A quick rap on the back of Jimmy LapointeB次元官网网址檚 food truck-style van lets him know his next client is in.
Lapointe swings open the back door, and with a smile barely hidden by his mask, welcomes a young man B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗ey brother!B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� into his black leather and bronze barberB次元官网网址檚 chair. He swirls a barberB次元官网网址檚 cape around his clientB次元官网网址檚 shoulders and turns him to face a large half-circle mirror before getting to work with his scissors.
Lapointe has been in the hair industry for 27 years B次元官网网址� working out of various salons, traveling to different places and competing in numerous competitions, including on reality TV B次元官网网址� but heB次元官网网址檚 only been working out of a van for the past year.
In the months before COVID-19 hit, Lapointe and his fiancee began to work on the idea of a mobile barbershop. Then, the pandemic took hold, hair salons were told to shut down, and Lapointe was laid off from his job in Nanaimo. The catalyst to launch his business had come.
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| (Jane Skrypnek/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just been rock and roll,B次元官网网址� Lapointe says.
With more people working from home and fewer people wanting to be in multi-person shops, Lapointe is filling an untapped niche in Greater Victoria. Clients give him a call, set up a time, and Lapointe rolls up to their house or business ready to give them a fresh do. The arrangement buys people time and affords Lapointe more freedom.
On Wednesday morning, Lapointe is parked outside KWENCH co-working space on Store Street where one of his regular clients, Lucas, works. The two have easy banter chatting about LapointeB次元官网网址檚 latest stained glass creation and their shared interests in photography and cars.
B次元官网网址淢y mom always told me not to get into a white van,B次元官网网址� Lucas jokes at one point.
| (Jane Skrypnek/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
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LapointeB次元官网网址檚 van is all white with B次元官网网址淏arbers & BastardsB次元官网网址� scrawled across it in electrifying bubblegum pink and red letters. Officially, the business is called B & B Mobile Barbershop since B次元官网网址渂astardsB次元官网网址� is a no-go under B.C. licensing, but Lapointe still brands himself under the unofficial title.
Chats like those with Lucas are the reason he loves his job. ItB次元官网网址檚 about interacting with new people and making them feel good.
B次元官网网址淚 learned a long time ago I donB次元官网网址檛 do hair, I build confidence,B次元官网网址� Lapointe says. For him, cutting hair is like sculpting, carving away at the material to reveal a piece of art underneath.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 in my happiest place when IB次元官网网址檓 behind the chair,B次元官网网址� he says with sincerity.
Finished with LucasB次元官网网址� fade, Lapointe holds a mirror up to the back of his clientB次元官网网址檚 head.
B次元官网网址淐lean as always, Jimmy,B次元官网网址� Lucas says. He heads out the door with a B次元官网网址淪ee you next time!B次元官网网址� as Lapointe gets ready to drive on to his next clients.
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Do you have a story tip? Email: jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca.
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