The Relationship with “the Barber”

Behind every man, no matter what age or where they are in their lives, is a constant relationship that he keeps. This relationship may not be talked about or seen often. However, it is a bond and kinship that is equal parts professional and personal – his barber.

One can vividly recall their first experience with “the barber.” It is usually established at childhood, perhaps with the company of your parent, elder sibling or people close to you. From the awkward high school yearbook photo, to your first work promotion, behind each of these haircuts is a barber! Your barber has been a significant part of your life, and it is a relationship that evolves with the times.

The Image and the Likeness of a Barber

Barbers maintain your hair and beard to give you that specific and unique look that you call your own. They wield the power of up-keeping the image and identity that you want to present to the world. This is a fact that every man knows and that’s why his barber is an important figure in his life. However, not a lot of men think about how barbers present themselves. Not a lot of clients really ponder on the image they want to convey. What made you choose your barber even before you sat in his chair? What about your barber’s image made you say, “I want him to cut my hair?” It is time we understand how barbers manage their image to project a brand that builds that relationship with their clients.

Learn more on how to harness the power of images as a barber.

One-on-One with a Master Barber & Instructor from New York City

One of the biggest school for barbers in New York City is the American Barber Institute located in midtown Manhattan. Their 4-month Barber program has produced numerous barber professionals who have successful careers in the industry. David Ashley is one of their best instructors of this successful barbering school. He is one who particularly stands out among the barbers and instructors as he is always dressed impeccably. David dons a well-fitted button-up, tailored pants, clean shoes and his barber apron. His sharp image lets you know that he means business.

He shared why his image important and this is what he said:

“I like to present myself in a certain manner because I like to stand out. When people see me – he is really about his business, you can tell he enjoys what he does, he’s really a barber because of his appearance.”

As someone who has witnessed David deal with his students and engage with clients, it is clear that he stands out and that there is a passion in what he does, even before I have spoken to him. And that initial impression matters a lot.

When asked about how about how a professional barber should look like, David shared these very important words.

“I think a professional barber should be versatile. Depending on where you are at, I think you have to appeal to everybody. There is no real particular style, but you have to find what fits you, you have to be versatile.”

It makes perfect sense that a barber who has mastered grooming and cutting the hair from a variety of customers should be versatile in their own image, as trends and styles may come and go with time. With a city as diverse as New York, it is very smart for a barber’s image to appeal to a wide market.

David also added:

“Whether it’s wearing jeans and t-shirt or a button-up shirt and shirt and tie, it doesn’t matter, but just be versatile and depending where you’re at, you have to learn how to adapt to that environment, that shop or that neighborhood.”

Walking around New York City, it is easy to see that barbershops have their unique styles, and their barbers project an image different from the others. And I guess that is the first step to building that relationship, our barber’s image. We might not think about it too much, but how our barbers present themselves not only attract us, but in a way dictate how we want to look ourselves. Our hair and our beard help project our identity and individuality to the world. And we have our barbers to thank for that. So, the next time we sit on their chair, compliment your barber on his image. That just might make your relationship even stronger.

Traveling Barber or Freelance Hairstylist

If you are searching on how to find barber jobs or simply looking for barbering opportunities, there are online platforms like Indulge Now. It is a virtual marketplace for beauty, grooming, and wellness services. Indulge Now invites all service providers to sign up and update profiles on the platform for free. Barbers, who renders services at their location, can list their services with no subscription costs. The innovative platform facilitates interactions between the service providers, including traveling barbers and their customers for in-home services. Learn more on how to become a mobile barber.

Indulgence seeking clients can search you from Indulge Now platform. A profile image or video of the service providers affiliated with Indulge Now helps in the accurate demonstration of their services and professional disciplines. A personalized profile also helps in cultivating effortless interactions. Establishing a personal connection with the customer helps in a more comfortable exchange of services. It is also important for the customer to know about the service providers who will be working in close proximity to them before availing of their services.

Written by: Amador