Posted by Leevi Kangas
on August 07, 2024
When Dream Theater’s legendary guitarist John Petrucci arrived in Helsinki for the band’s 40th anniversary tour, Dick Johnson saw his chance.
While our Barbershop in Helsinki gets its fair share of beards, this customer pulling up in a taxi wasn’t just any guy – it was the guitar virtuoso extraordinaire himself, John Petrucci!
– After a couple of weeks on tour, my beard really needs a trim, the rocker said as he sat in the chair.
Petrucci is known not only for his magical guitar solos but also for his iconic beard, which has been his trademark since the ‘90s.
“A beard should always have a purpose”
Petrucci admits that thanks to his fuzzy image, there are memes online comparing him to Hagrid.
– If you’re one of those guys who grows a beard and does nothing with it, you’ll end up just looking homeless. A beard should always have a purpose!
Dick’s Master Barber and educator Mikko was tasked with tidying up the rock legend.
After the trim, Petrucci’s beard smelled especially good – thanks to the Nebula product line developed by Petrucci in collaboration with British grooming brand Captain Fawcett.
– My wife once bought me some Fawcett products, and I fell in love with them. Soon I was ordering more myself, says Petrucci.
Captain Fawcett’s “right-hand man,” Richard Finney had traveled from the UK to Helsinki for the occasion.
Finney jokingly reveals there may be alternate origins to their collaboration:
– We actually met in prison, he teases.
Both men agree they aren’t followers – so the goal was to make Nebula’s scent stand out and feel truly unique.
– The scent was too sweet at first, so we added a hint of espresso beans, says Finney.
Petrucci sees the coffee note as a nod to his Italian roots.
– I’m from New York, so being Italian is definitely a good thing!
When the beard was trimmed, it was time for a gift
Once Petrucci’s beard was fresh and shaped, Dick decided to crown the moment with a gift: a tin of our signature Ball Wax. Petrucci responded with a surprising question:
– Can you show me how to use this?
Clearly, the wax found the right man – though sadly the application demo couldn’t be filmed. What happens in the barber chair, stays in the barber chair.
The tour goes on – but the beard won’t be forgotten
After the Espoo concert, Dream Theater’s tour heads deeper into the Nordics and eventually Central Europe. Petrucci says that even after 40 years of rocking, new experiences keep coming – and self-care shouldn’t be neglected.
– Richie inspires me, and it’s great to do things together, Petrucci laughs.
While the Nebula line began with beard balm, mustache wax and beard oil, the newest addition is a high-end Eau De Parfum. According to Petrucci, it adds some much-needed variety to the collection.
– Beard culture is often “just for men,” but fragrance is for everyone. Even my wife and daughter enjoy sampling the Nebula scent.
Finney reveals he had a mission in Helsinki: a couple of weeks earlier, Nebula Eau De Parfum won silver at the Pure Beauty Global Awards in London, and he wanted to deliver the trophy to Petrucci personally.
Neither Finney nor Petrucci expected the scent to win against 40 other major brands Finney skipped the awards gala (and missed a fancy dinner) due to low expectations – and the €500 ticket price.
After a clean-up and a cup of Vitun Hyvä Kahvi, Petrucci headed off to continue the tour – now with a beard fit for stadium lights. And who knows… maybe the rock star did apply some Ball Wax before hitting the stage. Professionals never reveal their secrets!
Barber’s recipe for Petrucci’s beard trim:
- Beard style: Lumberjack
- Cheeks tapered down from the cheekbones, excess bulk removed
- Sharp lines, long stray hairs trimmed
- Shaped with scissors, relatively angular look
- 3 pumps of beard oil (Captain Fawcett Nebula), massaged into beard and skin
- Hot towel – 60 seconds
- Straight razor edges on cheeks and neck
- Cold towel – 60 seconds
- Blow-dried into shape
- Moustache trimmed – shaped just above lower lip
- Finished with Captain Fawcett Nebula beard balm