🇧🇷 FROM BRAZIL TO GHENT — A CRAFT WITHOUT BORDERS
Menoncello's Journey Through Scapicchio Academy Level 2
There's something remarkable about a man willing to cross an ocean to sharpen his skills.
Not because he has to. Not because someone told him to. But because he believes there's still something worth learning.
Meet Menoncello. A barber from Brazil with ambition, experience and a genuine respect for the craft.
After travelling through Italy with his wife, he made a special stop in Ghent, Belgium. His destination? ROMAIN Coupure, for two intensive days of Scapicchio Academy Level 2.
His ambition is clear: to earn his place as an official Scapicchio Academy Ambassador.
And that journey requires more than enthusiasm.
It requires knowledge, discipline and dedication.
Day One — Steel, Stones and Understanding
Menoncello arrived with something I immediately appreciated: presence.
You could tell he already had experience sharing knowledge with others. His posture, confidence and approach were there. What remained was refinement. Those small but essential details that separate knowing a technique from truly mastering it.
We worked through an intensive first day of theory, supported by presentations and my book, Protocols — A Barber Manual.
Skin, steel, geometry, sharpening and the reasoning behind our traditional methods.
And there were plenty of those wonderful aha moments.
Interestingly, we conducted the entire training through a translation app.
Different languages. Same understanding.
Proof that knowledge doesn't necessarily need a common language when both people are determined to communicate.
Then came the sharpening.
Half-hollow razors, full wedges, kamisori and freehand honing, following the principles taught within the Scapicchio Academy.
Menoncello adapted remarkably quickly.
The movements, the control, the understanding of steel. Everything began to connect.
And that's precisely what Level 2 is about.
Not simply learning what to do, but understanding why you're doing it.
Day Two — Where Knowledge Meets the Razor
The second day brought us back behind the barber's chair.
Traditional facial shaving, head shaving and beard services.
Real models. Real skin. Real responsibility.
We worked through the protocols, refining technique, posture, razor control and the ability to adapt to different situations.
Because a Master Barber isn't someone who performs perfectly under perfect conditions.
A Master understands how to adapt when conditions are anything but perfect.
Menoncello approached the practical sessions with concentration, professionalism and determination.
Two demanding days. A great deal of information. And another important step towards his ambition.
One Family. No Borders.
What stays with me isn't simply the sharpening or the shaving.
It's the distance people are willing to travel for this craft.
A Brazilian barber travelling through Italy, arriving in a historic barbershop in Ghent, learning traditional techniques rooted in generations of Italian craftsmanship.
All while communicating through a small screen translating our conversations.
Twenty years ago, something like this would have seemed extraordinary.
Today, it's becoming part of our reality.
The Scapicchio Academy is bringing together professionals from different continents, cultures and backgrounds.
Not through empty promises or impressive titles.
But through knowledge.
Through shared experiences.
Through people who genuinely believe traditional barbering deserves a future.
And that future is becoming increasingly international.
Another special moment during these two days was the presence of Ambassador Frederik De Maegt, who joined us to assist, share his knowledge and support Menoncello throughout his training.
It was also a proud occasion, as I had the honour of officially presenting Frederik with his Scapicchio Academy Ambassador plaque, recognising his dedication and place within our international family.
Because this Academy isn't just about individual achievements. It's about supporting one another, sharing knowledge and growing together as one international family.
The Road to Bovino — Level 3
My journey with Menoncello doesn't end here.
As his mentor, I'll continue guiding him towards Level 3, hopefully in early 2027, when we aim to meet again in Bovino, Italy.
There, he hopes to earn his official Scapicchio Academy Ambassador title.
If successful, Menoncello would become our first official Scapicchio Academy Ambassador in Brazil.
A beautiful milestone, not only for him but for our entire international family.
Because every new Ambassador represents another opportunity to preserve, practise and pass on this knowledge.
And perhaps that's what makes this journey so meaningful.
From a small Italian town to Belgium. From Chicago to Brazil. From one barber's chair to another, thousands of kilometres away.
The world is enormous.
But somehow, a straight razor, a sharpening stone and a shared passion keep bringing us together.
Menoncello, thank you for making the journey.
I look forward to standing beside you in Bovino.
Different countries. Different languages. One craft. One international family.
That's the Protocol.
Want to join the Scapicchio Academy at ROMAIN in Ghent, belgium?
Get in touch to plan your 1-on-1 training with Master barber Stijn De Sutter and take your straight razor, honing and shaving services to the next level. Send us a Email
Ready for the real thing?
If you want more than just a good story and you’re ready to sharpen your craft (or your own look), you know where to find us.
From straight razor training and honing on natural stone to classic shaves and serious beard work in the chair, ROMAIN Barbershop & Academy in Ghent is where it actually happens—no noise, no shortcuts.
Book a service in ROMAIN
https://booking.optios.net/6064/select-location
Follow the journey
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Stijn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desutter_stijn
Stijn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@desutter_stijn
Academy info, courses or questions
Email: info@romainghent.be and we’ll take it from there.
Website ROMAIN: http://www.romainghent.be
Website Scapicchio Academy: http://www.scapicchioacademy.com
