Hillcrest High students had the opportunity to not only learn from a professional hairstylist and barber but to see him work firsthand.

During the school’s Meet the Pros lecture series, celebrity stylist and barber Wallace Barlow III of Black Sheep Barber Company in Midvale brought in his barber chair and trimmed school counselor John Oliver’s hair.

Students also had the opportunity to see his own design of barber chair, the Barlow Barber chair, which he launched as a business in partnership with leading salon equipment manufacturer, Minerva Beauty.

“A student came up to him after and asked about the price of barber chairs,” said Cher Burbank, who organized the session. “Wallace is in demand as a freelance educator and has been published on www.behindthechair.com with his business and clientele building class.”

Barlow represents MAG shears, an up-and-coming manufacturer of fine grooming shears and was appointed as a global educator/platform artist by “Woody’s Quality Grooming” a men’s grooming brand. He works as a national educator/platform artist for the Andis Company, an international manufacturer of grooming equipment, where he conducts education both in the salon and on stage representing the Andis brand. 

He also is a member of Barbers International and Bald for a Cause.

Barlow entered the industry more than 30 years ago. With training from Aveda, Bumble and Bumble (New York), and Paul Mitchell, Barlow started his professional career at The Spa Esthetiques in Arkansas. After working as a stylist, he became a coach and educator, manager, and creative director. He also had a business sense, and through his guidance and work ethic, the shop revenues grew from $1 million to $2.5 million while he was there.

After six years, Wallace relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to join the American Haircuts/Metro Men’s Grooming team. He focused on the men’s side of the business and served as the director of education. On the side, he maintained a women’s client base in his private studio, The Barber Studio.

Burbank hoped students learned from the experience.

“It’s cool to travel and go to hair shows and possibly get good enough to teach at the shows,” she said. “This is a trade [for our students] to consider.”

Canyons Career and Technical Education Director Janet Goble said the Meet the Pros series is designed to give students a chance to widen their perspectives about
professions.

“Students are able to ask questions to industry professionals to deepen their understanding of the careers,” she said.

In late January, students were slated to learn from Aniza Brown about The Rosie Project, a six-month paid information technology internship program for military spouses. λ