by English Brown
The jingle of the bells on the door announced my arrival.
The rich scent of aftershave, sizzling sound of a hot comb, and the laughter from the group of men gathered around one in the barber chair welcomed me home. The weight of the world lifted from my shoulders.
This was more than just a barbershop; it was a sanctuary.
As a Black woman, the armor I wore for the outside world began to shed, and I entered a safe space where barbers and hair stylists transformed not just hair, but people's lives.
Long history as a safe haven for African Americans
The Black barbershop stands as an enduring sanctuary in its communities, a testament to its resilience throughout a turbulent history for African Americans.
Tracing its roots back to the early 19th century, barbering emerged as a required skill for slaves as they served their masters, and the Black barbershop became an established business specializing in the grooming of white men.
After the “Emancipation Proclamation" in 1863, Black barbers continued to provide service for their white clients while welcoming Black patrons as well. With slavery officially abolished, Black-owned shops increased as Black barbers earned the required state certification.
During the rise of Jim Crow laws following Reconstruction, segregation and discrimination forced Black barbers to transition mostly to Black clientele. It was during these days of harsh treatment and lynchings that the Black barbershop truly developed into a safe place for people to gather.
Similar to Black churches, the barbershop filled a void and became not just a social community but a political one too. Many politically active barbers handpicked the reading materials, providing an opportunity for men to read Black newspapers and magazines.
As African Americans grew tired and angry of their segregated life, the Civil Rights Movement emerged, and once again the barbershop was at the hub of political and social activity for the Black community.
Barbers Pete Boyd and Johnny Gator cut hair in Gator’s barbershop (ca. 1950).
Barbershops once again served as an informal meeting place for activists and community leaders to discuss civil rights issues, strategize political moves, and make plans to achieve social justice.
Though true equality remains an ongoing journey, progress has been made, and Black business owners have found greater economic freedom in the last 50 years.
But even as the traditional Black barbershop transitioned to a unisex environment, and Black women have opened their own hair salons, all have been a cornerstone to the Black community.
The Black barbershops and hair salons have grown in their economic importance to the community, but have not stopped being a stronghold for local information and emotional support.
Researchers and mental health professionals have studied the cultural significance of Black barbershops, finding them to be a major contributor to the local community's well-being.
Black barbers and stylists are known to be confidants, advisors, listeners, and mentors while supporting the mental health needs of the Black community.
Conversations between clients and their barbers or hair stylists are often considered as important as therapy sessions.
Giving clients what they need
In the heart of a vibrant Black neighborhood or even a dwindling one, barbershops serve as a lot more than just a place to get styled.
They also operate as the cultural, social and political hub of the entire community.
“Hair care is an expression," says Maurice Boyd, a local barber at Pinkney’s Barber & Styling Shop in Summerville.
Boyd and his fellow barbers know that when Black people get their hair done, it is much more than a beauty routine.
It’s an experience.
And sitting in that chair is often much more about community and acceptance than it is about hair.
“A lot of people trust me with their life problems," said Rosa Stormer, owner of Lavish Life Studio. "We are a nonjudgmental and relatable place.”
Howard Boyd, owner of Howard Barber Shop, LLC Styling, points out that getting hair done is very personal, requiring a high level of trust in the person doing it. That initial trust lends itself to a deeper level of trust and conversations that may not happen anywhere else.
“It kind of bridges that barrier to allow someone to let their guard down and talk freely," says Boyd, who is also the founder of South Carolina's first Black-owned barber college. "And that allows them to talk freely about what they are dealing with and for the barber to give knowledge, wisdom or advice."
Or sometimes just listen.
“When clients are going through problems, you are left as their listening ear,” says Howard Boyd.
And because of this unique relationship, barbers and stylists end up acting like a counselor many times.
“Barbering is like ministering,” says Maurice Boyd, adding that it becomes a unique on-going relationship. “It’s not just cutting hair because the people you cut become your family.”
Patrons find more than a stylish cut or a fresh weave; they discover a rare opportunity for soul-baring connection through collective experiences and shared stories.
"It's not about the hair," said Nell Pickney, owner of Nell’s Barber & Styling Shop. "It's about the worshiping because sometimes you have to take it there; you have to pray for them when they can't pray for themselves.”
The barbershop as a safe haven was borne out of the strife endured post-Civil War in the era of Jim Crow, but it has remained a safe space since for the exact same reason – no fear for speaking their minds.
And through the peaceful rebellions of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s as well as the emergence of Black Lives Matter in the past decade, African Americans have needed a refuge to talk about the social and political upheaval.
"Barbershops allow that safe place for those that may not be able to speak their mind freely in other places," says Howard Boyd. "Barbershops are places you can let your guard down, no judgment. It’s a place where you can be you and that makes it therapeutic.”
Howard Boyd has often felt like he has pl
Rainie Gordon, a professional counselor at the College of Charleston, pointed out that barbershops have often taken the place of therapy for the Black community. While sometimes this isn’t a better solution, anything that offers safety in revealing feelings is a good thing.
“I know in my experience, we've been taught to pray about it, lay it on the altar, talk to God, and there's been less emphasis on seeking a mental health professional. When you peel back the layers, it feels less demanding to go to a barber or hairstylist than a therapist.” - Rainie Gordon, professional counselor
Stormer adds that she never wants to give advice, but listening can be just as helpful.
“I listen but don't try to give unsolicited advice,” she said. “But if I can relate, I share my own experiences while I strive to empathize.”
Gordon notes that if the goal is to give a forum, then it’s a worthy outcome.
“Basically the goal is to make sure all clients feel seen, feel heard, and provide that confidential space for people to express themselves openly and freely,” Gordon said.
Pickney added that the intimate experience for Black people of getting their hair done allows for this kind of therapeutic experience.
”It's just you and them; it's not them and everybody else,” she said, adding that she can often tell when her clients are needing to talk. “The look. Most of them have that look; they might be laughing and smiling with you on the outside, but crying on the inside, and you have to be able to feel them. You feel them as they sit down in your chair; you feel the energy.”
Howard Boyd has often taken on a role as a father figure for many of his younger clients. And he relishes being able to be that role model for many of them.
"We have to understand that we [barbers] have a job because the Black home is often broken," he said, adding that offering guidance can come with the territory. "I find myself being that figure to a lot of the young kids and young men. I feel like God put me in the position I am in and that is my calling -- to inspire and uplift."
In their industry, the barbers and stylists see and experience so much of their clients’ lives - the good, the bad, and everything in between while witnessing many of their milestones.
"Weddings, funerals, baby showers, birthdays, the first day of school, proms - we get to experience so much through our clients," said Stormer.
And because of that, they often feel some of their clients' burdens too.
“What I always do when I get up in the morning is get on my knees and pray and ask God to use me so that I can be a beacon of light to uplift and Inspire someone,” Maurice Boyd notes. “In this chair, we’re not just changing hair, we’re changing lives.”
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