Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Bryant.
Rhonda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been a barber for over 25 years, for the last 17 years, I’ve owned and worked in my own salon 50 miles south of Dallas, in Corsicana. In 2016, I decided to attend Blade Craft Barber Academy as a student to become a Master Barber Instructor. It wasn’t an easy decision. I’m almost 50 years old and the thought of becoming a student again terrified me. To make that happen, I would need to drive 100 miles round trip, three times a week. while continuing to run the salon and work. With the encouragement of my husband of 30 years and our three grown children, I enrolled. I actually visited the school on three different occasions and even paid the fees to start then chickened out!! Blade Craft is located in Deep Elum, which is a super cool, artsy kind of place, but I felt old and out of touch with the culture. How could I ever fit in and relate to students so much younger than myself? What did I have to offer them?
Self-doubt and insecurities almost overwhelmed me but finally, I had my first day of school. I’d like to tell you that it was sunshine and roses after that but that would be a lie. The challenges were real!! I had to relearn so much and then teach it to others. For the first month, I cried all the way home and told myself “just quit, you don’t have to do this!” But I continued.
I tend to be a little stubborn and on one particular occasion I was given a particularly difficult task and I was supposed to accomplish on my own. I struggled at that moment to not just walk away. I had one of those moments when you talk to yourself and here’s what myself said…” This will not Master you!! You will Master this!!!” It was a turning point for me. To silence the voices in my head that kept telling me that I was inadequate, too old, or to give up. Making that internal decision to commit myself to success completely changed my attitude and I no longer thought “I can’t “ but I began to think “I will!!’”
With the help and patience of my educator Nicole McCarter and the amazing students at Blade Craft in August 2017, I became a Barber Educator.
And the story doesn’t end there!! Lilly Benitez, the owner, and founder of Blade Craft Barber Academy then hired me as an educator at the school. There are still challenging days, helping students further their education is a big responsibility. I have the deepest desire to do my best for them and for the amazing people at Blade Craft.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Advice… as a woman in a male-dominated profession, I know from experience that there are struggles for us. If I were to give advice to young women, it would be: don’t be intimidated by challenges use them to grow and be better at what you do. And tell yourself, “quitting isn’t an option!!”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Blade Craft Barber Academy – what should we know?
I mainly teach students desiring to become barbers the business of Barbering. Safety, sanitation, haircutting, coloring, styling, and other chemical services. As an educator at Blade Craft, I have an opportunity to work one on one with students as they learn.
I truly love to make learning fun. And we encourage creativity. It’s amazing to watch as students grow from just doing haircuts to customizing and creating a tailored look for our clients. I guess you could say that I specialize in student relations. I help students to find answers to their questions and provide encouragement when they struggle.
Blade Craft Barber Academy is a place where we value our students and our clients. Providing each of them with the best we have to offer. We don’t teach students to create a clientele, we teach them to create relationships. We try hard to provide premium services for our clients. All of our services come with a complimentary facial and the clients thoroughly enjoy it.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Show up!! Unfortunately, over the years, I’ve watched incredibly talented stylist, barbers, and gifted students drop out of the business or go into other careers that they enjoy less because they lack the self-discipline to be at work or at school. You’ll never succeed if you don’t show up!
Contact Info:
- Address: Blade Craft
Barber Academy 2719 Main St - Website: Info@bladecraftbarber.com
Image Credit:
Blade Craft Barber Academy
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