Haircutting is a delicate craft. It takes a person who can connect with their client—someone who knows just how important a fresh cut can be. That’s where Aminah Roe fits into the picture. She’s been cutting hair for more than 10 years, and these days her clippers lie inside the Fit Evo gym on Iowa Street. Despite the unconventional location of her shop, Midtown Barber, she’d have it no other way.
“Being one-on-one in a shop at first, I was intimidated because I was used to working in a shop with tons of barbers [where] everyone is interrupting each other,” says Roe. “Then I realized a lot of people actually don’t mind—they like being one-on-one. I can actually get to know the person [and] their style.”
Photograph courtesy of Aminah Roe
Born in the Seattle area, Roe and her family moved to Egypt when she was 4 years old, then back to the U.S. 10 years later. Her father is from Egypt, and the move gave her an opportunity to experience a different culture. Now, working in a barbershop inside a gym, she sees a higher volume of male clientele, which is another cultural shift.
“I grew up where it was like ‘don’t talk to boys,’ so for the longest time I was shy around other men,” says Roe. “I feel like I was challenging the [cultural norms] and challenging myself. It’s really nice to know I have the confidence to be in that atmosphere without being intimidated.”
She also noted that Bellingham is perfect for connecting with others because of the relaxed community here.
“Everybody really loves the outdoors,” she says. “I’m learning about hiking and going into the mountains and where to eat.”
She loves connecting with others, and barbering is a great way to do that.
Photograph courtesy of Aminah Roe
“Barbering is like being a hair-apist,” says Roe. “I help a person feel good by giving them a really good haircut, but I’m also there to listen to them. It’s not always light-hearted conversations. It can be heavy, especially when you get to know them on a deep level.”
These days, Roe is content with her life—but it hasn’t always been easy. After their return to the U.S., Roe’s parents separated, and that plus other issues led to her living in foster care as a teen. She got involved with drugs, which led to her being in and out of juvenile detention throughout her teenage years; eventually, she was given a choice to either go to rehab or return to juvie. Roe chose the latter, then came to Bellingham to reconnect with her mother and figure out what she wanted to do in life. She enrolled in beauty school at 21, but again found herself in the throes of addiction.
“I was close to turning 26, and I said, ‘Okay, Mina, you’re almost 30—let’s get around the corner. What are you gonna do? Are you gonna be this? Just wasting your life? And Lord forbid…’” Roe says.
This year, she celebrates 10 years sober. Barbering helped set her on the path to success.
Photograph courtesy of Aminah Roe
“I started barbering at 27, and from that moment on, I fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s the first profession or job that I have ever actually been consistent or stable. Barbering has helped me succeed because of the passion that I have for the work that I do.”
Just like the rest of life, barbering takes time, practice, and patience.
“It wasn’t like I got behind the chair and was a magician,” said Roe. “It’s all trial and error. But this is what I wanted to do. This was my shot.” 1504 Iowa St., Bellingham. 360.595.7556, bellinghamevo.com/midtown-barber
