Why Become a Barber?

~Why indeed~

I have been thinking long and hard about why I became a barber and I’ll be honest, I don’t have a singular reason. It was an accumulated experience that really drove the decision into this field. So let’s break it down, shall we?

Bad Haircuts

Do we have to mention it? Getting horrible haircuts can lead almost anyone to attempt the practice on their own. I (back then) asked my brother-in-law to lend me his Walmart-bought Wahl Clipper. It was missing two needed guards but who cared, I wasn’t going to use them …. right? Soon after buzzing my hair was easy enough but fading….. oh the fading had me on FaceTime with my cousin (who also cut hair) going back and forth with the guards until 3 am. I started at 9 pm…😮‍💨 Eventually, it got easier, and with my weight loss journey in high gear, I was losing weight and finally looking good… I felt great! with no blends… 😒 Better IncomeBefore becoming a barber I was going to community college and had a job making soaps and bath bombs every Monday. One day of work and 5 days of college? I was a starving student. I remember helping my cousin (whom I mentioned earlier) decide whether it was a good business move to pursue barbering. At this point, we both were cutting hair and charging our friends for our services. I did the basic math.

10 clients daily 🥸 * $15 haircuts 🤓 = $150 daily 🧐…😐…🤯 $150 Daily? Get out of here! $150!? * 5days = $750wk?! HELL YEAH!!!

for a broke student… I was ready

Change Professions

I was already A+ & Network+ certified. During these certification classes, I learned that a real career, not was in hardware but software. I changed my major from musical arts to computer science. Not going to lie… it was one of the most difficult switches one can do… the math… oh the math… I learned early on though, that cleaning personal computers can be hazardous to one’s health! What?! Don’t believe me? Clean out a computer with someone’s partner right next to them, watch the sweat bullets roll clearing the trojans and the files that induced them…. lol awwkkaarrddd NOPE! NOT FOR ME! Left turn, not today Vecna! I am not the one! Doing bath bombs, cleaning gyms, cleaning firefighter suits, there was only so much one can take without job security when realizing something needs to change.

Barber College (BC)

Have you ever been surrounded by individuals that helped shape your ideology or philosophy without the individuals knowing? This was barber college for me. In BC you must complete 500 hours of study before you are given your equipment to start working on the floor for your practical exercises. I’m proud to say that I read 95 percent of that book. shoot I thought to myself.. if this is going to make me money I might as well learn it well. I remember vividly. I was called in knowing I was getting my equipment. Walking from the classroom through the work floor, teachers nodded at my 500-hour walk of apprenticeship stride, given that heavy black duffle bag and signed station card. I was given

• Oster Fast Feeds

• 76 Oster & metal guards to fit it, #000 - #3

• Andis outliners

• Combs

• Mirrors

• Mannequins

• Oils and Clippercide

• Hair Drape and Uniform

• Station #

The guys around me were some of the greatest influences I could have ever learned from. They took barbering from hustle to a passion, a skill, a business. I learned that another level exists other than making money, a lesson I still carry today. Here at Barber College. I learned what it meant to be successful. I guess to summarize it in a few, I was sick and tired of the options around me, and making something happen required gusto, willpower, and total acceptance of being uncomfortable. I was willing to 180 my entire thought process to learn something new…Almost like I’m doing now. As always! Check out our MVP to help define your haircut! We are working on a landing page now. Our podcast is finally next and should be up and ready by the end of the month (August 2022).

see you next time 😁