Inspiring Conversations with Charles Barnes of Just Blades

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Barnes.  

Hi Charles, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Where do I start?!? Lol. I started cutting hair at the ripe young age of 16. Growing up my dad was my barber and as I grew up my brother and his best friend, who I call my brother as well, became my barber. Once my brothers started cutting my hair my dad was so relieved lol. It was one less thing for him to do in the evening once he was home from work. Yet as time goes on, we all age, and with older age comes new, I don’t want to say challenges, but new avenues and adventures that life can throw your way. By saying that, I mean this, my brothers are five years older than I and at the time I believe I’m about 11 or 12 years old, so that makes them 16 or 17. I would ask them to cut my hair and they would always say tomorrow lol. Then tomorrow would turn into a week then a week into a month and now I have a full-blown afro. Luckily for me during that era, the afro had made a huge comeback and a lot of people my age were beginning to get braids as well. So, years passed and I have hair down to my shoulders and then at the end of junior year of high school, I had my oldest brother (Damon), cut my hair because now waves are the big trend again. Now I have a fresh fade again but I’m still waiting for them to keep my hair cut. So once again I’m getting pushed off to next week and that story plays repeatedly. So finally, I made a deal with them, I asked them to show me what needs to be done and I’ll take it from there and also that whatever mistakes I made in the beginning they would have to fix, they agreed and from there I started cutting my own hair and not asking for help anymore and I started cutting my cousin and some of the guys in the neighborhood and I was (for lack of a better term) addicted. My initial plan was to graduate and go to barber school but life had its own set of plans. I graduated, got married, and moved to Nevada!!! Fast forward several years to now I’m thirty-three years old. I have a new wife, and several more children and I’m tired of working jobs that determine my level of success. Before I enrolled in school I was working at a company for just over a year and I had already reached my peak as far as earning potential and room for advancement. I searched and searched for schools and there weren’t any to accommodate the hours that I needed because the plan was for me to work during the day and go to school in the evening. The school that was offering those classes had closed and now it felt as if I was in a pit of despair. 

I stumbled across this school named Labarberia Institute of Hair. They offered a later schedule for class but it wasn’t technically night classes. I filled out the paperwork and my goofy self made a mistake on my financial aid paperwork. So now I’m put on hold for another torturing six months. yet within those months, I was able to save up some income to support my family if and when the school called. One day as I was leaving work the school called and said that a position had opened up and if I wanted to fill the seat it was mine!!! I was at the school the next morning to take care of all the paperwork and the following Tuesday morning I was enrolled in barber college!!!! I thank my wife every day because she really supported me through everything. And I absolutely mean everything. Now while in school things are going great, I’m learning and passing every test, and my income is running out. So, I had to go back to work. I tell people this part the most because if a person really wants to do something in life, they have to be willing to make some sacrifices. Ok now I’m working the third shift seven days a week from nine in the evening until five in the morning and attending school from 11;00 to 8:30 pm. The struggle was insane, I literally missed my wife and children well honestly my entire family for about eight months. Yet graduation day came and I cried tears of joy. 

so fast forward to now, I started in the first shop right out of school, stayed there for about a year and I learned a lot. I learned how to be a hair cutter but I still wasn’t a barber. I view a barber as someone who has all the qualities of elite customer service, excellent professionalism, always on time, and is willing to perform multiple services instead of just standing behind the chair and basically cutting all day. I moved to the shop where I’m currently residing. Kingdom Kutz in Maple Heights, OH. where our motto is “Come Experience the Difference”. Now I feel like a barber with great support. I’m also a licensed instructor and currently working on expanding my brand “Just Blades” into a shop or loft of my own with my beard product line “Royal Mint Bliss’ 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road has not been smooth at all. I was told that bzarberbschool would be a rough year and trust me it was. I was also told about the glitz and glamour of the industry, that you’ll make tons of money and your books will always be full. There have been days where I’ve sat in the shop from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening and only cut one head. There have been weeks when I only made enough to pay booth rent. But now things are looking a lot brighter 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Just Blades started as my barber’s name while in school. It was incorporated in April of 2019. My vision is that every obstacle in life can be overcome if it’s cut down small enough for you to handle it. I truly specialize in male grooming. We’re truly in a renaissance in the barber industry. Barbers are raising prices to accommodate for inflation yet clients aren’t willing to pay those prices for just a haircut. I believe in offering a substantial service with excellent customer service without extra loud inappropriate music. I like to offer an atmosphere that’s pleasing to the client so just in case it has his daughter with him she wouldn’t be offended by the conversation that’s taking place or the music that’s being played. That’s what improved of and what truly sets me apart from others. I would the reader to know that most men don’t truly know how to properly groom themselves. Every service I have comes with a shampoo for starters, then the haircut, and then follows with beard treatment from the product line “Royal Mint Bliss” which is organically made in the privacy of my home. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One thing I like the most about Cleveland is the potential to grow and meet exciting individuals daily. The thing I dislike the most sometimes is the lack of support from fellow Clevelanders. 

Contact Info:

• Website: book.thecut.co/justblades
• Instagram: @just_blades_82_
• Facebook: Just Blades