Jermarol Lee: barber, shop owner, teacher

How it started

Jermarol Lee started cutting hair as a teenager. Tired of getting haircuts that didn't stand out enough, he decided to experiment by cutting his own hair. Showing off his cuts put him in friendly competition with other talented schoolmates doing the same, and soon people in the neighborhood were asking him for cuts.

The skills he picked up led him to barber school, and from there to working behind the chair as a barber.

His own shop

Lee had long wanted a shop of his own. He wrote business plans, put them to work, and Tobacco Road Barbershop was on the map in 1997.

Teaching the trade

Over the years at Tobacco Road, Lee trained apprentices, worked alongside many barbers, and recorded and edited the “How To Cut The Ultimate Fade” video.

His shop sat near Fort Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower), so Lee cut a wide variety of hair types and styles for clients from all backgrounds, from military high-and-tights to waves, afros and skin fades. Lee no longer runs the shop.

His goal with How To Cut Hair: teach aspiring barbers the tricks of the trade, so they can master the skill and professionalism of barbering.