I'm 44, will be 45 in January, and in great health. Is it too late for me to go to barber school and to learn the "finer" skills necessary to be a successful traditional barber?
-Greg
-Greg
Too old for barber school?
- Thread starter Greglam
- Start date
Forty-four isn't old. You are in the prime of life!
Never to cool (or old) for school.
You should drop by a community college around 6pm. Never to old for school.
You should drop by a community college around 6pm. Never to old for school.
If being a barber would pay the bills and it makes you happy, go for it!
The president of my police academy class (just graduated) was 46, we had a 44, 42, 40 year old guys in there, plus all of us 30-37 year olds (the majority of the class). Out of 17, that equaled to 2 grandfathers and 15 of 17 having kids. 2 were under 25, the third was under 30.
With the vast majority of the class being nearly double the age of what people 'think' new cops are age-wise (21-23), us old guys still held up quite well, and in some cases, better than the younger guys in the physical stuff. You should be just fine in barber school....
With the vast majority of the class being nearly double the age of what people 'think' new cops are age-wise (21-23), us old guys still held up quite well, and in some cases, better than the younger guys in the physical stuff. You should be just fine in barber school....
Antique Hoosier
“Aircooled”
Never too old
I've got memories older than you...Of course you can go back to school.
Greg;
I totally agree with all here...'you're never too old...go for it'.
"Once you stop learning, you stop living". CBJ
I totally agree with all here...'you're never too old...go for it'.
My mother was a hairdresser for 40+ years, and at the age of 60 she went back to school to become a barber (two different licenses here in CA). We then we joined forces and opened a business when she turned 66, so.... no. You're not too old.
Folks thought she was crazy opening a business in the middle of a recession, let alone opening a new business at her age.
You're never too old, until you're too old.
Folks thought she was crazy opening a business in the middle of a recession, let alone opening a new business at her age.
You're never too old, until you're too old.
- Thread starter
- #11
Thanks, everyone, for your comments and encouragement! There is a barber school here in Columbus that has been around since the 1950's and they teach straight razor shaving quite extensively, it seems. Maybe I will make a visit to them next week to see what I can see.
-Greg
-Greg
I am 38, been in college since 92. I think you are never ever too old to learn. I will either teach college or go to barber college when I retire from Government service at 50. One thing that us old guys have is faith. We know the world isn't ending because we have been through some stuff. The skills you really need, but that cannot be taught are maturity, courtesy, character, and amiability. Who would you rather have holding a razor at your throat; an old dude with a smile smelling of bay rum and quinine or some hipster with rhinestones on his 250.00 jeans with arthritic thumbs from texting. DO IT, I'll fly out and be your first shave.
- Thread starter
- #13
Thank you, Gents, for your comments, anecdotes, and encouragement. I think I will pay a visit to the barber college in the next week or two. I will report back what I find out.
All the best,
-Greg
All the best,
-Greg
The only thing I can offer that other people haven't mentioned is start looking for jobs as soon as possible. Get to know people in the industry, just generally set yourself up so that you will have somewhere to go when you graduate.
I saw too many people get out of school with student loans, bills, rent, and they didn't even have a resume' or a job lined up. On the other hand I personally know a few people who lined up jobs before they graduated and pulled more cash in their first year of barbering than I made in a year as an aeronautical engineer...
Also, even if shaving is your specialty, expect hair-cutting to be your "bread and butter." Know what kind of shop environment do you want, 4 haircuts an hour at $10 per haircut, or do you really want to to put some time into each cut and do $50+ per client, maybe a neck massage too. Both kinds of shops are out there and something in between as well.
Good luck in whatever you choose
I saw too many people get out of school with student loans, bills, rent, and they didn't even have a resume' or a job lined up. On the other hand I personally know a few people who lined up jobs before they graduated and pulled more cash in their first year of barbering than I made in a year as an aeronautical engineer...
Also, even if shaving is your specialty, expect hair-cutting to be your "bread and butter." Know what kind of shop environment do you want, 4 haircuts an hour at $10 per haircut, or do you really want to to put some time into each cut and do $50+ per client, maybe a neck massage too. Both kinds of shops are out there and something in between as well.
Good luck in whatever you choose
Best of luck! If you think you can do it, then you can indeed do it. After all, age is only a number.
Mr Rogers said something along these lines.
You're not just the age you are, you're all the ages you've ever been.
That's how I look at things. Any updates on it?
You're not just the age you are, you're all the ages you've ever been.
That's how I look at things. Any updates on it?
I am 10 years older than OP and I am *seriously* considering "retiring" from my current job when I hit 55 and going to barber school.
Do it and see what happens; don't do it and regret it...
"Old woman!"
"Man."
"Man, sorry. Can you tell me what barber lives in yonder barbershop?"
"I'm 44."
"What?"
"I'm 44; I'm not old."
"Well, look, I did say 'sorry' for the 'woman' bit, but from behind ..."
"Well you could have called me 'Greg'."
"I didn't know you were called Greg."
"Well, you didn't bother to find out."
"Man."
"Man, sorry. Can you tell me what barber lives in yonder barbershop?"
"I'm 44."
"What?"
"I'm 44; I'm not old."
"Well, look, I did say 'sorry' for the 'woman' bit, but from behind ..."
"Well you could have called me 'Greg'."
"I didn't know you were called Greg."
"Well, you didn't bother to find out."
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The Moler Barber College here charges $2400 for the course.....wondering what the fees are in your areas ???
