Inspiring Conversations with Jay Martino (JayDaBarber)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Martino (JayDaBarber).

Hi Jay, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
This is a question that I love to answer. When I was younger I hated going into a barbershop to get my haircut like most children. I cried and gave the barber a hard time every visit. During that time my mom just started cutting my hair herself so I wouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable at the barbershop. As I got older, I started going back to the barbershops with my dad and unlike most kids, I did things a little different. At this time, I started to enjoy going to the barbershop, not just for a haircut per say, but to watch the barbers cut. I studied barbers and their movements. I studied movements from how they interact with the client, how they hold and move the clippers, all the way down to the steps they took for certain hairstyles.

So once I studied them I started practicing on myself to imitate what I was seeing. My mom bought me a pair of clippers and I used to practice on my older sister’s teddy bears. Of course, she was mad at me for doing that, but she knew it was for a good cause. After a while, I upgraded to real people and started cutting the hair of myself, my dad, my family, and friends. Of course, a few of them were nervous for letting me cut their hair at the age I was but looking back on it, it helped me into becoming the barber I am today and for the ones that still come to me they appreciate the perfect and flawless services that they’re receiving now.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
God blessed me with a gift that I would never take for granted. He gave me a desire and I went after it and never stopped. One thing I will say is that elevation requires separation, I couldn’t of gotten to this point in my professional career listening to haters, doubters, and naysayers.

God blesses everyone with a gift and talent. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” Well the gift that God gave me is the ability to transform people’s appearance by cutting hair. People see that I’m a barber and they just think “oh he just cuts hair?”. Let me give you a list of all the negative things people have said towards me, about me and barbering that I took into offense:

– “This is all you do for money? Cut hair?”
– “Nobody is paying that much for a haircut”
– “People don’t have it like that for your prices”
– “Keep barbering as a hobby”
– “So after college, you plan on making barbering your end goal?”
– “You think you can pay all those bill with cutting hair?”
– “That’s a nice side hustle”
– “I think you need to get a real job”
– “All you do is cut hair, it’s not even that much work”

I can go on and on. For a while, those words ate me up because I tried to ignore and escape them but they just kept coming back. It was even more hurtful hearing it comes from certain family members, friends, and even strangers. But look at me now! My goal is to be the best at what I do when it’s all said and done. When they talk about the best to ever do it, I just want my name to be in the conversation.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What we should know: Know that I’m more than just a barber. I’m a young black educated college graduate before anything else. I’m a social media influencer, content creator, and brand ambassador.

What do you specialize in: All Style Cuts, Facial Shaves, Facials, Straight Razor, Shampoo, Hair Enhancements, Men, Women, and Children

What am I known for: I’m known for my excellent customer service (5 star rated barber on booksy.com). Precise and clean cuts. Creative content.

What sets me apart: Even though the word barber is in my name, I don’t acknowledge myself as such. I call myself a grooming specialist. I focus on giving my clients a full grooming experience that you can’t get anywhere else.

The brand I built can’t get knocked down. I built my name up to help the business grow. I made barbering cool and inspired a lot of these new up-and-coming barbers to want to join the industry. So with my brand, I’m showing you the ins and out of what it’s like to be a professional in this industry.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was real quiet and reserved. I stayed out of the way and just did what I had to do in order for me to get to the next stages of my life. I grew up in a close-knit two-parent household along with my older sister. My parents raised us upright, and now that I look back on it; I can’t complain at all. I grew up liking barbering and basketball.

Pricing:

• Adult Grooming Services- Start at $60
• Children Grooming Services- Start at $50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/jaymartino
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayydabarberr/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Jayydabarberr/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/realjaymartino/status/1527746550549688324?s=21&t=GHGSJ0um4HippXUTjyo6gA
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/Jjthabarber17
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/shop/jaymartino