TEXARKANA, Texas – Stephen Brown, owner of Hairy Armadillo, has moved his business from his Arkansas side location across from the downtown courthouse to Richmond Road. He also added two barbers to his team.
Garret McNeil, 19, recently completed his certifications. McNeil lives in Hooks and travels to Texarkana to practice his trade.
“Stephen kind of pushed me into the business,†McNeil said. “He encouraged me to try this profession. It turns out I like it. I was Stephen’s client before that. The main attraction for me is working for myself.”
Rooster Johnson, the other member of the crew, is originally from Atlanta and now lives in Nash. The 34-year-old is the oldest member of the Hairy Armadillo crew.
“I have been in the business for four months,” he said. “It’s officially, as a certified haircut. Unofficially, a little longer. I wanted to work for myself, do something creative with my hands. I don’t like having a boss.â€
Brown has owned the Hairy Armadillo for three and a half years and has been at the new address on the Texas side for a month.
“I found more flexibility on the Texas side,†he said. “So now I have two new barbers working here. “
Brown comes from a haircut family, with many parents in the trade.
“Mom owns State Beauty Supply, just down the street,†he said. “My stepfather, Donny Ratliff, owns the Danny Ratliff barber here in town. My wife is also a stylist. My great-grandfather was also a barber.”
Brown enjoys the independence offered by the profession.
“I like being self-employed,†he said. “Be my own boss, set my own hours, my own metrics for success. Good business, low overhead, service-based. Not likely to be automated either.”
(Hairy Armadillo is located at 1002 Richmond Road. Visit them on Facebook.)
