Salvation – A Barbering Legacy

FROM THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA… TO 7 BARBER SHOPS

BY REX A.C. SILVER

SALVATORE GIANNONE & LILLY GIANNONE

SAL’S BARBER SHOPS, 7 LOCATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA PA

This is an amazing story of resilience and triumph, passion and love.

This story encapsulates what this trade, in essence can do for you, your spirit and your soul. It can enable you to realise yourself and your dreams and enable you to afford those dreams. This is a story about how Barbering saved a man and brought him back from the edge of the abyss, from where he not only then found himself, but he also found the ability within himself to reconnect with his family and learn this age-old trade of from his Grandfather and pass it on again.

Barbering brought him back from off the streets, and out of jail. He now owns seven award winning shops and has the next generation of Giannone’s hot on his heals to learn the trade, his daughter Lilly, who is just 8 years old.

WORDS BY SAL:

So, I didn’t always want to be a barber, I wanted to be an artist. I had it pretty rough growing up with domestic violence and drug and physical abuse. I hid in my drawing pad; it was the only place I felt safe. I just knew I wanted to get away from where I grew up and start a fresh life. So, I studied hard to become a graphic designer and I got a full scholarship to one of the top art schools in the USA. When I got to college, I got into drugs, drinking and partying and eventually got expelled. I felt defeated and deflated, hopeless with no future. For three years I ate from trash cans abused drugs and slept outside in the elements. I was sick of being sick and tired. I knew I had more to offer the world than being a drug addict. After 13 trips to county gaol with three felonies. I made a promise to myself that I would get sober, change my life and finally live up to my potential.

My Grandfather was a Barber from Italy who came to America with $1 and a dream. When I was on my last hope, I turned to him to teach me the art of barbering. I became his apprentice sweeping floors and learning the ways of the barbershop. After about a year I was licenced and worked alongside of him. I had finally found my niche. My father was 49 when he died of a sudden massive heart attack. I spoke with my Grandfather about death and regrets, and he said his only regret was not opening his own barbershop. I didn’t know that would be our final conversation because the next day my Grandfather died two weeks after my father, of a broken heart. I was alone again just like when I was homeless cold and helpless.

God took everything from me in those two weeks. Everything but my determination. Two years later I opened my first barbershop with my last dollar to my name and it was an instant success.

After you opened your first shop, how did you get to the 2nd and 3rd up to the 7th?

I started to scout out new territories out of need because I was training barbers quickly and needed to expand my business to other local towns that were in need of barbers. I was also lucky to have TYRIK JACKSON’S Premier Barber institute in my town, and I was able to hire these young talented barbers from his school. Not only was I building a family at home, but I was building a family of barbers as well! Before I could blink, I had seven shops in six years with a team of award-winning barbers.

Barbering is in your blood you are part of three generations of barbers in your family let’s introduce generation 3, Lilly. Tell us about how Lilly started barbering and her story in your eyes.

During the beginning of the pandemic the state of Pennsylvania shut down all Barber shops. I almost lost it all, I was faced with still paying the cost of a home and business with zero income. I was beyond stressed out worrying about the future of my franchise.

I was also in desperate need of a haircut. The day before Lily’s 7th birthday I asked her to buzz off all my hair. She gladly did so, she took to it like a natural and did a great job. She had always been artistic like me. Growing up around the shops she knew the lingo and tools and we began to experiment.

LILLY WOULD COME IN AT 6:00 AM ON SUNDAY WITH HER FATHER SAL, SHE WOULD WATCH AND LISTEN TO HIM WHILE HE WAS CUTTING MY HAIR. ONE SUNDAY SHE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO DO MY HAIR CUT WHICH LED TO ANOTHER CHANCE TWO WEEKS LATER AND NOW SHE CUTS MY HAIR REGULARLY. IT’S GREAT TO SEE HER CONFIDENCE GROW WITH EACH HAIRCUT SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONFIDENT WHICH MAKES IT EASY TO BE RELAXED.

- US MARINE JERRY DAVIS

She then cut her cousin’s hair with scissors and lined up my beard with a straight razor like it was something she’d been doing for years, even though it was only her first time. She began to come to work with me as early as 5:00 AM to learn the craft my Grandfather had passed down to me. I was blown away by her focus and passion and willingness to learn she was a natural.

WORDS BY LILLY:

You’re a master of the cutthroat, talk to us about your confidence with the razor.

I was scared at first, but once my father taught me how to hold it and told me about the angle and pressure, I got the hang of it quickly. It is now my favourite tool to use, I love doing beards and shaves. nervous and doubted myself at first, but my dad told me that it didn’t matter if I win or lose, just that I learn and try. So, I was still nervous but after watching my dad compete and being on stage with him and watching him win, gave me confidence.

I put on my hat and chewed some gum and focused on the hair cut in front of me, which was my dad. I forgot I was on stage and the people in the crowd didn’t matter, only the haircut, just like we were in the barbershop. I was ranked 5th place out of 32 competitors from all around the world. I was called onstage, and everyone cheered, and it made me feel so great.

Is this what you want to do when you get older?

Yes, for sure. I will run the family business I always wanted to be a Barber and a Mommy, one day I will be both.

What do you love about Barbering?

It’s like an art and I am good at it so that helps too! I have fun with the tools, and it helps my confidence to know I can do anything I put my mind to.

When do you Barber?

During the summer months I work alongside my father any chance I can. I am still a kid, and I must pass third grade, so during the school year I can only work on Sundays with my father.

Do you have regulars?

I have a few. I do a flat top every two weeks and I have a marine named Jerry that comes in 6:00 AM every other week. I am very lucky that I have so many clients that let me practise on them, uncles and cousins as well. My father was my first client and that started it all.

What’s your favourite service or cut to perform?

My favourite haircut to perform is a flat top. I like to see how straight and flat I can get the hair! It’s a hard cut to do but I like it because it gets me better. I also like to do shaves as well.

Please tell us about your first competitions.

My first competition was the student category at the Connecticut Barber Expo. I was told it is the biggest competition in all the United States. I was

You’ve already worked with some big names tell us about those experiences.

I was approached by Level 3 at the Barber Convention, and they offered me a role as the future ambassador of the company. I’m looking forward to filming videos and being on stage with some of the best barbers in the industry this coming summer 2022.

Finally, Lily, what are your Clippers of choice walk us through your favourite tools and products to use.

My favourite Clippers are my purple BaByLiss FX trimmers, but I use Gamma, JRL and Andis Clippers as well... I love to see and try all the new innovations in the industry.

Sal has been sober 15+ years and would like to send a special thank you and shout out to his beautiful wife and best friend Kristen, who has been there on this journey with Sal every step of the way from the beginning of his sobriety through to their 7 shops. They share 2 other daughters Grace 5, and Penny 2, vocations yet to announced.

@salsbarbershopsvip @lacedbylilly