Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Lewis.
Hi Justin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started cutting hair in the pandemic as a side hustle while I was working 2 other jobs. At the time, I had to split barbering in between caregiving day job and a takeout job through the night. I only had YouTube and mistakes to teach me and as the weeks went by, I got better every cut. From about 7 am to almost 1 am some days I spent driving around the city meeting people in mutual spots to cut hair out the back of my truck. I started an Instagram for barbering and saw it gaining a little bit of traction and I started to see it as a passion instead of busy work. Once social gathering was allowed, I got into barber school and landed in the shop I’m in currently.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Because of the time framing it wasn’t easy at all. Nobody thought it was a good idea when I started. I got laughed at a few times, stood up after driving half an hour to the locations I was supposed to be at, got told to quit, and had to fight to fit the practice into my schedule daily. I used the money from my other jobs to invest into my side hustle so I didn’t have much to work with for myself and since I had a 2 incomes, I couldn’t draw unemployment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets me apart from others is understanding that the only thing that makes me special is how much work I’m willing to put in to get where I want it go. Also, by making everything I do personable today whoever I’m working with. I may have a client who asks for a haircut I’ve posted, and I’ll give them something that more fits their head shape, style, or suggest something that may do them more justice if they’re interested. I like all my clients to think their haircut is THEIRS. My goal is to be a personal barber and not one who cuts on mass.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I hit my first game-winning shot in my youth basketball game.
Pricing:
- Haircuts for walk-in military $30
- Personal appointments are $35
- I have an extra “4K” service for $40 that I use color enhancements in order to sharpen a lineup or fill in any thinning spots
- Housecalls start at $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dot.cards/jlthafader?a=user%2Fvjwdopczysrgimwiel6ehc04l%2Fc%2Fb
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jlthafader
