HE BARBER
t NORTH AMERICA
TITLE TOWN BARBERSHOP
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 // I S S U E # N I N E
TRADE. CULTURE. EDUCATION.
CORINA REYES
$10
JOHN CARMONA
Barber
ANYBODY THAT CLAIMS TO BE ‘JUST’ SOMETHING IS UNLIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IT STIFLES AMBITION AND SIGNALS AN ACCEPTANCE OF ‘THIS IS IT’. FOR YEARS, THERE WAS A CERTAIN STIGMA ATTACHED TO THE HAIR INDUSTRY AS A DESTINATION FOR THE LESS ACADEMICALLY INCLINED. POPE THE BARBER, HOWEVER, DOESN’T HAVE TIME FOR SELF-DEPRECIATION, NOR ANYBODY’S BULLSHIT. Images// LKB Photography.
Despite her moniker, she isn’t just a barber; Pope is a brand. She is also a businesswoman with big, big plans. Her feats are made more impressive as her life, she explains, was heading in a very different direction. “I was going to school to be an aeronautical engineer and had a scholarship playing basketball. I was always good at math, but hated being a student. I was an artist, so I hated the thought of being behind a desk the rest of my life,” she explains. “When I played basketball, we travelled with the men’s team and all my friends would be cutting their own hair and it looked fun to me. I got good at it quick and loved it. I didn’t think it was going to be a career for me, though.” Her life of playing basketball professionally, however, came to an end after a serious car crash left her unable to walk for a year. Such a period of revaluation was difficult for not only Pope – but also her parents. “The car accident was oddly a blessing in my life. It took me away from a path that I didn’t want to be on and in a direction I actually wanted. It was during that time that I was able to share with my mom that I wanted to go to hair school. I was so scared to tell her I didn’t want to be an engineer. I was so shocked when she was okay with it and actually was my biggest supporter in my hair career. I’m so thankful for that. It honestly was moments like that, that taught me to always trust yourself and fight for what you actually want. You can’t live in fear of being unsupported or hearing the word no. Let it drive
you. It’s the nature of the rebellious barber or stylist. That’s the triumph; that’s the payoff,” she smiles. And, judging by her extensive body art, Pope is well versed in acts of defiance. Buddhist imagery and symbolism wraps intricately around the majority of her body, so much so that if you asked her how many tattoos she has, she would probably answer just three. The second – etched on her rib cage and Pope’s first ever tattoo – reads ‘all I am I owe to my mother’. Try being angry with that, mother. The third is a dagger inked on her left cheek that is indicative of her approach to life. She’s all-in at all times and incorporates her passions into her individual brand. “There really was no job title for what I wanted to do,” says Pope. “I love fashion, I wanted to travel and have a business. I wanted to do everything I loved, really. That’s what a brand is. You can have everything you like, do whatever the hell you want. I was cutting hair, hosting events, and modeling. I tried to marry everything together. I started getting pretty popular in the night-life industry and I wanted people to know me for barbering.” Pope, eager to focus on building, put herself in a self-imposed creative exile. And what better place to do so than Notorious Barbershop? Not only is it freezing, thus curtailing partying, the Montrealbased shop has incubated some of the industry’s most well-known brands and has quite the esteemed list of alumni. u
Squire has trumped all systems on a product level, allowing me to run my business from anywhere in the world without a worry. I was able to seamlessly upgrade my entire system from an all-cash business to modern technology in a matter of days. It’s easy. I like their vision, they understand mine, and we can grow together.�
“I learned so much from being around so many creative people such as Famos and Barber Streisand. We all knew what we wanted to do: we wanted a home base and wanted to travel. We bounced ideas off each other and pushed each other to grow. We were all doing merch at the same time. Famos would come out with a hat, and I’d be like ‘I need to do a beanie’,” she explains. “I’m proud of all that we learned from each other and that we all have our own shops and brands.” Quebec’s largest city is known for attracting a smorgasbord of creative talents seeking its nurturing environment. From clothing designers to videographers, Pope and her Notorious peers could tap into the city’s tight-knit creative community and collaborate to help grow their brands. “I wanted to translate that to my home base in LA. To create a tight knit community of creatives that help each other build. I’m incredibly inspired by all creatives – I love being surrounded by photographers, cinematographers, designers, and barbers.” Despite her relatively young age, everything in her life is falling into place. Pope has a thriving female-fronted barbershop and travels doing what she loves with her beautiful girlfriend, LKB Photography, who herself is a fashion photographer and entrepreneur. “It’s been incredible for me to have a partner who is as creatively focused as I am and we are able to grow together. We inspire and push each other daily. I’m thankful to have that level of support at this time in my journey.” Pope’s success comes from her single-minded determination and bullish attitude that most successful people possess. It hasn’t been easy. It never is, and Pope certainly doesn’t mix her words when giving her two cents on overcoming adversity.
“I grew up against every social norm. I’ve seen it all. Being a female wasn’t the hard part. I definitely noticed I was the only female in the barbershop, but now is the time for women. I’m for it; I’m for the movement. Most of my barbershop is female. My lady is a powerful female. I love being surrounded by strong females who pave their own way in any industry. If you want anything in your life, it’s already yours. You’re never stuck in any situation. Focus on what you love and the rest will follow. ” She carries that defiant attitude into her education, preaching sermons on self-belief and achieving your goals. Nobody is ‘just’ anything to her. Technically, her classes focus on diversifying ability – teaching barbers scissor work with Hattori Hanzo Shears, for one – to provide people with the skills that will underpin their brand. “I love teaching. I teach to light a fire under people’s asses. I do love the technical work, but I want people to leave feeling inspired. Whether it’s implementing a piece from the way I cut, or something from sharing my story. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to connect with people all over the world. I’ve experienced life being both poor and wealthy and I know that life for me is not about money. I’ve always had huge goals, made big leaps, experienced a lot of failure but it’s all about the journey to your own person success. “I’ve been an educator for Hanzo for a few years and love working with the brand. They let me be the hippie that I am and speak from my soul. Teaching is so rewarding when you’re able to share yourself in the way you want. I’ve represented their company in almost every state in the US and educated in places I’d never even think of flying. I’ve honestly met the most incredible individuals along the way. It’s easy to work with a company whose product I really believe in.”
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I love teaching. I teach to light a fire under people’s asses. I do like the technical work but in the end I want people to leave feeling inspired”
Never one to sacrifice who she is for her career, Pope has built successful relationships with brands by choosing ones that really embody what she wants to do with her brand as a business owner. Recently, she has become an ambassador for Squire, who she says really focus on the wellbeing of your overall business. “Squire has trumped all systems on a product level, allowing me to run my business from anywhere in the world without a worry. I was able to seamlessly upgrade my entire system from an all-cash business to modern technology in a matter of days. It’s easy. I like their vision, they
understand mine, and we can grow together.” Growth is something that Pope does not shy away from – in fact she is currently in the process of relocating and expanding her barbershop. How then, does she ensure a good work-life balance – something a lot of barbers struggle with? “I work hard, rest harder! This year has been a major practice of true balance in my life. I’m at a point where I can step away from the shop for a bit and put my personal life and routines first and then build my work schedule around that. For you barbers and new business owners, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise! I’m able
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to practice working smarter, not harder, so when I do go out and teach or do events or whatever I have planned, I’m able to give 1000% without burning out. I travel full time and cut in the shop a few times a month mostly, but mostly focus on living a happy and healthy life.” Pope knows the transient nature of success, but now has a firm grip on her future and knows the value of a good work-life balance. As she said, she wants to build an empire with Lisa (LKB Photography) and we certainly wouldn’t bet against her. •