The Journey of Becoming a Full-Time Barber

By Jacob Shondel

Ring! Ring! Barbershop! Caleb says into the phone. With haircut going on in the background and them talking about coming to the Barbershop to get a haircut Caleb talks to a future customer.

Though becoming a barber wasn’t always the plan but that all changed when Caleb took a seat at his Uncle’s Barbershop.

“I got into being a barber because I stopped going to Akron U, I was in nursing school and we had a house that caused me to fall behind. I started slacking in school and retake some classes. This was when I kinda figured out college wasn’t for me. So, I went to my uncle he owns a barbershop. Was there getting my haircut stressing out because I know I wasn’t going back to school. I had no idea what to do.” said Caleb. This is when his uncle told him that he would fit in the barbershop world. Because Caleb can talk to anyone and loves to talk about sports.

After thinking about going to Barber school and his current situation with college Caleb thought this was going to be worth the risk taking.

“It’s not that big of a risk. I might end up loving it.” said Caleb.

To get your Barber license in Ohio you must complete 1800 hours of Barber school which takes about 10 and a half months.

“The hardest part of Barber school for myself I would say is self-discipline.” says Caleb. Since while you’re at the school you have to wait for people to come in and have it be your turn in line to perform the cut. So, paying attention to your classmates and watching YouTube videos during your down time is a must for any student.

“My head was there, but my heart was not.” said Caleb. Because during this downtime he spent most of us time just waiting and play on his phone. Then when it clicked that this was something he could be doing for the rest of life. Caleb’s whole mentality changed and he would be grabbing every possibly cut that would walk through the doors.

Throughout Barber school the plan was for Caleb to take over his Uncle’s shop once he graduated. But all of this changed one month away from graduation. With something coming up causing his Uncle to have to continue working, but with some help from his friends at the Barber school he was able to find an opening at Giovanni’s Barbershop in Cuyahoga Falls. Which is where you can find Caleb working Tuesday through Saturday.

With the clippers in full force and conversation to get to know a potential new client Caleb is making the customer as comfortable as he can. They talk about school, major and general information that Caleb will then use to expand the conversation if there is a common interest somewhere. And in the Barbershop any conversation is an open conversation as everyone is quick to jump in on the debate of who is better? Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

“When I walked out of the Barber School, I felt that I was booked up at the Barber school and I was getting the most cuts. I felt like I was the best barber. Then when I got to the to the Barbershop and got my first client I started shaking and was lost on what I was supposed to do.” says Caleb.

Even though it was a simple hair cut and one that he did many times during his schooling. The fear was there because this time the cut was for real.

“The biggest thing that was the difference between the Barbershop and the Barber School was that at the shop they’re coming for me at the school they’re coming for a cheap haircut by whoever.” says Caleb.

This journey feels like it’s been a lifetime, but it’s been just over a year old. Caleb looks forward to all the new people he will meet in his journey to becoming one of the better Barbers in the Akron area.