Santa Monica College’s Cosmetology Department added a Certificate of Achievement and an Associate degree in Barbering in fall 2024 to its hands-on training programs leading to professional licensing.
Barbers provide services like hair cutting, hair styling, hair sculpting, facials, and shaves. “Barbering has traditionally been for men and hairstyling mainly for women,” said Samantha Manuel, department chair. “But this is changing. Many of today’s upscale barber shops invite everyone to come use their services, and more women are becoming barbers.”
To work as a barber in California requires completing a rigorous training program and passing the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology licensing exam for barbers. A salon or barbershop is not allowed to display the traditional red-and-white barber pole unless there is a licensed barber working there.
SMC’s 1,000-hour barbering program teaches the practical and technical skills students need to qualify for the exam. There is also a 200-hour ‘crossover’ barbering program for students who are completing a cosmetology program or already licensed. “There’s a trend for licensees to have both a cosmetology and barbering license,” said Samantha, “which gives them a lot more choices when looking for employment or running a barbershop or salon.”
Barbers typically work in salons, barber shops, and spas, and many go on to operate their own barbering business. Barbers also work as platform artists, educators, and colorists, and provide their services aboard cruise ships, on film and television productions, backstage at live theatrical productions, and in healthcare and assisted living facilities. With today’s new technology and equipment like cordless clippers, barbers can work pretty much anywhere, even in pop-ups at farmers markets and street fairs.
Barbering has expanded its range of personal services and is growing in popularity as a career. “Barbers are now creating more artistic styles, cuts, and shaves,” Samantha added, “allowing them to charge more for their services and making the profession more desirable and profitable.”
New Opportunities, New World
Social media is helping drive the growth in barbering. “Social media trends like before-and-after videos and barber battles featuring haircutting competitions and endorsements by brands like Andis, Wahl, Oster, and BaBylissPRO, among others, have brought attention to barbering and helped make barbering a good paying profession,” said Jacqueline Monge, SMC’s faculty lead for barbering.
In the past 10 years, “the price of a haircut has increased dramatically due to social media barbers posting their prices,” said Jacqueline. “I take pride in teaching our students advanced haircutting techniques and styles that include highlights, perms, braiding, color designs, and haircut designs.”
Barbering and cosmetology classes start with the same foundational classes on health and safety, disinfection and sanitation, chemical hair services, and hair styling services.
Asked if students are taught to use straight razors, Jacqueline replied, “Yesssss, definitely! Students start by practicing on a balloon covered with shaving foam.” They practice safety hand positions and memorize 14 different shaving strokes. Once they can shave a balloon without popping it, students advance to practice on mannequins, and then on live clients. To give advanced barbering students real-world experience working with clients, SMC offers free shaves and haircuts with lineups to the community when barbering classes are held.
Changing Lives, One Cut at a Time
Chad Skogrand, with a young child to care for, was looking for a way to make money. He had learned to cut hair while incarcerated and went looking for advice at barbershops in Venice and Santa Monica. “They were all super helpful to me and good to me, but they couldn’t hire me because I wasn’t licensed. I didn’t know where to start.” A chance conversation with a volunteer at a Salvation Army rehab facility changed everything.
The volunteer was a cosmetologist who had trained at SMC, “so I went to check things out, and enrolled in barbering. To tell you the truth, I kind of hated the program at the beginning,” Chad said, “because it was mostly the cosmetology side of things. But I realized I could learn a lot here at SMC. The teachers here really know what they’re doing.”
Chad will take the barbering licensing exam in spring 2025 and plans to work in a salon or barbershop to perfect his skills, then see what else is out there. “Barbering has been the only thing I’ve liked doing . . . it doesn’t feel like work to me, and I just want to get better and better at it.”
SMC’s barbering program came along at just the right time for Annie Cristobal. “Five years ago, I moved from the Valley to the Westside and inquired about the cosmetology program,” said Annie. The program back then required being a full-time student, which “wasn’t possible for me with two small children and no childcare. And I needed to work to pay all the expenses.” At that point, she said, “I was really asking God if this was His will for me.”
Now, Annie’s children are older, and cosmetology programs let students choose their hours and how many units to enroll in. The flexibility gave Annie the chance she needed.
“I love being at SMC because everyone here has a good heart,” she said. Her instructors “really give me confidence, and I know that when I have questions, there’s always someone to ask. I am deeply thankful for all personnel at SMC for the community and their unwavering dedication to helping students succeed.”
Annie completed the cosmetology program, is “praying to finish the esthetician program this month, and trying to finish barbering in winter,” she said. “Then I will study for the license, and when I have it, my plan is to work part time for a salon or barber shop, and slowly build my business on the side.” And with more women becoming barbers, “I think my timing is perfect.”
Before Joydaisa Mims started in the barbering program, she had focused only on hair styling. “Now I want to learn more,” she said. “At SMC, I found great instructors who are passionate about what they do: They really kickstart a beginner. I want to be prepared for what’s coming up.”
Almost finished her cosmetology training, Joydaisa is enrolled in the crossover barbering program. “I plan to work in film and TV production,” she said, “where personal grooming and styling services have important roles.”
She already has her own production company, and is working on a short for the Cosmetology Department. She is also organizing a photo shoot for images to display in the Cosmetology Salon and other areas. At this point, the doors keep opening for her.
More information about the barbering program is available at smc.edu/barbering or by calling 310-434-4292.
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SMC in Focus Volume X, Issue 6
Dream Chaser
SMC to Columbia transfer Hunter Doradea is one of just 11 students worldwide chosen to be a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar. Read Article
Fit for Hollywood
Chimechi Oparanozie. Remember that name. The erstwhile SMC multi-sport athlete is making his big play in the newly released wrestling movie, “Unstoppable.” Read Article
Hair, Hair! Barbering is Here
SMC’s Cosmetology Department now offers a degree and certificate in barbering, which prepares students for success in a rigorous, quickly changing field. Read Article
For Thaddeus, it’s Personal
Thaddeus Phillips, CalFresh project outreach manager, connects eligible SMC students with state-funded resources for groceries. He knows first-hand the difference it can make. Read Article
Bragging Rights
A counselor publishes a book to guide young adults starting their education/career. An Accounting prof. has a piece published about his journey from community college to Stanford. Read Article
Cultural Exchange
SMC student Aldo Barrera is teaching English in Spain, sharing his knowledge about the United States while learning about Spanish culture. Read Article