A County Durham barber who took the leap into self-employment less than a year ago says it has been “amazing” after he doubled his earnings.
Dad-of-three Christopher Emmerson, 36, from Spennymoor first picked up the scissors at 17-years-old when he started training in women’s hairdressing, spending nearly a decade working as a stylist.
He said: “When I was about 17, I started doing hairdressing and I did women’s hair for about eight, nine years.
“Then I went to work as a stylist and started doing a few gents on the side in the shop, just a normal kind of two back and sides, and then it just went from there.”
After moving to the Durham area about five years ago, Christopher noticed that more and more clients were coming back specifically to see him.
The dad of three said: “When I moved to Durham, I found that more people were waiting for me rather than the people I worked for.
“For me, that was the best sign to decide to just go for it.”
Earlier this year he took the plunge to go self-employed, renting a chair at Autonomy Hair, Beauty & Academy in Spennymoor and launching Emmerson’s Barbers.
The 36-year-old said he was initially nervous about taking the leap.
He said: “I was nervous at first, but within the first week or two the nerves went away, because I had such a good following of customers that I didn’t have to worry.
“I thought it would be a big stress, but from day one it has just worked.
“Because it’s a small town, it doesn’t take too long for people to realise that you’re going somewhere else.
“After week two or three I was like, ‘oh, this is going to really work’.”
Christopher has now switched from walk-ins to appointments-only, which he says has transformed his income.
He said: “I’ve literally just doubled my earnings and have less stress after changing to appointments rather than walk-ins - it’s just worked out.
“I come in, I don’t have to worry about heating bills, gas, electric. My chair rent is there and everything else is all taken care of.
“Long term, it would be lovely to have my own shop, but at the same time, to have no stress at all for the short term – it’s just all gone so well and I’m happy to keep doing what I’m doing for now.”
That hard work has now been recognised after Emmerson’s Barbers was named among the top ten finalists in The Northern Echo’s Best Barber Shop 2026 competition.
Christopher said: “It was a bit of a shock to be honest.
“I am absolutely over the moon and so grateful for the support. I’ve only been self-employed for about a year, so it’s amazing to be nominated in that time.”
Read more
Northern Echo's Best Barber Shop 2026 finalists revealed - who will you crown?
Darlington dad says it is 'massive' to be nominated for Echo Best Barber Shop 2026
County Durham pub owner says it feels ‘amazing’ to be shortlisted for national award
Emmerson’s Barbers is one of ten named in our competition this year, with others including J. Maddison Barbers, on West Auckland Road, and LJ Barbers, on Duke Street.
You can read the full shortlist here: Northern Echo's Best Barber Shop 2026 finalists revealed
To vote for Emmerson’s Barbers, simply complete the form in your The Northern Echo newspaper and return it to: The Northern Echo Best Barber Shop 2026, LOCALiQ House, 1 Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA2 5NP.
Voting will close on Wednesday, July 8.
Share