We were lucky to catch up with J. Dillard recently and have shared our conversation below.
J., appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
J. Dillard is a master barber and the author of the multi-award-winning children’s book series “J.D. the Kid Barber.”
J., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
“Follow Your Clippers” is the lifelong mantra that continues to inspire J.Dillard to achieve phenomenal success as a children’s book author, a Master Barber, and a barberpreneur™.
Dillard is the author of the semi-autobiographical children’s book series “J.D. the Kid Barber,” which consists of three titles: “J.D. and the Great Barber Battle,” “J.D. and the Family Business,” and “J.D. and the Hair Show Showdown.” Like the main character, Dillard’s barber career began at a very young age after his mother’s failed haircut attempts resulted in his peers bullying him at school in Meridian, Mississippi.
Dillard’s seemingly childhood tragedy is the foundation for an over 22-year career as a Master Barber and barberpreneur. He opened his first barber shop in 1999 while attending Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee, Alabama, on a football scholarship. Today, he’s a highly sought-after barber who makes house calls and travels worldwide with his clients, who are celebrity influencers. A trailblazing leader, Dillard is widely credited with influencing the barber industry’s dynamic growth.
His mission is to positively impact professional barbers through his ingenuity that is motivated by his passion, created by his vision, produced by his belief, and ignited by his dedication.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the things I love about my story is after my mother gave me a botched haircut, I had to start school the next day. I dealt with kids teasing me based on what they saw, including my peers and close friends. It was a feeling of embarrassment that I could not shake for several weeks.
Being able to overcome the embarrassment and take what happened to me, which my mother did with the good intent of saving money and spending more time with her children, has allowed me to travel the world and provide advice that changes people’s lives. I listen to people and watch how they move throughout life positively and impactfully. My story shows my resilience and ability to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome. I encourage others to stick to the path, knowing there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is beautifying my clients from the neck up and watching them light up when they see the finished product. These are the most significant aspects of my career. It also brings me joy for some of my other clients to see my artistry on billboards, magazine and book covers, reality TV shows, and movies, and my ability to change lives daily through my artistry.
As an artist and best-selling children’s book author, I love and am excited to get a chance to visit libraries and elementary schools where children are excited about and in tune with the book series. This is one of the most rewarding things that has happened to me, and I know children are enjoying the J.D. the Kid Barber series.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jdthekidbarber.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjdillard/?hl=en & https://www.instagram.com/jdthekidbarber/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-dillard-855974b6
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamJDillard
- Other: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/JDK/jd-the-kid-barber
Image Credits
Headshots: Angelo Riley Book Illustrations: Akeem S. Roberts Photos with youth: Teresa Totten, DeKalb County Public Library