We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr Chiquita Oden. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Chiquita, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the most misunderstood things about the barber industry is that people only see the hair cutting an money making aspect. Barbers today focus on craftsmanship, community service, and mental health work. We now put more emphasis on the profession as barbering is more than the hobby it initiated as for many of us, as well as a cultural cornerstone. Barbering isn’t just a job, it definitely isn’t a hustle, it’s for the truly dedicated and a calling that shapes identity, builds community, and in the right hands, can even change lives.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Chiquita Oden, a Licensed Barber Stylist, United States Navy Veteran, and Psychologist. I am the owner and operator of The Mane Attractions Grooming Lounge with an expertise in mental health awareness. I am currently building a brand, Sharp Minds & Sharper Lines, while transforming the barbershop experience into a space for both style and self-care where a fresh cut meets fresh perspective.
What makes this brand unique is the fusion of precision barbering with the incorporation of holistic well-being while creating conversations that uplift, inspire, and empower. I am currently building workshops, offering certifications, and creating a podcast that connects the craft of barbering with the science of psychology and ultimately redefining what it means to sit in the barber chair.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I think my Grammie was the first person to see me before I saw myself. She was able to see my strength, courage, and wisdom long before I could fully recognize these qualities in myself. My Grammie didn’t just see my potential; she nurtured it, she was able to remind me when I forgot, and she held space for me during some of my most vulnerable moments. Even when I couldn’t see past the pain or uncertainty, my Grammie could see the leader, the healer, and the fighter in me.
In many ways, I believe she was the mirror that reflected my true self; clear, steady, and unshaken until I was ready to believe it.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
From childhood through adulthood, there have been moments. Both in family, relationships, and even in the court system, where I wasn’t chosen or prioritized in the way that I felt I deserved. I have been wounded by a custody battle, where love and commitment weren’t enough to overcome a system’s bias.
I have healed by turning this particular ache into advocacy. As I prepare my dissertation, continue to build my brand, and focus on mental health work, everything is aligning to give a voice to those whose worth has been either questioned or overlooked. I have now become the person who sees others clearly as I understand the cost of invisibility.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The belief I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is building a bridge between barbering and mental health. I want to create a movement that redefines what it means to sit in a barber’s chair.
It’s not just about hair and looking good. It’s about creating a space where conversations save lives, where the craft of grooming is elevated into a form of healing, and where barbers are trained, earn certifications, and get recognized as community mental health advocates.
Mental health is real, and there are currently more people with bookings with their haircare professionals than mental health professionals, and that gap needs a bridge.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
“Chiquita was more than a barber, more than a psychologist, more than a veteran; she was a bridge. Chiquita had a way of making you feel seen, valued, and whole, whether you were in her chair for a haircut or in her presence for a conversation. She turned her wounds into wisdom, and she used that wisdom to lift others higher. She believed in people before they believed in themselves. Her work didn’t just change styles, it changed lives. She left a legacy of courage, community, and care that will continue shaping the world.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Pltnmbarber22
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiquita-oden-98a41533/
Image Credits
Photo Credits Chauntae Marable
