Professional grooming and contemporary male barbershops: a literature review on technical standards, professional training, and global trends

Abstract

This study aims to review and analyze scientific publications from 2015 to 2025 concerning professional grooming and contemporary male barbershops, focusing on technical standards, professional training, and global trends in the sector. It is a qualitative and exploratory narrative review based on publications indexed in SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and DOAJ databases. Searches were conducted using Portuguese and English descriptors, and the selected articles were examined through critical reading and thematic categorization. Results indicate that the contemporary barber has become a multifunctional professional whose role goes beyond hair and beard care, integrating technical, managerial, and sociocultural skills. The literature also highlights progress in technical training, biosafety practices, and professional regulation, although educational and regulatory gaps remain, particularly in Latin American contexts. Furthermore, modern barbershops have emerged as spaces of social interaction and identity expression, reflecting transformations in masculinity and the global creative economy. It is concluded that contemporary male grooming represents a consolidating field that combines tradition, innovation, and professionalization, requiring training and research policies to strengthen and regulate the sector.