The Social Barber | Shannon kamal

Jan 30 2019

The scotch porter beard products under review

It’s 2019 and the beard has been gaining a lot of love over the years. From baseball players, entertainers, down to the average guy you will find the beard being sported. The way to a happy growth is found in routine maintenance of moisturizing, washing, and trimmings. I have stumbled upon scotch porter beard products to help keep the beard moisturized, and clean so later we’ll discuss ways to keep it trimmed. I came across this product through recommendation from a guest who thought I might like to add this to my collection of beard products. I love learning about new products that hit the scene so of course I was all over it. Scotch porter focuses on grooming for the man with products varying from the face, body, hair, shave, and beard. I will bring you more news on the other products, but today the focus will be on the scotch porter beard products. These products include a beard wash, Leave in beard conditioner, beard serum, and beard balm today I spent a little extra and purchased the limited CBD oil wash & conditioner They were only on sale for a limited time so I decided to grab it along with the regular special edition beard products. In this review we’ll find out the purpose, benefits, value, quality, and does it aid growth? Let’s begin..

What’s under review

Name of product:

Who is the product for? Those that have or are growing beards

4 price points: $20 per bottle/ $70 Beard collection/ $94.99 Ultimate beard collection/ $99.99 Deluxe collection

Best place to buy Scotchporter.com

Rating: B+

Purpose

Facial hair maintenance is often overlooked by men, and many don’t pay attention to the skin that’s underneath. Hair collects dirt, debris, and matter from the natural elements. It’s important to wash the dirt from the hair so that the face underneath can be free of all contaminants while keeping the hairs clean for a healthy growth.

The conditioner locks in the moisture needed to keep the beard from suffering from breakage and causing patches. With a regular routine, the leave in conditioner will give your beard some help with shine, softness, and management.

The serum and Balm is to help with styling your beard in the end. After a good wash and conditioner the serum offers added moisture along with nutrients to feed the beard with the nutrients needed to protect against the natural elements. The beard balm helps when you want to give the beard some shape or controlling fly aways giving you a much neater appearance.

Benefits

Keeping a well maintained beard is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. Most men will deal with dry, itchy, frizzy, and maybe even an uncontrollable beard. With this line of products you are not using a regular soap that has ingredients that will dry out the beard, and leave a frizzy look while you scratch all day long to satisfy the case of the itch.

The benefits of the wash and conditioner is to add moisture and proteins need to upkeep a soft beard eliminating the itch, and dryness caused by the body soaps most of us use. You will find with the serum and balm help your beard become less tangled meaning a lot less breakage. Less breakage means more growth!

Quality

“No Paraben, No Silicone, No Petroleum, No Mineral Oil, No Artificial Colors & Safe for Color Treated Hair.”

This product is made with ingredients designed to be used on facial hair that camouflages the Grey meaning just for men clients have no need to worry. Unlike other harsh washes, and shampoos the color won’t be compromised. With no silicone or paraben there will be nothing to coat the hair cuticle making them frizz up from one another, while eliminating petroleum & mineral oil that usually a great collector of dirt, and debris. YUCK!

Being bearded is more than just having a beard, it’s about grooming, taking proper care of your beard.

SCENT PROFILE: Masculine but floral blend of carnation, with subtle notes of sandalwood, powdery musk and spicy undertones.”

Another claim assuring that you won’t be drowned by fragrance which usually has a high alcohol content which can be drying which defeats the purpose if we are ADDING moisture. Light soft undertones are perfect to keep the misses happy when you bring her in for a quick love session. Less is more, and you will rack up some cookie points for what may be to come later.

Value

Ok, now remember there are three price points for the beard collection.

Beard collection Runs: @ $69.99 and comes with the Shampoo, Conditioner, Balm, and Serum which is a great price considering you are saving $10 if you bought all 4 separately. You can just purchase what you need separately, however best results are achieved when they are used together.
Ultimate beard collection: Comes in at 94.99 where you receive all the beard collection with a boar bristle brush which is great for distributing oils, and a pocket comb to keep your design in place. This is designed for the guy who takes his appearance & growth more seriously where he wants to keep the hairs groomed neatly. This will suit those needs perfectly Leaving you a savings of $5 compared to purchasing them separately.
Ultimate beard collection deluxe: Totals out at $99.99 It’s your beard collection alongside the facial products that S. P carries. This deal holds not much value because you can just buy the beard collection and then the facial cleanse line and pay the exact same amount. $99.99. We can’t totally overlook this package because the charcoal & licorice has great benefits of skin cell renewal, Blemish correction, and maintaining the skins P. H balance. While it doesn’t bring any savings it still comes with a specific set of benefits designed for those with dry skin issues.

For a complete skin diagnosis consult your PCP to schedule a visit with a dermatologist.

CLICK IMAGE BELOW to make a purchase!!

Does it make the beard grow?

I can’t speak with certainty to back that claim of promoting growth, however hair follicles can be stimulated to pro-long the growth phase of the beard. To help support that claim here’s a video on YouTube to explain that process.

As you can see there is nothing out there that can grow your beard there are ways to keep your beard in a growth phase for much longer. This is where the brush and pocket comb comes in handy to keep those cells stimulated.

My Final thoughts

Beards are becoming number one in today’s fashion, the maintenance should be s close strict number zero on the list or a close #2. Take a look around for the closest beard? How clean, moisturized, and neat does this beard look? When you take a look, and you recognize the face as a friend, or even yours. This would be the time to make the purchase for you and a friend, or maybe even both! Keep those beard healthy, and strong by getting your scotch porter beard collection.

While navigating the beard line you will see they have a host of other products designed for men. Such as body wash, shampoo & conditioner, candles, shave, and of course meat wipes!

These are my favorites because they come in handy when you’re in a rush leaving the gym, or just need to freshen up for the highlight of your day. whatever that may consist of add meat wipes to your order to stay prepared for the funkiest of situations. This makes the perfect gift for you or a friend Just click one of the banners above to make your purchase.

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Shannon Kamal

Shannon kamal 0 Comments

Jan 22 2019

How are you setting yourself apart?

With the new year just underway now is the time to evaluate the past year and figure out where you need to improve, or what you should keep doing. Every business should place the importance in getting bigger. The only way to ensure you will be open for years to come is to make sure your business Is growing. How much is your clientele on the rise, or are you servicing the same head over and over again. You’ll never be able to set up any type of retirement this way because you will never be able to get ahead in savings. Life happens and you have to take time for vacations so how much can yiu do without a growing business?

Taking on more work means we must begin marketing our skills for the public to come visit us for services. There are multiple ways in creating growth when building a book, and I’m sure you may have plenty ideas in doing so. Taking a look over my last year I asked myself… How are you setting yourself apart? My goal is to be better this upcoming year, and this is what I’ve come up with to do so. First I am going to take inventory, you don’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you’ve been. Set some goals by breaking down the year into quarters giving yourself enough time to accomplish them. Goals without a plan are just dreams, the best way to achieve these can be done by writing out a plan. Leave a comment sharing with me the ways you will set yourself apart.

Evaluate your journey?

Take a look back on your year to examine the approach you have been taking to run your operation. What was your average of people you’ve seen on a weekly/monthly basis? Were there any increase of guest for services? Do you even keep a register to track the flow of traffic? If you aren’t keeping records then this is a clear indication that the next coming year a register will serve purpose to keep an eye on how many services are just being done. This will also reveal where your busy spots are compared to your slow spots, making it easier to pinpoint the best times to run specials, or offer discounts.

Are you selling retail products for your customers to purchase? Before leaving the site be sure to read the 5 reasons why you be featuring a professional product line in your shop. That article explains why you should be selling products on a regular basis.

Let’s assume you are already stocked with some sort of product in your retail case, and you are familiar with selling. What month were you a rock star/dud? Keep in mind that there will always be highs and lows with retail so find ways to market for a steady influx of sales.

Did you track your goals?

What were your goals If any at all? Without goals, you are aimlessly sailing at sea with no wind in your sails. Grab a calendar and break down the year into four quarters. From January to march that will be your first quarter. What do you want to accomplish in that first quarter?

Whatever that may be log it down in your calendar exactly where you want to complete this task. Get your campaign for Valentines day complete by the last week in January and ready to run by the first of February. If you go to any local drug store you will see the valentines’ setup already in motion. You should be doing the same with your approach get some packages together to begin promoting, and selling? This can actually begin to help grow your book which in turn will grow your savings.

Create a plan?

What are goals without a plan to reach them? Anything that isn’t written down can just be considered as a thought, or a dream. Begin to create a daily task sheet to work on making your goals much easier to accomplish by taking consistent action on small jobs to complete that big job.

Here are some examples to look at…..

The goal is to add 5 new customers to your book by the end of the month (remember to aim high) your task sheet should contain:

Pass out your card to 10 new people per day. This may require some footwork but that’s OK the reward will be well worth it.
Come up with a referral program. Use your customers to bring in more customers by offering discounts to those who bringing a new referral
Learn a new service to offer your guest. Sometimes all it takes is a new service to get a buzz going.

Can you think of any goals, you’d like to crush for 2019? What are they, and how do you plan to reach them? Leave your comment below!!

Stay consistent?

You can only get results by staying consistent, and working at reaching your goals every day will get you closer to the results you seek. The saying goes that the quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line. Trust the process, and keep working towards what it is that you want to accomplish.

The only way Mr. Olympia can compete as a bodybuilder is by working out on a DAILY basis anytime he is slacking he will lose ground on the competition. Every day, you have to keep passing out cards, promoting your services, and completing all the work on your daily task sheet. Make sure you set the bar high to reach to ensure you are pushing yourself to your full potential.

Time management plays a huge role in consistency when trying to make your goals. Work on your goals early in the day so that you don’t run out of time leaving your sheet incomplete. Put down the Facebook, turn off the Maury, and leave the YouTube for later when your work is complete. Consistency is key to growing so keep moving forward to the finish line.

In closing

Its important to understand that people are entering the beauty field every day. And everyday someone is looking for a place to get groomed. What will you do to set yourself apart from those that you are in competition with? Will you start keeping track of the customers that enter your establishment? Create goals to accomplish this upcoming year setting the bar high, and pushing yourself to the limit. Create a plan to reach those goals, and consistently work on those goals. Use the different platforms out there to put yourself out there. Study the competition to find a way that you can be better at marketing and promotions. Social media platforms such as Facebook, or Instagram is a great way to do this making your marketing efforts a little easier, and a lot cheaper. The year is underway and what are you doing to set yourself apart? Leave your comments below with your plans to make this happen.

Shannon kamal 0 Comments

Jan 15 2019

Do you ever ask yourself, Why am i not successful? Here’s the reasons why you may not be!

Why am I not successful?

Whether you are a Barber or cosmetologist this article speaks to that person who stands behind the chair day in and day out, but have yet to find success. We all have different views of success we are working in an industry of production. So what are you producing when you show up to the shop. Are you booked from start to finish? Do you work well with your shop mates? Are you helpful? Promoting yourself? These things can have a direct result in how much success you can see in your career. You may not recognize where you sit on the scale of success. We’ll discuss how leaving early, lack of education. Not listening, afraid of risk taking, and a negative attitude can all have an impact on the success of your career.

Coming in early or Leaving late?

If you can do both then you are on the for sure path to success! If you can’t be there for the open of the shop that’s fine, but you should definitely be there for closing time. And vice versa be there early if you can’t stay late. Establish a rhythm of being seen in the shop to give people an idea that you’re there to provide services. If you remember to NEVER swap the actions you will be fine!

If you’re asking yourself what does “swap the actions” mean? Well, let’s switch early and late and never find yourself coming in late and leaving early. Those two just can’t be the combination.

When building your career, shop hours matter the most because your talent can only get you so far. What time are you getting there, and what time are you leaving? Are you there when people get out of work or are you gone after lunch? I understand it’s slow, and no one is walking in, but you have to put in the hours because you never know when a crowd can show up.

It’s better to be available when needed than to be needed and not available.

Patience is a requirement that has to be met for success to flourish! It would be impossible to plant a garden on Tuesday morning just to come back Tuesday night expecting to see crops.

No education

Being in this industry I have found over the years individuals with a lot of logged shop hours believe that it’s just enough to have years under the belt. However, this is the furthest from the truth. I have a whole blog post on the importance of education in which you can read here. Your experience only means you’ve been working behind the chair for a while but your education will determine how far you will go working behind the chair.

Education may be on the top of the list to finding success because this particular industry is forever changing, and in order to be able to supply the demand we need to be current in our education. Techniques, styles, and new products aren’t the same as the yesteryear so if you can’t foil or fade with the same efficiency as the shop around the corner pretty soon you will find your book dwindling or in a stagnant place.

Customers look to us to be an expert in the area of beauty. We should never miss the opportunity to show our guest what is needed to fit their specific needs. If you’ve just performed a service that requires attention in between visits then it should be you who shares the information on how to keep up with the maintenance not YouTube.

Can’t take instructions

We all need direction in this line of work, and it doesn’t matter what stage of our career we are in. Active listening plays a huge role into meeting the expectations of our customers. During the consultation we need to discover what it is that can or cannot be done. What it is they like or dislike!

Your customer just explained how the razor can only be used on the front hairline and NO where else on the face. When the time comes to clean up your outline you have to do as instructed, if not you may have just opened yourself up for major confrontation.

Suzanne has been using a product on her eyelids that contains retinal for anti-aging and this could leave her skin too thin for hot wax. Once you use the wax and peel a layer of skin off it would be too late by then to ask why this happened! You have now just opened yourself up to lawsuits.

If you can’t take simple instructions given then there will be more times than not you will find yourself in serious troubles.

Afraid to take risk

Now before you go jumping off the deep end taking risk in the shop please understand what it is that I mean by risk. Are you challenging yourself? These are the only risk that are safe in the shop. If you know you aren’t the best at blow-drying you’ll never get there if you don’t push yourself to begin blow-drying.

You could be in the barbershop and someone comes in and ask for a design, but you know that’s not your strong suit. There is nothing wrong with trying. Just be sure to let the person know that you aren’t that great at it, but you will do your best given the opportunity. If you are given the green light make sure you stick with a simple design before trying an elaborate one.

Don’t be afraid to take your craft to the next level by jumping in on services you aren’t great at! On your down time hit the streets and find someone who may want a free service that you may practice. It’s a risk to take asking a total stranger for help especially when it involves their appearance. However, taking no risk will yield no reward!

Negative attitude

This trait is one that will stifle the best of any artist. You must maintain a level of positivity whether it is making sure to keep up the morale of the shop, or keeping focus on becoming a better professional. The shop doesn’t need to be divided with groups amongst you. A shop should never be divided or the guest will feel that tension, and a shop full of tension may lead to guest feeling uncomfortable. One person feeling uncomfortable in a place where they should relax is too many.

It may be a slow season for you right now, but that’s no reason to get down on yourself every business has highs and lows. Stay positive, and keep pushing through the slow times. This is the time to begin pushing yourself, and hitting the streets with your cards. Start making promotions to get people through the door make a happy hour during after work hours when services are discounted or add extra services for guest to enjoy.

You may even be impacting your growth because you’re just too hard on yourself. You’re doing way better than you think you are. Don’t hold onto the bad with every mistake made use it as a learning experience for tomorrow. In fact read my post on how you will build wisdom by learning through your mistakes. Acknowledge the things you do well, and work on the things you need to do better. With persistence, you will turn the corner to success by keeping positive it will be much easier to stand the test of the slow times. It may get tough, but keep your head UP!

Finally, in closing

Your success totally sits square on your shoulders with no one to blame but yourself if you fail to succeed. It doesn’t take much to put in practice these simple steps. Come in to work ready to put in a full day, if you must leave early make sure to be there early. Planning to sleep a little extra in the morning plan to stay late until the shop closes. Put in quality shop hours with the mentality to be ready for the day.

Keep education a top priority for years to come. Never let the times change without knowing what it has changed to. Google is a great place to find where education is happening. If you aren’t able to travel far just search Beauty/Barber expos near me, and here you will find the closest area to gain some education.

Be an active listener when your guest is talking it is not enough to just hear them but listen to what they are saying, and if by any chance you can’t understand what is being said ask questions to gain clarification. By doing this people will gain more trust in you as someone who really wants to pay attention to detail so mistakes can be limited.

Take those risk of course they should be calculated risk never work where you are not informed of a service because you can do more harm than good. However, once you find yourself educated act on what was learned and push yourself to those limits you thought you’d never go.

Stay positive ALWAYS!! Don’t be a trouble maker, don’t keep trouble going, respect all that you encounter, and most importantly give yourself some credit. You are more valuable than you believe, and have more to give if you just keep on learning, pushing, and attacking your goals to be a successful grooming professional.

Have you found yourself in any of these categories? I know I have that’s why I can confidently say you will find success once you begin to practice being better in these areas. Leave a comment letting me know where you can improve your habits, and what area are you most weak?

Thanks for taking the time to read this post, and I hope you find the value to become a successful pro!

Shannon Kamal

Shannon kamal 4 Comments

Jan 11 2019

My clipper wires are always tangled! Can the omnicord help? Here’s what I found…

⇒If there is one thing that is the most annoying when it comes to cutting hair it is having your clipper wires tangle so much that it’s another job in itself to untangle them. No matter how much you try to keep the clippers organized it seems like the electricity attracts each other and the wrapping game happens. Where one wire tangles with another wire just so those wires tangle with the rest of the wires. ugh it’s so annoying because the weight can sometimes pull the plug from the sockets. It gives your station a very disorganized look, and I’m not sure if there is any link to this but I feel like it is damaging to my cords. I’m not sure how many cords I’ve replaced over the years, but it feels like it’s more than I’d like to. Well thanks to this thoughtful invention the solution may finally be here! I introduce to you The omnicord clipper adapter system! Well just omnicord I just added the “clipper adapter system” to make it sound cooler! Now that we’ve found what may be the answer to the problem. Let’s test the product out and see if it’s worth the hassle, or should you just switch over to a cordless clipper system? Well let’s find out In this review as I will share my findings of the products practicality, ease of use, pros, cons, and value! Let’s cross our fingers in hopes it is an option to handle the messy wire epidemic that plagues so many barbers.

About omnicord?

It looks like the company Is located from out of Dacula, GA and states on the website that “omnicord looks to introduce innovative products to help barbers and stylist provide excellent services to guest by improving/upgrading clippers, trimmers, and other related products.”

Omnicord claims no affiliation with any of the clipper brands that are used in the field. So any swapping out of the cords may void any manufacturer warranty. Don’t quote me on that as I have to look that up to be certain, but it would be safe to say that the company would void any warranty of the tool when the original parts are compromised.

There is no clear time posted confirming the date of when the product was born. So I’ll give you my guesstimate to be around 2016! Which was just around the time I began seeing one or two hookups like this. The adapters are made for most of your major brand clippers making it safe to say all clippers can be used. As majority of the industry use those brand of clippers.

How much does it cost?

The pricing I found to be very reasonable for this product and its value. The frustration from the case of the tangled wires are finally over. SO here’s the rundown of the pricing.

You’ll need to purchase the Power cord which has two price point $40 for a designer cord which is just a colored cord & $30 for a regular black cord. As you can see I purchased the black because I didn’t need the color. The actual clipper adapters are $15/per. I purchased 1 cord and 4 adapters bringing my total to $90 which is about the price of one cordless tool.

With that low price tag it should be easy for one to swap out the clutter for a more stress free work station. The best place to purchase your adapters is bu clicking the link below.

<===/ Click here to order your omnicord adapters/===>

How does the omnicord work?

The focus is to replace the numerous power cords that come from your clipper collection by giving you one cord for power supply, and cords equipped with adapters to hook up to the main power supply. This is achieved by removing your factory wires then connecting your new adapter wires that is attached to the power supply. There is a little clip that connects the two new wires, and then bam there you are a setup with no more messy wires.

Don’t worry I know that may have been a little confusing, but I promise you that it will make perfect sense as you keep reading this review. The hookup doesn’t decrease the power of your tools nor does it take forever to make the change to the new cords. It took me half hour to connect my first clipper but with the last 3 sets of tools I was able to complete the swap in about 10-15 minutes.

That’s how they work now let’s move on to the benefits and drawbacks.

The GOOD V. The BAD

Perfection only exist where satisfaction is met! Even then we are left with areas of letdown. Leaving us with the Pros and the cons to hash out. So what are they?

PROS

rids tangled wires
less cluttered drawers
easy to travel with
Not expensive
easy to install
No need to buy wireless clippers

CONS

Turns factory cords obsolete
Wire plug stop is a little too big for oster 76 machine
You have to disconnect from one clipper to another

That’s it! For me the benefits outweigh the drawbacks pretty heavily. The wire plug stop (the name I gave it) didn’t prevent the connection as it just made the screw that tightens the power switch unable to screw ALL the way on. I can live with that!

Cordless clippers are on the rise so getting rid of clutter can be done this route as well, but if you don’t have the means to start over, or just because you like the steady power the omnicord adapter would be a great investment. Especially if you are annoyed with the clutter as much as I was.

In closing

Question: What is the issue?

Answer: Tangled cords and messy stations.

From my experience I can tell you that this product has solved the issue of the tangled wires.

Giving this product 9 out of 10!……..I approve

Omnicord does what it sets out to do I can say that I am more than pleased with this technological advancement. Cordless clippers are making A run and I know it won’t be long before I have a full set of cordless clippers. However, Until then I appreciate the chance to still have my direct current clippers without the confusion that it brings. After operating with this adapter I realize the swapping of the clippers taking 2 -3 seconds isn’t compared to the hassle of untangling cords with every time I pick up my clippers. I would have to recommend you try this product out letting you concentrate on performance and not tangled wires.

==>Click here to purchase your omnicord <==

Shannon kamal 20 Comments

Aug 24 2018

Here are my 5 best interview techniques when choosing a barber/beauty shop to work in!

You’ve just finished your beauty/barber school training now there will be a state board exam to pass, and from there you will be looking for employment. I want to share my 5 best interview techniques when choosing a Barber/beauty shop to work in! If you’re anything like I was you may be asking yourself will “this shop” help me thrive or will it leave me stagnant. Just because you are brand new to the field doesn’t mean you have to settle for what ever comes first. You have a choice to ensure you get your career off to the proper start. Sure a job was offered to you, but it doesn’t make it a fit for you to work. Before saying yes/no, I recommend using a checklist to find out what shop you should choose or accept to work in. First you should investigate the reputation, Ask questions about the vision, Communicate properly, Dress appropriate, and lastly Scout the business. Using these 5 techniques will help you make your decision, and ease your nerves before meeting with your potential future employer. These are techniques that I am sharing with you based on my own experiences, and what I look for when I am hiring a new individual for my shop. You can test out these techniques before even graduating from hair school to get comfortable with the process. Leave a comment below or share with a barber/beauty school graduate to help them on their way to finding a place to start a prosperous career.

Investigate

This can be vital when going for work as a pro because you need Intel to use as leverage. You’ll need to have information before the meeting to find out how transparent your potential shop is. If you know the answer before asking it will be a lot easier to spot an untruthful owner from an honorable owner.

With today s advancement in technology there should be no surprises when going for an interview. Doing a quick Google search you will be able to get information on the type of establishment you are entering. What kind of reviews are they getting? Pay close attention to the bad reviews, this is where you will find out the integrity of the owner/manager or whoever is in charge of public relations.

How well do they respond to critiques? A negative review should be addressed with concern to make the situation right giving the customer a satisfying experience even if they weren’t pleased with services.

Does this shop specialize in certain services? Do they educate employees? Do they have a heavy online presence where new clients can reach out for services?

Let’s just say for some reason this shop has no Online presence, and a google search brings up nothing. You may not be entering a progressive business where there may not be any room for growth leaving you with a career that will not flourish. This is not always the case so we can’t judge alone on online presence so there must be another form of research used to reveal the truth.

The best way is to scout the business which I will explain later in the article so you’d want to stick around and read my thoughts on how to perform this step.

Ask questions

Meeting face to face with shop owner/manager can be intimidating for a newbie because you don’t know what to expect. To break up those nerves it’s best to gain a feel of some sort of control. This can be done by asking simple questions to make small talk “how long have you been in the industry?” or “What is your least favorite service to do?”

These questions are all industry related and show your interest in getting to know your employer. Just keep these filler questions to a minimum as you don’t want to come off nosy. It never hurts to break up the discomfort (if any) with questions or statements, This shows personality. Just be sure never to ask personal questions unless you are asked personal questions first.

Maybe during your investigation you found out the shop does an annual breast cancer event. This information can be used to compliment the gesture giving yourself some brownie points to show the attention you have given the shop before even beginning a shift.

Save any work related questions for when they ask “is there any questions or concerns?” at the end of the interview. Here is where you can ask about time off, call out procedures, and compensation plans. Keep in mind that you should be interviewing the shop just as much as they are interviewing you.

Be Open

Honesty is always the best option when making first impressions. This is the time to put it all on the line about your shortcomings, or anything else that would be better known upfront. Childcare issues on a Wednesday, you’re monthly doctor check ups to control an ailment, or you have a hard time with wet shaving/blow-drying. It’s better to be known up front rather than later when put on the spot to perform, and you definitely don’t want to spring on your new job any issues with babysitting during your first 90 days of employment.

There is nothing worse than someone does a job when they have no idea what they are doing, or unable to properly get the job done. However, it is better to be open about becoming better at whatever it is you may fall short in. Be open for further training in the areas you may need work in, and I’m sure the person you are being interviewed by will find you more valuable.

Dress proper

This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyways. First impressions cannot be made twice so make your first impression your best impression! What I mean by that is simple. During your investigation you should have discovered what type of shop environment you will be heading into.

Laid back shops usually allow a more casual look where you will not want to overdress giving an impression of being too fancy for the shop. For instance if the vibe is casual and you show up in a 3pc suit or 12 in stilettos you may disrupt the feel making others feel uncomfortable.

It works vice versa as well! You can’t show up in jeans and a t- shirt to a shop that requires a more strict dress code of slacks and dress shirts. Find out what you’re heading into before you go being prepared, and dressed accordingly.

Dressing neutral either way in all black or a black and white variance is usually the way to go. This shows you are willing to have the attention off of you, and ready to place sole attention on the customers.

Scout

I promised to explain this earlier and here it is, what I believe to be a very useful technique before going on an interview. The “scout” is when you visit as a customer and have a friend visit as a customer. One of you guys will complain about the service to see how well the stylist will overcome this obstacle or if assistance will be given by the manager/Sr. personell.

For instance, you can totally complain about your style not being as you wished, and how you are not satisfied with the outcome. I know this sounds quite peculiar, however it’s important to know what type of customer service is given in this shop. Not just by what they claim, but what they practice.

Do they get upset with you, and project major attitude not addressing your concerns? or does a manager or Sr. stylist come over to find a way to solve your issue to the best of their ability until you are satisfied. Keep in mind it’s just a drill so if they are genuinely trying to make an effort to satisfy you just give them some slack.

It doesn’t end just there because now there is what I call the aftermath.

Your friend will come in after you to have a service done or vice versa just to see if there will be any gossip about the client who had a complaint about his/her head. Does the head barber keep the other barbers in line while the shop still has patrons or does he join in on the verbal assaults?

Will the Master stylist have a lot to say about not being able to please such a picky client or does she use that moment to teach her colleagues how to approach the next obstacle that may arise? Now that you know the nature of the working environment you can decide if it’s a possibility to begin your career here or keep looking for the right shop to work in.

Are you ready to interview?

Giving these tips the only thing left to do now is go out and start interviewing, and looking for the proper place to begin servicing the public with your creative skills. There are many types of shops to work in, and if you need some ideas on what they are you can take a look at my article asking What type of shop do you work in? Here is where I categorize the different shops out there, and what they are about. Searching for work in this field does not have to be a worrisome task if you just use my 5 best interview techniques when choosing a beauty/barber shop to work in. Be confident, Be positive, Be professional, and start your career in the right direction.

Til next time!

Shannon Kamal

Any concerns or questions? leave a comment and let’s talk about it!

Shannon kamal 4 Comments

Jul 24 2018

What type of shop do you work in?

As a stylist I have worked in only a few shops to date as I like to stay in one location and grow roots. I began asking myself in 2014 What type of shop do you work in? Is this place professional, elegant, organized, productive, or convenient? You may even have a combo shop where there is more than one of these attributes to mention. I want to discuss these attributes and what they look like from a professional point of view, and how I determined the shop type I’ve worked in along with reasons why they did/didn’t work for me. There are a growing number of beauty/barber shops opening up all over the world! That makes it fair to say that no matter where we are, looking good is a human trait we all share. Now that puts the ball in our hands to ensure the shop we work in is living up to the satisfaction of our markets. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the shop you work in and why it works best for you and your goals.

The Professional shop

Have you ever walked in to a place of business, and everyone just stops and stares right at you? Well that is the opposite of what this shop is about. The minute you walk through the door you are made to feel like you’re taken care of. Whether a warm smile, a simple hello, or clear direction of what to do next, this place is in touch.

That’s just the beginning of the trait, customers are next welcomed with a clean and neat area to wait for services as this is what reception is about. Receiving your guest is where impressions are made and comfort is top priority. There are no outdated magazines, tasteless TV, and music made only for a few to enjoy! No one is perfect, and we often get caught falling behind schedule so the wait should be nothing short of admirable.

Now they’re seated, draped, and ready for services now here comes the consultation. We’re professionals right? The standard ice breaker is usually something like ” what are you looking to do today?” the answer is simple… they want to go four shades lighter with a hint on the warm side. Sounds easy, and rightfully so as long as you use your color course training to complete the job. Now this is where the pro vs. amateur is at play.

Professional

The professional shop takes hair care seriously so they will do a thorough analysis of the hair and scalp along with asking questions to determine what is or isn’t possible.
They will 48 hr patch test for possible allergic reactions
keep records of your service on file

vs.

Amateur

Doesn’t check your elasticity, porosity or any scalp abrasion that may come in contact with chemicals
doesn’t check for allergies
Didn’t even ask your name.

Now this doesn’t mean you’re in bad hands because this stylist may be a SEASONED colorist so there’s a good chance you will be satisfied. Either you are in for a very great service or a big bad disaster.

The Elegant shop

Holds back on nothing to please the public it is servicing. While professional this outfit is also swinging in the latest styles, trends. Fashion, and products. You may be greeted with a doorman to take your belongings while you are offered some sort of refreshment while you wait.

This place just doesn’t take care of your hair but YOU as well. If there is any type of delay a complimentary massage or any other short service will be offered. Sound waves of pleasantry will fill the air to set the stage for a great service. The shampoo area holds the most significance in this place giving its customers the most relaxing experience of the day.

Elegant shops are a rare jewel to find so you will know exactly if you work in one or not!

Everyone views elegant different so it’s your road to travel when describing this establishment. Take time to explore the most extravagant situation you can work in. What do you see? How do you feel? What do you hear?

I see bright lights with an open floor space, and a plush seating area that is accompanied with refreshments & entertainment! Restrooms that are always clean with complimentary toiletries as needed. My feeling is quite intoxicating because the vibe is swell of beauty & wellness. I hear only quiet private chatter because snobby gossip is not allowed!

How do you see elegant?

The Organized shop

One of my ALL time favorites is the shop that is organized. There is a lot that goes into operating a business and a hair salon/shop can be no different if not tougher. Who’s in charge of ordering product for the shop? What happens when a customer has a complaint? Is there a walk in system? Paperwork in order?

Among all shops the organized shops stay in business the longest. Without having working order in place the ship is bound to go off course. The captain shouldn’t be in the mess hall while the chef is steering the boat. In many cases shops have a lot of workers in the wrong roles.

It may be ego, ignorance, or just a plain mistake the way some shops operate out of order. It’s important to be around someone who knows if they can’t handle a task then they should delegate that task to another that does. Not because they’re friends, family, or owed a debt. No, because they fit the criteria in guiding the shop to the next level. If your shop doesn’t have client profiles, product for retail, or fight over walk ins then you are not in an organized shop.

Sorry!

My biggest pet peeve is a shop that is never held to a steady schedule. Some days they are open other days they are gone. Never really a clean place with clutter and shop tools everywhere. The bathroom is gloomy and not really relaxing or calming because it felt like it was so small only because there are useless items around. Just unorganized!

Agree or disagree? Have anything to add by all means please feel free.

The Productive shop

Is what every shop opens its doors to be, PRODUCTIVE! I mean who says let’s show up today and do nothing. No one EVER! Production is what keeps food on the table, and the lights on while the heat is warm in the winter so we can chill off during the dog days of summer.

Goals are set in this shop to maintain a level of growth so profit margins can increase. Every season has a special to bring in more business. Education is taken serious to make sure they can offer services that the public need, and be able to advise what the customer can get.

Meetings are held at least every quarter to discuss getting better, making changes, or just team building. To be considered productive your shop needs a clear concise plan of operation that will keep the work week running smooth.

There is no situation where you come in and your items are missing. This is a direct result of the unprofessional, but who is in charge will set expectations where this is not tolerated with strict stipulations on offenders. It just doesn’t stop at stipulations, but enforcing said stipulation. This is cause for effective shop management leaves an environment of structure to promote the most productive shop. You disagree?……… Why?

The Commercial shop

This is usually your strip mall shop location where it doesn’t take much advertising to create a following for two reasons.

The foot traffic in a strip mall is enough to provide customers on its own
Most strip mall shops are chain shop that handle advertising for you

This making it a convenient shop to work in for the stylist who isn’t into advertising or marketing. It’s usually on a public transportation route with a lot of parking for customers to enjoy. This is an ideal situation for the person who doesn’t want to do much advertising for business. The convenience of the shop is great for stylist along with the guest.

These shops for the most part are always booked but never busy, customers won’t have an issue with a long wait while you the stylist will have enough work to make long days fly by. There may not be many bad points to working a commercial brand, the biggest downside is not being able to really build a following clientele. For the most part when an individual comes to a commercial shop they come for the brand name. Every once in a while there may be a stylist to leave the commercial brand and have those customers follow, However that is the exception, not the rule! You would be working to further the commercial brand, but not building a loyal following.

Actually I’d like to gain some background on that. If you know any commercial (super cuts, hair cuttery, great clips) employee that switched to a local establishment do they gain those tickets or do they stay? Leave your comment in the comment section.

So….. Which one fits your place of practice?

Now your workplace could have a mixture of a couple shops making your workplace unique! Or your shop could be none of these and you’re in trouble. Take this time to evaluate the shop in which you work, and make note of its good qualities as well as the bad. Not everyone will be completely satisfied when working so it is important to follow rules of basic customer service, record keeping, and education.

Don’t nit pick!

If your shop is unprofessional you should try to find your exit out or soon you will find business reaching its plateau leaving you with no room to grow. Find a shop that values education, customer service, product knowledge, and teamwork. Don’t settle for lazy owners with no vision of success. Don’t settle for anything less than your worth.

Maybe you should evaluate the type of professional you are, Find out fast what type of shop you work in to make the proper adjustments and push for your successful career.

Down below in the comment section share the type of shop you work or would like to work in & why? If you are a customer please share the type of shop you’d best like to visit for services!

Until I blog again,

Shannon Kamal

Shannon kamal 10 Comments

Jul 12 2018

5 ways to tell if your career is going to the next level

Working in the beauty field, it can be a task that requires patience, and persistence maybe even both. Starting from the bottom of the totem pole is the only way to begin, unless of course you are way beyond talented and start from the top right away. Seeing how that is usually not the case when entering the field, the goal is to always aim at getting to the next level. There is no clear cut path to the top, so anything I share will be solely based on my experience in the field. With many areas to examine we will begin to reveal the state of our career by asking. Do you have a vision? Are you recognized? Guest re booking? Do you offer hair care products? Are you referred? Let’s Take a deeper look into these 5 ways to tell if your career is going to the next level, or have you reached your plateau.

Your reach begins to expand

My motto is and will always be quality over quantity, However you will find that once your quality of work has increased so will you customer base. When you put your best into your work it will not go unnoticed and before you realize it the word will spread about your services. Pretty soon your book will grow and propel you into a new arena, and tax bracket.

Now when this happens it is important to work wise and be careful not to overwork your schedule or you will burn out and miss out on your harvest.

This is where your scheduling will have to become a must. Keep track of new customers and how often you get new people through the door. I find that if they have been referred to you by an existent guest then you should show appreciation and offer discounts for all who send heads your way.

This is a great way to build a reputation and actually give incentive to others that they may send heads your way also!

Your retail recommendations are working

Anyone can just cut hair as it doesn’t take much but practice and repetition to become decent. However, Hair care maintenance is what separates the professional from the amateur. Yes I said it! If you aren’t into hair care then you aren’t considered a pro in my humble opinion.

Natural elements (sun, earth, wind) can take a toll on the hair cuticle as well as our diets and daily activities. AS a professional we should be able to address these issues with solutions through product recommendations. The upkeep is not only good for the customer but it will keep your work in its optimal display at all times. As long as your recommendations are followed your work will last longer and promote your work as advertised.

Products are going to be used whether you push them or not so it’s best to ensure they are pushed properly. A proper hair analysis and consultation will reveal just what needs to be prescribed. Keep in mind that product prescriptions are a great way to earn a passive income even when you are slow!

Do you have any repeat customers?

If you don’t have repeat customers how will you ever make a real living? Your repeat customers keep the lights on along with food on your table. Like clock work you should know when Reggie is due to show up for his next service.

To stay ahead of the program you should encourage precooking. Before Reggie leaves he should be setting up his next service with room for a possible reschedule. Its easier to put yourself in line before you leave as opposed to waiting the day off to try to be squeezed in. Especially if you know your customer has a busy schedule and or hectic lifestyle.

There’s nothing worse than text messages and phone calls in the middle of services to try to book an appointment. Get your customers on a regular booking schedule and alleviate all guess work. Encourage guest to come back and treat your repeat customers to rewards. This will in part create more repeat customers.

Hey!

Have you ever been standing out in public and you just hear your name from across the parking lot, or a horn honking at you? Hey don’t you cut hair over at the shop on (insert establishment here)?

When this happens your career is entering the next level, and the process will get a little scary but it’s a great feeling at the same time.

Some people will know you and you won’t have a clue to who they are. Just be ready with cards to hand out with a welcoming greeting to accompany. You are your biggest form of advertisement. Take advantage of every opportunity to promote your brand.

You only get one shot to leave an impression so make the most of it. You’re on stage always with everyone watching, do your best to stay ready to perform.

Is your direction clear?

As your career settles your vision begins to come clear as to what you want to achieve. The time of aimless working is over and you know exactly what you want to accomplish. You now have direction, and focus to smashing your goals. Do you want to open your own shop? Create your own product, teach, or do you just want to build a customer base that will secure your future.

The choice is yours and the opportunities are endless for professional licensed barbers. You will find that during this time everything and everyone will attempt to block your goals. These obstacles are only meant to teach you while making you stronger in your journey.

Anything worth having is will take time while facing adversity. Keep in mind that the higher you elevate your craft only you will be able to see your vision others aren’t flying as high so they can’t see what you are seeing. Stay the course with determination and focus. The time to stick with it is when things aren’t going so well this will show what you are made of.

What level are you at?

The level of your career doesn’t reach new heights until about 5 yrs into your practice. Now this doesn’t mean everyone will take this long it’s just a general rule to go by simply because many don’t last beyond the 2-3 yr waiting period to build a customer base. This is when doubt, fear, and impatience creeps in. You begin to believe you can’t make it or it’s just not worth it. I am here to tell you that the barber industry is soaring in revenues, and techniques. The question is will you be able to last and take part in the revenues.

Can you tell if your career is going to the next level? Set goals, and get yourself educated on what’s new in the world of beauty. Leave nothing up to chance get proactive on making things happen. Take your career to the next level with purpose and determination in your mind and heart.

Leave a comment, and explain how you plan on moving your career to the next level.

Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to follow me on Facebook @barbershannonkamal

Shannon kamal 6 Comments

Apr 12 2018

MY 5 step guide to be more successful in the beauty field

The beauty field has evolved from a weekly visit to a local saloon on to a daily need to feel beautiful. As the demands rise, professionals of the field stand to increase revenues by an upward of 30%. Everyone places a gauge on success differently so it is only fair to speak from a service stand point. To be a success in the beauty world this will depend on one of four things quality of work, quantity of work, retention of guest, and how long you have been in business. While it may be fairly easy to gain anyone of these attributes it is just that easy to overlook what we may be failing in to help us grow, and become more successful. Taking a look at my journey I realized 5 areas that I needed to address to enter the next level of my career. Consistency, Appearance, Communication, Education. Customer experience. Within these 5 areas we will discover ways to be more successful in our career.

Make your guest top priority

This will be the main ingredient of your success! Without our customers we are officially out of business. With this in mind our focus should be giving an experience that can not help but to be talked about. Word of mouth is still the greatest from of advertisement. The customer experience goes a long way with setting yourself apart from the competition. Think of ways you can give your customers a more positive memorable experience. Keep in mind that good news travels fast while bad news travels faster! Keep a list of your clients names, birthdays, and address. This will help your marketing efforts by personalizing each experience. Find out what your customer prefers to be called is it the first name? MR. or MRS? Birthdays are a great way to send out promotions to make them feel special on a day that much may forget. You will show that you care, and take a serious approach to making them feel good. Addresses will help you locate your clients for future deals, specials, or rewards.

Become a master of communication

The best way to build trust in this business is to have the ability to communicate. Let your yes be your yes and your no be your no! Gain trust by backing your words. Don’t say yes to a 6am Saturday morning if you don’t get outta bed until 7am. Keeping your book appropriately scheduled will show professionalism, and give you that extra respect as a professional. Show your customers you care by explaining the process in which you maintain their hair. Stay firm, fair, and keep all conversations professional. Don’t cross talk in the salon with co-workers or other guest. No politics or religion should be topic of discussion as it is considered topics of passion. Keep your customers engaged, informed, and educated, and watch the referrals roll in.

Your appearance counts

When it comes to beauty people come to see us to feel get beautiful. As a pro you should be clean, neat, and not too flashy. You want your customer to feel like the star of the show. If your attire is flashy you may intimidate those who aren’t as fashion forward. Of course unless you decide to stick to a certain class of clientele then you wouldn’t care how others felt. Black and white is usually the standard uniform for the beauty field in any variation would it work. Uniform shows a purpose to the public when you visit the hospital you will find a doctor in a white coat. Any restaurant and a chef in a chef jacket. While your local police will be found in blues and a badge. Are you dressed professional or are you just dressing to impress.

The more you know

The more you will grow! As trends change so will fashion request, and the only way to keep up is by educating yourself on the latest styles, techniques, and products. Without education, you will find your career at a stand still when these changes come about! Attend trade shows, reach out to product lines for material, and at least you can tune in to YouTube. Treat your field like any other field with the more learning you do the more earning you can do. Think of yourself as a fine-tuned automobile that will cost more if you came with more features. Learn to style hair after you give it a stylish haircut. Add the ability to mix formulations for color to become a versatile barber/stylist.

Keep working

The most production comes from the action that doesn’t stop. To give a great example I would ask you to think of a horse that is beautiful, strong, and fast. The only problem is the horse only comes out the stall on Saturdays for a half day then back to the stalls. While on the other hand there is a horse that is not as beautiful, not as strong, and a tad bit slower. This horse will not stop working until his job is complete EVERYDAY he is called upon. Now I ask which would you rather have working your farm?

In completion

Becoming successful is every professional dream I mean no one studies a subject to not be successful. However, success is measured differently across the board. I believe success is when you are able to sustain a living on your every day efforts of working behind the chair. Remember that quantity is not always a great measure quality holds more weight when servicing the public. We all have ways we can go to the next level, but we all don’t have the drive to make it possible. Do you agree? Or do you have ways to be more successful? If so, please leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Stay sophisticated, stay social, and keep cutting!

Shannon Kamal

Shannon kamal 9 Comments

Feb 14 2018

Why the shampoo is the most important service on the menu

Where the magic happens

The shampoo bowl is probably the most overlooked place in the shop. That’s why the most successful shops have a well-kept shampoo area.

I mean think about it. Would you feel comfortable sitting in a sink that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Hair balls in the sink stopper, color on the side of the bowl, and maybe even leftover lunch from Paula who washed her Tupperware leaving behind mac elbows. YUCK!

The shampoo bowl should be clean, comfortable, relaxing, and attractive! The shampoo is where I began to build a name for myself and started to pick up customers. With this review I want to give you insight on why the shampoo is the most important service of all services!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

At least that’s what people believe! When your bowl is clean you have a started your journey with trust between customer and stylist. To ensure your sink is clean an EPA registered cleaner that kills all bacteria, and viruses should be used household bleach will work just well!

I’m sure you know how to disinfect but you can read the steps here in case you need a refresher. Color is also a big hazard if you aren’t wiping down sinks and chairs you may run the risk of a mistakenly dropped blob of color to come in contact w/ a persons skin or clothes, especially your customers. With a clean shampoo bowl your customer can now relax for what is about to take place.

You want cooperation

It’s hard to sit sill when you can’t get comfortable. The bowl is jamming you in the back of your ear, the chair doesn’t lean back properly so your neck is in suspension, hanging with no support. The chair is so hard one of your cheeks get numb you can’t help but to readjust to the other cheek just to find out that one has gone numb too.

Can a proper wash take place under those conditions? Water temperature plays a big role in client comfort, and should be the focus at this point. Too hot and you may have a lawsuit on your hands, Too cold and your customer will hit the roof!!

This can be avoided by checking with your inner wrist and maintain contact with the water using the back of your hand throughout the service. Any change in temperature and you will be able to act swift to adjust the setting.

With comfort set in place you can move on to the actual service, but before doing so there must be a few more steps to take. This where you ask how they would like the temp of the water using a soft stream of water testing it on the clients scalp until you get an OK! Ask your guest what type of scrub would they like. Soft/ hard pressure, vigorous scrub or light massage.

Making it your business to keep your client as comfortable as a G-5 flying at high altitudes! No I have never flown in a G-5.

They lead you follow

This is where you keep quiet and let your guest decide if they want to talk or just relax and get a scrub. For some they may just need some silence to unwind after a long day with the kids, at work, or just need to be pampered. Others not so much, they like to come in and have their gossip session of the month.

This is totally OK as long as the religion, and politics are kept unspoken. There is nothing worse than yapping off at the mouth while someone is just trying to have some “me time”! It’s just as bad when someone tries to engage in conversation, and get nothing in reply but dryers, running water, and the television.

Hold a conversation at least by acknowledging with eye contact so they know your listening. This is where your customer gets all of your attention to open the doors for your timed sales pitch.

Attraction peeks curiosity

Why do you think the most attractive person is always popular? My guess would be “we all love shiny objects” If it has the most lights we usually buy it and if it sparkles the best we just have to have it.

A nice setting can put in place to begin your sales pitch. What am I pitching you ask? Your products that you will be using of course! This is where your selling points begin. Educate your client on what you’re using, how to use it, and how much it can be purchased for at the front desk at checkout.

You will also be introducing the products you plan to use during the service. Let them smell the product, and bring out the benefits to the product. With this you are selling the product, setting up a sale either then, or later once they fully realize the value.

Don’t bring out the benefits of the product and you are leaving them to make a choice alone. While disclosing the benefits you bring the value to light, and here is where you begin to build a passive income along with a reputation of being a hair care specialist. Which will lead to bigger tips leading to referrals which leads to a higher income.

That is the goal isn’t it?

Close the deal

All of that means nothing if you lose focus on your customer and forget to meet their needs. We have to remain focused on the person in our chair. Make conversation where there is one to be made, have a proper consultation to meet your customers needs to the best of your ability. Notice the word needs and not wants.

You are the professional and all options should be finalized by you. Your retail prescriptions are to be made at the end of the sale with a recommendation to purchase for optimal results. Don’t force your customers to buy simply suggest a routine with the products they need for home maintenance.

This is why the shampoo can increase sales while beefing up your reputation as a great stylist. Remember to clean your bowls, make your area comfortable, Relax your guest, and make your sink area attractive with products, posters, and a shiny sink!

Below I posted the steps to a satisfying shampoo!

Steps to a satisfying shampoo

!. Clean and disinfect bowl.

2. Drape customer with a towel around neck and have consultation.

3. Brush clients hair vigorously from roots to ends to loosen up dirt, and distribute hair oils evenly throughout the strand.

4. Seat customer at bowl ensuring the cape is behind the chair and not in the sink.

5. Turn on sink and choose the correct temperature to clients liking.

6. Wet hair thoroughly.

7. Apply quarter sized product to the hair and work lather with a vigorous scrub using you finger tips and palms.

8. Lifting the head with one hand wash the nape of the neck

9. Guide clients head back in sink gently

10. Rinse and repeat

11. Second wash is a methodical approach using relaxed rhythms to release the scalp of dirt, debris, and oils.

12. Rinse and towel blot not completely drying the hair.

13. Your conditioner will be chosen depending on what the consultation revealed.

14. Rinse the product out of the hair and towel wrap the hair into a turban.

15. Clean sink out of any product, and hair

16. Disinfect

If done properly your client should get up dry out of the sink, and if it’s done professionally you will have just made someone a very satisfied customer. Boosting your average ticket price, building trust all while keeping your customers happy is why the shampoo is the most important service on the menu.

This review of services was bought to you by Sophisticated grooming endorsed by Shannon kamal with no correlation to any company except the author of review.

Shannon kamal 6 Comments

Feb 7 2018

5 things you should know before starting barber school!

Hello and welcome to another page from the 5 series here at Sophisticated Grooming. Are you looking to begin a career as a barber? To get you started there are 5 things you should know before starting barber school. The barber profession dates back to the middle ages with responsibilities of a dentist, and surgeon. What began as a prestigious position quickly evolved into becoming a therapist, fashion expert, and a community mentor. As you journey into your studies I want to share with you the cost, education, expectations, ups and downs, and the completion of courses. With this information you will be prepared to enter school ready to become a barber.

The decision

To become a barber was something I never expected to e doing, however I will say that I am glad the love found me. My decision to be a barber was simple I had fun cutting hair, and I heard somewhere that if your job is fun you will never work a day in your life.

I found myself building a client base with just one pair of clippers, a trimmer, and my weight bench as my chair. I was satisfied to be able to have great conversations while making others feel good about their appearance.

The decision was an easy one to make for me at this time because I hated waking up to go to college and studying for a job that wasn’t guaranteed after course completion. I also enjoyed the fact that I would make my own schedule and set the possibilities of how much I can earn with no cap on my potential.

After talking to my sister who was already in the beauty field I was given advice to do both women, and men hair styling. So that’s what I did I signed up for beauty school the very next day. This was the best decision I had ever made, and after completing beauty school my next step was to cross over to a barbering program.

This decision gave me a well-rounded approach to being able to style hair. And all it cost me wast 18 months of my time and a price tag of about $20,000.

If you, do decide to go forward the price of this education runs roughly between $10-$15 per hour. In the state of Massachusetts at 1000 hours you are looking at roughly 12-15k including your workbooks and a kit of styling tools. Once you find the right school the price of the education will be well worth it.

What you will learn

A barbers’ education is pretty universal so I am confident in telling you that what you will learn can be applied in any state that you reside. The obvious education would be removing hair and styling hair, but there will be a heavy concentration in sanitation and infection control. The most important part of your lessons will be how not to pass along disease and how to prevent the spread of infection.

Along with that you will be learning chemical services such as Perms, relaxers, and color. These services may not be of interest to you but it is a part of the curriculum for a reason you will need to be prepared for any service that walks through the door. By law, it is illegal to refuse service based on sex, so if a lady prefers a barber to do her roller set it would be best if you knew how.

There is a theory to each subject that will give you the science behind each service, and the practical part is where you practice the application of the lesson. Customer service do’s and don’t are also a big part of the curriculum. What sets a barber apart from someone who just cuts hair is his/her professional approach to the job.

Understanding what kind of conversations can/cannot be he’d in the shop will ensure you keep customers satisfied at all times. Even if a customer is the one to strike a forbidden conversation about politics, religion, and money you will e taught how to take control and redirect the topic. With practice day in and day out anyone can become good at cutting hair, but it takes education to be able to properly service the public.

What to expect

Whenever you are introduced to something new it is natural to feel nervous and afraid. Afraid of making a mistake or doing something wrong. I Know these feelings were present when I began so its not far off to expect you to feel the same.

For instance, I recall my first haircut on an individual with fine straight hair up until then my work has all been done on coarse thick hair. Well needless to say my approach left the gentleman with a plug on the side of his head and me standing there for 45 minutes trying to figure how to hide it.

There was no hiding it nor was there an escape from the embarrassment I felt. Luckily my teacher kindly explained “Unless you have experience in cutting all types of hair(which is not uncommon) expect to make some major mistakes!” In fact, I suggest you make as many mistakes as you can while in barber school this is the only way to learn the difference between the correct way and the incorrect way.

You will have enough time to gain experience so don’t rush the process. Depending on your location you can look forward to at least 1000 hours of training. For the full time students that will register at about 9 months, and 16 months for part-time student. Other states require more hours ranging from 1200-2000 check with your local requirements to gain a clear understanding of how many hours are needed.

The roller coaster

Some days you will excel and feel like you are on top of the world while other days you will find the subject matter tough to understand giving you thoughts of quitting. This is totally normal and I urge you to remember that this field is a never ending lesson.

What you don’t understand today will become clear tomorrow as long as you work through your frustrations. There is no such thing as the Perfect barber or BEST barber just an individual who vows to be better each day they turn on a pair of clippers.

Don’t get too high when you excel and don’t get too low when you fail. The ups and downs of your school career only reminds you that you are evolving into a professional. We all need encouragement from time to time so don’t be afraid to lean on your educator for insurance.

The next step

If you have stuck with the course, and completed the program you are now eligible for your state exams. This is where you go before the state board of barbers’ and perform a haircut & shave to demonstrate you can practice proper technique and keep the public safe from disease and infection.

Once you pass this portion there will be a written exam administered to test your knowledge on the rules and regulations of the state in which you will be practicing. After you successfully pass both parts (Congratulations!) an apprentice barber license will be issued and you are officially a professional barber ready to be employed, and perform services for the public. As an apprentice you are required to work under a Master barber for a duration of 18 months before you can be considered for your master barber license.

What this means is that you aren’t allowed to work without the supervision of a master barber on site. This is to ensure your school training was thorough and you become comfortable with the public ensuring proper protocol. It’s almost like graduate school in a sense. Don’t worry its better this way as you will find out the shop and school has its differences.

In review

The cost can range from 12k – 15k and about 9-16 months of time so to start your career as a barber you will find the value to outweigh the cost.

This field is one of growth and steady evolution what is today can quickly change tomorrow. Although you are licensed and ready to work It’s important to learn from everything you do and everyone you encounter. For a successful career you will have to keep up with the times.

To give you a little advice I suggest you keep track of your progress with pictures. When you get deeper in your career you will find out how horrible your cuts were and how far you have come with your skills.

The ups and downs will continue, but become far and few in between each episode. You will hit cruise control and hit an altitude of Highs with a couple of bumps in the road. It is impossible to please everyone, however your goal should be to satisfy each and every guest that enter the shop. Now that you know what to look for before starting barber school my only question is….. Are you ready?

Shannon kamal 0 Comments