Author: Oozle Media

Name: Rachel Vaughn Age: 21

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of October 2018, we would like to acknowledge Rachel Vaughn.

Rachel is from Shaker Heights, Ohio. After graduating high school, she realized she didn’t want to waste time and money going to college until she knew exactly what she wanted to do and which career path would be perfect for her.

Rachel took time off after high school to work in the retail and fashion industry, one of her biggest passions. She has always been into styling her friends’ hair, helping with fashion choices, and loves helping others define their sense of style. Rachel states, “Making people feel good about themselves is something that brings a smile to my face.”

Rachel was introduced to barbering through her uncle, who has opening up his own barbershop. Before deciding to let her uncle cut all her hair prior a trip to Miami, Florida, Rachel often got her hair styled and cut by her own personal stylist. Rachel always looked up to her stylist because of the way she carried herself, handled her clients, and ran her own business.

Talking to people is one of Rachels biggest enjoyments and since she gravitates towards people so much, she thought, maybe barbering would also be a great career for her.

Rachel began looking at barber colleges around the area. She looked at Flawless Barber Academy, in Shaker Heights, and Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College in downtown Cleveland before deciding to come to LaBarberia. She loved that what LaBarberia had to offer over all those other schools. After doing a walk through, she liked the classroom style and saw herself as a student here. She thought the students were cool and found out her friend was at LaBarberia as well! When she originally applied, she was told that she had to wait 7 weeks until the following session began due to the program being full. Happily, two days before classes started, Rachel received a call telling her about an opening in the class — she’s never looked back.

Rachel currently has senior standing in the LaBarberia program and is working on the floor full-time. After she graduates from LaBarberia, she would love to find a local barbershop to work with so she can learn more from hands-on experience. She has her eye on a new shop that is being completed in the Van Aken plaza renovation named Eddy’s Barbershop. She loves the European style cuts this barbershop gives and thinks that it would be a great place to start a clientele base.

Instagram: @razedbyrachelrae

Name: Brandy Harkless Age: 28

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of September 2018, we would like to acknowledge Brandy Harkless.
Brandy is from Akron, Ohio. Before deciding to become a barber, she was a student at the University of Akron for two years. Her family influenced her to get involved in barbering.

Brandy has always been around a group of barbers. Her identical twin sister, Brittany, received her cosmetology license from Regency in Akron. Her sister has worked at several salons and inspired Brandy to try it as a possible career path. Brandy’s brother, Matthew, goes to the Akron Barber College and his wife does cosmetology as well. Barbering is in the family!

Brandy spends her weekdays driving from Akron to Mayfield Heights to pursue her passion. She chose to come to LaBarberia because she knows it’s the best barber college around. She knew she could go anywhere else, but other options would not give her the financial aid and the classroom teaching experience that LaBarberia offers.

On the weekends, she’s working, taking care of a lady who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Brandy has recently joined the Cleveland Fusion, playing on Cleveland’s women’s full-contact football team, this upcoming season. She’s excited to demonstrate her speed as the team’s wide receiver, while keeping her hands taped up, to avoid any injury to her “money-makers”.

Instagram: @bharkless

Name: Gino Blair Age: 25

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of August 2018 we would like to acknowledge Gino “The Heavyset Barber™” Blair.

Gino, from Cleveland Heights, Ohio originally got into barbering when his brother, Derrion, taught him how to cut his own and his friends’ hair. Gino’s brother was not able to acquire his license to become a barber–thus Gino saw it in himself to step up and pursue one of his passions as a full time job.

Gino’s second passion outside of barbering, playing video games. Before coming to LaBarberia, Gino worked at his dream job, GameStop. When presented with a managerial position, he made a tough but right decision to take up barbering full time and join LaBarberia as a student to follow a brighter future career as a barber.

Gino is proud to be a barber, not only for himself but for his brother as well. Gaming is still a huge part of Ginos life, but now he’s got a career that’s also his passion. He continues to be an Elite Gamer.

Instagram: @D_amato_

Name: Edwin M. Acosta Jr.              Age: 26

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of June 2018 we would like to acknowledge Edwin M. Acosta Jr.

Edwin is from Chicago Illinois, before coming to LaBarberia he was a Senior Sales Associate for Cox Communications. He has been interested in barbering since he was a child and is proud to finally be pursuing this dream.

The biggest challenge for Edwin has been being a dad and future husband for his beautiful girlfriend. He is working daily to be the make them proud. The most rewarding part of being a student at Labarberia has been the relationships he is building with the staff. Everyone is so passionate and fun and a one of a time experience.

After LaBarberia Edwin will be working with JOEY SCISSORS at Evolution Barbershop in downtown Cleveland. He has also started his own side business, Dip Your Wip, a plastic dip paint that can be removed when wanted for cars, rims, etc. Edwin also likes to research and create his own beard oils and shaving creams.

Instagram: @edwin_scissor_handz_216

Name: Shelton Williams Jr.               Age: 20

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of May 2018 we would like to acknowledge Shelton Williams Jr.

Shelton is from Cleveland Ohio and was a lifeguard for the City of Cleveland before enrolling at LaBarberia. He has always had an entrepreneur mindset and enjoys making others feel good about themselves, so he decided that becoming a barber would be perfect. The biggest challenge of barber school has been learning how to deal with different people and personalities. In this industry you are meeting new people daily and it’s important to relate to all as best as you can.

The most rewarding thing for him at LaBarberia is being able to provide good services to the public. Shelton plans to continue to educate himself after barber school, provide great services, and grow in the industry. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends!

Instagram: @TimeTooEat

Name: Ronnie Paul            Age: 32

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. For the month of April 2018 we would like to acknowledge Ronnie Paul from Chardon, OH.

Before coming to LaBarberia Ronnie had an average, run of the mill, day to day job scheduling all the outbound shipments for a local warehouse. He had been cutting hair on and off for friends for almost 10 years and had always wanted to come to barber school, but the timing was not right. He feels that everything happens for a reason and coming to LaBarberia happened at the most perfect time for him.

Ronnie’s biggest challenge thus far in barber school has been mastering facials, but with the help of his awesome teachers he is feeling more confident in them through their instructions and lots of practice. The most rewarding thing for him has been seeing people out in public while wearing something barber related, and being able to engage that person about his new career choice. A lot of these interactions have turned into new clients!

In his free time Ronnie enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, cruising around in their hot rod 1950 Pontiac, hot rod car shows, live rockabilly music, and playing in his crazy care free silly rock-n-roll coverband Miserable Idiot.

Instagram:

@TheeRealRonPaul

@MiserableIdiotBand

@CaptainClassyBeardProducts

Name: Maxwell Woods           Age: 31

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. For the month of March 2018 we would like to acknowledge Maxwell Woods.

Maxwell is from Wooster, Ohio and has lived on the westside of Cleveland for the past few years after meeting his fiancé. Before joining LaBarberia Institute of Hair, Maxwell worked as an account sales manager for Red Bull and also had a career as an electrician working for a cell tower company. He became interested in barbering when his good friend and barber Ryan “Helmsy” had been trying to get him to go to barber school for years, so he could hire him. After the stress from sales got to be too much he finally decided to apply at LaBarberia.

Maxwell had never cut hair before stepping foot in the school, so he has found everything to be a rewarding challenge. The hardest thing to master for him has been lineups. The most rewarding part of being a student at LaBarberia for Maxwell has been the experience as a whole. He says it has been very humbling and amazing, being able to learn from such talented and patient instructors.

Maxwell plans after barber school to work in Wooster at Helms old fashioned barbershop as a full time barber. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and two dogs, as well as fishing, target shooting and gun collecting, hiking and mountain biking. Maxwell loves to be outside and doing something active.

Instagram: _vikingbarber_

Name: Michael Wynn               Age: 26

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. For the month of February 2018 we would like to acknowledge Michael Wynn. Michael is from Cleveland, Ohio.

His interests in becoming a barber started when he was in 11th and 12th grade studying cosmetology. Through all of the challenges and techniques to master to become a barber Michael has found that it brings him more determination to stay focused on his goal of becoming a barber and to never give up on his dream of opening his own shop. Michael believes the bond that has been built between the students and instructors at LaBarberia is the most rewarding part of this experience. In his free time Michael likes to play and watch basketball and football.

Instagram: @ekim_w

Name: Leah Hennessy          Age: 24

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight, for their talents, ambition, and hard work. For the month of December we would like to acknowledge Leah Hennessy. Leah is from Lakewood, Ohio. She was a nursing assistant for The Cleveland Clinic before coming to LaBarberia.

Leah grew up getting her hair cut at Best Cuts and when she discovered a local barbershop she fell in love with the way they cut hair and the atmosphere. She later saw herself becoming unhappy her job at the time and did not know where she was going with her life so she decided to do something she believed she would enjoy and excel at.

Her biggest challenge as a barber student has been believing in herself and her talents like others do. Her confidence and being aware of her abilities is the hardest thing for her to master.

However, it has been overwhelmingly rewarding, challenging herself daily, meeting life long friends, and being able to give back to others.

Upon graduation at LaBarberia, Leah looks forward to working in a shop she loves, doing what she loves and that’s cutting hair.

In her free time she loves listening to music, going to shows and concerts, shopping, hanging out with my friends and family, getting tattoos, reading , and of course binge watching Netflix.

Instagram: @hennycutz