Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Petrik.
Hi Andrew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually came from a completely different world before barbering. For about five years, I worked in tech and ran my own school app company called A+ Apps. I was deeply involved in building apps and growing the business, but when COVID hit, things started changing fast. Like a lot of people during that time, I started questioning whether I was really happy doing what I was doing every day.
One day I was at the gym with my now wife, venting to her about work and talking about wanting a change. Barbering had always been in the back of my mind since I was younger, but I had never seriously told anyone because it felt unrealistic at the time. Out of nowhere, she said, “Why don’t you become a barber?” I remember asking her, “You’d actually support that?” and she immediately said, “Yeah, that’s a cool job.”
That conversation changed everything for me. Within a few weeks, I enrolled in barber college, committed fully to it, got licensed, and I’ve now been barbering for five years.
What drew me into barbering wasn’t just the craft itself, but the people. I used to sit in traffic during long commutes and think about how every single person in those cars had their own life, struggles, goals, and story. Barbering gave me direct access to that human connection. Every client who sits in my chair brings a different perspective, experience, or story, and that’s one of my favorite parts of the job.
I also love that barbering naturally creates conversation and relationships. Everyone needs a haircut, and it’s one of the few professions where you can connect with people from every background. Over time, clients become friends, regulars become family, and the shop becomes more than just a place for a haircut.
On top of that, barbering gave me something I was looking for creatively and financially and the ability to build a comfortable life doing something hands on, social, and meaningful. It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Switching careers from tech into barbering was a huge leap, especially because I was leaving something I had already invested years into. Starting over in a completely different industry was honestly intimidating. In tech, I already knew how things worked, but with barbering I had to become a beginner again and rebuild my confidence from scratch.
One of the biggest struggles early on was building a clientele. A lot of people see successful barbers online now, but they don’t always see the years of consistency behind it. In the beginning, there were days where I’d be in the shop for hours with very few clients, wondering if I made the right decision. You really have to earn trust one haircut at a time.
There’s also pressure that comes with barbering because people wear your work every day. A haircut affects someone’s confidence, so learning how to handle that responsibility and continue improving your craft was a challenge too. I became obsessed with getting better, paying attention to details, learning communication skills, and figuring out how to create an experience that kept people coming back.
Another challenge was balancing the creative side with the business side. Barbering is a skill, but building a career from it takes consistency, networking, marketing, social media, and relationship building. My background in tech actually ended up helping me a lot with that.
Looking back though, all of the struggles were worth it because they helped shape who I am now. The difficult parts taught me patience, discipline, and how important genuine connections with people really are.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a barber, I’ve always tried to focus on creating more than just a good haircut I want every client to leave feeling more confident and genuinely enjoy the experience while they’re in the chair. I specialize in precision cuts and personalized styles that fit each individual person rather than treating every haircut the same.
What sets me apart is probably my ability to connect with people. I genuinely enjoy meeting clients from all different backgrounds and hearing their stories, so over time a lot of clients become more like friends than just appointments. I think that relationship-building aspect is a huge part of barbering and something I take a lot of pride in.
Coming from a tech and business background also helped me approach barbering differently. I pay a lot of attention to presentation, customer experience, branding, and social media, which has helped me grow a strong clientele and personal brand over the years.
What I’m most proud of is building trust and consistency with my clients. At the end of the day, barbering is about confidence, connection, and making people feel their best, and that’s always been my goal with every person who sits in my chair.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always very social and outgoing. I loved being around people, making new friends, and finding ways to keep everyone connected. I was usually the first kid awake in the neighborhood knocking on doors trying to get everyone outside to hang out or play something. I’ve always naturally enjoyed building relationships and bringing energy into a group.
I was also really curious growing up and liked figuring things out and learning new skills. I’ve always been interested in people, conversations, and different perspectives. Even at a young age, I enjoyed meeting all kinds of personalities and hearing about how other people lived and thought.
I’ve always been pretty driven too. Once I became interested in something, I’d go all in and try to learn everything I could about it. Looking back now, a lot of those personality traits naturally carried over into barbering because it’s such a people focused profession built around trust, communication, and consistency.
Pricing:
- Haircut $40
- Haircut and beard $50
Contact Info:
