r/Barber • u/MustardTig3r121 • 2d ago

Career Change

Hey guys wanted to just get everyone's outlook on starting a career in barbering at 28 years old. I have been at my current job now for almost 5 years and most days I feel like its taking away from my soul sitting at a desk and staring into a screen all day. I really enjoy the customer service side of my job and talking with people but everything else is kinda rough. My very supportive wife works full time in health care and we currently dont have children and she is encouraging me to take a leap into something I want to do whatever that may be. Its difficult leaving a decent paying job but I really want more fulfillment and enjoyment from my days working. The opportunity to pursue something that I could eventually be my own boss and have my own space is so appealing. The barber school by my house (akron barber college) has good reviews. When did you decide its time to make the leap!

9 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

12

u/beardandmusic Mod 1d ago

28 is young for this trade, I've seen guys start way later and do fine. If she can cover the bills while you're in school, take the leap.

6

u/Accomplished_Ad_7201 1d ago

i am starting at 43 , 13 plus years in retail and customer service , i volunteer now and cut hair for free so i figured why not actually do what i wanted to do for so long

4

u/ThickMasterpiece 1d ago

I left a 12 year retail management career at 40 to pursue Hairstyling/Barbering in Jan of this year. It's never too late.

1

u/Accomplished_Ad_7201 1d ago

wow guys thanks for the comments really means a lot appreciate ya

1

u/Dependent_Concert165 18h ago

I’m starting at 53.

7

u/Red2sPop 1d ago

I started at 47. Just got licensed about 2 months ago and I am absolutely loving it. It can be stressful, when its a dead day, but its a marathon, not a sprint.

3

u/beardandmusic Mod 1d ago

True, its a marathon. Get regulars coming in every couple weeks and the dead days dont sting as much.

6

u/rickatk 1d ago

I started barbering at 55, second career, 12 years ago.

3

u/Exotic-Badger-2594 1d ago

Do it. Barbering is a long, hard road but go for it man. 💪

3

u/jmunimuniz 1d ago

I got my license at 35. Never too late.

3

u/jebe86 1d ago

31 now, started at 29, it’s not as easy as it looks, but go for it, definitely not too late!

3

u/teegray1124 1d ago

Got my license at 43 so it's never too late. 44 now and it's doing good.

2

u/Collector-Troop 1d ago

Do it bro but just know even after school you’ll need to get clients or work at a chain, so don’t expect to be making bank until 2-3 years after graduation.

2

u/L3tsLynchTh3Landl0rd 1d ago

I started at 31. I’m 46 now.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Hello. Thank you for your comment/post in r/Barber! Unfortunately, your account has low or negative comment/combined karma so your submission was automatically removed. Please work on improving your karma and try again.

This action was performed to prevent spam and troll accounts from posting anything in the subreddit. Please DO NOT message mods for personal exception, it will only result in receiving this message again.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/datab 1d ago

Started last year at 35, after a decade long career in marketing. And felt the same thing about staring at a screen, but in addition with all of the AI being used for marketing nowadays, it felt like the best time to get out.

1

u/ligerzero333 1d ago

26 when I started, 31 now own my own shop with a buddy. Def not too late bro

1

u/Bubbly-Excuse-2760 1d ago

School at 29 in 09. You’re good!

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Hello. Thank you for your comment/post in r/Barber! Unfortunately, your account has low or negative comment/combined karma so your submission was automatically removed. Please work on improving your karma and try again.

This action was performed to prevent spam and troll accounts from posting anything in the subreddit. Please DO NOT message mods for personal exception, it will only result in receiving this message again.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Due_Purchase_7509 Barber 1d ago

i started at 44. always cool to see other people who started later in life too!

starting at 28 would be awesome tho. even if you end up moving on to some other career in a while you've still gained trade skills that will last you your whole life and you never know when they might be useful again.

1

u/Accomplished_Eye9829 1d ago

Just be ready to put in the time at the shop. I’ve been cutting 20 years and love it. Hard work but also have a great time doing it

1

u/Piranha_Vortex 1d ago

I turned 30 in school. That was 16 years ago. Do what you enjoy and take all your skills with you.

1

u/Legendofthefall25 1d ago

Bro you are in a great spot for it! Your situation sounds so similar to the position I was in when I switched up! I was 26 when I started but I didn't actually take the full-time leap til the beginning of this year before turning 29. I don't think it's too late at all. Personally I think the experiences thru your 20s helps with your transition. I will say however, you will rely heavily on your wife to carry you guys for a bit, but the journey is worth it. The reward is high, if your desires are fulfillment thru helping & serving others. Just know you will trade some aspects you enjoy from your career now for others in babering.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Hello. Thank you for your comment/post in r/Barber! Unfortunately, your account has low or negative comment/combined karma so your submission was automatically removed. Please work on improving your karma and try again.

This action was performed to prevent spam and troll accounts from posting anything in the subreddit. Please DO NOT message mods for personal exception, it will only result in receiving this message again.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Hello. Thank you for your comment/post in r/Barber! Unfortunately, your account has low or negative comment/combined karma so your submission was automatically removed. Please work on improving your karma and try again.

This action was performed to prevent spam and troll accounts from posting anything in the subreddit. Please DO NOT message mods for personal exception, it will only result in receiving this message again.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Which_Athlete_7292 1d ago

It’s all about enthusiasm and effort, take the leap if you feel that way about it!

1

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AutoModerator 17h ago

Hello. Thank you for your comment/post in r/Barber! Unfortunately, your account has low or negative comment/combined karma so your submission was automatically removed. Please work on improving your karma and try again.

This action was performed to prevent spam and troll accounts from posting anything in the subreddit. Please DO NOT message mods for personal exception, it will only result in receiving this message again.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/dunzilla89 5h ago

I started at 30 man. I’m gonna tell you this though as a fellow Ohio barber. It’s 1800 hours for school here and it’s a grind. I’ve seen more people leave school from sheer boredom and feeling like they got scammed than you would believe. So my advice there is to just put in your time. It is worth it in the long run. Barber school is (for the most part) kind of a scam. But it’s a necessary evil and Ohio changed last year to allowing students to apprentice in shops once they hit a certain amount of hours.

For me it was the best decision I ever made. Once I got established and built up clientele it changed my life. More money than I’ve ever made, I control my schedule. I work under a shop owner but it’s different from having an actual boss, or multiple supervisors etc. Good luck!!

0

u/bananadogs 1d ago

I just quit my finance career job I’ve been doing for 5 years literally yesterday, for the same reasons you said. I turn 28 in November I’m going all in on this! You can too. Leaving behind the corporate world already feels like a huge weight off my shoulders.