Leasha MacLennan, Black Creek Barber
Say hello to Leasha MacLennan, a self-employed barber from Black Creek, BC. This local powerhouse has not only established herself as one of the premier barbers of the North Island, but she is absolute legend for her commitment to daily dips in local waters. Microdosing hypothermia for 1300+ days in a row, her lowest temperature dip so far has been in -6 degree waters!
Connect with Leasha, the Black Creek Barber via the links below:
From Rope Access to Straight Razors: Becoming a Barber
"Eight years ago, I needed a fresh start. I was in an unhealthy relationship, and I had a three-year-old daughter who depended on me. Before she was born, I had my dream job as a rope access technician traveling to different places and working at heights that would make most people want to cry. It was terrifying, and I loved it.
But after becoming a mom, the travel and unpredictable schedule wasn’t fair to my daughter. She needed stability, and I wanted to be the person she could always count on. That meant finding a new career one that would allow me to be present for her while still giving me the sense of purpose and excitement I craved.
Finding Barbering
At the time, a friend of mine, Rocco, was finishing barber school. I watched his progress on social media, and he genuinely seemed to enjoy it. Curious, I went to visit him at the shop where he was now working. We laughed and reminisced about our wild days as bouncers at The Bourbon in Vancouver, but eventually, I started picking his brain. Could he see me doing this too?
His response stuck with me: Anyone can learn the skills to cut hair. It’s you they’ll come back for, and you definitely have the personality for this. That was all the encouragement I needed".
Photo Credit: Vince Kehn, Vital Light Photography
Training & Overcoming Barriers
"I enrolled at London Old School Barber Program a six-month course with a $10,000 tuition. As a newly single mom, securing funding was a challenge. Banks wouldn’t give me a loan because I was going through a separation, so I turned to WorkBC.
I was eligible for funding, but the process wasn’t easy. I had to attend classes, interview other barbers, and create a detailed budget. WorkBC covered $7,000 of my tuition and some expenses, but I still had to find a way to make ends meet. Thankfully, I was staying with family at the time, because affording rent, childcare, and food would have been impossible otherwise.
Building My Career
I started Black Creek Barber August 2022. Advertising was the first thing I needed to sort out, how do I tell people I’m here. Instagram ads was a huge help, but I needed signs, and online booking that is easy and works. I put decals all over my jeep and made flyers. Social media and word of mouth was the biggest help. My business started slowly growing. I think every business owner has a little mental panic on slow days, even after 2.5 years I still think I’m failing whenever I get slow. But it always picks back up the next day or the next week.
One of the biggest challenges is managing no shows and attempting to take vacations. No shows can be hard to manage, I understand life happens, but some people really have no problem wasting your time and money. So I have put it off forever but recently had to put in a cancelation policy. Basically if you ghost me like a bad tinder date, you have to pay for the missed appointment before you can book another one. But if you let me know you can’t make it, all is forgiven. Vacations and time off, I still struggle with, I hate saying no to clients, and when you are self-employed you don’t get paid vacation days.
The most rewarding part of owning my own business is having the ability to make money on my own and not having to pay chair rent or making a fraction of what I bring in by working for an hourly wage in someone else’s shop. Also I get to do lots of hot shaves, the thing I was the most nervous about turned out to be my favourite thing to do. I like giving my clients almost a little man spa experience while they are getting their straight razor shaves.
The best advice I could give anyone wanting to get into this business is go to school, and work in a shop for a few years and learn everything you can from your coworkers and clients. Last but not least always listen to your clients, at the end of the day they have to go home with your haircut so give them what they ask for. Even if it’s something you wouldn’t choose for them".
Photo Credit: Vince Kehn, Vital Light Photography