Hello and Happy Tuesday from Florida. Ever since I got in to the wet shave thing, I absolutely cannot stop thinking about my next shave, or my next purchase of shave stuff. Seriously. Most of my work day and evenings at home are now spent on TSD, Ebay, SMF, SRP, Google, and the whole litany of E-Commerce websites selling shave stuff. It sounds bad, and it really is that bad. All this has made me want to look into Barber College and maybe someday open a little two chair barber shop so I can pursue this shave fetish to its fullest. So is there anyone on TSD that has Barber training, or advice and insight as to how to pursue training, and / or whether or not this is pure folly on my part? Thanks in advance!
I have actually thought that myself. To open a nice little store. Sell shave stuff and have a chair or two to offer some shaves and haircuts. I don't think it would be anytime soon for myself tho. Maybe a nice thing to look forward to in the future as a retirement vocation.
Yes. Many years ago (I'm in my 60s). My family were Italian immigrants, and it ran in the family (the generation before me). I did it for a number of years; then I went on to college and law school. I learned to wield a straight razor an an early age and did an uncountable number of straight razor shaves. [And, no I don't shave myself with one; double-edge, thank you!] While it was an opportunity for an immigrant with poor English to be an independent businessman and make a decent living, the pay however was/is terrible for a worker. So I moved on to being a hair stylist/makeup/colorist which paid better. Then I became a Lawyer... In most states, it's a "unified" license for both barber/hairdresser and intellectually it's not a challenging program, but you need good eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. Back in the 1960s it was about a 6-month school program. Here (around NYC) barbers don't earn a heck of a lot; hair stylists vary by the clientele you serve.
Open one up near a finiancial district call it a gentlemans shoppe and charge a crazy amount. That way you can get all the high class business men
The latest trend around the Hilton Head SC area is for a day barber at the Gated Communities in the locker rooms of the golf shops. That way all you need is a chair and your razors, etc. The clients are upscale and play generally on the same day each week in groups. It may be an easy way to start without all of the upfront capital or inventory expense. Anyway, you will find out if this is for you without too much out of pocket expense. Best regards, Doug:happy088
I actually tried to do that a couple of years ago and haven't totally given up on the idea. I enrolled in a hairdresser's school (they don't teach barbering anymore as a separate program), but had to give it up for a variety of personal reasons. The main problems related to the business part were that the entire program was oriented towards women's hair, with a little bit regarding men's cuts and no shaving and certainly not with a real straight. Plus, at least in Italy, to get a barber's license to open your own shop, you have to apprentice with a barber for three years. The apprentices earn almost nothing. When I win the lottery (my retirement plan), I'm going to open the shop and just hire a licensed barber. That way, I can do my apprenticeship in my own shop. Someday, I'll figure out a way to do it.
You need to look into barber schools, at one time in the past they combined the two schools of barber and cosmetology, but a lot of states are going back to seperate schools. For me here in Tennessee it will take right at 18 months. When I complete the school I will hold a Master Barber Degree, which will allow me to sit for the State Licence Board. The class itself is 1500 hours, but with my work, I can only do 4 hours a night and 8 on Sat. (the school being closed on Sun and Mon). The total thing costs for here at least just under $9000.00. They tell you to expect just over $15,000.00 for your first year, so try to have some savings laid back. I have been in class for three days and so far have just swept up hair for the more senior students, (at 38 I am the 2nd oldest student) and tonight was shown the proper way to shampoo. But if you are shy of funds or just the patience of going back to school, you can always move to Alabama. Alabama is the only state left in the Union that DOES NOT require a barber licence. It does however require one for cosmetology. Good luck if you decide to go for it.
Erwin Center in Tampa has a Barber school that has evening classes. The costs are much more cheaper than a private institution, and the school has a good reputation with the local business community.
I share your interest in barbering, especially face shaving. I'm retired, but still have a few clients that come for a real old fashioned hot lather shave.
Alabama is great if you're an elephant hunter, too, especially if you are doing it for the tusks. They are hard to remove, btw. But in Alabama, the Tuscaloosa. I didn't realize it was an old thread until post #10!
