The Cutting Edge Barber Mentorship Program in Renton Shapes Local Talent

Inside the walls of Personal Touch Barbershop in Renton, Washington, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of talcum powder, the rhythmic buzz of clippers, and a clear sense of purpose. As the inaugural six-week Cutting Edge Barber Mentorship Program recently reached its final week, what began as a community-voted proposal has blossomed into a pipeline for local youth to reclaim economic self-reliance.

Funded through the King County Participatory Budgeting program, this initiative represented a unique collaboration between Eddie Edwards, owner of Personal Touch, and Lamont Styles of Life’s Styles Barber Academy. Together, they taught a cohort of nineteen dedicated students that barbering is a gateway to entrepreneurship, mental health advocacy, and community wealth.

The Blueprint For Success

The program required students to commit to six hours a day, four days a week, balancing hands-on technical training with intensive book work covering sanitation theory and business principles.

"We can teach how to cut hair. We can teach the business of cutting hair," Styles said. For Styles, the barbershop is the "cornerstone" of the neighborhood, second only to the church. "If we can unite the barbershop in the Black community, we could really push a lot of different programs and resources through that," he said.

Voices from the Chair

For the students, the impact of the program extended beyond professional skills to personal growth. Makalya Woods, an established local hairstylist, joined the program to expand her craft into a "one-stop shop" service.

"It’s really been good. It's been giving me something to do during my days when I'm not working, being able to come here and better my talents," Woods said. Beyond the technical skills, she noted that the program has taught her to "listen twice as much as I talk" and has given her a new perspective on community service. 

Francisco Loveheart, a second-generation barber following in the footsteps of his father, discovered that the technical side of the barbershop is only one piece of the puzzle.

"Communication is key," Loveheart said. "A lot of times they’re not coming to you for your skill in cutting hair. They’re coming to you for your skill in communication... because a lot of times they just like the customer service aspect of it.”

Investing In The Future

The program’s success represents the power of grassroots democracy. Edwards noted that the King County funding was "right on time," arriving during a traditionally slow season for local stylists. The grant covered professional tools, student stipends, and instructor compensation.

"We wouldn't have been able to do it at all without the funding, not on the scale that we did it at least," Edwards said. As the cohort wrapped up, five exceptional students will receive full scholarships to attend professional barber school and earn their state licenses.

While the end of the first cycle is bittersweet, the vision for Cutting Edge is only expanding. Edwards and Styles are already looking toward the horizon, hoping to scale the model to reach even more youth. As Styles put it, "Their success is our success.”

Personal Touch Barbershop is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 355 Rainier Ave N, Renton, WA. 

Learn more about the barbershop and the Cutting Edge Barber Mentorship Program at personaltouchbarbershop.com

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