We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dani Lyles a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dani, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned how to cut hair in an unorthodox way… YouTube + apprenticeship led me to where I am today, 13 years later. With what I know now, there’s nothing I could’ve done to speed up the process. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t. What I had to learn was how to trust the process. Choose to learn from mistakes made and show gratitude for growth within that process you’re learning to trust.
Skills I deem most essential are versatility, communication, dependability and determination.
There are many things that stood in the way, but the biggest obstacle was myself. Once I learned how to move aside, it’s been all gas no breaks.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I first got into the art of being a barber in Warner Robins, GA where I grew up. I used to cut hair around the city to put a few dollars in my pocket, met a woman that that cut hair for a living and said I could make a lot of money. I was sold, and started my pursuit of becoming the creator I am today. I believe that love I put into each experience is what keeps me in my own lane and sets me apart. No one can recreate my expression on a canvas, they can only create their own.
I’m most proud of my ability to keep wanting to learn and grow, as well as having a gift that can always keep giving in a cycle.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is I am able to keep learning about myself and who I am, express that and not apologize for it. That’s dope to me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I was always told to keep dreaming and never give up on them, because one day… you might regret it. That’s the mission, never give up.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thesouthernbarber

Image Credits
Trill Travis Q Issac Rickey Charles