A barber is a professional who cuts and styles hair and beards, and performs other grooming practices for typically male clients.
There are several reasons to become a barber, including creative expression, financial independence, and job security – after all, hair doesn’t stop growing.
Being your own boss and opening a barbershop may sound like a dream come true, but becoming a successful barber requires time, hard work, and dedication.
Follow these five tips below to become a successful barber:
- Master The Basics
Successful barbers master the basics by expertly combining their cutting skills, creativity, business savvy, and communication skills to curate a prosperous career.
Hone your barbering skills on a continuous basis and constantly learn new techniques and trends for cutting, shaping, and styling.
Work your way up to offering custom hairstyles, which will allow you to flex your creative muscles.
- Understand Hair
As a barber with a new trade business, your world revolves around hair, and you cannot know how to cut it if you don’t understand it.
Understanding hair means recognizing the different types and textures of hair, as well as how they behave, so you can adapt your cutting techniques accordingly. You need to understand how hair grows and how to follow a natural hairline.
Hair care products have become trendy in recent years, so it’s a good idea to offer them in your barbershop as an additional revenue stream.
- Get Qualified
Successful barbers are highly skilled and qualified professionals who can perform a variety of cosmetology functions.
Most barbers have a GED or high school diploma and are certified as cosmetologists.
The out-of-pocket cost of barber school for you could be zero if you qualify for federal financial aid.
There are a few small costs that you will need to budget for, including transportation to and from school and the Texas licensing exam fees. These fees are paid to the state and not the barber school.
- Location
The location of your barbershop can make or break your business.
Choose a trendy location with a great vibe, particularly if you want to attract younger clientele. The ideal location is a high-traffic area with plenty of foot traffic.
While malls and shopping centres are often the perfect place for high foot traffic, they often charge more for rentals. Setting up shop in a more remote, affordable location is fine as long as you market your brand well.
For a good mix, open up near a financial district, which will get you ample clients without having to pay top dollar for mall rentals.
- Build Your Brand
Becoming a successful barber doesn’t happen overnight, but there are things you can do to help speed it up.
Branding is essential for standing out from the competition, so focus on creating a unique image for your barbershop that sets it apart from the rest. Decide on ways to make your shop unique and build your brand around those elements.
For example, buy unique furniture and décor items, think of a catchy name that suits your desired brand, and have a cool logo designed that ties all of those elements together.
To End
Lastly, follow the above tips and remember that being a barber is a service industry profession.
When you provide excellent customer service, you build a good reputation. Word of mouth advertising is how many barbershops grow.
