ADVERTORIAL
A CLOSE SHAVE… It’s a necessary daily evil for most men, the need to shave. Add into the mix the chances of red, blotchy and sore skin and it makes for a generally unpleasant experience. But never fear a master barber has come to the rescue – as Darlington Today discovers. The noble art of barbering is something that runs through Iain Kane’s blood. The popularity of his shop, The Village Barber at Durham’s Langley Park is easily understood – here’s a man who can wield a cutthroat razor and give a perfect shave, time after time. That level of skill comes from more than 30 years’ experience, initially following in the footsteps of his father and taking on a three-year apprenticeship to learn his trade in his native Glasgow. That skill has taken Iain across the UK and Europe but has now led to him making his home here in the North East, with a new aspect to his business which is giving him a global presence. “I’ve always worked as a barber apart from having a short break for a few years when I worked as an RSPCA Inspector,” said Iain. “I also lived in Spain for a few years but decided eventually to come back to this country and live in the North East.” Having always worked for other people, Iain felt the time was right to start his own barbershop and his skills meant that people were happy to travel to see him. It did however also leave him with a problem. “I had looked for years for some kind of shaving oil that I was happy to let my customers have and to use on them,” he said.
ENTER TO WIN 26 | Darlington Today
“Most people use soap, foams or gels and they can really irritate the skin or make shaving an unhappy experience. I realised that I needed to find something that would do the job to my standards.” With that in mind, Iain started to work closely with a clinical aromatherapist, devising a special blend of shaving oil and an aftershave balm which were perfect for his needs.
With plans for future products in the pipeline, the Village Barber brand is set to go from strength to strength. For further information or to buy products visit www.villagebarber.com
And so, Village Barber Skin Products were born, with a Shaving Oil which is made from 100 per cent natural ingredients and an Aftershave Balm which is 100 per cent paraben – the nasty ingredient in many cosmetics – free. Iain currently sells the products as individual bottles, a gift set which contains both the Oil and the Balm and a Travel Pack. The reaction has been incredible – with orders from across the globe including for as far afield as the USA and Russia. Industry experts have praised the products, remarking on the fact they cause “no irritation and keep the skin moisturised” while the balm “adds that extra luxury of moisture and healing properties that finishes the shave like no other.” All of this is music to Iain’s ears, and he is now on a mission to educate the male public about how shaving doesn’t need to be a painful experience.
WIN… We have teamed up with Village Barber to offer one lucky winner a voucher for a cutthroat shave at Iain’s barbershop plus a gift bag of products. To enter the competition what we want to know is – what are the two products currently in the Village Barber range? Closing date for competitions is 17 March 2017. See foot of this page for entry details.
To enter any of the Darlington Today competitions please ensure you clearly mark on your entry the name of the competition that you are entering together with the answer to the question if there is one with your name, address and contact telephone number to:
Darlington Today Magazine competition, 45 Atkinson Gardens, Aycliffe Village, Co. Durham, DL5 6LH (Please note any competition entries without full contact details and contact telephone numbers will be voided and not entered into the competition)