DeKalb continues to grow while also getting cut as a new barber school has recently opened by Andrew Bryant at Drew’s Gentlemen Cuts. The Gentleman’s Barber Academy is currently open and enrolling new students.
Andrew has been a licensed barber for the past five years and in his short tenure has already become a local staple for many. Drew’s Gentlemen Cuts, located in DeKalb, has grown from a one man, one room operation to a much larger shop with additional professionals offering a range of services and products.
Lizzie Brown, who joined the team most recently, has been a licensed cosmetologist for over 13 years and looks forward to offering her expertise to the students who she will be aiding during their eight month course.
Class A Barbers course is paving the way for individuals in our area to have access to broadened career paths at affordable prices while maintaining the hometown, personalized learning experience. The eight month course will include a hands- on approach to completing the required 1,000 hours, but will be limited to three students per class to ensure each student has the opportunity to gain as much experience as possible.
While there are several barber schools in neighboring towns, Drew hopes to tap into his own experiences to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and affordable for aspiring students. “The schools that I went to were so crowded, so you didn’t get a lot of hands-on experience because everyone is fighting to get haircuts. I thought a smaller environment would give the students more practice.”
Typically, barber courses can cost up to $20,000 depending on the academy. Extra costs for kits, books, materials and testing can also be added, making the dream of becoming a licensed barber for some one that is too difficult to achieve. Bearing that in mind, potential students will have less to worry about as the Class A Barbers course is being offered at $8,500 with the price including tuition, a personal kit and State fees associated with the course.
Another unique aspect of the course is that during the eight months a student will be learning, they will also have the opportunity to have the tuition reduced. Due to State laws, those in school are not allowed to be paid for any haircuts they produce. However, Class A Barbers course is offering students a chance to cut hair and their tuition at the same time by allowing money that would have been paid to the student to be taken off the cost of the final tuition.
After graduating from the course, students will be able to take their State exams.
These exams must be passed in order for the student to gain their license in Texas. While there are only three students enrolled at a time currently, once a student graduates, those placed on a waiting list will be contacted.
When speaking about why he feels the school is important, Andrew mentioned furthering education for high school graduates with his hopes being to “reach the younger people and give them a different option around here.”
Plans to add additional chairs for more students and cosmetology classes are in the realm of possibility later down the road.
Those interested in more information or to enroll can contact Andrew Bryant at (870) 397-3687, send an email to thegentlemansbarberacademy@ gmail.com, or visit Drew’s Gentlemen Cuts in DeKalb.
The shop is located at 533 E Front Street and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
