Meet Q The Barber | – Voted Barber of the Year 2022

We had the good fortune of connecting with Q The Barber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Q The Barber, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process that I had behind starting my business was “Just do it! It’s time.” Being in the hair industry has always been a passion, but I never thought of it as a career. I loved it, but it was something that I just enjoyed, and I was good at it. I explored everything else outside of the hair industry. I started a nonprofit, I wrote several books, I worked in corporate America, but I never explored what I was passionate about, as a career. Then my passion collided with my career goals. I finally sat back and asked myself, “Why aren’t you working in the field that you absolutely love?” The rest is history. I got my credentials, required licenses, necessary outside training, and bam!, here I am.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Barbering is a true art form. What sets me apart from others is that I feel like I was born for this. Truly born for this. I have always been enamored with hair. From my dolls, to my friends and family, to myself, I have always loved hair and the exploration of all the things you can do to it. I am so proud that I get to do something that I love. I wouldn’t say that it was easy but I wouldn’t say that it was hard either. I remember when I finally decided to leap into the pool of barbering. I found a master barber and asked him if I could just come to the shop and watch. I remember going there for several hours a day, 2-3 times a week. I would ask any and all questions that would come to my mind. I wanted to know why he used one tool over another tool and why he combed the hair a certain way. I wanted to know the effects of using each different trimmer. And how was one person’s hair different from another’s. The questions never stopped. Learning the art of barbering was fun, but going back to practice it on whoever would let me cut their hair was the exciting part. Do what you love and love what you do. That the key to success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to a little restaurant in the Sports Arena area called Georgia’s Greek Cafe. It is a delicious mom/pop restaurant. It’s a hidden jewel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person that I would dedicate my shoutout to would be Godfrey Quiachon III of YerfDog Tattoo Studio. He supports me even when my idea might sound a little crazy. He is always there cheering me on, telling me that I can do it. Not only does he cheer me on, but he brainstorms with me. He listens to me. He shares the pros and the cons from another perspective than my own. He is the true definition of encouragement.

Website: www.cutzbyq.com

Instagram: @itsqthebarber

Image Credits
Some images are self taken but images from phot shoot were taken by IG: @locs_and_keyz