Kentucky lawmakers approve mobile barbershops and salons expansion
Barbering in Kentucky is getting a major upgrade.
Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 22, allowing mobile barbershops and salons to operate across the state.
"We've been trying to push it for years. I know there's a lot of people cannot get out to the barbershop, so being mobile will really help this field a lot," said Skip Laird, an instructor at the Kentucky College of Barbering.
D’Ayrice Mears, a barber with big entrepreneurial dreams, shared, “It’s a great option because a lot of barbers don’t want to be in a shop. They want to be on the move, and it’s a lot more money in your own pockets for it."
Kentucky College of Barbering in Louisville has been serving the community for more than 65 years.
"A lot of young men and young ladies coming in wanting to be barbers, which is very good field. Everything I own has came through barbering," said Laird.
With the industry expected to grow by 7% over the next decade, this law opens doors for entrepreneurs like Mears, who dreams of being his own boss.
“I wanted to work out of my own shop eventually,” Mears said.
This move isn’t just about mobility; it’s about freedom and accessibility. As barber Chrishawn Philpot put it, a fresh cut can leave someone feeling amazing.
Senate Bill 22 will become law in 90 days.