Two new faces are joining the Andis family! The professional barbering brand recently announced Lawrence Funk and Joshua Aguilera as the newest additions to its Global Education Team, which currently consists of 42 educators on four continents. Not only does this multi-talented duo bring a strong influence to the industry, but they both strive to educate other barbers and stylists on clipper-cutting techniques and the constantly evolving trends.
“Even more impressive than their expertise and excellence in men’s grooming is their passion for supporting their communities,” said Angie Perino, Andis Global Education Manager. “Their willingness to help those who are less fortunate allows them to make a difference in their Chicago and Los Angeles communities and is an important example for other barbers.”
Both professionals couldn’t be a better fit for the barbering brand with their highly impressive resumes. Hailing from Kenosha, WI, Funk got his start in the industry cutting hair when he was just 12 years old. Influenced by his mother’s work as a hairstylist, he later realized his own passion for all things hair and began cutting hair for his friends and family. Fast forward to today and Funk is now a master barber as well as the owner of Funk’s Barbershop—one of Chicago’s top-ranked barbershops. In his more than a decade spent as a Chicagoan, he’s been able to attract a growing celebrity clientele and even had the honor of being named the first in-house barbershop of the NFL’s Chicago Bears in 2019, after he cut Zach Miller’s hair in the hospital when he suffered an injury back in 2017.
Funk and his skilled team of barbers work hard to give back and raise money for the Chicago community. At local events, they make a point to donate proceeds of all haircuts to whichever charity is being highlighted. In fact, Funk’s Barbershop recently raised thousands of dolls for Chicago Public Schools.
A strong believer in the core values of Andis Company, Funk is passionate about being an educator for the brand. He has a deep appreciation for sharing his creativity with others in the barbering field and he enjoys sharing the tips and tricks that he has learned along the way to make it easier for the next generation of barbers and stylists.
For his part, Aguilera’s experience is just as awe-inspiring. After picking up his first pair of hair clippers in 2009 to do a self-cut, he spent the next five years clipping hair for his friends and family in his free time while also working in special needs facilities. It was only after he finished school in 2014 that Aguilera finally decided to pursue his dream career in barbering. Later that year, he became an apprentice in a local barbershop and hasn’t looked back since.
Though his technique was mostly self-taught in the beginning of his career, it’s an accumulation of school, experience, professional education,and online learning—and it only continues to evolve. Aguilera’s niche is educating and he enjoys sharing the knowledge that he has gained over his career in the industry. He is always willing to share tips and tricks to anyone that seeks help and advice. In fact, he often posts free how-to videos or shares educational clips to inspire other aspiring artists.
Prior to becoming an educator, Aguilera was a long-time Andis ambassador who hustled his way to be recognized by the brand’s education team. For him, being an Andis educator has always been a dream job.
“Being able to share my skills and insight with others is rewarding beyond monetary value,” he said. “Andis is a brand that sets the standard on education —it’s what everyone else looks to when they start out, and to be part of the team is a privilege and an honor.”
To keep up with Andis Educators and see how others #CREATEYOUWAY, follow Andis Company on Instagram @andisclippers.
