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

Hi Nathan, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risks I ever took was walking away from the “safe” path and choosing to build my own brand — not just to make money, but to build a legacy my kids could inherit. I went all-in on myself long before I had recognition, partnerships, or momentum behind my name.

The backstory is simple: I started cutting hair in rooms and basements with nothing but clippers and ambition. But I kept feeling a pull toward something bigger — a vision where barbering wasn’t just a job but a platform. I wanted to build something my kids could point to one day and say, “He created that from nothing.”

So I took the risk.
I walked away from stability and invested everything into creating Nate The Barber (NTB) — a brand that would grow far beyond a single chair.

At first, it was just me. Then the accolades started stacking because of consistency, discipline, and refusing to quit:
• Official Rewind It 10 Ambassador
• Created the viral “Miles For Rewind” series
• Built a booked-out barbershop from scratch
• Cut celebrity & high-profile clients
• Recognized in my industry for enhancement work & transformations
• Collaborated with creators, athletes, and brands
• Invited into private VIP spaces, events, and circles
• Became the face of positivity with “Fade Out Demons”
• Growing the Fade Out Demons Foundation focused on giving back
• Expanded my brand into multiple lanes — content, community, business

But none of that was promised at the start.
There were weeks where the money was tight, days when the doubt got loud, and moments where the risk looked bigger than the reward.

What kept me moving was the purpose behind it:
I wasn’t just building a barbershop — I was building a legacy.
A name, a mission, a story that would outlive me.

And how did the risk turn out?
It changed the entire trajectory of my life. The opportunities I have today — from partnerships, interviews, VIP invitations, the growth of NTB, the attention from brands, the platform I’ve built — all came from that one decision to bet on myself when no one else saw the vision.

Today, every move I make reflects the same mission:
I’m not just working for today — I’m building something my kids and community can build on tomorrow.

Nathan, 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?

My name is Nathan Ross, known in the industry as Nate The Barber (NTB) — a barber, creator, entrepreneur, and brand-builder who turned a pair of clippers and a vision into a business, a platform, and a legacy.

I got into barbering because I saw early on that the chair isn’t just a place where people get a haircut — it’s where confidence is rebuilt, stories get shared, and people walk out feeling like the best version of themselves. Barbering became my craft, but it also became my vehicle: for family, for purpose, and for the message I carry with me everywhere — Fade Out Demons.

WHAT I DO & THE SERVICES I PROVIDE

I specialize in:
• High-end men’s grooming
• Transformational beard work
• Enhancement mastery
• Film- and photo-grade detail work
• Brand partnerships
• Content creation and storytelling
• Youth mentorship & community-inspired projects
• Motivational content about discipline, purpose, and mental health

I built a barbershop that is more than a service — it’s a brand experience. Clients come to me not only for a cut, but for the way I make them feel, the energy I bring, and the level of consistency and care I put into every detail.

MY BRANDS

Nate the Barber (NTB) – my core identity, craftsmanship, and business.
Fade Out Demons (FOD) – my message-driven brand about overcoming negativity and rising above what tries to hold you back.
Miles For Rewind – a creative storytelling series blending barbering, movement, brand collaboration, and inspiration.
Fade Out Demons Foundation – a developing service-based project to give back to youth, families, and underserved communities.

ACCOLADES & INDUSTRY PRESENCE

Through my work, consistency, and storytelling, I’ve had opportunities to connect with — and create for — people in spaces far beyond the barbershop:
• Official Ambassador for Rewind It 10
• Creator of the viral Miles For Rewind mini-series
• Worked with influencers, athletes, CEOs, and entertainment figures
• Recognized inside industry circles connected to Grammy-nominated talent & creators
• Invited to private rooms, VIP events, and collaborative projects
• Built a brand respected across barbering, creative culture, and social media

I never waited for a seat at the table — I built My name is Nathan Ross, known as Nate The Barber (NTB) — a barber, creator, and brand-builder focused on confidence, storytelling, and legacy. I started cutting hair with nothing but ambition and turned it into a booked-out business, a personal brand, and multiple movements that reach far beyond the chair.

I specialize in high-end grooming, beard transformations, enhancement mastery, and content that blends real stories with precise craftsmanship. I’m the creator of Miles For Rewind, the founder of Fade Out Demons, and an official Rewind It 10 Ambassador, with work and collaborations connected to Grammy-nominated artists and industry figures.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just cut hair — I uplift people. My clients come for the quality, but they stay for the energy, the honesty, and the way the experience makes them feel. My brand solves more than appearance problems; it helps people reset mentally, build confidence, and feel seen. That same mission extends into my developing Fade Out Demons Foundation, where I give back through service, free cuts, and community support.

I’m most proud that I built all of this from the ground up — no investors, no shortcuts — just belief, consistency, and discipline. Everything I create, from my shop to my content to my partnerships, is rooted in one purpose: I’m building a legacy for my family and a message for anyone who’s fighting their demons.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience is the foundation of everything I’ve built. Two years ago, I was 200 pounds heavier, battled addiction, and fighting for my own life in silence for years . I was showing up for everyone else but not for myself. And one day I just made a decision — not a dramatic moment, not a movie scene — just a quiet promise to myself that enough was enough. My faith in something larger then myself and Knowing manifesting is more of a mindset and I learned how real.

I changed my habits, my environment, my mindset… my entire identity. I lost over 200 pounds. I got clean. I rebuilt my discipline from the ground up. And every day since has been a lesson in what the human spirit can really do when it stops negotiating with its old self.

That same resilience poured directly into my craft. Into becoming Nate The Barber. Into Miles For Rewind after winning the Rewind it 10 transformation challenge company owned by Jeff and his wife carolyn Anderson billionaires personally scouted me out and getting a contract with Fat Joes company . Into serving clients at the highest level — CEOs, athletes, artists. Into believing I deserved a bigger life, even when nobody else saw that version of me yet.

My journey taught me that real resilience isn’t loud. It’s the small choices, made consistently, especially when no one is clapping for you. It’s losing 200 pounds one pound at a time. It’s staying clean one day at a time. It’s betting on yourself when every old habit tries to pull you backward.

Everything I am today — Ceo, Grammy nominated barber, as a creative, entrepreneur, father, husband, mentor — came from that resilience. I didn’t just bounce back… I rebuilt. And I’m still going. This is the beginning of my book.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

“I built my reputation by focusing on something most barbers overlook: relationships. Any barber can learn how to give a sick fade — that’s just technique. But building trust, loyalty, and genuine connection? That’s what builds a career. That’s what keeps you booked at 8 AM every day for almost twenty years.

I opened my barbershop 19 years ago in Hudson Falls, NY . I call it the (home of the fade) my slogan, becuse no one even knew what the word meant. — a tiny tourist town almost near the Canadian border — and from day one I treated every client like a relationship, not a transaction. That mindset is why my shop has won Best Barbershop in the Region for the last 10 years straight — first place, every single time. People don’t return just because of the cut… they return because of how you make them feel and the consistency you bring.”

“Even coming from a small town, my name started spreading way beyond it. When you focus on relationships, your work ends up in rooms you haven’t even walked into yet. That’s how I ended up cutting Tom Denford, connecting with Jeff Aronson, and building with Rich The Player. It’s how I started working with legends like Fat Joe, Cool & Dre, and Hall of Famer Andre Reed. Attented house party’s at NFL players houses. Also how I was able artists like Gorilla Zoe and Maino — and even got Cassidy shouting out my shop publicly as ‘the best barbershop, period.’ Moments like that don’t come from chasing attention. They come from years of character, professionalism, and elite service.”

“But the part I’m proudest of is the impact back home. We’ve raised over $200,000 for families in need, supported kids, and stayed active in community engagement. In a small town, that matters. Being a barber isn’t just cutting hair — it’s showing up for people, building confidence, and bringing the community together.”

“If I had one message for barbers coming up, it’s this: don’t just focus on giving a crazy fade. Focus on building real relationships and serving your community. That’s what creates loyalty, longevity, and a legacy that lasts.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fadeoutdemons.com
• Instagram: https://Www.Instagram.com/natethebarber2010

Image Credits

Nate Ross