A Spotlight on BLAIR MARTIN

By Louise May

At just 17, Blair Martin packed up his life in Perth and took a massive leap, moving across the country to Queensland to chase a shot at something bigger. Now part of the HMB Barbers team and stepping into the role of junior educator with 4Barbers, he’s proving that age is no barrier when talent, grit and vision line up.

Louise May, Editor of Mocha Barber, recently caught up with Blair for a chat.

Tell us about where you grew up, what was life like before barbering came into the picture?

I was born in the small town of Ardrossan, Scotland, but I’ve spent most of my life in Perth, Western Australia. I lived in Scotland for just over four years before my family moved to Perth, and both places still hold a special place in my heart Before barbering came into the picture, I actually had my heart set on becoming a pilot. In Year 7, I even joined a specialist aviation program in school to study it more seriously. But as that year went on, my passion for aviation slowly started to fade. Eventually, I left the program and let go of my dream to fly.

By Year 8, I had moved to a school closer to where we lived at the time. To be honest, I was never a huge fan of school itself. I found it difficult to sit in a classroom learning subjects I had no real interest in. Being a hands-on learner, the traditional school setup just wasn’t the right fit for me. Thankfully, I wouldn’t have to push through it for too much longer as I left school at the end of Year 9 and started my apprenticeship at just 15 years old.

When did you first know barbering was what you wanted to do?

With my mum being a hairdresser, I grew up completely surrounded by hair. Because she has always worked from home, it was part of my everyday life. Some of my earliest memories are from early primary school - coming home, sitting in her salon, and watching her cut, style, and chat with her clients. It’s actually pretty special because many of her long-term clients have

watched me grow up, and over the years I became close with a lot of them. I was always fascinated by how she could transform hair into something so creative and beautiful; it was like watching an artist at work. I think this definitely shaped what I wanted to do as I developed a deep appreciation for the art of hair from a very young age.

Moving to QLD at 17 is a big leap, what pushed you to take that risk?

Truthfully, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My whole life was in Perth, my family, friends, and everything I enjoyed - so leaving wasn’t easy. However, do I regret it? Would I change it? Absolutely not. In life, if we stay where we’re most comfortable, we’ll never get to where we want to go. Life is about taking risks and trying new things.

T. Harv Eker captured it perfectly when he wrote, “Nobody ever died of discomfort, yet living in the name of comfort has killed more ideas, more opportunities, more actions, and more growth than everything else combined.”

The opportunity to move to Queensland came after I saw one of Fraser’s Instagram stories about some incredible opportunities in Northern Queensland. I sent him a DM, we jumped on a call, and it all took off from there. At the time, we were also talking about doing a mentorship together, so it only made sense to work side by side.

What’s it been like closely working side-by-side with Fraser?

One of my core beliefs in life is that you become the sum of the people you spend the most time with. If you surround yourself with greatness, you rise to it - if you surround yourself with mediocrity, you fall to it. I’ve always understood this well, and it’s why I strive to surround myself with like-minded people like Fraser.

Working so closely with someone I’ve always looked up to has been nothing short of amazing. When I say this man is incredible, I mean it. The way he works, his relentlessness, and his ability to juggle so many things at once is truly inspiring. There aren’t many like Fraser - not many people have such a strong drive to do good not just for themselves, but for everyone around them. Learning everything from such a talented and driven individual has been such a great privilege. I’ve already learned so much in these last few months, and I’m excited for the many years ahead.

As a junior educator, how do you approach teaching others while still growing your own skills?

This is an amazing question, and the truth is, I feel that educating actually makes learning even better. When I approach education, I never want it to be about me being the “master” and only teaching others. The way I see it, it’s about sharing my perspective and experiences while also learning from those I’m teaching - so that everyone gains value and we all grow together.

I wanted to get into education because of how passionate I am about learning. Listening to different people share different ways of doing things is so fascinating to me, and I think it’s something we should all strive to do as much as possible. My purpose has always been about helping people, even before barbering came into the picture. If I have a piece of knowledge, or if I’ve heard something that might help someone, I get a genuine sense of fulfilment from sharing it.

What really made me realise I wanted to pursue education more seriously was the first time I taught an apprentice a trick I had learned. That moment when you see something click in someone’s head - it’s honestly the best feeling in the world, and it showed me that education is a path I truly want to follow. My biggest goal in life is to make a positive impact on this industry and help change it for the better. I’ve always loved this craft, and I always will, if I can do something to make it even just 1% better for everyone, that would be the greatest honour.

Your 2025 AMBA finalist collection was a huge achievement. You invested a substantial amount of time and money into creating that collection, why was it so important for you to go all in?

Thanks, Louise. Being named a finalist was an incredible feeling. “Heritage Refined” really came from a feeling more than a clear concept, but over time I realised it was about showing that traditional barbering and modern men’s hairdressing can sit side by side. I’ve always respected the craft and discipline of barbering while loving the creativity and precision of modern hairdressing, and I wanted my work to prove you don’t have to pick a side.

I went all in because I’ve always seen hair as an art form, no different to painting or sculpting. Pushing myself to create this collection was about stepping outside my comfort zone and showing barbering deserves to be recognised that way. The whole process gave me a deeper understanding of my craft and reminded me exactly why I love what I do.

Having the opportunity to travel with 4Barbers to the CT Expo in the US is amazing! Walking into CT Expo for the first time, what went through your mind?

This might sound a bit crazy, but honestly, nothing went through my mind. Walking into CT Barber Expo for the first time was more of a physical feeling than a thought. The second I stepped through those doors; my head just went completely still. All the noise and thoughts disappeared, and I was hit with this overwhelming feel of pride, mixed with so many other emotions. I’ll never forget Fraser turning back to me and asking, “What do you think, bro?” and all I could say was, “I’m completely speechless.”

It’s hard to explain exactly what I felt, but I’ll try my best. There was that heavy, butterfly feeling in my stomach, similar to that feeling when you’re truly excited. I felt extremely proud, proud of where I was, and proud of how far I’d come.

It also turned into a real moment of reflection for me. All the hard work and sacrifices that didn’t always feel worth it in the moment suddenly made sense. at the same time, it lit a massive fire in me, because I knew this was just the beginning. It reminded me of the incredible places barbering can take you.

I’ll always be grateful for that experience, and even more grateful that I got to share it with such amazing people. Thank you, Fraser, Hayley, and Brayden.

Looking ahead to attending Las Vegas EXPO and DFS Hair show in Dallas with 4Barbers, what are you most looking forward to?

This is a tough one because honestly, I’m looking forward to so many things! I’m beyond grateful and so excited that I get to go back to the US, not once, but twice. If I had to pick, I’d say I’m most looking forward to seeing everyone again and building on the connections I made at CT a few months ago.

I’m also super exited to soak up the energy and creativity of the US barbering scene again. I love being around people who are just as obsessed with the craft as me, along with seeing all the different styles, techniques, and approaches in action. It always sparks new ideas, pushes me to think bigger and try new things in my own work. I’m super excited to explore new opportunities and really challenge myself outside of my comfort zone. Every time I go over there, I come back with a fresh perspective, a renewed sense of motivation and a bunch of lessons I can take back to work and share with others.

@blairmartin.barber