Looking to regain freedom and time with his family, Alphonza Hicks, owner of True Culture Barber Lounge, opened his first location.
Growing up in a small rural town, Hicks didn’t always plan to become a barber or even a business owner.
“I was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, in a small country town with not a lot of opportunity,” Hicks says. “I moved to Atlanta with my dad in the 10th grade after getting in too much trouble in school. I didn’t have plans on being a barber, but I would always cut my own hair, so after high school, I went to cosmetology school and got licensed.”
Initially, business was difficult. Hicks opened his first location in Woodstock at the start of 2020 and had no idea what he was in for.
“The process was a challenge opening up my first location two months before the pandemic,” Hicks says. “Then, immediately being shut down for three months was intimidating, being a new business owner.”
However, True Culture withstood the test of time, and Hicks opened his second location in Acworth this past March.
True Culture’s tagline, “Where grooming and culture integrate,” is a testament to the inclusive environment Hicks has created. He describes it as “the most diverse barber lounge in the metro Atlanta area.”
True Culture is an open family environment for all races to feel comfortable,” Hicks says. “At True Culture, we have several different ethnicities when it comes to barbers that work for us, so we want to ensure that our doors are open and accepting to all in the community."
Hicks plans to expand True Culture into a major franchise. Through franchising, he hopes to give barbers the opportunity to grow into management positions or become owners of new locations. He also wants his business to become a staple in the community, a place where children can go to get positive advice and find role models.
To learn more about True Culture Barber Lounge’s locations and services, visit trueculturebarberlounge.com