Clash of the Clippers: More Than a Barber Competition

Des Moines, Iowa – The Clash of the Clippers Expo 2026 will bring barbers, industry professionals, enthusiasts and fans together Oct. 10-11, at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown for a weekend centered on competition, education and community.

The event is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each evening and will feature barber competitions, cutting demonstrations, vendors, workshops and entertainment.

The expo is designed to bring professionals and enthusiasts together to showcase skills, exchange ideas and connect with others in the barber industry. 

For Robert “Big Rob” Presswood, who owns Platinum Kutz, barbering has always been about more than what happens behind the chair.

Before creating Clash of the Clippers, Presswood spent long days in the barbershop working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and cutting as many as 25 to 30 heads a day. Those hours also gave him the opportunity to mentor other barbers and build relationships within his community.

Years later, that experience helped shape Clash of the Clippers into an event designed to be more than a barber competition.

“These seeds were planted 20 years ago,” Presswood said.

The event combines barber competitions with education, vendors, seminars, workshops and entertainment. Presswood said his goal is for attendees to leave with something that can influence their careers and encourage them to become more involved in the industry.

“What I want them to take away is some information that’s going to make them either a better status or a better power, or inspire them to be more involved than what they are,” he said.

For Presswood, some of the most meaningful moments have come from seeing that inspiration continue long after an event ends.

He recalled meeting a woman in Dallas who recognized him from a previous show. She reminded Presswood that he had cut her hair during the competition, where she won first place. At the time, she was not a barber. Presswood said attending the event inspired her to pursue the profession.

Stories of this nature have become part of the legacy he hopes to build.

“When you’re somewhere out of your element and people are able to recognize you from another state, you know, it’s just motivation to do more,” Presswood said.

Presswood grew up in a family of 10 children and describes himself as the middle child. After high school, he attended barber school and eventually expanded his work beyond cutting hair. He now also mentors barbers and hosts the “Behind the Blades” podcast and pursues an interest in art and competition.

His approach to Clash of the Clippers reflects his belief that barbers have to continue learning.

“The barber industry has changed every day,” Presswood said.

He said attending shows in other cities has influenced the way he views education and networking within the industry. At one event in Dallas, he saw thousands of barbers sharing ideas, discovering products and learning new techniques.

“When you’re in an environment where you have thousands of barbers coming from all over the world into one place to share ideas, I think that’s where all the magic happens,” he said.

Presswood also wants Clash of the Clippers to feel like an entertainment experience.

He described the production as being “like a movie on stage,” with acting, singing and dancing incorporated alongside the barber competitions.

Beneath the energy and entertainment is a message Presswood repeatedly shares with barbers and mentors: Success requires patience, discipline and consistency.

“You only get one opportunity, make sure you show up everyday and show up like you want to win,” he said.

Presswood said success rarely happens overnight. He encourages barbers to remain committed even on slow days, when leaving early may seem easier.

“If you have discipline, you’re able to make a sacrifice, and if you’re able to make a sacrifice, that’s when success is going to come,” he said.

That philosophy extends to his vision for Clash of the Clippers. Presswood measures the event’s impact not only by the competition, but by how far people are willing to travel to participate and what they take with them when they leave. 

The ultimate goal is to create an experience that continues to inspire people long after the clippers are put away.

“You have to figure out what you want every day,” Presswood said.