Meet Joshua Esnard

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joshua Esnard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Joshua with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I grew up in Saint Lucia, this tiny but beautiful country where everyone lives the DIY lifestyle – do it yourself. My dad was super old school, the kind of guy who needed to do everything himself. He wouldn’t pay for a barber, he built things, he made his own toys as a kid. People there build their own houses! So I grew up seeing that if you want something done, you do it yourself.
When I started The Cut Buddy, that DIY spirit kicked in hard. I was dead broke from getting patents, no investors would touch my idea – all they wanted was sexy tech and AI, not a hair template. So I had to bootstrap everything myself. Man, my back was against the wall, I was ‘rope-a-dope like Ali’ – if this didn’t work out, I would’ve been homeless. But that pressure just made me fight harder. I was in my garage packing hundreds of packages, running to the post office every day until the workers started calling me ‘Mr. Cut Buddy.’
That’s my work ethic – it’s that DIY spirit from Saint Lucia mixed with knowing that when your back’s against the wall, you’ve got no choice but to keep punching. When you’ve got to fight for what you believe in, you just keep showing up and doing the work.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Man, let me tell you – we created this amazing tool called The Cut Buddy Shaping Template that helps people get perfect hairline cuts and edge-ups at home. What makes it really special is how it’s changing lives in ways I never even imagined. We started with this simple idea – I was just a 13-year-old kid tired of getting bad haircuts from my dad, cutting up plastic templates from dish detergent bottles to try to get my lines right!
What excites me most is seeing how our products – hair clippers, trimmers, bald shavers, shaving creams, after shaves – help all kinds of people to feel better. We’ve got veterans with disabilities who can now steady their hands to get clean cuts, military service members keeping sharp while deployed, moms with autistic children who can finally give their kids proper haircuts at home, and salon artists using it to perfect their craft. Every time I read a review or get a message about how The Cut Buddy is helping someone feel more confident, it reminds me why we do this.
The brand has blown up in ways I couldn’t have dreamed of. We went viral with 10 million views on one video back in 2017, got featured in GQ and Black Enterprise, and even landed a deal on Shark Tank with my idol Daymond John – full circle moment since I used to wear his FUBU clothes as a kid! Now you can find Cut Buddy products in tens of thousands of retail stores nationwide.
But here’s what’s really special about our brand – it’s not just about haircuts and self-grooming. It’s about solving real problems and creating confidence. Every product we make has to serve that mission. I started this journey by writing down a problem in my inventor’s book, and that’s still how we approach everything today. When you see someone using The Cut Buddy, you’re not just seeing a hair tool, you’re seeing someone taking control of their appearance and building their confidence. That’s what we’re really about.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First is invention instinct – knowing the difference between just having ideas and having real solutions. I joke with folks that any product sitting in Walmart started as a problem someone had. When I was 13, I didn’t just complain about bad haircuts, I started cutting up plastic templates and testing different designs. That’s my advice to anyone starting out: don’t just identify problems, actively experiment with solutions, even if they’re rough prototypes.
Second is understanding your market through real connection. Initially, I thought I was just selling a hair tool. But by really listening to customer reviews and feedback, I discovered whole communities who needed this – from veterans to parents of kids with special needs. For anyone starting out, spend time truly understanding who needs your solution and why. That insight completely changes how you build and market your product.
Third is business adaptability. When I saw I couldn’t be my own model anymore because of my hairline, I pivoted to working with micro-influencers. Instead of expensive sponsorships, I created win-win situations with commission structures that helped everyone – customers got discounts, influencers earned income, and we built a loyal community. My advice? Stay flexible in your business approach. The route to success usually looks different than what you first imagined.
Most importantly though, and here’s something I learned the hard way – always be ready to recognize when you need to make a change. Whether it’s your strategy, your marketing, or even your role in your own company, be willing to adapt when circumstances change.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

You know, I need to be real with you about this. Success can look amazing from the outside – going viral, getting on Shark Tank, having your products in stores nationwide. But I learned the hard way that if you’re not taking care of yourself mentally, none of that stuff matters.
When I feel overwhelmed, I stop and remind myself of what true happiness means. It took me years to learn this – I was so caught up in chasing success that I never defined what actually makes me happy. Now when things get heavy, I take a step back and think about that simple drawing we all did as kids – the family, the home, the sunny day. What really matters to me?
I’m blessed to have an incredible support system. My wife has been there through all the ups and downs, helping me stay grounded. Jason Battle and Alex Kresovich, my Cut Buddy team – they’re not just business partners, they’re friends who understand the journey. When you’re overwhelmed, don’t try to be a hero. Let your people support you. Sometimes just having someone in your corner makes all the difference.
My biggest advice? Celebrate your wins. I mean really celebrate them. I missed out on so many moments of joy because I was always chasing the next thing. Take those moments to recognize how far you’ve come. Your mental health isn’t something you deal with after you’re successful – it’s what helps you get there and enjoy it when you do.
Remember, at the end of the day, your happiness and mental health are most important. Everything else is just details.

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