Durham Tech teaching the art — and business — of barbering

Durham Tech has added a new path for people who want to turn a skill with clippers into a career behind the chair. Barbershops have long been community anchors, and a shop of one’s own is among the most accessible routes to small-business ownership. 

“The barbershop is a safe space where everyone is there to get a cut to look a certain way and be seen a certain way, but while you are in that chair you can just be you,” said Emanuel Clerjuste, a student in the first class of Durham Tech’s future barbers. “I have been cutting my own hair, then was cutting for others when it hit me that I should make my barbering legit and get licensed. Durham Tech was the right fit for me and my schedule.”

The College’s new Barbering program, part of its Business and Entrepreneurship pathway, is designed to give students the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, safety practices, infection control, and disinfection procedures required for barber licensure in North Carolina. 

“We are offering Barbering because the community asked for it,” said Maria Steele, Director and Instructor in the Cosmetic Arts Programs. “It is a skill that, when honed, can lead to entrepreneurship.”

For many barbers, the goal isn’t only to work in a shop. It’s to own one, build a clientele, and run a small business that anchors a corner of the community.

“My plan is to have my dad, who’s a barber, move here from Tampa so we can open a shop together,” Clerjuste said. “A great barber can build a loyal following, and a barber who also understands scheduling, pricing, and managing a space can build something that lasts. Durham Tech’s program gives me a significant start to a real career.”

Pairing technical skills with entrepreneurial know-how, Durham Tech’s instructors give students a head start in a profession that can provide a solid income and that has longevity.

“Dean Darlene Bullock was the driving force in bringing Barbering to Durham Tech,” Steele said. “She is passionate about offering programs that help students become entrepreneurs, financially stable, and viable citizens of the community.”

Anyone who has watched a skilled barber work knows the craft looks effortless. It isn’t. Behind every clean line is training in technique, tools, and terminology, plus a serious commitment to keeping clients safe. Durham Tech students will learn in a working clinic setting, and the program is overseen to meet the standards of the North Carolina State Board of Barber Examiners.

“We have two days of theory and three in the clinic,” said Isaac Phillips, a student in the inaugural class. “With this being the first class, we are figuring some things out. My classmates are here to learn and get better. We help each other out and figure things out together. Our instructor cares about what he is teaching. He wants to make us the best.”

Phillips works at a local barbershop as a receptionist. He has been there for 10 years. Once he completes the Durham Tech program, he will do an apprenticeship at his shop and is hopeful that turns into a full-time job.

The Barbering program requires 1,528 hours and takes about four semesters to complete. Upon completion, students receive a certificate. From there, they must pass a licensure exam with the state board to become a licensed apprentice barber. As a licensed apprentice barber, they must work under a registered barber for one year before applying to become a registered barber.

Whether a student is starting a first career, changing paths, or turning a longtime talent into a living, the Barbering program offers a structured way to get there.