A WINSFORD barber narrowly missed out on being named top of the crops in Scotland by a hair's breadth

Jamie Stuart, 26, was one of six finalists to make the final cut of Scotland's Best Barber 2016, and is the only finalist working in Edinburgh.

The final was held at Edinburgh’s RHC on Sunday, April 24 and Monday, April 25. Finalists were judges on the difficulty of the cut, technique, health and safety and stage presence.

“I had to perform two haircuts on stage in front of an audience with five judges watching,” Jamie said.

“This was my first time on-stage doing something like this so I was quite nervous but I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Jamie started his career as a trainee in Toni & Guy in Crewe. A few months he moved to Toni & Guy in Edinburgh where he has been living for the past 10 years.

The 26-year-old opened his own barber shop, Barberdoo, last year, and Jamie has seen the business go from strength to strength.

And in March, Jamie found out he had made the final of the Scotland’s Best Barber 2016, which is organised by The Bluebeards Revenge – a premium men’s grooming brand –and the British Barbers’ Association.

Nick Gibbons, PR and Marketing manager for The Bluebeards Revenge, said: “Everyone performed really well.

“One of the main reasons we did this was to show the rise of Scottish barbers and the rise in quality and highlight the number of Scottish barbers on the high street.

“We wanted to showcase the best of Scottish barbering.”

The other finalists are Davie Walker from Davie The Barbers, Paisley; Max McAulay from The Barbershop, Glasgow; Darren Simons from Darren's Dapper Cuts, Glasgow; Heather Atkinson from Barber & Groom, Gourock and Stacey Mccabe from Jentz Male Grooming, East Kilbride.

Jamie narrowly missed out on the top spot, coming second.

“When the moment to finding out who was going to be crowned Scotland's best barber was so intense,” Jamie said.

“I was a little disappointed in myself for not winning but I was still proud of myself for coming all that way and to be runner-up.

“It’s my first trophy and hopefully there will be many more to come.”