FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #161 A Barbers License Can Change A Life
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A barbershop can be more than a place to get cleaned up. It can be a pipeline to a career, a hub for mentorship, and a real engine for community change. We’re joined by Antoine Carey, owner of Faded and Company Barbershop and Faded and Company Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to talk about how precision cuts and professionalism connect to something bigger: access, licensure, and second chances.
Antoine breaks down why a barber license matters, what it takes to train properly, and how building his own barber academy helps develop talent that meets a high standard. We also talk about the Faded Foundation, created to help cover tuition for aspiring barbers and stylists who are blocked by cost. His story makes the mission tangible, especially when he shares how his own licensure journey began through the Department of Corrections and why that experience shaped his focus on opportunity and reentry.
You’ll also hear about the shop’s commitment to free haircuts across the community, including recurring days at the Fredericksburg Branch Library, and a bold upcoming fundraiser: a 24-hour haircut marathon (June 1, 10 a.m. to June 2, 10 a.m.). Antoine’s “apples and oranges” idea is simple: come get an “apple” (a haircut) and bring an “orange” (a donation). We close with a powerful reminder that a fresh cut can change how someone walks into the world, and a standout story of a 15-year-old passing the theory exam on the path to licensure.
Listen, share this with someone in Fredericksburg who loves local business, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next neighbor story. After you listen, what’s one way you’ve seen a small service create a big ripple?
Antoine Carey
Faded Foundation
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. We've got Antoine Carey joining us. He is the owner of Faded Company Barbershop as well as Faded and Company Academy. Antoine, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1Good morning. Good morning. Thank you so much for having me.
Barbershop Origins And Licensing Standards
Speaker 2I'm excited for this. I'm excited to learn all about you and your businesses. So let's start there. Share with us. Tell us about Faded and Company Barbershop and the Faded Company Academy.
Speaker 1Yes, ma'am. So Faded and Company Barbershop was established in 2016 here in the city of Fredericksburg. We pride ourselves on precision cuts for both men, women, and children. But we also pride ourselves on professionalism that by way of having a barber's license. But, you know, contrary to popular belief, a barber's license is required in order to offer these services to the public. That gave way to Faith in the Company Barber Academy, in which case I hope to train those that I ultimately would employ.
Speaker 2That's so incredibly smart to be the one who's training your workforce. You have can make sure that they are meeting your standards, that they're trained the way you would want them to be trained, and you're creating your own pipeline and your own you're creating a lot of opportunities for people. So congratulations on your success. And that's wonderful what you've created. And I understand that you also have a foundation, the Faded Foundation. So tell us about that.
Speaker 1Yes, ma'am. So uh without jumping too far ahead, uh a little bit of my backstory. Uh I did receive my barber's license in the Department of Corrections uh by way of an incarceration. Um, given that a license is required in order to uh offer the service to the public, uh the education part is also required. Um we noticed that where there is a need, uh, you know, barbering is trending. There are a lot of young men and women that are interested in this industry. Uh tuition tends to be an issue with them enrolling. Uh by way of the Department of Corrections, you know, they they kind of footed that bill, but those that are um, you know, out here in the in the community uh kind of still face that barrier. Uh the Fated Foundation ultimately was um generated or excuse me, established uh to provide means to offer those second chances to those that stood in need of those resources. Um Faded Foundation, we pride ourselves on community, um, you know, big involvement with the community of, you know, which uh we service, you know, um by way of marketing and advertising, but also, you know, wanted to make our presence felt.
Speaker 2Amazing, amazing. So you've got this business that you've created, and you've created now an academy to make sure that you've got a solid professional workforce and you noticed a need that you weren't able to get people trained, so you've created the foundation to pay for the training. That is amazing. I love this whole ecosystem that you have created.
Speaker 1Thank you. Thank you. Uh the Faded Foundation again is a continuation of that which we held high with uh the Barber Academy, um, excuse me, the Barber Shop. Um, we've always had uh opportunities afforded to us to be a part of the community by giving free haircuts. Um, with the Barber Academy, it works two ways because it gives my students live models and again an opportunity to give back. Uh and the foundation is pushing that mission uh more than just the barbering, because the barbering is the education side. Uh the foundation facing adversity through first development, um, knowing that I need to pour into myself and you know, as I better myself personally, it would benefit me professionally. Uh, the education side, that which is required for licensor for the barber's license. Uh, but lastly, is the dedication side, knowing that we want to pour back into the community and the importance of that.
Speaker 2Amazing, amazing. And so, talk to us about how the community can help. I understand you've got an event coming up. Tell us all about it.
The 24 Hour Fundraiser Plan
Speaker 1Yes, ma'am. Uh, so like I stated previously, uh, we have been blessed to offer free haircuts at several events, uh, you know, throughout the local high schools, uh, the Expo Center, um, Thurman Brisbane um shelter every Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also offer free haircuts at the Fredericksburg Branch Library, uh, the first and third Monday of each month. We've been doing this for two years. Uh, so kind of we wanted to do something a little bit more extravagant, uh, that being a 24-hour uh in my mind, I think of Lou Ross and the telethons back in. Uh but you know, uh when uh and I I spoke earlier. Um, when I think of community, I think of apples and oranges. Uh, if I have an apple tree and you have orange tree in your yard, then you know you should never have to worry about apples, I should never have to worry about oranges. Um, our apples in this case are haircuts, and you know, we we love to give out apples. Uh, so we are planning to have a 24-hour event. Uh, licensed barbers and stylists will be running four six-hour shifts from June 1st, 10 a.m. to June 2nd, 10 a.m. Um, we're inviting everyone to come out to get as many apples as you can. Uh, but we are asking that you bring an orange. Um, this is the first uh inaugural uh fundraising event for the foundation. And again, the foundation is in order to provide resources, so we're trying to generate resources. It's been a blessing uh to be a blessing to the city of Fredericksburg, but this is the first time Faith Foundation is asking the community and the city of Fredericksburg to come and show up their support.
Speaker 2Amazing, amazing. It sounds like a wonderful event that's gonna benefit so many. So you are such a gift for the community. Thank you so much for doing all of this. If the listeners say maybe they can't attend um for whatever reason, what are some other ways that the community or even the business community can support you?
Speaker 1Okay, so uh as far as far as the event, again, we uh the record for the most haircuts in a 24-hour period by a group of 10 is 681. I would love to see seven. That's Guinness Book of World Record. I would love to see 700 people come out.
Speaker 2Let's get it done.
How To Donate Volunteer Or Sponsor
Speaker 1First, I would definitely invite anyone that's in need of a haircut, uh, men or women or children, or anyone that they know anyone to come out so they could, you know, sit in the chair, get the full experience. Uh, we're asking anybody that's on any social media platforms to please share to spread the word. Uh, we we do have a link at uh faded foundation.org under the events tab, whereas you can uh you can donate. Um, if you are a licensed barber or stylist and you want to contribute your time, we would accept you. And we have a station and a shift available for you. Uh, if you wanted to volunteer, we're accepting volunteers. Um, and also we are we're looking for donors and sponsors. We have several different uh sponsorship tiers um where you know local businesses can you know show that their involvement and you know express their support.
Speaker 2Amazing, amazing. I uh I hope that you get all of the support that you need. I certainly will do my part to help get the word out. And thank you. Uh this is this is really cool. And I hope you break that world record.
Speaker 1I would love oh um right here in the city of Fredericksburg, but but we need we need Freddy'sburg, surrounding counties. We we need live uh models in the seats. Yeah, come get an apple.
Speaker 2Yes, I love it. Come get an apple. What is something that you wish the listeners knew about your business or the foundation?
Why A Haircut Matters More Than You Think
Speaker 1Uh one of the, and I'm not gonna say a real misconception, but uh one thing that I think most people minimize is the impact of just an haircut. You know, uh I see it every day. I spend a client around in the chair, I hand them the mirror, and that you know, that they're different, and at least in that moment. Um, they carry that with them, you know, the rest of their day. Everybody knows that you, you know, you done went to the barbershop, you done got yourself cleaned up, you know, and those comments or those looks or whatnot, like that, that is a lasting impact that we give. Uh, you know, let alone uh the the the second chances that uh come from those that are standing behind the chair. You know, this is uh an independent contractor, this is somebody that has a means for providing uh income regardless of any other barrier, uh, but a license is required in order to do that. Um, you know, lastly, uh you know, the barber or barber shop has always been like a focal point of the community. You know, we this is a place where a lot of our youth are heavily influenced throughout their uh influential ages. Yeah, you know, that this is the place where the young mix with the old, and you know, so you know, we there's value here not only in our local barber shops uh and salons, but also uh those uh licensed professionals that are offering those services.
Speaker 2Yeah, absolutely. Do you have a um a case study or um a story or a moment that you can share with us that you know kind of exemplifies what you do?
A 15 Year Old Licensed Barber
Speaker 1Well, uh I've put you on the spot.
Speaker 2I didn't prepare you for this one.
Speaker 1And and and so in any hesitation will only be due to the multiple stories that I could share with you. Uh our our our latest um proud moment that we have, uh, we have what we call a Faded Phenom. Um we have a young man here who is 15 years old. 15, he's 15 years old, and he just passed his theoretical portion uh for his state licensor, and he will soon to have his barber's license before he has his driver's license.
Speaker 2That's amazing.
Speaker 1Uh preventing generations of incarceration. Wow, yeah, you know, um, but but just a true testament to you know, one would say it's never too late, but you know, even that is never too early.
Speaker 2That's very cool. I love that. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Speaker 1Thank you.
Speaker 2So if the listeners want to connect with you, if they want to learn more about your business or about the event, where can they find you?
Speaker 1So our physical address is 2215 Emancipation Highway. We are in suite 100, 102, and 103. Uh, we're right beside Express Auto Service. Uh feel free to give us a call, 540-479-7055, uh, any of the social media platforms. And you can also find more about the Barber Shop in the Barber Academy, uh, fadedandcompany.com, and about the nonprofit fadedfoundation.org.
Speaker 2Amazing. Antoine, thank you so much for all that you do for the community, and thank you for joining me on the podcast and sharing Faded and Company with us.
Speaker 1Thank you so much for having us. So very glad to be here.
SpeakerThank you. Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.