Refined Studios

2020 was a troubling year for many of us, but with trouble comes triumph. The pressing times in our lives build character. The culture we live in can be crippling but there is always something that has the ability to bring us down if we allow it. I believe that we can conquer the setbacks in life with the love and help of our community and family. The Refined family has been my stabilizer; always ready to lend a helping hand, consistently loyal, willing and able to form genuine relationships through conversations and time well spent together.

When I started this business, only a few years ago, I had no idea the journey that I was in for or the direction in which it’d take me. There were plenty of long nights but with that came many enjoyable days as I watched my vision begin to take shape. I didn't know how much I would personally change over time, or how much my vision might shift from then to now. In this past year, despite the turmoil that has taken place in my personal life, I’ve felt comfortable in regards to Refined Studios. My heart felt that it was time for a change..

And so, I am excited to announce that I will be expanding my operations and opening a new barbershop. I have been hustlin to get this project rolling and I am so eager to share this new journey with all of you. I am reliving those feelings of exhaustion and excitement all at the same time as the momentum builds. I’m telling myself that the exhaustion is only temporary and that rest will come, because you can't stop the vision. This means that I will be looking for barbers who want to be a part of the vision. This is just the beginning, and it’s time to continue to lay the foundation. If you are a barber in the Bloomington-Normal area who is ready to join the team, feel free to reach out. The shop will remain in the downtown Bloomington area and will have an anticipated opening date in early spring. Let’s make art and build relationships yall.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. The continued support and love is what has made all of this possible. Enjoy some great pics of a coffee sesh we had the other day where we discussed what's to come here in Bloomington.

I’m learning a lot about myself in this season of life. I’m learning a lot about pain and suffering. I’m also learning a lot about choosing joy in the midst of pain and suffering. I’m learning that even when you choose to have joy, it doesn’t make the pain less real. I’m also learning that when the pain is real, it doesn’t mean that my joy is watered down. My joy comes from a higher place. Each year of life lived, I’m learning that the principles that the elders in my life have instructed me with are generally true. I’ll continue to encounter tough circumstances as this life goes on, either producing cynicism or steadfastness. I believe I’ll always have some unanswered questions in this lifetime, but I choose to seek the truth still. The things we encounter in life always give us a choice on how we respond. My hope is that my heart remains tender and full of perspective, knowing that things could always be far worse. While also allowing myself to feel, because the heart does not weigh on comparison. I’ll continue to share my heart, my battles, and my story. Because you never know who needs your word of encouragement. I sure have lost a lot of battles in life, but I wouldn’t say I’ve been dealt a bad hand. For I only become more prepared for the next journey as I triumph through trauma with the guidance of God’s hand. I’m not saying that I won’t wake up tmrw pi**ed off that it will take me 10 minutes to dress myself.. but waking up to see another day in life will be my joy. 🙏🏻

Today was a long day, I haven’t been this tired after work for a while. The simple joys are what keep me goin. Today was Maverick’s first haircut with me. I’ve been cutting Alex, Sully, and their dad for years now. Our original introduction was through Refined Barbershop, however at this point they feel like family to me. They always walk in with a smile, ready to play with Charlie, and ready for a refined haircut. I feel blessed to be able to facilitate such genuine and authentic relationships in my shop. There are plenty of other clients who bring me just as much joy. I once heard it said, “It’s not about gaining customers, it’s about gaining clients.” At this point in my career, my shop is always filled with some one who I have REAL relationship with.. and that is all I can hope for. Looking back, I would have never thought my shop would feel so special to me and others. THANK YOU. Each and every one of you who have stepped foot in my shop. You are the reason my bills are paid and my heart is full. 💯🙏🏻😭 @ Refined Barbershop

Life update: I got to spend some great quality time with my family in Texas over the 4th. I’ve been learning a lot about my family recently. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to spend time with your family. I fear my parents being gone often.. so this year I made it a goal to contact them and my family more consistently. On a positive note, my dad is still a bad ass pool player. I’ve never seen anyone in person who can crush a mans ego in a matter of minutes in a game.. but he is a seasoned winner with the cue, it makes me proud to be his son when I watch him play. I also visited Memphis on the road trip. First time exploring the city and I had the privilege to see some beautiful monuments of history. We visited Graceland and wrote our names on the wall, as well as visiting the MLK memorial and museum. The experience was fitting for reflection during these times of social injustice. I’ve had some really great conversations recently upon this topic that have helped me gain new perspective. This trip was a great refresh for me. My mind has been full of a lot of troubling thoughts and worries. The promising part is that my troubles always point me back to a place of reflective prayer and contemplation. Don’t ever let your fears keep you from the truth, for the truth is always near. Coming back home is always a feeling of comfort for me.. I walk down to the local coffee shop and wait in line for that cup of coffee that starts each day for me. I’m always greeted by an inviting barista who knows my name, which might be one of the best feelings I know. I sip my cup of coffee to fulfill my fix, and walk next door to my shop, my baby, a place I have an abundance of memories. Only to be greeted by a couple of the most gracious and beautiful souls I know in my life. This life that I have is truly a great life. I’ve had my share of some really hard situations to encounter, but I’m still here with a new perspective after each one. I thank God for his faithfulness. I know that there are more times of turmoil to come, probably sooner than I expect, but we all can continue to press on together. Stay up y’all. 🙏🏻 @ Kerrville, Texas

Happy Father’s Day from me and my boy.

BLACK LIVES MATTER. I am privileged, probably more than I understand. I have worked hard to build this business from the ground up, but I am willing to rebuild it if it means social equality and justice are heard. The relationships and love from my clients and support are what keep these walls standing. I HEAR YOU. I do not know what the oppression feels like, but my heart aches for the inequality. The truth is, life is what’s most valuable. Especially a life with Christ. Today, that is my only hope, as well as my future hope. If I wake up tmrw with a business in shambles, I will press on in love. It is quite a weird feeling picking and choosing what items hold value to me in this shop before I remove them, but I soon realize that most might not ever have the contemplation enter their mind as to what they value over the rest. For that I am grateful. I will not stay silent, I will share what I believe and hope others will join me in LOVE. 🙏🏻

Quarantine 2020. I feel as if the first picture describes my emotions best during this season.. it’s just hard to make sense of it all. Anyway, this is a project and I worked on when all of this first took place. It’s quite a weird feeling not knowing if it’s “okay” to post a picture of a haircut when the stay at home order started.. but you can’t stop the creative hustle. Bless up 🙏🏻 @ Refined Barbershop

June 1 baby. We made it. ✊🏻🙏🏻

Love you momma. 🖤 The hardest working woman I know. All odds against her, she made it happen for us. In some of my deepest moments of adversity I think about my mother’s perseverance. She once had a household of 5 kids she raised on her own. Shortly after that we lived out of a hotel for 2 months due to a house fire, she still managed to get us to school every day. I hope to have even half of my mom’s courage, strength, and love for other’s one day. Happy Mother’s Day momma. I owe it all to you. 🙏🏻