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The State of Canberra: A Conversation with Kris Jones

By Ben Stephens

If you’ve been around QT Canberra recently, you may have noticed a familiar face has taken up residency in the Barber Shop. Kristian Jones, a Welsh native by birth and ex-head barber at QT Sydney, has made the move to the capital in a bid to further his discovery of this fine country. As a connoisseur of quality breakfast menus, the state of male fashion and a vested interest in what men are doing with their hair, I sat down with Mr Jones to discuss the state of Canberra.

Kris, you’ve made the big move from Sydney to Canberra, what were your reasons behind it?
After three and a half years in Sydney, I felt like it was time for a change of pace. When the Canberra option was tabled, I thought it would be a good experience to get amongst the culture down here and explore something new.

How are you enjoying the nation’s capital? Highlights?
I’m really enjoying it – Canberra is easy on the mind and soul, it has a calming vibe about it. Sydney can get a little overbearing at times – here I can be in the Barber Shop one moment and then on the top of Mt. Ainslie 20 minutes later surrounded by wildlife, I like that.

Is there a change in style between to the two cities?
I feel Canberra is a transient place, so the style tends to be similar to Sydney or Melbourne, there isn’t a true individual Canberra style. I have noticed that the beard culture in Canberra is a little more prominent, while Sydney enjoys a hot towel shave, the gents down here like to grow it out – I guess we are in the country after all. When it comes to hairstyles, the short, faded sides with a long top is a popular choice for many of my clients, think Brad Pitt in Fury.

https://www.instagram.com/p/01-zZmFZqq/?tagged=bradpitthair

You have the luxury of being dressed by the good people at M.J. Bale – How’s your relationship with the Canberra team?
The Canberra crew are great, always down for a light lathering of banter. They just released the Spring/Summer range and I think it’s unique for an Australian brand – they’re producing some really good stuff. Their new Japanese denim jeans really something, the quality is ridiculous!

Do you think Canberra has changed you?
It’s made me slow down and given me chance to catch up with myself. I’m doing a lot of exploring of the area and just generally relaxing, it’s a nice pace of life.

What’s the local bar/food scene like?
The bar scene is small, which is good, it keeps the degree of the scene high. You have the classic pubs here, but then you have bars like Honky Tonks, that place makes you feel like you’re back in Sydney with Young Henrys on tap and a playlist to match. When it comes to the food scene, I am a lover of a great breakfast menu, I like to rate a city on its ability to poach an egg and the standard of the avocado and for that, I hold Sydney rather high. Though after three months in Canberra, I can happily say this place isn’t far behind. The coffee scene is a wonderful mix of Melbourne and Sydney, meeting in the middle, as it were.

The ever talented @barberkris at work in @qtcanberra ⚔️

A post shared by The Barbers of QT (@barbersofqt) on

Lastly, are you missing the surf in Sydney?
I am. There is something about an afternoon sea breeze that soothes me. I grew up by the ocean and have always stayed close to it, but Sydney is only a trip away and I’m back on the beach most weekends.

Kris is the Head Barber at QT Canberra’s Barber Shop, if you’re after a trim, hot towel shave or just a chat, you’ll find him on the ground level next to Lucky’s Speakeasy.


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