Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelan Johnson.
Kelan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a 20 year old barber from Salem Ohio and I moved to the Columbus area about a year ago. My barber journey started when I met my barber and mentor. I always went to great clips my whole life so when I went to a real barber shop I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere. My mom is an art teacher so I’ve always been a creative person since I grew up around that and I think barbering is a form of art. After I had been going to luis (my barber from my hometown in northeast Ohio) and telling him I wanted to be a barber and go to barber school he gave me an old set of his starter clippers and I just started cutting my buddies hair. There’s was only like three people who trusted me to let me cut there hair and I don’t blame them it was pretty rough at the start just like everyone else when they start doing something new. I started at Akron barber college September 17, 2024 soon after starting to date my now fiancé. It got pretty hard to balance school, prioritizing fitness and balancing a semi long distance relationship. I was not thrilled with Akron barber college at all and don’t really have anything good to say abt it so in febuary of 2025 I moved down to canal Winchester with my fiancée and started at a different barber school in Whitehall. School was not great and I did not fit in in the inner city crowd well at all. I was not there to make friends or entertain anyone’s BS I was there to become a barber and pass my test so I was very focused which came off as I was mean. Before graduating from barber school I went to shadow a barber at salon lofts in the short north and I really liked the setup. I never really wanted to be in a traditional barbershop bc if I am in a suite by myself I have total control of the atmosphere and feel and the hours and prices obviously. Once I made the decision to get the suite secured I moved everything in on labor day 2025 but it wasn’t til I passed my test on October 21 that I could start cutting in there. I was really nervous for my test since it would mean more months of making no money if I didn’t pass but I passed well above the needed 75%. Once I moved in and started business I expected it to by slow at first but the instagram ads I was using worked really well. I’m about three months into business right now and it’s going great, most of my people coming from those ads referrals or TikTok. I’m super relieved it’s working out better then I could have hoped and I’m very grateful for all my clients who continue to support me every week.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think a lot of people know this but you do not making any money basically in barber school o ly tips which is nothing most of the time bc the clientele getting 9 dollar barber school haircuts can’t afford to tip most of the time which is fine but it is definitely a con of barber school.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Professional LISCENSED barber in short north Columbus located in salon lofts offering tailored haircuts in a private atmosphere with validated parking just behind in Hubbard parking garage.
I highlighted LICENSED because there are soooo many unlicensed barbers in Columbus rn it’s actually crazy
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m only 20. Most of the time people think I’m 22-24 but I just turned 20 in december
Contact Info:
- Website: https://getsqr.co/kelan-johnson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelanskutz?igsh=MTRhbDZqZndkOXp4dg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
