OUR HISTORY
We have had the great pleasure in life to be able to; first, follow in our fathers footsteps and choose a profession that has been in our blood for years, secondly, be able to stand by a successful and recognisable brand which is synonymous today and will live on for the next generation.
Both of us, Hugh and Conor trained as ladies fashion stylists, working on various fashion shoots and catwalk shows before entering competitions and winning the Schwarzkopf and Wella colour trophys on numerous occasions.
Falling into the film and TV work in 1992, we soon discovered that a lot of the leading men hadn't got a gentleman's barber shop that they could visit, getting the expert service they required in surroundings they felt comfortable in.
So our flag ship store was born in 1994 on Dublin's Grafton street and what better name to call it than
"THE GRAFTON BARBER".
We had just finished filming "Braveheart" with Mel Gibson and after landing chief hairstylist on a film called "Space Truckers" the shop was ready to open when the star of the movie Dennis Hopper of Easyrider, offered to come and make a personal appearance to officially launch THE GRAFTON BARBER with Stephan Dorff and Charles Dance.
It wasn't long before the word had spread that the standard of work that was being produced from the barber shop was far superior than any other shop around the country and was testament that our approach to in house training all our staff, even if they came to us with years of experience, they were put back to the drawing board and shown new approaches and techniques and one important motto that we live by today - The client is ALWAYS number one.
With the competitive side coming out in both of us, we went back to the competition floor once again entering mens events this time, and winning the Irish hairdressing Federation Mens Hairdresser of the Year Award, in Ireland, Northern Ireland and in Gloucester, England.
Bringing it to the ultimate stage, The World Hairdressing Championships, we put together the first mens team to enter the championships in 25 years, finishing an overall 21st out of 80, but more importantly paving the way for all the entrants that do so well for Ireland and the Irish teams, both ladies and gents who do the country so proud, well done.
With the boom in the film business in 1998, the contracts we received even amazed us at the time from Saving Private Ryan, with Tom Hanks, the ill faithed Divine Rapture with Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp and Darragh O'Malley that didn't see the light of day but was a privilege to be a part of, to moll flanders with Robin Wright and Morgan Freeman, Droicht with Gabriel Byrne, Intermission with Colin Farrell, Though the Sky falls with Joan Allen and Patrick Bergin, Sunday bloody Sunday with Jimmy Nesbitt, The Actors with Micheal Caine, The "General with Brendan Gleeson, Angeline Ball and Maria Doyle Keannedy,"Devils own" with Brad Pitt, Bachelors walk with Simon Delaney, Keith McErlane and Don Wycerlife, "Billy The Kid" with Lar Kinllen and Heath Ledger, and "The Most Fertile Man In Ireland" with Chris Marshal and Bronagh Gallagher to name but a few, and they still keep coming ! thanks to him upstairs !
We have also had the privilege and honor to work with and have had the pleasure of them crossing our doorstep from The Celtic Tenors, The High Kings, The Irish football Team, Dave Duffy, Boxing Legend Jim Rock, Micheal Flatley, an Taoiscah Brian Cowen, Ulick o Connor, Ian Dempsey, Paul Byron and a list of loyal regular clients that are the backbone of THE GRAFTON BARBER and are responsible for building the name, we thank you all.
Our goals for the future are to continue to grow, concentrating on key locations and deeper training programs for our staff, finding new experiences for our clients and being the first always to offer them, to increase our own brand product range from 8 to 12, designed completely in-house with the knowledge of what our clients really want, and to be selective in where and what stores we stock and sell them.
We never take anything for granted and are very grateful for what we have achieved, all of which couldn't have been done without the help and patience! of our families, to whom we owe it all.
Remember "REAL MEN DONT DO SALONS"
hope to see you soon
Hugh and Conor mc Allister.
