Meet Jared Anthony Thomas

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jared Anthony Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jared Anthony, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My grandfather. Ever since I could remember, I’ve always been faced with statements from my elders saying how hardworking my grandfather has been his entire life. My whole work ethic and ethic in general derives from the best man I know in the world. Albert Thomas.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Jared Anthony Thomas. I was born and raised in Vallejo, California, and currently work out of Benicia, where I’ve proudly built a name for myself as a barber over the last 10 years. I’m currently in my 6th year at Modern Man Barbershop, and I wouldn’t change a thing about where I’m at. I’m honored to be part of a team that’s relentless in its commitment to taking care of anyone and everyone in the community. It’s not just about haircuts — it’s about presence, service, and connection.

Barbering, for me, is about more than skill. It’s about creating safe spaces for real conversations. I’m extremely personable and grounded. While I hold my own opinions, I make it a point to stay open-minded and neutral, especially when clients share parts of their lives with me. I believe in listening without bias and offering a space where people feel respected and heard — no judgment, just honesty and care.

Being from Vallejo, I’ve seen how often people’s stories end in tragedy or infamy. My mission is to flip that narrative and leave behind something meaningful — a positive legacy rooted in community and impact. I plan to open my own shop in the near future, and within the next decade, launch a barber college built around structure, mentorship, and support — the kind of experience I wish I had when I was just starting out.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just a job. It’s my way of giving back, building something bigger than myself, and showing people from where I come from that we can create something lasting, something great.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Communication. Communication is key in this industry, if you don’t know how to read and or talk to people. It will not last! I always tell aspiring barbers, if you don’t care, or learn to care about every aspect of your clients. You’ll have a hard time generally speaking.

Work ethic. Work ethic is one of the most important things in barbering. If you can not bring yourself to wake up early, and stay late, how do you expect to gain a following? At the end of the day, you dictate your paycheck by how many hours you spend at the barbershop. Even a simple greeting to one passing by, can gain you a forever client, and on top of that a good friend for life possibly! One thing I’ve learned over the past 10 years is that you never know what can come from a rapport with the person sitting in your chair! You never know!

Lastly, persistence. Persistence also goes hand in hand with what’s stated above. If you can’t sustain a regular schedule, how do you expect to have a steady schedule? You will be scatterbrained. The bottom line; Be there at the shop to take care of anyone that walks through that door. Greet everyone and I do mean everyone that’s passes by, full schedule or not. Just remember, everyone’s hair is always growing, and it’ll need to be cut at a certain point. And if not by you, hopefully one of your colleagues at your shop. But building relationships and maintaining the rapport you create at the shop will come with an abundance of opportunity in the barber industry.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

For me, the shop is my savior when I’m going through tough times. When I am overwhelmed with daily life, I step into the shop, and literally everything vanishes. Just me, my client, clippers and conversation.

I guess you can say it goes hand in hand with truly having a passion for cutting hair. There’s a huge difference between a barber and someone that knows how to cut hair.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Jaredthomas.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: @jaredanthonythomas
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/VgN1ge2ugh