One photographic topic I enjoy shooting is Americana. Often times that means old infrastructure or long-gone businesses. However, there are many examples of Americana that are very much alive and well. One of them that still thrives is the traditional barber shop.
The Cut in Tempe, Arizona is a shop that in many ways represents a new Americana. From the more modern industrial rolling tool boxes for keeping scissors, shavers, tonics, and the like to the traditional barber chairs, the shop blends the best of the old and the new.
All that, of course, means nothing without the right person working the tools. When I went into the shop for a badly needed haircut, it was nicely busy with a steady flow of customers. I felt welcomed and, as luck would have it, Jermaine was immediately available. What I came out with was as much an experience as it was a haircut. Jermaine took time to design my cut for what I wanted and what he thought would work for me. His craft is as much art as it is the mechanics of cutting hair.
Jermain’s path to artist barber started early in his native Illinois. In seventh grade he started doing his own airbrush designs on T-shirts and jeans. Things quickly graduated to the entrepreneurial when he starting airbrushing clothing for other kids in his school. Custom clothing designs turned into hair designs and later, more formal training to become a barber.
Today, Jermaine is the lead at the shop which is owned by his brother. That is what brought him to Arizona. Other barbers rent space in the shop and keep a steady flow of satisfied regular customers. When asked what it is about hair cutting that keeps him coming in everyday, Jermaine said it is getting the right look for his customers. It is not just about getting a quick haircut. Anyone can do that. He likens his work to getting a tailored suit. Anyone can buy a suit off the rack and probably look good, but a tailored suit makes you look great.
Jermaine and his crew at The Cut are located at 780 E Elliot Tempe, AZ. They are passionate about their work and looking to build on their loyal and local clientele.
