Women In The Barbershop | Lauren’s Story

I met Lauren Lusardi a few years ago thanks to my dog, Finn. The Badabing Barber Shop & Shave Parlor is located in Salem, MA, and after many walks with Finn staring at the bucket of dog treats in the window, I poked my head in and ended up meeting Lauren, the only female barber at Badabing. She loves my dog, and he loves treats, and not surprisingly, Lauren and I have been friendly ever since. 

As we wrap up Women’s History Month, I thought it’d be interesting to interview Lauren about her role as a female barber in a largely male-dominated industry. It turns out barbering started way back in ancient Egypt, around 5000 B.C. And not only did barbers shave and cut hair back in the day, but they also performed surgery. They were called “barber-surgeons.” How crazy!  

Anyway, instead of going down a rabbit-hole about the history of cutting hair, let’s meet Lauren and learn a little bit about her experience of becoming a professional female barber in a male dominated industry! 

How did you end up in this line of work? 

Many, many moons ago I was working for two separate CPA’s to gain hours to sit for my exam. I met Jordan (Owner of Badabing Barber Shop & Shave Parlor) and, at the time, Jordan’s only other barber Brandon. I saw how much fun they had all day long. They got to laugh and enjoy their work; the money wasn’t too bad either. So, I decided I wanted happiness and stability, not just stability. So, I threw caution to the wind and did a 180 on my life. Enzo (Lauren’s son) was in second grade, and I committed to the craft and haven’t looked back. 

What type of education do you need to become a barber? Are there a certain number of hours you need to fill to get your certificate? If it isn’t called a certificate, what is the proper term?  

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you must complete 1,000 hours of education & take a test to become a licensed barber. It’s a professional license given by the board of Cosmetology & Barbering. It must be renewed every other year.  

Do you think it is becoming more common to see more females in your profession? 

Yes and no. I think a lot of women take the barbering license course to have both a Cosmetology & Barbering license. I think we still have a bit of a ways to go before women have 50% representation in the barbering industry. I’d love to see more women barbers! 

Is it or has it ever been intimidating to learn and/or work in a male dominated field? 

Personally, for me, working and being in a male-dominated industry has never been difficult or scary. My personality is loud enough to quiet any “nay-sayers.” I have seen many female barbers be intimidated by men in this industry, it sucks because they should be clapping for us, not at us. The problem is never male barbers, it’s the older male clients that always have something “witty” to say. We are professionals. 

What do you like most about being in your line of work? 
I like the dogs the most. Hahahaha! I actually love the fact that I am a stable, accountable, happy person in so many people’s lives. I get to be part of major life moments and hear secrets. On the same note, my clients are so important to me. I get friendships and love. No one else gets that from their job. 

What do you think are the most important skills for a successful barber? 

To be able to listen and have confidence. Listening, because you must hear what people are saying. So many emotions are happening during a haircut, you need to be able to be present.  

What do you think are the most common misconceptions about being a barber? 

That we are uneducated. Most barbers I know have either college degrees or other professional licensure.  

What do you think are the most challenging aspects of being a female barber? 

People’s perception of a female barber is so extreme either way. People expect a very masculine appearing female or some overly sexualized notion of a female barber. Being neither of those is very challenging. I am not what people expect for this job, I think people are pleasantly surprised by me being me. 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

Barbering is a craft. It is the second oldest profession in the world. Being a barber is NOT a hobby. We take pride, time, education, and compassion in every haircut, beard trim, or face shave we do. So long story short; get a haircut and don’t be a jabroni!