Tulsa Tech Barber Graduate Has Style
By DR. STEVE TIGER
Superintendent
STYLE FOR SALE: Brandon Thompson, a recent graduate of Tulsa Tech’s Barber Program, is owner of Pure Image Barber & Beauty, located in Bartlesville. Thompson’s shop offers haircuts for men and women, with an emphasis on cutting and styling hair for African-Americans.
Courtesy Tulsa Tech
Brandon Thompson definitely has a unique style, but he prefers to be called a barber rather than a stylist.
“I’m a barber so my focus is on haircuts for men and boys,” Thompson says. “Although I can trim and do a few highlights, when women ask if I can cut their hair, I usually refer them to the stylist in my shop who provides services primarily for women.”
Thompson graduated from Tulsa Tech’s Barber Program in April 2011 and is now the owner of Pure Image Barber & Beauty, located at the intersection of Highway 75 and Nowata Road in Bartlesville.
“I bought the shop before I graduated and began fixing it up with help from my friends,” Thompson explains. “I was extremely happy a couple of months later when I passed the state certification exam on my first attempt, because several people had warned me that it wasn’t unusual to fail on your first try.”
Tulsa Tech barber instructor, Tyson Thompson (no relation) is very proud of the accomplishments of his former student.
“For a student to graduate and immediately go to work in a salon or shop is always very rewarding,” Tyson says. “But to have a student like Brandon who is able to start a successful business and open his own shop, that’s just incredible.”
Thompson is quick to give credit to both his instructor and Tulsa Tech for his success as a barber and a businessman and also as a student.
“Tyson not only taught me how to cut hair, but he shared with me how to think about a business, how to manage money, and how to make a good living as a barber,” Thompson says. “And getting started in the program at Tech was so much more affordable than any of the other schools in the area.”
Although Thompson had cut hair for just a few family members before, he was attracted to the industry for the reason that while Bartlesville has several barbers, many are getting close to retirement, and very few, if any, specialized in cutting and styling hair for African-Americans.
“Several of the barbers around town keep talking about retiring soon,” Thompson says. “And I knew a lot of folks that were driving all the way to Tulsa just so they could get the type of haircut they wanted.”
A great barber, a successful entrepreneur and a caring individual who never misses an opportunity to give back to the community, Thompson especially enjoys events like his Back-to-School haircuts in Bartlesville or the annual Barber-Cutt-Off at Tulsa Tech’s Peoria Campus. Both events provide free haircuts each year to hundreds of young children.
“While I was a student and still learning how to cut hair, our instructor would have us visit different schools and give free haircuts, one after another, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.,” he says. “This was great practice for me, and it taught us to stay in touch with the community.”
Tulsa Tech’s Peoria Campus offers $5 haircuts for both children and adults every Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Brandon Thompson may prefer to be called a barber rather than a stylist, but in the opinion of the faculty and staff at Tulsa Tech, this successful graduate and businessman certainly has a great deal of style.
If you’re currently looking for exciting classes as a high school or adult student, quality business and industry training, or a career that’s a cut above the rest, Tulsa Tech invites you to visit today. For more information, please call 918-828-5200, or visit online at tulsatech.edu.
Updated 10-18-2012
READER COMMENTS
About Post Author
