HIGH SOCIETY CUT CLUB
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your business?
Hello, my name is Hannah & I am a classic barber & co-owner of High Society Cut Club, in Belfast.
I was working in basic barbershops over the space of 3-4 years, always being surrounded by men, it had ups and downs but was never anything special. I wanted to seek more knowledge & precision in my work. And that’s when I went to take a course in Figaros’s barbershop in Lisbon. I was then asked to come back and be the first woman to work there, my teacher on the course is my now partner. The rest is history.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
We have a really beautiful service and haircuts to offer, spending 1 hour with every client, compared to the average 30 mins. We specialise in classics, using the way of cutting from 1920s - 50s, trying to keep the old craft alive. I didn’t see where I fit in other barbershops in Belfast after Covid, I wanted more time with clients and to offer a premium service. So I had no choice but to create it. I began in what was essentially an office space in a shared building on the Lisburn Road, tiny! Until we physically outgrew the space, with no room for clients to wait on busy days. Now we are occupying a ground floor high street unit on Gresham Street, in a building that was vacant for 20 years.
Can you tell us about a typical day in your business?
When we open up, we turn on the heating, play some music, Palo Santo the space to cleanse the room and set the vibe for our day for clients to be welcomed.
Normally we share coffees with our first clients. Phoebe our dog comes everyday so we walk her on lunch break. Nothing special or unusual happens in a work day but to me it’s special, knowing it’s all so fun and relaxed because I created it like this. When I think about that it feels crazy.
Are there any routines you follow each day?
I’m not gonna pretend there’s any secret routine to my life. Maybe not the best inspiration, but I’m neurodivergent so every day is a new struggle to gain routine but in the end it turns out to be my superpower to be so hungry and driven for more.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
If I could change anything I would care less about what others thought when beginning the journey. People are too busy focusing on their own life, no one really cares, and I mean that in the most positive way. It’s great to have inspiration but I would absolutely 100% not compare myself to others so much, I did this a lot and this, in my experience, can be very self-sabotaging.
You’re doing great, if you’re doing your best then nothing else matters. You must remember you create your own business ultimately to design your own life and bring more peace to your days.
What do you love most about working for yourself?
I choose! Everything in my life I now choose, nothing is because I HAVE to. If I need time off, time to go to appointments of my own, take my lunch when I wish, bring my dog, not give my energy to things that are less important to me etc
I choose and I finally feel in control of my life at 31.
Also being in a job where I can be creative and make space for people to relax, connect and be themselves. Yes I am a barbershop but typically these businesses are male dominated, both staff and clients, and I think I have managed to make a space that is judgement free and queer friendly. I am from the queer community myself so this was non-negotiable for us. High Society is for anyone who wishes to have a masculine classic haircut, this can give a great sense of identity.
What do you find most challenging about working for yourself?
Work and life balance, my work seeps into my personal time everyday and I’m working on that. With the digital world now you’re invisible if you’re a business and not online. So managing socials and online admin while maintaining my days off is hard for me.
Any advice for other women starting their own creative business?
Strap in for the ride, know that it’s normal to be scared, it’s normal that it’s daunting and intimidating. In the end we are creative women, so if you struggle with aspects of business outside of your creative skills, like finances, marketing, online presence, taxes etc know that you can do this, you can learn and there IS support out there to help. Google answers! I have many leads that helped me figure this out that I’d happily share with anyone who wants to ask me. My business is hair, I didn’t know anything about money or business plans, so that was very intimidating.
Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?
I plan to have a functioning academy, maybe some barbers working for me so I get to spend more time creating and leaning into teaching. I can see us potentially having a second shop Portugal, where our story originated.
What do you enjoy outside your creative work?
I absolutely love to travel as often as I can, luckily my partner is from Portugal so we have a few trips there a year. I spend a lot of my time working on myself, I’d say I’m pretty spiritual, I have been leaning more into yoga, healing, being outside, cerimonial cacao. Anything that’s brings me home to myself. I’m also on a journey where I’m looking for like-minded women to connect with, I feel this business journey can be lonely, it’s hard to make friends in your 30s.
Anything else you would like to share? New projects or work
Right now I’m strapped into my new Gresham Street journey, I feel next you may see me pop up in a few guest spots around Europe. I’ve postponed doing this for so long due to lacking confidence but in reality it’s time to break those barriers, people are asking me, I should accept.
Where can people find you online?
Instagram: @blue.haired.barber
Business instagram: @high_s0ciety_
