on the rugby pitch, or just the best heartbreaker haircut. Victoria is very popular for the last type, and she admitted she loves doing her part in creating the next generation of handsome little devils. It’s got to the point where she said the “Handsome Devil” fade was her favourite cut—a sharp looking fade with a stylish combover. It’s the kind of look you might expect on the cover of GQ or on a soccer field, and now it’s strolling down locker-lined halls to steal hearts. Watch out, ladies and gentlemen. But it’s not just teens that bring that extra family value to the shop. The Dunbar location is the kind of place that a mother brings her child to get cleaned up, and delighted by the results, sends her husband back for a new look as well.
If you asked either barber whether or not it seemed strange that a trendy British artist can sit next to an ten year old and get their haircut, they’d just shrug and say “That’s Dunbar.” Both have been welcomed into the community to the point where regulars stop them on the street or in coffee shops to say hello. Victoria even gets her car fixed in the neighbourhood. Only a year after the shop opened, it’s clear that anybody describing Bre and Victoria will just shrug and say “They’re Dunbar"—and we’ll all know exactly what they mean.
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Since the days of sweeping floors and clearing out sinks, Weldon has proved himself as a consistent, entertaining and incredibly friendly member of the barber staff. With the help of brave friends and some Craigslist ads, he worked through beginner jitters and improved his style and technique with each cut. Now his favourites are short scissor cuts, mid-fades and hot shaves. He claims he doesn’t get enough requests for scissor cuts either, so if you’re looking to step away from the traditional fade, you’d probably make his day by asking for one. As for hot shaves, it’s the male equivalent of hitting the spa. Forget Sweeney Todd’s cutthroat razors and start imagining Shangri-La and saunas. There’s real bliss in getting that stubble cleared away, and having your face swaddled in a warm towel. Weldon admits he practiced that particular skill by shaving his own legs. We imagine him planning a lovely night in, shaving his legs with a glass of wine and scrolling through his favourite Instagram account, @sadsingledinners. But hey, whatever works, Weldon.
If you come into the Gastown location on a day that Weldon’s got music privileges, you’re likely to hear everything from Iron Maiden to Migos. But if you’re really lucky, the legendary playlist ‘Soft Rap, Hard Rappers’ might be bumping. There’s nothing quite like a haircut while being serenaded by a slow paced DMX song. For Weldon, that’s just one more thing he loves about working at JD’s. That everybody can come together over a playlist like that, or chat and joke with clients and other barbers as they work. That friendly vibe goes beyond the door and soaks into the Gastown surroundings; the district has become a strong community full of interesting characters and spots to eat and drink. When he’s not working in the barbershop, he’s partaking in that community by playing skeeball at the Metropolitan and enjoying two dollar beers.
We would recommend getting him to cut your hair or clean your sink any day. And be sure to ask him about his teenage red-and-black anime hairstyle, he really loves talking about that.
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Monet got her start with the clippers in a roundabout way. An aunt that works in Costuming took her under her wing. This led to a gig doing costuming for the Vancouver Olympics. Monet was expecting to do makeup and style for the performers, until someone pushed a pair of scissors into her hands and said, “Okay, you’re doing hair!” It was a bit of a shock, but it was a high intensity introduction to a career that she would fall in love with. Before long, she switched from costuming and makeup to learning to cut hair, and soon after that Judah was pressing Monet to join the team. He taught her all his tricks and introduced more and more clients, until he managed to steal her away from the salon she was working at, and she became a full time staff member. Six years later, she’s a shining part of the JD’s experience, with her bold, ever-changing hair colours and infectiously friendly personality.
If you’re looking for a speciality, Monet can do it all; ghostly fades, badass braids, and vivid colour. But her favourite cut? She calls it the Mr. Steal-Your-Girl. The kind of cut where a gentleman strolls down from the Bar Lounge and decides it is high time to upgrade his style. Jeffrey lounges at the chair’s feet, lording over a barbell he pinched from the Club’s gym. Scotch in hand, and hip hop classics playing through the speakers, our gentleman asks Monet for a suggestion. The clippers buzz to life, the scissors snip, and thirty minutes later, our gentleman looks into the mirror to see a clean, high fade into lengthy, textured locks. A bit of pomade and careful styling, and he leaves with a look that’ll make his wife say “Oh damn,” and his coworker ask “Where can I get one?”
When pressed to share her favourite part of working for JD’s, she split her answer into two parts. She loves the feeling that her clients come away with after a fresh cut—that newfound identity from switching styles, whether it’s adding cornrows to a housewife or giving a clean buzz. But she also loves the casual, neighbourhood vibe. JD’s has been around a long time now, a tried and true part of Gastown. Most modern barbershops are trying too hard to be your granddaddy’s shop, faking a legacy when they’ve really only been open since last month. There’s something comfortable, relaxed, and familiar about JD’s. Newcomers are treated like the regulars and the regulars are treated like family.
We know you’re probably eager to book a Mr. Steal-Your-Girl cut and meet Monet for yourself, so give us a call soon. While you’re waiting for your appointment, best to follow @momomonets and keep up with the Space Punk Pop Art Ice Queen.
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We’ll let you in on our big secret. For fifteen years now, JD’s Barbershop has been coaching rookies and pros on the fine art of barbering. Judah Down—the man behind the initials—has had a careful hand in training all of our barbers. There’s nothing quite like nailing a fade with the boss hovering over your shoulder, and there’s nothing quite like having a veteran point out how to actually improve. It might be a little scary, but without somebody that cares watching over you, it’s easy to give out mediocre cuts. A customer might leave feeling less than satisfied, then you’re onto the next mediocre cut, and the cycle just continues. No bueno for anybody.
Now we’re offering that experience to people outside the JD family. You could watch a How 2 Buzzcut video on YouTube and save yourself some pennies, but you will miss out on a teacher that knows every trick in the book. A teacher that can correct your form, the way you twist your wrist, how to deal with different thicknesses of hair, or recommend when the clippers should be opened or closed. Whether you haven’t used a pair of scissors since Arts 'n Crafts in the 2nd grade, or you’ve been cutting hair for yourself and friends for years—there’s always room to improve. We’re happy to show you how.
Check out our various workshops to find the right class for you and get your name on the list while there’s still space.
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Vancouver Magazine asked JD to share some thoughts on the year’s trends in hair, and we seized the opportunity to put together a small editorial piece. Our models—Mattie, James, and Jesse—rocked three predicted looks. Mattie with the clean, classic appeal of a low fade, simply styled with our matte pomade. James demonstrated a tidy beard. Jesse was playing the long game, growing his hair out under the careful eye and scissors of the barbershop.
From denim-on-denim, to gentleman’s attire direct out of the Vancouver Club, the shoot shows the versatility of these cuts. Easy to dress up or down, they’re just as appropriate on the street, in the office, or on a movie set.
Blood Alley, besides its nook of users and unpleasant smell, is the perfect location for a shoot. It’s Gastown in miniature, full of textured backdrops, designer shops and tasty places to eat. It doesn’t hurt that it’s steps away from our Abbott street shop, either. There was also a conveniently placed, classic Plymouth Colt that Mattie refused to do a Lil Kim pose in front of ... unfortunately.
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I came home to Vancouver and met up with the chemist who then took the recipe and mixed up the new fragrance. We then spent the next few years testing out our new pomades (on unsuspecting clients of course), shave creams, soaps etc, constantly tweaking the new products. And as of today, I am very excited to officially launch our new JD's Men's product line, our brand new website and also announce the opening of our 3rd location in Dunbar! It's been a busy few years...
So check out the site, definitely check out our custom made Dopp Bags and stop by one of our locations for a fresh fade! Thank you to everyone who helped along the way and a big thank you to all the clients who've been following us for years...we love you guys!
JD
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