Lessons learned from "doing hair"
Nathan Rios-Colon, barber, during the interview on October 3rd, 2023. (Liya Osiyemi/The Black Explosion)
As the door closed shut, the chirping of crickets slowly drowned out and was replaced by the soft buzz of a hair clipper. The bass of hip-hop music reverberated across the walls and a clean, musky scent of aftershave circulated the space. A replication semi-centennial traditional barbershop bundled in a small, repurposed basement. Inside the shop was a group of energetic people huddled closely, watching Nathan (Rio) Rios-Colon finish a cut.
This atmosphere, distinctly cultivated in varying spaces, is more common than expected in the College Park community.
Many of the Black community at the University of Maryland bustle online at all hours of the day on the Black Student Union GroupMe, under the name “BLACK UMD”. At the start of the semester, a message was sent requesting barbers around campus. Within minutes, replies began to flood in, dropping the names of UMD students and alumni around the area. One of them being Nathan Rios-Colon.
Nathan Rios-Colon
Rios-Colon, a barber located about 1.5 miles off campus, graduated from UMD last semester with a degree in community and behavioral health. Now, barbering for over two years, Rios-Colon is able to reflect on his experiences.
“I don't see it as just a haircut. I see it as an experience. I want to get to know you,” Rios-Colon said.
As someone who didn’t fit into any specific category, he sought to create an environment with no room for ignorance.
“Why be ignorant? Why not educate yourself to not live like that? I'd rather not live like that” Rios-Colon said.
Blake Bryant
Blake Bryant, a first-year mechanical engineering major, started cutting hair in the locker rooms of his high school. Quickly gaining a reputation as the “school barber”, Blake understood that cutting hair opens opportunities to connect with new people.
Blake appreciates the artistic aspect of his experience. Cutting hair as an art form requires balance and using different materials.
“You can’t cut one person the same as another,” Bryant said. “With all the different hair textures, I’ll change the way I move my razor.”
Drawing on the impact he leaves on his clients, Bryant said, “You’re able to take somebody, give them a haircut, and make them happy. It’s always a good feeling.”
Madeleine Oum-Ray
Madeleine Oum-Ray, a senior at UMD majoring in African-American studies, specializes in braiding women’s and men’s hair. Growing up in a braiding shop, she wanted to replicate the warm atmosphere she experienced in her childhood. Focusing on bringing an old-school nature to campus, Oum-Ray’s main mode of promotion was word of mouth.
“I wanted to give the vibe of the nostalgic hair salon that people used to grow up in,” Oum-Ray said. “You have conversations, you talk, you laugh.”
Since she started braiding, she’s been able to make many personal connections on campus. Not only does Oum-Ray braid clients' hair, but she washes it beforehand.
“It’s like I reduce that burden from them,” Oum-Ray said. “They feel like they’re getting taken care of, which I enjoy.”
Fatmata Jalloh
Fatmata Jalloh, a senior at UMD, majors in information science and specializes in protective styles such as lace installations and weaves. Jalloh has now grown from a student who did hair during the wake of the pandemic to a stylist working at a nearby salon, broadening her skills.
“COVID was definitely a bad time, but it gave us a lot of time to cultivate entrepreneurship,” Jalloh said.
Reflecting on her experience so far, Jalloh believes she’s come a long way; meeting new people has opened Jalloh’s eyes to so many different lives.
“I really like hair. It’s not just about the money. I love doing hair” Jalloh said. “The people I meet, the end result, the satisfaction of making someone feel so happy.”
The Instagrams of the business owners are listed in the order mentioned.
@rios_cuts
@blakesbips
@blessinghairbraiding2
@hairbyfatmata