Growing up in North East Philly in the 80’s and 90’s, going to the barbershop was just as much a community family affair as attending the local Catholic church. Spending hours at the shop, talking about family and local drama, while meticulously shaping my fade, was a bi-weekly ritual which made me feel connected, inside and out, to myself and my community.

I have always been particular about grooming, as I had been under the care of a barber whose reputation and consistency were his religion, but it took me until 2020 to realize that I had the skills personally to be successful in this realm. 

During the COVID shutdown, I had been working as security in a level one trauma hospital in the Twin Cities. Many of the staff that worked as essential workers during the shutdown still needed haircuts; security personnel, nurses, and paramedics all started asking about where I was getting line ups during quarantine. They started asking me if I would cut their hair. I started cutting hair for medical professionals and first responders out of my garage and became so popular I then continued as a “kitchen barber” when it got cold. Word got around and I started to get asked to do more niche work, like helping a cancer patient shave her head, or to provide a haircut for a child with special needs that struggles with the sensory environment of a barber shop. I found that I had a knack for cutting hair but also that I had a passion for connecting to the brightness that we have within us when we care for ourselves and let others care for us too. 

I attended the Minnesota School of Barbering and was taught by the best of the best Ms.P. She never let me take any shortcuts and made us learn barbering the proper way. She was a royal pain in my ass, and I owe her all my success because of it. She never let me get cocky, she only pushed me to be better. 

I made my barber home at 2021’s Minnesota’s Best, Man Cave Barber Shop. I grew my skills in my hockey hair, trimming Viking beards, and transformations. 

I spent one year working at Razor’s Barbershop, best of Boston multiple years, as one of the many skilled barbers working in the premier Somerville area. I gained skills servicing people from all over the world who were drawn to the neighborhoods of Harvard, Tufts, and MIT for school and work. I will never forget the hospitality of this shop and how they treated me like family. If only I could speak Italian, I might have caught some more jokes. 

Owning my own shop has been the plan from the start and so I am proud to introduce J.M. Ward’s Barbershop. The name is reminiscent of my grandfather John and grandmother Margaret Ward. I dedicate my shop to their memory. 

We are a mom and pop shop and recently relocated to Shakopee. I am looking forward to being a part of the downtown Shakopee community. Stop in and say hello.