Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar Mancilla.
Edgar, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My life has always brought me back to barbering. I started in high school (early 2000’s!), cutting my brothers’ and friends’ hair because we couldn’t pay for a haircut. I worked a few jobs throughout the years, and when I was fired from the last job I held, I took the opportunity to go to barber school to become a licensed barber in 2012. I graduated from Texas Barber College in 2013. I started working at a landmark Memorial-area barbershop, Capone’s Barber Shop & Shave Lounge. Unfortunately, Capone’s met its fate with closure after being open for business for 54 years. My wife gave me the best ultimatum after I told her I will be unemployed, “You either open your own barbershop or go work for someone else.” I opened my barbershop, The Man’s Chair, a week after Capone’s closed on July 5, 2019.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’m blessed that my skillset of barbering has always been a smooth road. But, getting to this exact moment wasn’t easy. Having to humble myself and go to Barber school when I thought I didn’t need it. Having to build a customer base. Learning a work-life balance. There will always be seasons of uncertainty or clarity no matter what you are doing, whether it’s the economy, a busy/slow season of new or regular customers, continuing to educate yourself to stay relevant and on trend, and learning to manage yourself before you run an actual business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Man’s Chair story. Tell us more about the business.
The Man’s Chair was inspired by my last name, “Mancilla”. I’m currently a one-man barbershop that specializes in the old-school services such as hot lather shaves with straight-edge razor blades and traditional hair cuts. I’m known as “Mr. Taper” which is one of the cuts I specialize in, as well as traditional cuts and on-trend cuts. I want my customers to know I’m passionate about their haircut, their time and my attention to detail is valuable in my chair and bringing back good ol’ customer service you can’t find anymore.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
A few things! Barbering can go through a bad economy. People will always find a way to get their hair cut. Obtaining a barber license is getting easier with the hour requirements changing as well. There’s not enough barbers for how many people there are in this world. With this world becoming more automated and run by robots, who would trust a robot with a straight edge razor?
Contact Info:
- Address: 2870 Gessner Rd
Ste A-5
Houston, TX 77080 - Website: www.themanschair.com
- Phone: 281-830-3771
- Email: edgar@themanschair.com
- Instagram: @themanschair
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/themanschair/
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/the-mans-chair-houston
Image Credit:
Arthur Lopez
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