A year ago, today, I started barber school. What a journey!
The day after I last posted, I did 14 cuts around Chicago in a single day (and a lot of driving). Between cuts at school, the cuts I did with TLC for Me at the Esperanza Community Center and later that evening at Cary's Lounge, it was a full day. I was booked everyday at barber school since then.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to sit in at Erskine's actual barber shop in Bloomingdale, and I spent over 9 hours at the shop that first day. Those were two of the most intense haircuts I've ever done. I am grateful to have the bare minimum skills to deliver enough value for what a haircut costs, but even more grateful for the opportunity to get really good at barbering. I'm surrounded by people producing really good haircuts, steadily booked with some walk-in clients waiting for any chance to squeeze in, and their sharing nature that invites me to learn from them.
I‘ve learned a ton since beginning (what is now) an internship, gaining hours towards my license while also being honed into a real barber: working to real client expectations in an established shop. This week, I’ll be out in Bloomingdale every afternoon until close and Saturday. The next few weeks will be a lot like this: school 9-3 and then higher learning at the shop from 4-close and all day Saturdays. At this rate, rather than finishing at the end of November, I may be able to complete my hours for licensure by early November.
This last week I was presented with a number of challenging haircut experience. As Clipse says, “theres’s an L in every lesson” and I’m learning as much as I can take in.
I’m not gonna tell you it’s easy. The closer I get to the finish line, the more I feel the grind. I really don't like sucking again, but I love that these experiences forge me into a better barber in realtime.
I appreciate that I'm feeling increasingly confident and competent at barber school. I'm demonstrating success on my own with clients in their homes, at parks, in pubs. In those environments I get feedback from clients to give them more of what they want. At the shop, I’m getting reinforcement, actionable feedback, but more than that I get to observe experts really doing their craft.
Someone get me Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson.
It’s crazy to think of how i started here a year ago at barber school. It’s surreal to reflect on the things that came together in April of this year that propelled me into doing pop-ups in parks and bars; how that propelled me into an apprenticeship with TLC for Me; all the friends I’ve made and people I’ve served and community I’ve found.
I have no idea what a year from now looks like, but I am really excited to be on this ride.
Need a Cut/Buzz?
October into November is full of hair-cutting opportunities.
Monday-Friday, 9am - 3pm at Erskine Reeves’ Barber Academy in Hillside.
Tuesday-Thursday, 4pm-close and Saturday, 9am-5pm at Erskine Reeves’ Barbershop in Bloomingdale.
Fridays and Sundays, house calls by appointment through TLC For Me.
Free/Pay-What-You-Will Haircuts @ Cary’s Lounge on Thursday, October 15, 6:30pm-10:30pm.
