Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Babcock.
Hi Chase, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I actually started cutting hair while I was incarcerated.
Growing up, I made choices that landed me in jails and prison. Along the way, one time one of my cellmates asked me to cut his hair for visitation. He walked me through how to use a comb and razor. That moment changed everything.
It gave me time—real time—to study my work. Before long, I was cutting a lot of the other inmates’ hair. Eventually, that drew the attention of staff and correctional officers. I began cutting their hair too… and even police officers.
That dynamic was powerful.
I was hearing stories from both sides—law enforcement and inmates. I learned how officers viewed situations, and how inmates reflected on their past and the lessons they were learning. What surprised me most was what the chair created: a safe space. A space where men could be vulnerable. Honest. Open.
I had never really experienced that before.
Looking back, I realized that most of the vulnerability and connection I experienced in my life happened while I was incarcerated—and I didn’t want that to be the only place it existed. I wanted to change that.
The last time I was away, I prayed hard. I asked God to give me something I could be so passionate about that I wouldn’t want to return to my old life. And He did.
He showed me barbering.
He showed me that cutting hair could be more than just a service—it could be a place where people escape the everyday hustle, a place where men could talk, connect, and build each other up. Not just for how they look, but for who they are.
When I got out, I took everything seriously. I got my barber license, and I was led to a shop formerly known as Mystros Hair Studio. I worked there for a few months and eventually became the manager.
Because of how I grew up—and what I experienced inside—one thing mattered deeply to me: if I ever owned a shop, it had to be multicultural.
In prison, there’s a lot of segregation. I didn’t want my shop to look like that. I didn’t want anyone to walk through the door and feel like they didn’t belong. I wanted to see change—and I knew that meant I had to be part of it.
So I bought the shop.
And I built exactly that.
We are a multicultural barbershop with a diverse staff, trained in all hair types and styles. We serve a multicultural community—and the community embraces us. We’re blessed to be a shop that’s a little different from the norm.
We’re a traditional barbershop with a modern vibe.
We stand on our core values.
We serve our community.
And we’re deeply passionate about what we do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road.
Coming from the situation I did, I still had a lot to learn. Owning my own business was intimidating. I wasn’t just cutting hair anymore—I had to learn what it meant to truly be a business owner.
That meant learning finances and taxes. Learning how to manage people. Learning how to navigate different personalities, perspectives, and expectations. None of that came easy.
But it taught me so much.
I learned how to communicate better. How to listen instead of react. How to put others first—not just in words, but in action. Leadership stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. It forced me to look inward and confront who I was, and who I was striving to become.
The shop didn’t just grow the business—it grew me.
And I truly believe it’s done the same for the barbers who’ve come through these doors. We’ve grown together. We’ve learned together. We’ve been sharpened by the process.
This journey is still shaping me. Still teaching me. Still refining me.
And that’s the blessing in it.
We’ve been impressed with Lather and Fade Barbershop, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a barber and barbershop owner.
We’ve been in business for three years—going on four this year—under the name Lather and Fade Barbershop. But my journey at this location goes much further than that. This year marks nine years that I’ve been behind the chair in this very space.
One of the reasons my clients continue to choose me is consistency. I take pride in running my appointments on time and being someone people can count on. I treat every client like family. When they sit in my chair, they’re stepping into a space where they can be open, honest, and themselves.
The conversations matter just as much as the cut.
We talk about family, growth, struggles, wins, and life in general. We build each other up through real conversation—while still delivering top-notch service and giving every client exactly what they want when it comes to their haircut.
That same standard lives throughout our shop.
Each of my barbers carries that same professionalism and heart. They treat every person who walks through our doors like family. They are the glue to our company. I’m truly honoured to work alongside such a strong team of individuals—each one with a powerful story of their own.
We specialise in all hair types and textures, offering everything from fades, braids, and twists to hot towel shaves. Our shop reflects the diversity of the community we serve, and we take pride in being trained, prepared, and welcoming to everyone.
In 2025, I was awarded Redemption Barber of the Year—not just for my story, but for how barbering has transformed my life. And when people walk into our shop, they feel that transformation. It’s in the way they’re welcomed. It’s in the way they’re respected. It’s in the way they’re treated like family—no matter their background or culture.
That’s who we are.
That’s what we stand on.
And that’s the space we’ve worked hard to build.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe that in this life, you have to take risks.
During COVID, the previous shop owner offered me the opportunity to buy the shop. I was hesitant. Coming from the life I came from, I was still learning how to trust myself. I had made a lot of poor decisions in my past, and even though I had changed, that doubt hadn’t fully left yet.
I knew I was working hard. I knew I was doing more than what was expected of me. I was making sacrifices. But the thought of risking the money I had saved terrified me—mainly because it was the first time in my life I had ever truly saved money.
I was also unsure about managing people. And let’s be honest—most of us don’t enjoy managing people in the beginning. It’s uncomfortable. It stretches you. I was scared to be upfront about that fear.
So I prayed about it.
For almost a year, I prayed. I talked to people I trusted. I sought counsel. I even reached out to someone I considered a mentor—Will Stamm, owner of ProFresh Barbershops and ProFresh Barber Academy in Atlanta.
He asked me hard questions. He spoke life into me. And then he said something simple but powerful:
“I think it would be a good thing. You should put in an offer and just jump out there.”
The very next day, I did.
I told myself to stop complicating it. Stop overthinking it. Just do it.
And I’m so glad I did.
Buying the shop has been one of the most impactful decisions of my life. And judging by the response from the community, I truly believe it’s been impactful for others as well.
The journey taught me a lot about myself. It forced me to see myself clearly—who I still was, not just who I wanted to be. Even though my life had changed, there was still work to do. And ownership revealed that.
It taught me how to communicate. How to face things head-on instead of putting them off until they snowball. It taught me that life isn’t about money—it’s about purpose.
It showed me that when you put others before yourself, something powerful happens inside you. When you serve people without chasing the money, God provides. There is so much more to gain in this life than financial payout alone.
It’s a beautiful thing when you jump out on faith
and choose to believe.
Pricing:
- Haircut 40$
- Haircut and beard 45$
- Haircut and beard with hot towel shave 50$
- VIP service 60$
- First time Haircut walk in special everyday 30$ Haircut and Beard 35$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.latherandfadespringtx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasethebarber100
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Apf9ireD4/
