Nicole Elizabeth Karl shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nicole Elizabeth, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
i think the most misunderstood thing about my business is that barbering is just a side job or something simple.
the truth is, its a licensed profession that requires schooling, training, and passing state exams. we also work very closely with the heath department to make sure everything we do in the barbershop is safe and clean for people- from sanitation to preventing the spread of diseases or infections.
aside from the education we also have to maintain a personal level of consistency and professionalism in order to successfully build and keep a clientele and a lot of that you learn best though time and experience.
its not “just cutting hair” its creating an inviting environment, building trust with the people you work on, and running a business. if it was really that easy there wouldn’t be a barbershop on almost every corner.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
certainly! my name is Nicole Elizabeth Karl and i am a 15 year elite- level men’s grooming specialist from San Diego California. i am currently based in Okinawa, Japan i am a internationally published craftsman whose main focus is offering a personalized, high-end barbering experience that blends tradition with modern style.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
after 15 years behind the chair, the part of me that needs to be released is the “hustle- survival ” version of myself – the part of me that for the past 15 years felt that i always had to grind nonstop to prove my worth to others and although that version of me has served its purpose by helping me feel confident in my skills through experience, by teaching me discipline and resilience. i think its time to get focused on growth-learning how to work smarter not just harder, – and creating a healthier balance so i can pour more into my relationships with my clients, the barber community, my family and myself because i want to do this far longer then i already have with out experiencing burn out.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
id say the fear that has always held me back the most in my life is the fear of not being good enough- worrying that my work or my vision wouldn’t measure up. in barbering , that sometimes made me hesitate to try new things or delay taking risks in my career. i was also easily influenced earlier on in my career by people who i thought were looking out for me or who i thought knew better then me , only to realize later on down the line that following their examples only held me back. there were also a lot of times i felt taken advantage of or underpaid earlier on in my career, but pushing through those experiences held the lesson that pushed me to gain more confidence in my skills and strive for more independence. now i am able to use fear as a guide – a sign of growth and an opportunity.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
the public version of me is the real me, but its only a part of who i truly am. There’s so much more to me outside of work, interviews and social media, and as much as i do share, there’s a lot that i choose to keep private. I don’t feel the need to put every single thing i go through or do on display. Those unseen moments are what shape the person people do see, which helps me maintain some privacy while still being under the public eye. I also think having more to share privately creates something meaningful for the people i do grow close to, because they get to see another side of me, making my personal relationships much more valuable and special.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when i am fully focused on the haircut, flowing with the rhythm of my tools, and seeing every detail come to life. in those moments, barbering feels less like a job and more like meditation in motion. It’s a combination of passion and creativity, blended in with the connection i have with my client and seeing my client leave happy and confident, brings me a deep sense of peace and fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: xo.thevelvetrazor
Image Credits
photography by: Tyler Aghas
instagram: @the_digital_daze
barbershop: Pappy’s Barbershop San Deigo CA
instagram: @pappysbarbershop
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