A TALENTED Basingstoke barber has reclaimed his crown in the themed design category at this year’s UK Barber Battle.

James Bradbury came out on top for the second year running as hundreds of hopeful hairstylists tried to dethrone the 28-yearold at the competition.

This year barbers were challenged to come up with a design based around the theme “loads of money”, which James used to incorporate a casino theme into his designs, with slot machines, roulette wheels and dollar bills.

The mobile barber from Popley, who runs JSB Barbering, has been cutting hair for over seven and-a-half years but this is only his second time entering the competition.

“I was quite nervous and excited this time around,” James told The Gazette.

“You always want to go into these competitions hungry to retain a title you have won. The level of competition was really high, but I am so happy to have won it two years on the bounce.

“It has given me a desire to enter more of these types of competitions and try and further develop myself and my business.”

Despite being relatively new to competitive barbering, the freelance barber has built up quite the client base in his seven-and-a-half years in the profession – even though it is something he fell into.

“My dad used to cut hair and I guess I just picked it up from him, and I began cutting my own hair from the age of about 14/15,” added James.

“Now the industry has really developed and barbers are able to show themselves off a lot more. Because of social media you need to have a constant online catalogue of styles and images that potential clients can choose from.”

After being crowned winner for the second time James was presented with a medal, a plaque and hairstyling goodies.