The craft of cutting hair is in Justin David’s blood and it’s one he hopes to extend to Sewickley’s Beaver Street in May.
“My mom was a cosmetologist and owned multiple salons in Virginia Beach,” David said. “One of my first memories was sitting in salon chairs.”
David, 36, of Dormont said some of his grandfathers also owned barbershops in South Carolina.
Plans are in the works for David’s “The Sewickley Barbershop” to open in May with hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
David said having extended hours has worked for his shop in Oakmont – The Gentlemen’s Club Barbershop – which he launched in July after a long bout of cutting hair for other barbers in the area. He hopes to split his time between the two shops, with five days in Sewickley and the other two in Oakmont.
“In the real world, people work until four or five every day, so we wanted to make sure we stayed open for people who need cuts later in the day,” he said.
Cuts will be available for men and women, he said. The shop will be outfitted with four barbers and two cosmetologists. Prices for women will vary, but men’s cuts will be around $20-30. Discounts will be available for veterans, active duty servicemen and women, police, firefighters and EMTs.
“There are a lot of military people in my family,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for them.”
He also wants his shop to be a one-stop-shop for families in need of haircuts, which is why he will hire two cosmetologists, he said.
“I want the whole family to be able to come in and get taken care of. If the wife wants a trendy cut with highlights, her eyebrows done – we can get her taken care of while the husband and the kid are done at the same time,” David said.
Justin “Jay” McAulisse, 32, of McKees Rocks will serve as Sewickley’s manager and co-founder. He has known David for more than 20 years now and has cut hair for around seven. He’s always kicked the idea around about having his own shop.
“When (David) contacted me, it was the perfect time – everything is falling into place at the perfect timing,” he said.
McAulisse said he loves the atmosphere inside a barbershop and the expressions on peoples’ faces when he’s done.
“One good haircut can transform a bad week,” he said. “It’s just crazy what a good haircut does to you.”
