From cuffs to cuts, Jody Murray has overcome his share of challenges to take life by the hair at Mentality Barbers in Frazer and Chester Springs. A master at his craft, Murray is now inspiring the next generation of barbers through an apprenticeship program.
MLT: Let’s start at the beginning.
JM: I’ve cut hair ever since I was 12. I had a child at a young age and was in hair school trying to provide for him. I was selling a little weed on the side and ended up getting busted right in the middle of hair school. I had to go to “adult college,” but I was able to finish school before that. It put me in a good place to start rebuilding and focus on the craft. When I got out, I took a job with a local barbershop.
MLT: How was Mentality Barbers born?
JM: Steve Stinger and his mom decided to open a shop. They needed to build it around someone with an ability to give a customer experience. They came to me with an offer—and from that point on, we’ve been growing.
MLT: Your son Avery works at the station right behind yours. How are you supporting the next generation of barbers?
JM: We offer an apprenticeship program. You can do it in as little as 10 months or up to two years, either full-time or part-time. You serve your clinical hours in this shop. We offer free haircuts to our customer database for the apprenticeship program, so you’re building a book before you’re licensed. Then you take a test and grow in our ranks. That’s how we opened the Chester Springs location.
MLT: You’re big on product—so big you’re making it yourself.
JM: We make everything 100% all-natural right here in the shop from scratch. Right now, we’re doing beard products, including wash, oil and a leave-in balm in a stick. We’re also doing a full line of shaving products. Then we’ll go into hair products.
MLT: What’s next?
JM: We’re looking at a third location. I tell my kids all the time: Finesse, not force. There’s a difference between going after something and forcing it to happen. I’m just rolling with the energy.
Visit mentalitybarbers.com.
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