From cutting hair in his basement to building barbershops, colleges, and launching a credit union, Larry E. Roberts Jr. shares how grit, vision, and community-first leadership transformed his career—and how barbers and stylists can build sustainable wealth and impact too.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start Early & Learn by Doing: Larry began cutting hair at age 13 and emphasizes the value of practical experience—even if it starts in your basement with $20 clippers.

🔅Licensing Is About Safety, Not Just Skill: Roberts highlights the importance of theory and licensing, not just for credibility, but to ensure health and safety in the profession.

🔅Build Before You Own: He warns new barbers and stylists not to rush into ownership. Without a strong client base and clear systems, you risk burnout and instability.

🔅Commission Over Booth for Beginners: Larry recommends commission-based setups for new professionals to guarantee income and learn operations before jumping into booth rental.

🔅Financial Literacy = Longevity: From paying taxes to planning retirement, barbers and stylists need financial systems to build wealth and security.

🔅Create Ecosystems, Not Just Businesses: Larry has built an integrated empire—including barbershops, schools, housing, transportation, a clothing line, and a credit union—to support beauty professionals from all angles.

🔅Think Long-Term: Whether launching a product, barbershop, or school, every move Larry made was part of a 10+ year vision.

🔅Pay It Forward: Larry uses his nonprofit to provide free services, open schools in jails and high schools, and offer housing and mentorship to those in need.

👉Follow Larry on Instagram

👉Follow Larry's Barber College on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

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The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.