Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlton O’shea
Carlton, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey started in 2009 when I was in the military. We had to get haircuts every week, and I got tired of paying for them, so I taught myself how to cut my own hair. Pretty soon, I was cutting hair for others in the barracks. After leaving the military, I’d occasionally cut my friends’ hair too.
Fast forward to 2015, I was working for a company that sold industrial equipment, but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. I was searching for something I was passionate about. One day, I went to the barbershop for a haircut and started talking to my barber, BaeBae, about how I used to cut my own hair in the military. He encouraged me to take it seriously and go to school for it. Two days later, I came back with a brochure from Empire Beauty School, and that’s when he realized I was serious. He even talked to the shop owner, Raphael Clark, about me potentially joining the team, though there weren’t any spots at the time.
Not long after I started school, a spot opened up. BaeBae Overall, reached out to see if I was still interested, and of course, I jumped at the chance. I started working there after school, and I’ll forever be grateful that they took a chance on me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest struggles was building a solid clientele. After finishing school, the money I was getting from financial aid stopped, and I had to start paying bills, but I didn’t have a steady flow of clients yet. There were a lot of days where I didn’t cut a single head or would cut hair for free just to get people to come in. There were times when I didn’t have enough to cover my bills, but even through all of that, God always provided.
COVID was another big challenge. We had to close the shop twice during the pandemic, and I ended up turning my living room into a makeshift barbershop. Having people in and out of my home was a huge adjustment, especially with all the extra cleaning and precautions to keep everything safe. COVID really taught us just how sanitary we should’ve been all along.
Another ongoing challenge has been social media. I’m not naturally the type to post regularly, and that impacts how much content I put out. It’s definitely something I know I could get better at.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d describe myself as an all-around barber. I don’t specialize in just one area, but I excel at many different styles. I’m particularly known for my fades. Fading came naturally to me since, in the military, it was pretty much the only haircut we could have, so I got really good at it even before mastering the technical skills.
What I’m most proud of is the strong, long-lasting relationships I’ve built with my clients over the years. Some of them have been with me since 2015 when I first started, and that loyalty means a lot to me.
I think what really sets me apart is my consistency and my commitment to keeping a tight schedule. I know scheduling can get tricky since you can’t always control when people show up, but my clients appreciate my standards and how I run my business. Being punctual and reliable is a big part of that, and it helps foster trust and respect with everyone who sits in my chair.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about our city is the vast array of cultures and the incredible diversity. It’s amazing to experience different traditions, foods, and events all in one place.
On the flip side, what I like least is the traffic. It can be pretty frustrating at times, especially during peak hours.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blessed-up-barbershop-106349.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belairdabarber
Image Credits
@creativeryan
