TWO friends who have a lifelong love of hairdressing are getting to ready to open a new barber shop with a difference.

Chris Sigrist and Aidan Stephens have been hard at work putting the finishing touches to their new West Swindon venture This Life Barber Studio.

The pair had worked together before then briefly went into different jobs but have now decided to start their own business.

Chris said: “We get on really well, we’re quite similar and like-minded, we both have a big customer base and like coming up with new ways to improve what we do.

“So for all those reasons, we thought we would make a good team working together and managing our own barbershop.

“There was a time when we’d split because I decided to take this opportunity to leave and work with a really experienced barber for a couple of years.

“Then we reconnected during lockdown and started talking about this idea, it was something we’d always wanted to do so we decided to just go for it.

“Before starting this, I worked in Gorse Hill and decided to set up a business in West Swindon because, while there are lots of salons and hairdressers doing well, which is great to see, there are not many barbers in that area.”

They hope to stand out from the competition by offering more than just a quick short back and sides at their Basepoint Business Park barbershop, which is behind the old Renault building.

Chris added: “Rather than just getting people in and out of the chair as quickly as possible, we want to focus more on improving the customer experience and offer other extra treatments, like a studio salon does.

“For example, steam facials, skin fades, pattern work, beard treatments and exfoliation, the sort of things you can’t normally get without going to a specialist or a beautician.

“We will keep adding things to list if there’s enough demand. We’re really excited and looking forward to opening this week."

They have spent the last few weeks getting the signage and studio ready to welcome their first customers.