BARBER BATTLE 2025

The Gold Coast was the place to be on the first weekend of May as Barber Battle 2025 kicked off EXPO4BARBERS with a bang and brought the industry together like never before.

Hall 4 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre was packed out with the entire 1200 square metres full to the brim! Drinks flowing, great food on offer, beats bumping, and 950+ barbers, brands, and fans locked in for a night of next-level skill, passion, and straight-up barbering madness. With Mocha Group on board as official media partner, the night—and the coverage—was locked and loaded.

THE DETAILS

• 125 competitors

• 23 heavyweight judges

• 4 epic categories + 1 MVB

• Sponsored by @babylissproau + @lv3pro / @ barberbrandsinternational

• Prize pack valued over $4K for each winner

• Mocha Barber Subscription + Tickets to the AMBAs (valued at $465 for each winner)

Total combined prize pool valued at over 25k!

THE BATTLE

Hosted and emceed by Fraser Forsey, along with @chopchopps_ and @taperedout bringing the hype and holding it down, this was the real deal—barbering at its boldest, loudest, and most competitive.

Barbers went head-to-head across the Senior, Old School, New School, and Apprentice categories. 30 minutes on the clock. All eyes on the chairs. Every second counted.

Tight fades, razor lines, and full creativity were on show. Props to BaBylissPRO Australia and LV3 Pro for stacking the prize tables and helping raise the bar.

As adjudicator, @barberhayls was the glue that held it all together, coordinating between judges and contestants to ensure a seamless flow.

THE JUDGES

This wasn’t your average panel. These were the big names, the educators, the legends:

• Josh Lamonaca

• Luca Perillo

• Josh O.P

• Tariq Howes

• Mr Official

• Lance Liufau

• Jordan Tabakman

• Doctor Tama

• Gareth Philpott

• Simon Doyle

• Lino D’Adderio

• EvoNik

• Jimmy Rods

• Rex Silver

• Samuel Raffaele

• Ji Ratnagopal

• Mark Rabone

• Matt Clarke

• Daniel Banford

• Sam Squires

• Suzi O’Brien

• Ben Kane

• Bernadette Berwick

Their combined experience brought serious weight to every score.

AND THE 2025 WINNERS ARE...

• APPRENTICE: Jaiden Acallar @barberfaydos

• SENIOR: Enele Niupalavu @_enethebarber

• OLD SCHOOL: Bastian Navia Aguiera @bvrberfunky

• NEW SCHOOL: Keegan Walkin @k.w.barber

• THE JOSH LAMONACA MVB (Most Valuable Barber): Cooper O’Donnel @2_fadedd_

WHAT THE WINNERS HAD TO SAY

We caught up with the winners post-battle to hear how they handled the pressure, what the win meant to them, what they loved about EXPO4BARBERS 2025 and what they’ve got lined up over the next 12 months.

APPRENTICE WINNER

Jaiden Acallar @barberfaydos

“Competing in the Barber Battle was an unforgettable experience. It was actually my second time entering a competition like that, and I decided to go for it because I wanted to challenge myself and see how my skills measured up. After being disappointed with my first battle in 2024, I knew I had to come back for redemption.

Walking onto the stage, I felt confident. At work during the week, I would practice this exact haircut on my clients in a similar timeframe. This was just routine to me. Once I got into the zone, everything else faded away. The experience made me more confident and motivated to keep improving my craft. What I love most about barbering is the ability to connect with people while expressing creativity. It’s more than just cutting hair—it’s about making people feel confident, building relationships, and constantly evolving. EXPO4BARBERS was a highlight for me. The energy, the talent, and the opportunity to network pushed me to think outside the box.

Over the next 12 months, I’m focused on growing at Sonder, continuing my education, and expanding my personal brand. I want to travel, experience new cultures, and bring my craft to the world.”

SENIOR WINNER

Enele Niupalavu @_enethebarber

“With over a decade behind the chair, my mission has always been about delivering high-quality cuts while mentoring the next generation. Vision Studios is more than just a barbershop—it’s a culture, a safe space, a platform for passion and professionalism. We recently relocated to a new space and continue to grow inside and out.

After an 8-year break from competitions since winning the 2017 QLD Barber Konnect Battle, I felt it was time to step back into the arena. This was about proving to myself and the industry that I’ve still got it. I wanted my kids to see what determination looks like.

What I love most is what the industry represents—especially the creativity and community. EXPO4BARBERS is one of my favourite events of the year. Over the next 12 months, I’m diving deeper into education, creating more collaborative content, and looking to team up with Johno Goodwin for workshops.”

OLD SCHOOL WINNER

Bastian Navia Aguiera @bvrberfunky

“I’ve been in the industry since 2016. My first comp experience was as a model in 2017—that’s what lit the fire. This was my second time competing in Australia and my third overall, and this time, I felt way more confident and in control.

EXPO4BARBERS was an incredible experience. The best part? Meeting people, connecting with other barbers, and repping Chilean barbers on a big stage. You can really feel how the event has grown. While I’m working through my visa process, I’m building the courses I want to launch once that’s all sorted.”

NEW SCHOOL WINNER

Keegan Walkin @k.w.barber

“I’ve been cutting for 12 months and bring a creative, modern style to the chair. Whether it’s behind the scenes or on stage, I’m all about pushing boundaries and giving back to the culture.

EXPO4BARBERS was unreal. It was my first big event, and I even did live demos at the JRL cutting booth—super cool connecting with new and old faces.

The next 12 months? Growth. I’ll be at Hair Fest in Sydney, taking colour and cutting classes, dropping mini education pieces, and working hard on my 2026 collections for national and international comps.”

THE JOSH LAMONACA MVB (MOST VALUABLE BARBER) WINNER

Cooper Odonnel @2_fadedd_

“When people hear ‘barber battle,’ they think chaos, pressure, and crazy good cuts—and that’s exactly what it was. The energy was wild, and the talent was top tier. I’d been grinding hard leading up to it, and winning the Josh Lamonaca MVB title was massive. It proved to me that the hustle is worth it.

Barbering is all about growth. The styles change, the techniques evolve, and I love being part of that. But the real fuel? The people. Every client brings something new, and that connection is everything.

What stood out most at EXPO4BARBERS was the community. It wasn’t just about the gear or the stages—it was the conversations, the tips, the shared respect. That’s what made it so special.

Looking ahead, I’m refining my skills, aiming to open my own shop, and build a space that’s more than just cuts—a place for connection, good vibes, and real experiences.”

@expo4barbers