Today we’d like to introduce you to Diwan Majors.
Hi Diwan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Diwan Majors aka “Major Kutz”. I am a proud father of two wonderful kids Aniyha and Jacoby Majors; a small business owner and I am devoted to the service of my higher power. I have been a barber in the Decatur area for the last 13 years. This is where I birthed my brand Major Kutz. I am licensed as a Master Barber, a Master Cosmetologist and a Master Educator for Barbering and I will soon have a Master Educators license for Cosmetology as well. I’ve gained a lot of success in the hair industry from winning hair shows to teaching future beauty industry professionals. It is truly a blessing to be in the position that I’m in, considering where and how my life began.
I was born in Madisonville, KY but I was raised in a small town south of Madisonville called Guthrie, KY. This is a very close-knit community of loving family and friends. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for young men such as me to be successful in life outside of factory work. So, like most young men my age, I chose to sell drugs and live a life of crime to make a living. By the age of 17, I had dropped out of school, at 18 I got my GED and had been shot and by the age of 19, my daughter Aniyha was born. After being shot and having a newborn, I decided to try that factory job lifestyle out. Because I was selfish and valued quick money, I returned to selling drugs. The next five years were full of bad decisions and severe consequences in which I made my life harder by racking up two felony charges and a host of misdemeanors. I ended up serving jail time for the crimes I committed which took me away from my daughter. When I was released, I made a promise to myself that I was never going back to jail and that I would find a way to live a legit lifestyle so that I could be there for my daughter.
My mother suggested that I become a barber since I had been cutting hair while I was incarcerated. She made the same suggestion when I was 18 but I wasn’t trying to hear it then. She had a friend that had a Barber Shop and he let me cut without a license contingent on me enrolling in barber school. This was the best decision I could’ve made, cutting hair was the first thing in my life I was naturally good at. It quickly became my passion from mastering the techniques of fading to the artistry of design and the love I had for my clients was the icing on the cake. After my son was born in 2020, I went on to create my Major Kutz brand which gave me an identity in the hair industry. It also showed people I was serious about my craft. Becoming an instructor was next on the list, so I acquired that license and a few years after that I was teaching future barbers how to become successful in the hair industry. Being a barber educator has given me the opportunity to share my passion with those who seek to master this craft. As my interest in the hair industry grew while teaching barbers, I set time aside to obtain my cosmetology license and here recently finished classes for my Cosmetology Master’s Educators license as well, I will be passing the exam for later this year.
As you can see, life went from humble beginnings to a near catastrophe, then from a shimmer of light to bright and sunny days. I’ve learned a lot on my journey through life so far. My goal now is to grow and pass along the knowledge and wisdom I have acquired along the way. My plan is to create a school for men that not only teaches them a trade but also teaches them how to be better men. Our programs will also serve the youth of the community by teaching them the skills they need to become well-respected men in their community. I have come a long way to get to where I am, and I still have a way to go to fulfill my purpose in life. I know that if I continue to grow and make a difference in the lives of others, every goal I set for myself will be accomplished.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There’s been a lot of twists and turns, ups and downs all topped with depression and self-doubt. But, with a strong belief in my higher power, a lot of self-work and accountability not to mention the encouragement of friends and family, I made it out of my darkness. So, whoever is reading this knows there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it requires you to mentally crawl back through the darkness to get the light you left at the entrance of that tunnel you decided to crawl through. Once you get the light, you will still have to go back through the same tunnel, but the light will help you see trouble before it comes your way, and you’ll have a better understanding of how to deal with it when it tries to harm you. Below is a timeline of how bumpy my road was before it became “smooth.”
2008 – At 23, I was released from jail with two felonies and had a host of misdemeanors on my record. Single parent with no job and staying with my mom.
2009 – Started cutting hair and I enrolled in Profile Barber Styling Institute.
2010 – My son was born, and I completed Barber School. Created Major Kutz.
2011-2016 – I had another run at those bad decisions and severe consequences. During these years, I did a lot of drinking, hanging out and mismanaging my money. Which resulted in multiple evictions, distrust, and heartbreak from my son’s mother. Disappointing myself, my kids, and my family.
2016 – Enrolled in the Instructor program at 71 barbers Institute with the intention to get a job with some stability to adequately take care of my family. I was still dealing with the multitude of issues I created in the years previous.
2017 – I got my Master Educators License for barbering and then enrolled in the Cosmetology program at CEI HAIR SCHOOL. I was trying to keep myself busy so that I would have time to get in any trouble. I also made the decision to stop drinking and smoking as I had discovered that they were at the root of all the issues I had created for myself.
2018 – Upon the completion of the Cosmetology Program at CEI the owner Ms, Deedria Chauntee who has since become a good friend of mine offered me a position as an educator in the barber department which I gladly accepted.
2019 – I began to focus more on walking back through the entrance of the tunnel I spoke of earlier in search of the light I left behind. I knew that if I didn’t do the internal work to discover what caused me to make all the mistakes I’d made thus far, I was bound to repeat them.
2020 – Was a year of growth for me. Although the pandemic put me in the same position as the rest of the world because I had my “light” I was able to see problems as opportunities. I put my head down and doubled down on my self-work and took steps towards correcting the wrongs of my past.
2021 – The hard work I put in changing my life over the years had finally paid off. December 21st at 9:36am, I received a call that would change my life forever. The Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear called me personally and told me that he was granting me a full pardon and restoring all my rights as a citizen. This means that the two felonies and a host of misdemeanors were cleared from my record.
2022 – So far, I’ve finished my Master Educator of Cosmetology program and I am currently developing a barber program for The King Maker Academy (the school I said I wanted to create). I’m also in the beginning stages of my non-profit The KMA Foundation both are set to serve the young boys and men of the community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Major Kutz LLC on the surface is a barbershop, but I as the owner offer so much more. I pride myself on giving my clients the highest quality services possible. I am located at 2370 Candler Rd. Decatur GA. My services range from the basic even all over to razor shaves, designs, hair coloring, and many more depending on what it is you’re looking for. I’m most widely known for my design and razor-sharp line ups.
What sets me apart from others in the industry is my customer service. My clients on most occasions become my friends because I believe in old school barbering. That means talking and interacting with my clients and getting to know them on a more personal level. Mixing that with a detailed and precise haircut is enough to make a client return, leave a tip and refer a friend.
The meaning of Major Kutz is what I’m proud of. I spoke earlier about my brand giving me an identity in the industry, well it also gave me and those who doubted me a reason to take my career as a barber seriously. I created an acronym for Majors which is my last name and took the “s” off.
M – Meritorious – deserving praise
A – Aplomb – calm and self-confident
J – Jubilant – happy and triumphant
O – Omnipotent – having unlimited and very great power
R – Revere- to hold in high regard
These are the words that describe what a client feels after receiving a service from Major Kutz. I chose to use words for the meaning of Major Kutz because they represent what barbering has given to me and I want to give my clients what the industry has given me.
Major Kutz takes a personal approach to each client/student. Each service is performed with care as well as every class I teach. I look forward to seeing you in my chair or one of my classes very soon.
Visit www.majorkutz.com to book a service or one of my classes.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Take the time to focus on you. Our goals can only be reached when we have a true understanding of who we are and why we feel the way we feel. Self-work is very hard because it forces us to look at the parts of ourselves that we hide from the world due shame, embarrassment, or any number of reasons. But it is those hidden parts of you that you will find the strength and courage to push forward towards your goals when the world tells you you’re not good enough and you should quit. Everyone has a gift attached to their purpose in life, don’t leave this earth without sharing yours with the world!
Contact Info:
- Email: Majorkutz@gmail.com
- Website: www.majorkutz.com
- Instagram: MajorKutz
- Facebook: MajorKutz
- Youtube: MajorKutz
Image Credits
Azu Studios/ JC Penny
