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TotalBarber Academy · London · Est. 2009

Where London's barbers learn their craft.

Full-time NVQ courses and specialist short courses in central London. Hands-on training with real clients, small class sizes, and tutors who still stand behind a chair every week.

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or call us — 0204 597 6046

Join 2,000+ graduates cutting hair across the UK.

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Go from beginner to working barber — or bolt on new skills.

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Why us

Why learn at TotalBarber Academy

Since 2009, we’ve trained more than 2,000 barbers through a proven approach built on strong foundations, practical experience, and industry-leading education. Our graduates have gone on to build successful careers, businesses, and reputations of their own.

  • Real clients from week two

    From your second week, you’ll work on real clients under the guidance of our educators. Combined with a strong regular client base and a steady flow of new faces each week, you’ll gain the experience, confidence and chair speed that can only be developed through real-world practice

  • Small classes, constant feedback

    We believe great education is personal. Our tutors get to know every student as an individual, helping them build on their strengths, overcome their weaknesses, and develop into confident, capable barbers.

  • Working barbers as tutors

    We believe the best educators are still practitioners. Every member of our teaching team continues to work behind the chair, giving students access to the techniques, standards and insights shaping modern barbering today.

  • NVQ Level 2 accredited

    Our flagship course awards a full NVQ Level 2 — the UK qualification every shop recognises. Walk out with a certificate that opens doors, not a piece of paper nobody's heard of.

The TBA team

The team

We still cut hair every week.

Every tutor at TotalBarber Academy still works behind a chair. That’s not a marketing line — it’s the foundation of how we teach.

The techniques, standards and systems we pass on are being used every day in real barbershops. Our educators bring current industry experience into the academy, ensuring students learn skills that are relevant, practical and built for long-term success.

Since 2009, we’ve trained more than 2,000 barbers. Many have gone on to build successful careers, open their own businesses and become educators themselves. What we’re most proud of, however, is the environment we’ve created along the way: small groups, honest feedback and individual support from tutors who genuinely care about your progress.

We built TotalBarber Academy to be the kind of training we wished we’d had when we started. Visit the academy, meet the team and sit in on a class. You’ll quickly get a feel for who we are and whether we’re the right fit for you.

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Location

Come and see the academy

The academy is based in Shoreditch, just five minutes from Old Street station.

You’re welcome to drop in for a tour any weekday between 11am and 4pm — no appointment necessary. We’ll show you around the academy, introduce you to the team, answer any questions you have, and give you a genuine feel for what it’s like to train with us.

Choosing a barbering course is an important decision. We believe the best way to know if we’re the right fit is to come and experience the environment for yourself.

Unit 2, Zeus House
Provost Street
London N1 7NG
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Questions

Frequently asked

Do I need any experience to start? +
No. Most of our students walk in having never held clippers. The ten-week NVQ assumes zero prior experience and takes you from basic handling right through to the full qualification. If you're self-taught and further along, the tutors will push you harder on the advanced modules so you're not sitting around.
Is there an age limit? +
The legal minimum for our courses is 16, and we've had students from 16 right through to their sixties. Most of our full-time cohorts are early twenties to late thirties, but if you're serious about the craft age genuinely isn't a factor.
What's the application process? +
Straightforward. Send us an enquiry, we'll call you back to chat through your goals and which course fits, then a £500 deposit secures your place on a specific intake. No interviews or entrance tests — we assume zero experience.
Where's the academy located? +
Our academy is at Unit 2, Zeus House, Provost Street, London N1 7NG — Shoreditch, five minutes from Old Street tube. Full address and directions on the Find Us page.
Can I visit before enrolling? +
Drop in for a tour any weekday between 11am and 4pm — no appointment needed. We’ll show you around, introduce you to the team and answer any questions you may have.

We believe the best way to understand what makes TotalBarber Academy different is to see it for yourself.
How many students are in a class? +
Unlike larger academies, we keep our classes intentionally small. This allows for more one-to-one guidance, more personalised feedback and a learning experience where every student receives the attention they need to progress with confidence.
Do you teach all hair types? +
Yes. Our syllabus includes training on straight, wavy, curly, coiled and Afro-textured hair.

We believe versatility is an essential skill for modern barbers, and our training is designed to help students develop the confidence and technical ability to work with a wide range of hair types and textures.
What tools do I need? +
You’ll need your own barbering kit to begin the course, but we’ll make the process straightforward. Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll receive a detailed email outlining exactly what you’ll need, along with links to trusted suppliers who offer complete beginner barbering kits.

We’ve built strong relationships with industry suppliers, making it easy to source the right equipment and get started with confidence
What hours are the classes? +
Full-time courses run Monday to Friday, 11am to 4:30pm. That schedule means a lot of our students keep a morning or evening job while they train — it's deliberately designed around that.
Do you run weekend or evening courses? +
Not at the moment. The real clients we bring in for students to practise on are scheduled around weekday hours. We do occasionally run weekend masterclasses on specific techniques — sign up to our email list to hear about those first.
Can I pay monthly? +
We offer flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your training. This includes in-house payment plans, as well as PayPal Pay in 3 for eligible applicants.

If you’d like to discuss the options available, get in touch and we’ll help you find a payment arrangement that works for you.
Is there a deposit? +
Yes — a £500 deposit secures your place on a specific intake. The remainder is due before the course starts, or on an agreed finance plan. Full terms on the finance page.
What's included in the course fee? +
Your course fee covers all tuition, practical training, consumable products used during the course, and your qualification fees where applicable.

Students are responsible for purchasing their own barbering kit, but we'll provide clear guidance on exactly what's required and where to source it before the course begins.

We believe in being transparent about costs, so you'll know exactly what's included before you enrol.
Is the NVQ recognised everywhere? +
Yes. The NVQ Level 2 in Barbering is the standard UK qualification — every shop recognises it, including chains and independents. It's what most barbering job listings ask for, and a requirement if you want to work as a qualified barber in most European countries too.
What's the difference between NVQ Level 2 and other qualifications? +
NVQ Level 2 is the nationally-recognised practical qualification for barbering — it's what shops and insurers actually ask for. VTCT Level 2, City & Guilds Level 2, and similar certificates exist but the NVQ is the most widely recognised and the one we teach toward.
What happens after graduation? +
Most graduates go straight into a chair at a shop — usually chair rental to start (roughly £120–£180 a week in central London). Some go back and open their own place within a year or two. We don't promise placement, but the NVQ plus the portfolio we help you build typically gets students into a chair within two weeks.
Do you help with finding work? +
We don't offer a formal job placement service, but we maintain strong relationships with barbershops across London and the wider UK. Opportunities are regularly shared with our student and graduate network, and many students begin building valuable industry connections long before they complete their training.

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