Meet Richard Houston of Kleen Kut Barber & Beauty Salon in Morrow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Houston.

Richard, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, first thing first I’ve always had a passion to become a barber since the age of 12 years old…I remember growing up every time my sister would drop me off to the shop I would watch my barber and other barbers cut their client’s hair I fell in love with the art of haircutting it was never about the money it was the fact that a simple haircut can make somebody feel good about themselves! I remember doing a project in high school and it was about what do you want to be after you finish high school and I said a barber lol!! I recorded my barber cutting hair and asked him what it takes to become a barber!! I must say from experience it takes a lot of hard work, sacrifices, and dedication!

In 2017 I finally stepped out on faith and decided to turn my passion into reality after procrastinating for so many years my barber encouraged me to go to ProWay Hair School to start barbering school that’s the school he actually went too and graduated from! In April 2019, I graduated from Proway Hair School to receive my diploma in Barbering!! I owe that achievement to my parents!! My mom which passed away in 2009 and my pops which passed away in 2011 I owe them this reward! My mom actually bought me my first pair of clippers when I was 12 years old after I told her I wanted to become a barber. Right now I cut at Kleen Kut Barber & Beauty Salon and I cut in the same shop with my actual barber Qua! It’s crazy how I met him as a walk-in and telling him I want to be a barber and he encouraged me to go to school for it! Being a barber is not easy at times especially if you never picked up a pair of clippers before lol but you have to have passion!

At first a lot of people didn’t believe in me when I said I wanted to be a barber a lot of people doubted me! I was going to make it my business to finished school and I was working a full-time job and going to night school but I made it!!! I tell people all the time don’t chase the money but chase the dream! The money is going to come! So many people are so money-driven but not passion-driven!!! They want the nice things that come with being a barber but they don’t want to put the hard work in and that’s what separates the men from the boys or women from the girls because it’s actually female barbers in the industry as well! Now I enjoy being apart a crew I can learn from and become better and better everyday!!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Man it was tough at first success never comes easy at all! I was a truck driver and still is but I remember having to be at work at 2am and leaving school at 10pm and only getting a few hours of sleep some nights! It was definitely a struggle but I knew that being a barber and finishing barbering school was a must!! There were times when my personal vehicle went out on me but I made it my business to finish school no matter what so I had to catch Uber to school or get a ride from classmates lol but it was definitely tough at times I was so determined to finished because I wanted to make my parents proud which passed away years ago!

Please tell us about Kleen Kut Barber & Beauty Salon.
Well, I cut hair at Kleen Kut Barber & Beauty Salon in Morrow, GA. I’ve been apart of this team for a year now which is owned by EJ and Qua who are really great barbers and good at what they do! I’m really surrounded by great talent and around people who don’t mind sharing good tips, techniques and etc….being a young barber you go through growing pains so it’s important that you surround yourself around ppl that don’t mind giving you game! What set me apart from others is that I’m very humbled I don’t let compliments get to my head at all because I’m still a young barber in this industry and I’m always willing to get better at my craft! I take pride at what I do and I wanna become the best barber that I can be! When you come to me you gonna get great customer service I want my clients to feel good when they sit in my chair and even better when they leave!

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Let’s see I would’ve definitely started at 18 because I’m 32 years old lol, so to all my upcoming barbers don’t wait till you 30 like I did but start as soon as you done with high school if barbering is something you want to do!

Pricing:

• Men Haircuts $20 with beard $25
• Kids $12-$15
• Shampoo Service $5
• Color Enhancement $5

Contact Info:

• Address: 1510 Southlake Parkway Suite 1G Morrow, GA 30260
• Phone: 4045736655
• Instagram: @bigrichdabarber

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