Whether on the high street or on Instagram, your logo is often the first thing prospective clients notice about your barbershop – which is why it’s crucial that yours makes an impact. We chatted to a range of industry figures – from PR managers, marketing directors and barbers themselves – to find out what they think makes a great logo.
Chloe Monina, Marketing Director at the Professional Beauty Group, shares her perspective on what makes a great barbershop logo, explaining: “It needs to be unique to your business, represent your identity and be easily recognisable across a range of advertising mediums. Sometimes less complicated is more effective and impactful. Visibility of your branding in everything you do is key.”
Chelsea Marshall, Senior Account Manager at LWPR, says: “For me, it’s all about the story behind the design. Sure, it’s got to look slick, but what really sets a brand apart is the narrative woven into its aesthetic. When your logo reflects who you are and what you’re building, it’s not just branding, it’s storytelling – and who doesn’t love a good story? Whether it’s inspirational or sentimental, branding with a backstory adds depth and meaning, making it a talking point both with clients and peers. So, when you’re brainstorming that logo, think beyond the visuals – think about the story you want to share with the world.”
Philipp Kroper, owner of Kropper, shares the backstory behind his shop’s logo, explaining: “The main inspiration for our logo was my heritage – the Black Forest in Germany, which is one of the main places where bears are indigenous in Europe. Seeing as the shop is named after me, it made sense to tie my heritage into the logo too – it’s actually my home crest. The logo is also representative of what we want to be as a brand: fearsome, fearless and tenacious.”
Discussing some of the thought process behind creating a logo, Philipp adds: “We didn’t want it to be overly complicated – it needed to be easy to replicate. You also have to think about what the logo will look like on different scales, for example on products and clothing.”
When it came to designing the logo, Philipp explains how they decided to look close to home, sharing: “We’re very lucky that we know some incredible graphic designers – they’re clients at the shop! When picking a designer, it’s good to lay out what you stand for, who your target audience is and what you want to develop into; a logo is a real collaboration, and you have to find a designer who is similar minded and can bring what you want to life.”
“To be completely honest, it took about six months for us to get our logo right. I kept chopping and changing ideas, but I just somehow knew when it was right. It goes to show that sometimes you really do have to wait until the time is right.”
Tom, owner of Oyster Barbers, explains the process of having his barbershop logo designed, explaining: “I spoke to my tattoo artist, @crooktattoo, who is a super cool guy and was keen to help. I sent him lots of rough ideas from Pinterest, and then left it in his trusty hands. As soon as I saw it, there was absolutely nothing that needed changing and I was over the moon.”
Zoe Richards, CEO at Gorgeous PR, shares: “A lot of brands, barbershops included, get fixated on a logo and actually, while this is an important element, you want to make sure your brand is visually cohesive and standing out at every touchpoint – from social to your shopfront to every bit of marketing material you produce. Your logo is almost the last thing you settle on once your true brand identity has been completely sharpened.”
Discussing how barbershop brands can strengthen their identity, Zoe continues: “To make your brand stand out, focus on differentiation. Consider unique colour schemes, bold design choices, or unexpected elements that reflect the personality of what makes your barbershop special. A strong logo and brand identity should capture your character and it will become what makes you memorable and instantly recognisable to a potential customer.”