Are people surprised to see someone who isn’t Black skilled at cutting African Americans’ hair?
I don’t really think about it that way. I grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and all my friends were Black. It’s just [who] I’ve always been around. I remember my very first edge-up. A lady used to cut my hair with scissors, and I got clowned for not having an edge-up. One of my friends told me he was gonna help me out, so he took me to the barbershop, and I got my first edge-up. It was a big difference. After that, I loved going to the barbershop because of the energy and the guys [who] were there. They spent a lot of time passing down knowledge and game.
You’ve accomplished a great deal at 21. What goals have you set beyond the chair?
I have a product now and also an online academy. My goal is to create a line of products because I won’t be able to pass my skills down to my children. I also can only cut so many heads. I can’t touch everyone everywhere, but a line of products enables me to touch more people. The product line and academy will allow me to leave a legacy.
