I’ve been working on embracing the imperfect. Which actually means not being so hard on myself. And a consequence has been that I’ve started getting better at creating imperfect hair. Natural. Lived-in. Not intentional looking. Being imperfect intentionally. Which has resulted in more flow and a result closer to my vision. Ironically, though, letting go has meant being more precise. Maybe not in the way that we want precision to look (again, a perfectionist’s problem), but in

It’s such a cool fact that a clay wax or clay pomade or clay whatever actually has real clay in it. Real dirt! The particles stick to hair, which in turn helps hair stick to itself. The more you put in, the more you’re able to build a shape and thickness. A little bit adds some natural texture and flow and some hold and fullness that feels natural and moves throughout the day. The clay absorbs shiny grease and sweat, helping your hair look matte, and again, natural. Often, it

If I wasn’t a barber, I’d be in something like brewing. Something that requires the senses a lot, that smells good. I love being hands-on, interacting with the physical stuff out there. If I wasn’t a barber, I’d be a bartender, sommelier, grower, perfumer, brewer … definitely something that involves my nose a lot. I hadn’t considered how much smell can be a part of the barbering trade. Before cutting hair, I’d always loved how the smell of the shop hits you when you first ope

I often walk by a medispa business listing one of the options on their sandwich board: dermaplaning. When I actually stopped to think and research what the procedure is, the benefits of the hot towel straight shave that a barber provides became obviously beneficial. To be clear, a straight razor is not a dermaplane. The information out there is adamant on that. Dermaplaning is a clinical procedure; shaving is cosmetic. We all know that the definitions of what is medical and w

The film Hamnet was a delight, including Paul Mescal’s modern mini mullet. It’s clear why Jessie Buckley’s performance as Agnes (Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife) is so recognized and awarded. The way she deals with grief, culminating in the death of her son Hamnet, is the heart of the story. I didn’t cry, but it was very immersive, tense, and beautiful. Mescal is the hook actor, playing a young Shakespeare as a rising star. He delivers strong work as Will—that’s und

When we sit down in the chair, we check-in. Whether we want to or not, regardless of being present in the moment, we mark a point in time. Things continue to grow, change, and happen. Hair grows, and grooming is due. The mirror in front of my chair is long enough to reveal everything from the knees up. It doesn't reach the floor, but it doesn’t need to. Comments, sighs, and observations are uttered to it often enough to make it a thing. Facing our own selves, for an extended