First Job out of Beauty School: From Barber School to Business Owner

Ryan didn't want to spend four years in conventional college--he was ready to get his life started earlier than that. He enrolled in barber school in 2003 and graduated a year later. He and his mother now own The Good Life Barber Shop in Austin, Texas. Ryan offers the following advice to future beauty school graduates.

Did your barber college offer any job placement services?

I attended Albuquerque Barber College, which is the only barber college in New Mexico, so pretty much all of the new barbers came from that one college. The school did offer job placement services, but you really don't need it. Because of high turnover, if you have a barber license you can into walk to five barber shops and have three job offers by the end of the day.

How long after barber college did you get your first job?

After graduating, you still have to pass the state board exam before you get your barber license, so it was probably one or two months before I was working in a barber shop.

What advice would you give to someone interested in enrolling in barber college?

Go to an accredited school where you can get student loans to help you pay the tuition. Also, do your research. There is a huge difference in the quality of barber training out there.

What was the most important thing you learned about the business side of barbering?

You can't miss a day. Success is about consistency--both in your technique and in just showing up. That's the way you build clientele.

The Importance of Self-branding

Ryan says that the best piece of advice he learned in barber school that helped him transition into working as a barber was branding. "You are your own business," he says. "Every haircut has your signature on it, so make sure it's good, and you'll be fine in the industry." Ryan also has branded himself by creating a barber shop that invites clients to hang out and network, reviving the gentleman's parlor feel of the old barber shops. The waiting room at The Good Life Barber Shop has a pool table, dart board, big screen TV, and a coffee bar. "[Barber school taught me that] you have to brand yourself because you are an independent contractor." Ryan says.