Baltimore barbershop known for giving back needs community support to stay open

BALTIMORE – A barbershop known for giving back to the community is now seeking support from others to help repair and restore the historic building it has operated out of for nearly 24 years.

The owner of Conscious Heads Barbershop, located in the 200 block of E 25th Street, said ownership of the building came within the last year and inherited pre-existing conditions that insurance won’t cover.

Corey McDaniels, known in Baltimore as Jabari Natur, said the store is dedicated to serving struggling and disenfranchised communities. But to remain open and functioning, the roof, among other structures, needs to be repaired.

“He’s bigger than me,” Natur said. “It’s about community.”

A grassroots and safe haven for young people, Conscious Heads hosts a ‘Barber Boot Camp’ where, over the course of six weeks, students complete an apprenticeship training program that aims to teach the trade of barbering.

“One essential thing that the young generation in the city lacks is to understand that it will not happen overnight,” said Zion Gyenyame. “A lot of us are looking for a quick buck, but it just doesn’t work that way.”

Before graduating from high school, 18-year-old Gyenyame recently completed boot camp before moving on to apprentice internally.

“Learning from the men I’m surrounded by, the master barbers, who are also mentors to me growing up in the city,” Gyenyame said.

The shop has been the face of free haircut events in the city for children, the homeless and veterans.

Its owner also helped push for changes to a law that came into effect in 2021 allowing master barbers to train up to three apprentices at once.

“We just want to continue to do great things in the community, whether it’s changing laws, changing lives, continuing to work with young people,” Natur said.

Natur has set up an online fundraiser with the goal of raising $50,000 for building repair costs.