A Sheerness barber proved he is a cut above after making it to the shortlist of Britain’s best wet shaver.

Salih Saruhan, who splits his time between Brothers and Scissors in Broadway, Sheerness, and The Cutting Room, Station Road, Rainham, will face razor sharp competition from fellow stylists in his quest to be crowned the best in the UK.

The 27-year-old will face-off against other top barbers in the London and South East regional final of Britain’s Best Shave 2018 at Chris and Sons in Enfield on March 5.

If he secures the top spot in the regional heat, Salih will progress to the national final, which will take place inside a boxing ring at Barber UK at the Birmingham NEC on May 20.

Salih originally worked as a builder and window cleaner but felt that the jobs did not allow him to express his creative side.

He said: “I had been shaving myself with a cut-throat razor since I was 14 years old and had got quite good at it so I decided I would try my skills in the barbering industry.”

Since starting seven years ago, he has built up a small haircutting empire. As well as his two shops, he has the Atlantic Barber Academy at the back of The Cutting Room which he co-runs with Canadian colleague Yilli Raif.

The teaching facility offers courses including NVQ Level 2 in barbering as well as lessons in techniques such as straight razor shaving.

Now in its fifth year, the annual Britain’s Best Shave competition is run by the British Barbers’ Association and male grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge.

Finalists must impress judges on a number of criteria, including shave preparation, razor technique, post-shave routine, health and safety and overall efficiency.

Nick Gibbens, Bluebeards Revenge spokesman, said: “Each year we’re blown away by the level of talent out there, and this year we’ve had a record number of entries.

“What this shows is that competitions like this, along with the good work of the British Barbers’ Association, help to drive up standards in the barbering industry – that’s the overall objective.”