Professional foundations and safety
You'll learn
- Professional image and career goals
- Communication in a working shop
- Shop safety and sanitation
You'll practice
- Safe habits at the station
- Preparing a clean station
Career exploration program
Hats Off Barber Boot Camp
A 12-week mentorship that introduces high school juniors and seniors to the barbering profession. Students train inside a working barbershop under Margaretta "Ms. Bird" Rice, owner of Hats Off and a licensed barber instructor. No haircutting experience is required.
Program overview
Students explore a future in barbering through three months of private mentorship. The program is built in six two-week modules. Each module includes demonstrations, supervised practice, individual feedback and time to strengthen skills, with mannequin work, customer-service role-play and guided learning on the shop floor.
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Your instructor
Margaretta "Ms. Bird" Rice
Owner of Hats Off Barbershop and a licensed barber instructor. Every student gets personal instruction, supervised practice and one-on-one skills feedback from Ms. Bird.
Good to know. This is private mentorship and career exploration. Completing it does not grant a barber license. Any high school credit requires approval from the student's school and district.
Curriculum
Six modules, two weeks each. Every module is 4 classes and 12 instructional hours.
Tools and hair fundamentals
You'll learn
- Clippers, trimmers, guards, shears and combs, and how to care for them
- Hair textures and growth patterns
- Sectioning
You'll practice
- Identifying and caring for each tool
- Mannequin handling
Basic mannequin haircutting
You'll learn
- Clipper control
- Guidelines
- Checking symmetry
You'll practice
- An even-length haircut
- Repeating techniques with individual feedback
Blending and taper practice
You'll learn
- Guard transitions
- Introductory blending
- Taper techniques
You'll practice
- Finishing and self-correction
- Complete mannequin haircuts
Customer service and marketing
You'll learn
- Consultations and handling concerns
- Building a personal brand
- Professional social media and photo consent
You'll practice
- Greetings and consultation role-play
- Creating a sample promotion
Assessment and career preparation
You'll learn
- Interview preparation
- Barber school enrollment steps
You'll be assessed on
- Written, safety and mannequin assessments
- Presenting your portfolio
- Final day: orientation at a participating barber school
Learning outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Set up, sanitize and maintain a safe, clean barber station
- Identify, handle and care for clippers, trimmers, guards, shears and combs
- Complete an even-length mannequin haircut with clean guidelines and symmetry
- Use guard transitions to blend and taper on a mannequin
- Greet clients, run a consultation and handle concerns professionally
- Present a portfolio and a plan for enrolling in barber school
A typical class
Every 3-hour session follows the same rhythm, so students always know what to expect.
- Opening cadence, 3 to 5 minutes"These Are My Weapons," a call-and-response led by the instructor, plus a positive goal for the day.
- Instruction and demonstrationMs. Bird teaches and demonstrates the day's skill.
- Supervised practice or shop activitiesMannequin work, role-play or time on the shop floor.
- FeedbackIndividual notes on what to repeat and what to fix.
- CleanupEvery student resets and sanitizes their station.
Character development
Skill is only half of the trade. In the opening cadence, students learn that clippers, scissors and razors are tools to create, not to harm. Tools stay safely stored during the recitation.
- Barber's Oath. Every student signs it at orientation.
- Weekly lessons. Nonviolence, staying drug-free, respect, accountability, peaceful conflict resolution and career readiness.
- Check-ins. A conduct review at the midpoint and a reflection at graduation.
Admissions
Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors, ages 16 to 18. No barbering experience is required.
- Check eligibilityA C average or higher on the latest high school report card.
- Gather your documentsA copy of the report card, or written verification from a school counselor.
- Get parent or guardian consentRequired for every student under 18.
- Send the interest formFill it out below, call Ms. Bird at (702) 845-2265, or pick up a form at the shop. She'll follow up with registration.
To complete the program, students must
- Attend at least 90% of sessions
- Follow safety instructions and participate respectfully
- Complete the safety demonstrations, mannequin assessment and portfolio
Families arrange transportation to and from class. Exact start dates, class days, times and holiday or makeup plans are confirmed before registration.
Tuition and payment
Pay in full, or start with $500 down and pay the rest over three months. Ask about other arrangements.
| Payment | When | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | At registration | $500.00 |
| Payment 2 | Month 1 | $333.33 |
| Payment 3 | Month 2 | $333.33 |
| Payment 4 | Month 3 | $333.34 |
| Total program fee | $1,500.00 | |
Tuition includes
- Personal instruction and mentorship from Ms. Bird, with supervised practice and individual feedback
- Use of mannequins and barber equipment during supervised sessions, plus safe handling and care training
- Customer-service practice, marketing activities and exposure to daily barbershop operations
- Portfolio support: practice records, mannequin work, a sample promotion and a career plan
- Completion recognition and guidance on next steps toward participating barber schools
Exact due dates and written cancellation and refund terms are provided before payment. Take-home kits, uniform requirements and any supplies to purchase are confirmed in writing before registration.
$500 barber school scholarship
Students can earn $500 toward enrollment at a participating barber school. Completing the boot camp does not automatically qualify a student. Every requirement below must be met.
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 100% of scheduled sessions and all required training hours |
| Written tests | Average of 85% or higher |
| Practical skills | 90% or higher on the final mannequin haircutting assessment |
| Safety | Pass every sanitation, equipment handling and station safety check |
| Portfolio | All assignments plus practice records, mannequin work, a marketing sample and a barber school transition plan |
| Professional conduct | Punctuality, respect, teamwork, equipment care, following program rules, and no unresolved serious conduct or safety violations |
Earned, not automatic. Awards depend on available funding. If more students qualify than funding allows, awards go to the highest combined written and practical average, with portfolio quality and then professional conduct breaking ties.
Questions
How are scholarship awards decided?
Ms. Bird reviews attendance records, test scores, practical assessments, safety checks, the portfolio and conduct before documenting each award decision. These criteria are shared with every family before enrollment and applied the same way to every student.
How is the scholarship paid?
An approved award goes directly toward enrollment at a participating barber school once the student meets that school's admission requirements and enrolls. It's separate from the boot camp fee and isn't a cash payment to the student. Each school sets its own tuition and fees, and the student pays the remaining balance. Written award terms list redemption dates and any deferral or unused-fund arrangements.
Will my student get a barber license?
No. The boot camp is private mentorship and career exploration. A barber license comes from completing barber school and the state's requirements.
Can this count for high school credit?
Only with approval from the student's school and district.
When does the next session start?
Start dates, class days and times are confirmed before registration. Call Ms. Bird at (702) 845-2265 for the next session.
Ready to learn more?
Talk to Margaretta "Ms. Bird" Rice at (702) 845-2265, or pick up an interest and registration form at Hats Off Barbershop, 5625 S Rainbow Blvd, Suite C, Las Vegas, NV 89118.