What I Learned in Barber School

When Don got out of the military, he went back to doing what knew--home improvement and construction. But the industry was suffering, so Don began delivering pizzas to make ends meet. The construction industry was showing no signs of improvement, though, and Don had to find a new career. "I took a career assessment test," he says, "and according to the results, a barber career was one of the jobs that suited me." Don liked the idea of doing something artistic and working with people, so he enrolled in barber college at Roffler School of Hair Design.

What was the most useful thing you learned in barber school?

Learning how to handle customers was helpful. In barber training I learned how to handle different situations and different types of personalities and how to make clients feel at ease.

How would you describe your barber school experience?

I enjoyed my time in barber school. I started cutting hair on my third day of training, and I liked that we were cutting hair on real people and could wear regular clothes to class, not uniforms. It was everything I expected from barber college.

What was a challenging lesson that took you more than one try to get?

Working with chemicals was difficult, especially at the time I was in school. Learning the chemistry and how to mix the products and bleach to lighten hair was a challenge.

How are you at performing that service now?

The products have improved since I was in school, so it's a lot easier to mix chemicals now. But really, I just cut hair these days. (Coursework in barber school typically includes haircutting for men and women, shaving, shampooing, and chemical services.)

Don also landed his first job while he was still a student at Roffler. "I had a client at the school, and when I was cutting his hair one day he asked if I had a job," says Don. "I told him I didn't think I could look for a job before graduating." It turned out that the client was a founding member of the state board of barber examiners, and he offered Don a job in a Roffler barber shop.

Today Don works at Wooten Barber Shop. He advises anyone interested in barber school to give it your all. "You get out what you put into it," says Don. "If it's a career that will make you happy, put as much into it as you can."