We were lucky to catch up with John Mosley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi John , thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I grew up in California and that’s where I started my business and built my Popular Nobody Brand. I was doing so many different things from education, working behind the chair, photoshoots and so much more. Over time I started to feel like I couldn’t grow anymore so I decided I was going to take my children and move out of the state and start over……and I did. Made the move to Dallas Texas with a clean start and did everything I was doing in California and more without a cap on my creativity and vision.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As visionary barber, educator, and entrepreneur redefining industry standards. As the Founder and CEO of The Popular Nobody Brand, he has earned accolades such as Modern Salon’s “Top 100 Industry Game Changers,” Barbershop Connect’s “Barber Educator of the Year,” and the prestigious 2022 NAHA Educator of the Year award.

My expertise has led to collaborations and partnerships with Andis Clipper Company, SalonCentric, Vagaro, and Tommy Guns Barbershop, and his role as Creative Director for Dandymen Product Line. In 2023, he launched a clipper collaboration with Andis Clipper Co., and in 2024, he was named OG Barber of the Year by Clutch Barber Supply.

My client list has includes some of Hollywood icons, music industry giants like Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Randy Newman and many others as well as top-tier athletes from the MLB, NFLPA, and NBA. His work has graced the pages of GQ, Vogue, New York Times Style, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and more.

Committed to mentorship and elevating the industry, I continue to inspire, educate, and create space for the next generation of professionals. The work speaks louder than words—leaving a lasting impact wherever he goes.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I built my reputation in the barbering market by staying true to who I am and leading with authenticity. Being myself allowed me to genuinely connect with clients and other professionals, which helped build trust and long-term relationships. I made it a priority to consistently show up for others—whether that meant being reliable for my clients, supportive of my peers, or contributing to my community.

Leadership played a huge role as well. I didn’t wait for opportunities to come to me—I took initiative, stepped up, and found ways to lead, especially through education. I scaled beyond just cutting hair behind the chair and expanded into branding, education, and content creation. That’s where the Popular Nobody brand was born—turning a personal vision into something bigger than myself.

Social media and education became key tools in growing my presence. By sharing my knowledge and journey online, I was able to inspire others, connect with a wider audience, and position myself as a go-to professional in the industry.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I would work in the shop and all the money that was made would be the funding for me to grow the brand. I would also work with other companies as an educator and that would also help build the brand. So what I’m saying is I used my own money to develop and build what I wanted for myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mysite.vagaro.com/popularnobodybrands/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popular_nobody
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmosley
• Linkedin: John Mosley
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@popular_nobody

Image Credits

Justin Owens
@j.kylephotography