Basildon barber ditched London to cut hair full-time

Liam Leahy, better known as the Mustdash Barber, worked in London for ten years, going from finance job to finance job but feeling like he was failing to fulfill his potential.

When the Covid lockdown hit in 2020, it gave Liam the motivation to pursue something different and he enrolled in the London school of barbering. 

Winner - Liam Leahy (Image: Liam Leahy)

Now cutting hair five days a week in his Basildon flat, Liam recently won a national barber of the year competition in May based on community votes and is up for a men’s hairstylist of the year award on November 2.

In his mid 20s, Liam knew ditching the security of his day job was a risk, but he hasn’t looked back since and is now eyeing up many more years of providing trims for his clients. 

A cut above - Liam Leahy (Image: Liam Leahy)

Liam, now 30, said: “I worked in the city for ten years, I started at 18, a week after I finished college and went through a lot of different jobs.

“My final job was as manager of a sports team and I wanted something different, lockdown happened and it allowed me to retrain.

“I went to the London School of Barbering and finished in September 2022, then started working at a salon.”

Liam’s aspirations for the future include someday owning his own salon in south Essex, where he has set down his roots, and is currently cutting men’s hair at the Brentwood Hairdresser in 5 St Thomas Road every Thursday.

Liam added: “My initial course was 12 weeks, I went unemployed to retrain and when the 12 weeks were complete, I was cutting for free and since getting this job, it has been continuous.

“I did three further courses but with different academies, I did a course with Menspire, a male grooming brand, as well and these are well known, they have brought my skillset up.

“I am 30, I have come into this quite late, I started at 28 and I didn’t have any time to lose to get as good as I could, I needed to so I could pay the bills and enter the awards.