A Decade of Barbering

Do you remember when I became a barber?

Roughly 11 years ago I brought everyone in the world of Pomade and Pompadours on my journey of becoming a barber. I had made a small handful of videos on my YouTube channel showcasing my barber school. Back in 2012 a ton of you followed that journey intently! I also had a lot of followers come to my barber school, as well as the first shop I had worked at in San Francisco. Do you know how good it felt when the other barbers and stylists took notice that I had a “fan” base? I was one of the only people who had no background in cutting hair, so I didn’t even have a handful of friends to give me any social proof of my barbering skills. By then, I had met so many people in that first year who were willing to come to San Francisco to get a haircut from me, and it was amazing. The feeling of support and community, the fellowship, and an unwarranted adoration from so many people were like no other.

Some people continued to support me as I took my barbering out of San Francisco and to Redwood City then Belmont; only about 20-25 minutes outside of San Francisco respectively, but too far for everyone to carry on with their support.

This level of risk was absolutely terrifying. Even though it wasn’t my choice (I got fired, heh,) the reality of starting over in an up-and-coming shop, in an area where I didn’t know the lay of the land, was truly the test of my wanting to be a barber. Having started my barbering career in a shop that was already established and had some world-renowned barbers occupying that space meant that I didn’t have to ‘earn’ my clientele, I was just fed them. This time around? It was all on me, and I had no idea if my reputation built in San Francisco carried any weight outside the 7 by 7 city…

The shop was Captain’s Sk8 & Cuts, where I was the first and only barber there. The owner (while his wife is a hairstylist) was anything but a barber. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing! He had a vision that I wanted to be a part of, but ultimately that same vision was the reason why I would no longer be a part of that shop. I only knew the San Francisco level of service (which at that time, was considered “elevated,”) and I never knew how to operate a first-come-first-served style of shop. I never even went to that kind of barbershop as a kid! Eventually, I imposed my style of barbering, which was more by-appointment-only, and I had built a reputation. In a short amount of time, the reputation started to grow and people heard about the shop, Saturdays in the barbershop really felt like Saturdays in the barbershop! Working 9 to 9, kicking back with pizza and beer at the end of the day, it was fun! It was an amazing experience to have built out a barbershop reputation from soup to nuts. My reach had actually expanded, and I had clients from even further coming out to support me! They sacrificed their time and money to become my clients, and I really grew to appreciate that level of patronage. Ultimately, I had to part ways with the shop because money became an issue (business model,) and had me second-guessing my career as a barber.

Eventually, I found my way to Belmont, where I worked out of an old-timey shop called Bushwackers; which ended up buying and rebranding Captain’s Sk8 & Cuts some years later.

Bushwackers was fast-paced, reputation, and patrons stemming from the 1970s, and probably still had some hair on the floor from that era. What’s not to love? The money was constantly coming in, as it had been an established shop in the neighborhood for quite some time, but that also meant it carried the same price tag from back then. $20 for over 20 years! This level of work was hard on the body, because – by design – you’re supposed to optimize your work and do 3 cuts an hour. That’s some good money! But the end result was something I couldn’t say I was proud of because it lacked something important to me that I’d come to realize later in my career: connection. I, again, imposed my methodology and made less money, but had come to enjoy the overall work environment and quality of life it provided. Though I made less money than the other barbers, I still maintained a healthy connection with my clients, which will serve me well down the line.

While working there, Chris (whom I met working in San Francisco,) had reached out as he was finally opening up his shop and had wanted me to join the team. This was huge! The barbers that helped shape my career in 2013 finally reunited in 2014! One year apart doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but so much happened in that time frame. So being able to pick up where we left off was exciting! Everything felt like it did back then. Exciting, new, and hopeful for a long and fruitful future.

Being part of the Dogpatch journey, not just the barbershop, but the community, was everything I had wanted. It had the taste of a community barbershop in Redwood City, felt as if we were building a legacy barbershop like Bushwackers, but still had the contemporary vibe of being in San Francisco. Man… This was it for me! Or, so I thought…

Throughout the years I thought the place and environment were what I was after. I thought I wanted heavy old barber chairs, maybe some subway tile backsplash, or some obnoxiously loud music. All of these can be components of a barbershop, for sure. But after some time I came to realize that a barbershop without its patrons is just a room full of chairs…

One thing I took away from the various locations and shops I’ve worked at was that I liked the connectivity I had built not only with the barbers but also with the patrons and clients of the shops. I’ve met so many people in such a short amount of time! I mean, how often do you get to interact with dozens of people a day, with various backgrounds and upbringings, and get to know them in a very intimate way? And then rinse, cycle, repeat this process day in and day out for a decade? The way I got to connect with people in that time has made me more understanding and empathetic in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first embarked on this journey. Barbering is typically looked at as a results-driven industry; very transactional. I cut your hair, you give me money — that’s it. This is a very linear business and has been that way since the beginning of time. But for someone like me who has grown and learned other aspects about what it means to be a barber, I’ve started to outgrow that old way of business…

My clients started off as just that: Clients. As time progressed and my ability to communicate improved, what was proposed as just a simple exchange in value became more than that. The value became more than a haircut or a service. It became a level of connectivity no one expected to make. Even clients that I’ve only worked with for 5-6 haircuts understood the value I brought to the table. It was far different than any barber they’ve encountered in their lives. We’ve developed a friendship from what started off as a business transaction.

Not friendly like you are with your local barista or bartender (unless you’re a hardcore regular!) But friendly to the point where even when my clients had moved across the other side of the Bay Area in 2020, they still came all the way across the bridge to support me. They’ve converted everything else to their locality. From bread makers, dentists, and restaurants, but the one thing they’ve maintained on this side of the Bay Area was me — their barber. Most people wouldn’t support their barber when they increase their price, but to invest their time and money into maintaining their relationship with their barber on a recurring schedule? I’ve even had clients move out of California make a point to make an appointment with me, or come by the shop to catch up! That amount of support is something I’ll always share my gratitude towards.

The amount of impact a lowly barber could provide is something else!

Ultimately, I’ve made the extremely difficult decision to transition away from barbering…

Why? Why would I build up this story to tell about the relations I’ve built with barbering? Why would I throw those connections away? Why would I invest the last decade into a trade and just give up on it?

The answer is simple: I have to.

As unfortunate as it is, I’m in the phase of life where I need to begin providing value away from barbering and into another field. It sounds ridiculous, but that’s where I’m at in life. I know the value I provide and tried and true in the barbershop setting. I need to know if it’s truly valuable outside of it.

Believe me, it is tough to walk away from an amazing clientele base that professed their unparalleled support for me with this career change. Many of them admit that I was the “best” barber they’ve ever had. While I will contest that they’ve had better haircuts out there, the type of connection and comfort a lot of my clients got from sitting in my chair will go unchallenged. To be able to converse with any and all walks of life without quantifying their value to a dollar amount is extremely rare in the barbering world. Every seminar or course out there for barbers and hairstylist overlook the value proposition and place it on a simple metric of dollar and time. While that isn’t objectively wrong, I’ve learned to appreciate barbering outside of that, and that’s why I need to step away from it.

Being in this place of growth means I can’t be doing the same thing I’ve done for the last 10 years and expect a different outcome. If any of the changes I’ve experienced over the last decade has taught me anything, is that I can adapt and rise to the occasion. And seeing the value outside of the surface level is a valuable skill set in and of itself. But allowing others to also see that same value is unique.

What does the next step bring? I don’t know. All I know is I hope to utilize everything I’ve learned through this blog and becoming a barber, in whatever the next adventure brings.

Until the next time,

Pomp Hard

Continue the journey with me on TikTok!

New Post: Hobby Posts.

I know a lot of readers don’t want to read any of my posts about my hobbies that I am now showcasing via YouTube, BUT… it is still my blog and I will still post my own personal content on here. With that said…

I will be adding a break to the posts so that if you decide that you do not want to view those posts, you can simply scroll past, or click to view.

So, click to continue reading:

As many of you may have read, I’ve decided to take some of my hobbies and showcase them on my YouTube channel. In case you aren’t subscribed to it, I’ll link below a few of my most recent videos. They stray far away from the subject matter on this blog, but hey… it’s still me, my content, my humor, etc.

The Barbershop: Is it an Essential Business?

First and foremost, I want it to be known that I am not a political individual and don’t claim any particular leanings. Because, in short: I don’t give a damn. But this year has been one hell of a trying year and has put everyone to the test, which has caused me to pay attention more than usual. Still loosely, but more-so… Regardless of your situation, we were all put to the test and it sure as hell sucked. For some it was worse than others. Myself as a barber was out of work for six months. SIX MONTHS. As someone who is all about earning every single penny with the work they put in, this was hard. I can’t lie, it was extremely difficult on various levels. But with the community and foundation I had built with clients, there was an immeasurable amount of support and I can’t help but thank each and every one of them every time I see them. Without that foundation, I don’t know if I could’ve had an “easier” time getting into a good headspace, as many of them described. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for many…

Even so, not every barber, let alone every barbershop has that. So that raises the question: Are barbershops essential?

Early on during the initial Shelter In Place, a lot of people had deemed the barbershop (as well as salons. For the sake of my profession and not having to type it out ever single time, the industry will simply be referred to as barbershops) as non-essential. To a certain degree, I get it… It can be considered a luxury expense. The hollow argument of ‘you can do it at home’ will always be there, and should that be applied to everything else in life? I mean, do you have to eat out? Not at all. Yes, while to some it’s a luxury to eat out all the time, but it’s also healthy to change things up every once in a while. It brings back that mystique of a home cooked meal and the appreciation for the effort took. While many of us are creatures of habit – myself included – it doesn’t mean we should be put in the position to make such drastic changes and accept it.

Change is healthy. Change is necessary. So changing your surroundings and interactions on a day to day basis has really shown its importance. It was little variables throughout the day that many of us took for granted, and spent the last half year missing out on it. Understanding and appreciating these day to day variables is becoming more and more evident each day, especially as we stay at a distance from getting any closer to them. We’re dealing with a constantly moving target, and it’s wearing people down.

Since the vast majority have been ‘given’ the ability to work from home, it means that everything else they did on a day-to-day basis followed suit. Cooking, working out, maintaining “social interactions” with their work peers. Some like that, and some like to be a homebody and not interact with people on a day-to-day basis. As a professional homebody myself, I get it! This is change. A dramatic one at that. But once this level of change becomes normal (and it does became normal real quick,) is it good change? How sustainable is it for a healthy headspace?

Coming back to the barbershop and having began interacting with people again was great. It was exciting and to a certain degree, emotional. Why? Because having kept our interactions to a bare minimum, you lose that sense of community; Of primal human interaction. As much as no one would dare admit: We’ve all developed a bit of prejudice when you’re around people. You don’t know who they are, what they’ve done, if they’re sick, etc etc. (This is not to be misconstrued as an “is it real” argument. Save that for your own social media accounts!) Common courtesy was thrown out the window. Common decency was met with distasteful looks. Far and few were acting as —simply put— a good person. Something as simple as passing an acquaintance on the street and greeting them is met with short, uninterested notions of existence. The weird times we’re in has made people even weirder, and not in a good way. This isn’t the part of the emotional spectrum I’d want to sustain on a day to day basis. Due to the circumstances we’re in, it’s an unfortunate constant. Working ourselves out of such levels of negativity is difficult on our own.

“Faster alone, further together.”

I started to notice how important it was to maintain interaction with people. I mean, previously I was working six days a week. I’ve had PLENTY of human interaction on a day to day basis. While it was draining, I enjoyed it. It’s a part of my job to enjoy interacting with people. As introverted as I inherently am, I realized how much I enjoy interaction. I mean, having gone to VLV at the peak of my blogging “career,” all I cared about was meeting people, developing rapport and relationships with them, and having a great time. Granted… those interactions were fueled by PBR and whiskey… BUT STILL… Those interactions were very important for me getting comfortable enough to consider barbering. And eight or so years later, I’d say it was impactful.

As the days I go by and I start interacting with more and more people, I couldn’t help but notice that some maintained a bit of normalcy by hanging out with friends (whether it be socially distanced or not.) But for the rest, I couldn’t help but see something… How draining it has been for them to maintain social interactions through a screen, and not have any real interaction with a person IN PERSON… There was definitely some social ineptitude developed over the lack of exposure to other human interactions. Granted, I don’t know how they are outside of the shop, but I can’t imagine the interactions being all too different outside of it. Overtime these socially inept individuals become more comfortable in the barbershop. Passing by they point out to whomever it is they’re accompanied by that this is their barbershop. They’re proud to point it out and start to build their own community by referring coworkers and friends to the shop. They unknowingly encompass a part of their lives around it. Whether it’s parting ways with someone before their haircut, or meeting someone after their haircut to get dinner and drinks, the barbershop became a pivoting point in their day. For something to be a pivoting point in my day, it has to be important.

But, does that answer the question: Are Barbershops Essential?

A bit more time goes by and people start coming to get back to the shop to regain some level of normalcy, I realized how much the barbershop is an essential business to the community it services. Not because of my own bias of wanting to work throughout this entire time, but for other people in my chair. For the community we service, to the individuals that heard about us on social media and wanted the experience while they were in town, or the individuals that travel from all over to be a part of our shop. We are absolutely an essential business. But why? Is it because of the way we cut hair? The adornments on the wall? The prices charged or the products sold? What is it? What makes the barbershop essential?

What I’ve deemed the barbershop’s most qualifying trait of being considered an “essential business” is what we offer to the individuals that sit in our chair. Haircut and product aside, we offer whatever it is they need. They need someone to confide in? Someone to shoot-the-shit with? Some time to decompress from work for however long, in order to reset their mindset and get back to it? Whatever it is they need, we offer it. We offer escapism. And escapism from all the non-sense going on all around us is definitely essential to the well being of the people coming to the barbershop.

What was just a simple T.V. trope has gotten it’s own show on HBO by Lebron James. Showcasing one aspect the barbershop has to offer besides haircuts: dialogue. I mean, if a barbershop was solely about getting a haircut, would there have been a show made about it? Absolutely not.

With us finally being able to open up our doors, patrons are now able to get that bit of time away from the confine of the walls of their homes that now has become work. To get a bit of quiet away from their families. To see someone that’s not on a screen but physically in front of them and have an actual conversation filled with agreements and disagreements. In one place we can offer so much that was lost throughout this year. After interacting with so many people, they too come to realize how important the visit to the barbershop really was to them. Whether it’s every week, or every five. They’ve realized how important it is to them to decompress from home/work. Not just decompress during their commute, but how important it was for them to decompress in the barbershop. The patron knows that whatever it is they have to say stays in the confines of the chair. To get away from the same conversation at home/work and actually create dialogue with someone? Does anyone know how much emotional relief that is? It’s incomparable to any other business out there.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of shops that have built their business around rapport and community. And unfortunately, I get it. Certain business models are impossible to get out of. (This is a topic for another day!) But this shouldn’t deem the industry as a whole as “non-essential.” If people can now have alcohol delivered and get alcoholic drinks to go and drink them in public, they should be able to go to the barbershop for that small portion of the day to get a more viable and sustainable source of escapism. Even if the shop may not as invested in the patrons as ours is, it doesn’t mean the patrons don’t rely on them for a quick conversation to clear their headspace.

The true testament to my sentiment —that barbershops should be looked at as essential businesses— is the fact that barbershops have been the epicenter of the communities they service since the very beginning. It is one of the oldest trades around the world, and there’s more than enough reasons why. Regardless of style of shop it is, barbershops will always be around and the community it’s propagated will stand by and proclaim how their local barbershop is essential to them.

Monday 10/13/2014: Hattori Hanzo presents Clipper Cutting w/ Cream The Barber.

A couple of weeks ago, my buddy Chris aka Cream The Barber presented the opportunity to assist him in his Hattori Hanzo Clipper Cutting class. While at one point the opportunity to have my own haircutting class presented itself, I truly felt that (at that moment in time) I wasn’t fit to teach anyone “my” techniques. But, that was a while ago! And helping out for a class wasn’t something I couldn’t do. So, it was done!

The class was held at a salon in San Jose called Stocks and Blondes, which oddly enough was a salon I was relatively familiar with. The salon was set up to accommodate 40 or so stylists/barbers. At first, I was skeptical that it would be that big of a class, but as we got to the salon, finding an empty seat wasn’t easy! Pretty sure there were a few people left standing.

GAMETIME!

Since we were dealing with more stylists than barbers, getting them hip to clipper lingo was important. Funny enough, a majority of these gals probably have been doing hair far longer than I have, but weren’t well versed in barber terminology for the hardware we use. But… that’s expected… Since it’s not something they do on a daily basis, it’s not surprising that their knowledge of clippers wasn’t the same as a barbers, especially since a majority of them were used to scissor-over-comb everything! But, with a crowd this eager to learn, it wasn’t difficult getting them up to speed.

After the theory portion of the class, it was time for the fun part… THE DEMO!

Chris has his way of fading, which is similar to many barbers, but is also different from a lot of barbers… yeah, get it?

Now: How does he fade? WELL…That’s something you’ll have to learn by attending one of his classes! Trust me, it’s well worth it. Why wouldn’t you invest in education for yourself?

The tools and implements he would use to perform the haircut.

What haircut would he demo? Of course, one popular one that you’ll see at least 3 of done in a shop: A zero fade with a sidepart/undercut/hardpart/combover/name that ‘do.

Full attendance ready to learn!

Demonstrating one of many ways to set a guideline.

Throughout the demo, questions were asked, and where I could shoot my feedback, I would. I also asked a few questions that the class wouldn’t have asked, but felt it were something that would benefit them. I mean, hey, I’m here to help in any way I could!

Can’t be a Hattori Hanzo class without using some Hattori Hanzos!

Quick before and after!

After the demo was finished, the salon cleared out and there were 6 stylists left for the hands-on learning portion of the class. Now I could help out a bit more!

For the most part, it went smoothly. Obviously, getting a hairstylist that is only comfortable doing scissor-over-comb to go as short as 000 was a mission! Hell, getting their clients to get comfortable with them going that short was a task in itself! But, with all learning experiences, it’s something you have to ease into. Definitely glad that a majority of them were up for the challenge. But the hard part? Was not having the right tools to perform the cuts!

Now, a lot of stylists usually have an Oster 76 with only a handful of blades, or the familiar Wahl Designers. But not everyone in the class had the tools on hand, or the right blade, or guards. So, for some of them, a bit of improvising was done. Others had to borrow blades from others. And getting them to be comfortable with handling the clippers was something that took a bit of getting used to. But hey, we’re here to learn.

The overall experience of teaching someone how to cut hair was a blast. It makes me kind of wish I were able to have my own classes! But, that’s something that’ll happen later down the line!

Having people willing to drop everything they know and do what you tell them to do made the experience that much easier. You’re usually met with rhetorical or backhanded questions whenever you try .to “teach” an existing stylist how to cut hair a certain way. It’s a given… You have people who have been doing something one way for several years, it’s not like you’ll be able to change their views on haircutting in one go. But, once you let them know that 2+1=3 as is 1+1+1=3, they’ll get it and become a little more welcoming to learning a new trick or two.

Big thanks again to Chris aka Cream The Barber for the opportunity! I can’t wait to be cutting in his shop, where it’ll be like having a barbering class all day long!

Well folks, I hope some of you are excited to see me posting again. Trying to work in the time to blog, work full-time and be a father is a daunting task! But hey, it has to be done!

So stay tuned for more barbering related posts, backlogged pomade reviews, and more!

Until the next time…

POMP HARD!!

Barber Shop Update. 10/10/14

As most of you know, I’ve seen been cutting hair down in the Peninsula (20 minutes south of San Francisco) previously in Redwood City and now (currently) in Belmont. And for some of my San Francisco based clients, it wasn’t feasible to make the trek down to see me… which is perfectly understandable. But for those clients that have stuck with me through the transitions: I appreciate y’all! But… there’s some good news to be had!

Starting October 21, I’ll be splitting my time from my Belmont location with the brand new barber shop in the Dogpatch district, Cream’s Barbershoppe, owned by none other than Chris Eliares. He was one of the barbers I worked with at the beginning stages of my career that helped me progress in this craft, so getting back into the swing of things alongside of him will only lead to more progression! I definitely can’t wait to be back up in San Francisco, cutting hair, no less!

For the time being, I will only be working on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the potential of being opened on Mondays given the demand.

So, if you’re one of my previous clients from San Francisco or looking for a barber in the San Francisco Bay Area, book an appointment with me at the new location. There’s some fun to be had! Book an appointment with me via email:

therebelrouser@yahoo.com

Other methods of booking an appointment will be updated in a later date.

Hope to see y’all soon.

Ten Signature Haircuts From Schorem Haarsnijder Em Barbier DVD!

Even before I got into barbering, I was a fan of Schorem Haarsnijder en Barbier. When looking for photos of classically cut hairstyles you’ll know when you’ve come across one of their signature cuts. Their attention to detail is second to none. So when I stepped into the world of barbering, I’ve done my best to uphold their standards – not only in terms of haircutting, but also the principles of being a barber. While I haven’t had the luxury of flying out to Rotterdam to experience thee experience, and be under the tutelage of these world class barbers, this is the next best thing. I’ve already watched the entire DVD once and I’ve already learned something new. With barbering, learning something new is something you can’t not do! I’m definitely glad to have something to help give me a better idea as to how they perform haircuts the traditional way. If you’re a barber or just a fan of Schorem Haarsnijder en Barbier, this DVD is a must have! Big thanks to the good folks at Schorem for taking the time to produce this DVD!

Barbering: What I’m Workin’ With.

In the world of barbering and cosmetology, there are several tools and implements that are highly favored, some more than others. Companies are always trying to rival their competitors products, which leaves many new comers walking into a beauty supply store with their jaws hangin’ off the floor, and leaving the stores with an empty wallet. Believe me, when I first started, I wanted everything the stores had to offer! Hell… I STILL DO! But, in good ol’ Rebel Rouser fashion, I look to help out cats in predicaments such as this, so you don’t have to waste money, and you can narrow things down to find the right tool & implement for you.

One thing I’m glad to have done(without actually having done anything,) is help motivate some cats around the world take the leap into the world of barbering, themselves. Sometimes, all you need is a little push in the right direction! I’m glad to have unknowingly motivate people to pick up the trade of barbering. So, to help out a bit more, I’ll show you the tools and implements I’ve done my own research on over the last 10 months, so you don’t have to waste money on lower quality tools! I mean, these things are supposed to make you money, so why throw away money on the ones that break?

Disclaimer:

This post will include Affiliate Marketing links in which I may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases. Every link is linked to a product that I, myself, have purchased and used personally as well as professionally.

Click to continue reading!

End of an Era: Barber School.

If you’ve been following my Instagram, you may have noticed that I’ve finished barber school at the end of March. It’s been a quick 10 months, but I’ve got to say, it was a blast! I’ve learned something completely foreign to me, met a lot of great folks , and didn’t veer away from the goal: become a licensed barber and rule the world… Well, I think the last part is part of a different plan, but whatever…

I remember pulling up to the school to check it out and thinking, “Can I do this?” and had the want of driving back home and say fuck it. I mean, I’ve postponed looking into a barber school for nearly three years, and to suddenly find a school and show up to it? Yeah, it was scary! Of course, it’s always intimidating to jump into something so new such as barbering, and even more intimidating considering I’ve never cut hair whatsoever prior to! And being around people who more than likely cut hair on a regular? Man… Then you gotta think about you actually have to cut someones hair for the very first time?!?! Fuuuck…

But alas, I stuck with it, had great people help me throughout the duration of school, and I’m proud to say that as of April 8, 2013, I am officially a licensed barber! Now, I’m not attaching “barber” to my title, because I want my skill-level to be at a certain place first, and that won’t be for a good few years! Even so, I’ll be wanting my skills to be at a different place by then!

So, will I ever be “Jan Hella The Barber?” “The Rebel Barber?” “Hella The Barber” Shit, who knows!

Big thanks to everyone who has supported this journey! Grant’s Golden Brand, Layrite, Crown Shaving Co., Frankie The Barber, Chops Barbershop, each and every barber I’ve had the pleasure to meet and cut along side with throughout school, all my readers and followers, especially the ones who came down and entrusted me with their hair and faces, and whoever else I may have forgotten!

It’s been a blast and now my journey continues in the barber shop!

Until the next time…

Happy Birthday Mini Rebel Rouser!

Happy Birthday, I love you…

Thankful.