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

Edward Lamont , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I have been working in the barber industry for 23 years, open 3 small barber shops, worked in a few and learn that most was just put together to make money and sure that’s what businesses goals are to make money. I wanted something that pampered the men and even young men. So in Dec 2022 I open up another small business call Lamont’s Barbershop Grooming Lounge. I’m Lamont! We offer barbershop services, on a upscale level with experience, This is a male grooming  and this is the lounge. I’m looking to expand it and add 7 barbers and at least 7 new shops by 2026 looking to open 2 in 2024. I won’t go in detail of what the shops will offer overall but be looking forward to the experience. I plan to train our staff and open a skills school also teaching barbering, finances, business and more.

Edward Lamont , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

How is everyone? I am Edward Lamont Baxter. Born in Orangeburg South Carolina, Father, Edward Mack nickname Bubba Mack, he was a entrepreneur, he showed  me how to stand on my own and not compete with no one win on your level and every level you level up on. Mother, Darryla Y Baxter, she was a model and into modeling when she was younger than my father, as she got older she got into the hospital field and been there for 25 years, she taught me how to be consistent and when I was younger she cut my hair and mess it up. That would be the start of my career as a barber and more having parents that’s live in separate household but learn so much having a father and a mother. .

I have been a Master barber for 23 years and now looking to teach the skill and business to many more

As a kid a had and still do have an taste and look for art. That’s door open me up to drawing, doing art, sculptures, painting, designing shoes and I got the love for barbering when my mother couldn’t afford to get my haircut at the time but she had some barber clippers around some how!

Lol. So she took a chance to cut my hair leaving it like a bowl cut no fade or line up. I couldn’t allow myself to go out like that so I grab the clippers cut it all off and from that day I did it until I went and gain some knowledge form a barber years later when I start getting haircuts in a barbershop

As a kid I use to go to the barbershop and listen to the older guys have life talk, sports talk, and more, but I also got to watch them cut hair and learn and also got to sweep up and earn some money.

As I got in my teens I was going to a barbershop where now I was getting my haircuts , my barber was cool and could cut hair. So as time went on. I ask him could he show me how to cut hair and he said it’s cool just stick around ask question and learn. So days he would work, I would make sure that I was there to learn.

I started going to my barber and learning and I start seeing the money being exchange and how the clients would tip and most was very happy and came back to get haircuts a week or two later.

So I learn so much but still need more knowledge, a year later I got into some trouble and had a minor set back so 3 years later I got back into barbering and end up going to a barber college in Columbia SC, the school was call Harley’s barber college.

I was so excited to get into the barber college, I’ always been intrigued to learn things I enjoy doing. The school was mainly all black students male and female. We learn how to be master barbers and stylists.. I learn fast so it allow me to get finish in 9 months and it takes a year to complete. The college was fun we had our ups and downs., learn a lot and was able to apply it in the actual barbershops.

As my career was starting I had to build clients and take it serious, I’m order to make money and master my skills. But before going into my career I had to take tests in order to get my master barber license after all that hard work in the barber college.

So I had to go to the state board and take a written and practical test. I fail the written test twice but I past the practical the first time. One thing about me I don’t like to give up knowing if I keep trying I’ll pass, after the second time on the written I past.

After passing the barber test getting my master barber license, I end up finding a shop to work in. The shop was small 3 barbers two stylist, I was an ok barber but I work everyday long hours, messing up to get it right, I had to learn how to be a business, marketing myself as well. I worked at that shop for a few years then moving on to other shops that paid more and had better services so I could level up in my career. I would work a shop for at least two years and I only work 4 shops while in Columbia Sc for 13 years.

So now I’m at a point where I wanna grow. More but need a bigger city to go to. But through y’all that I pick up music and started going to recording studios in Columbia Sc and I start getting really good at that also. So I started a record label called Linc Up Ent, where I start branding my company getting a logo, shirts, and more, I was recording songs, making music videos and performing music shows and still cutting hair.

So in 2015 I moved to Atlanta Ga to work on my music and barbering career where I would go to music school at SAE of Atlanta Ga getting my associate degree as a audio engineer graduate in 2017 started in 2016. Landed som live sound jobs working for some major names. Mary J Blige, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, The Migos, Pink Floyd, Paul McCarthy, Super Bowl in Atlanta Ga, Disney on ice and Joshua Tree in Miami at the hard rock stadium and much more all while I still cut hair.

Barbering has pay to help me keep up my bills and the kids I made along my journey.
I open up three small barber shops in Ga and now looking to expand my Lamont’s Barbershop Grooming lounge that has a team of 7 with a staff that caters to male grooming allowing the client s to have a safe haven to come get the best service and experience offered in the world. So at this point o am building that and looking for a bigger space to bring that vision to light and and also looking to start Lamont’s Barber Academy that will train and teach others to have this skill and be able to be professional and gain a career that will provide for them and their family and friends. Lamont’s Barbershop Grooming Lounge is now located in Sandy Springs Ga at 227 Sandy Springs PL #442 Suite #306 Sandy Springs Ga 30328. I’m always looking to build with others and help them grow. My careers became a lifestyle to me. Love what you do and do what you love.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Never giving up and never be scared to grow. You will have to let go some old to gain the new.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding your business is never ending as long as you have a business and you growing that business. Just build great relations in areas that will help. Work on your credit separate your personal from business and learn learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lamontbarbershopgroominglounge.com
• Instagram: Lamonts_bsgl
• Youtube: Lamont_da_barber
• Yelp: Lamonts Barbershop Grooming Lounge

Image Credits
Edward Baxter