The District Chronicles

Issue date: 7/20/08 Section: Business

Media Credit: Robert Eubanks/Staff Photographer

Federico Lindo's mother wanted one thing of her young son -- to become an entrepreneur. She taught him how to cut hair at an early age, and he hasn't stopped since. "I started out cutting hair in my mom's basement charging about $3 a piece," said Lindo, who now owns Best Cuts, a barbershop across from the Howard University School of Business.

Before he built his business, he had a job as a construction worker, but he felt that construction did not benefit African Americans as much as Whites. So at the age of 29, with a degree from barber school under his belt and a little financial help from his sister, Lindo decided to take advantage of the skills he learned as a youth and start his own barbershop.

Now, after six years of hair service in this Northwest Shaw neighborhood, Best Cuts has evolved into one of the most frequented barbershops in D.C. Providing service in lock maintenance braids and precise haircuts, Best Cuts is more than just your regular barbershop; it's a hair salon.

Customers say they relish the conversations with the staff, which consists of nine barbers and one braiding specialist. "One thing I enjoy about Best Cuts is the number of barbers they have," said Akeem Joseph, a sophomore at Howard. "Having an unusual number of barbers is helpful in accommodating those who want to keep themselves looking right. Also, the constant talk of sports topics within the shop keeps things interesting whenever I visit."

Lindo said that the one of his secrets to success is patience. "Make sure that you do everything right. If you're going to cut corners, make sure that it's not something illegal, which may hurt you in the long run. Be conscious of your spending habits, and think longevity in terms of your business setting."

Another key to his success, Lindo said, is his ability is to keep his staff and his customers satisfied. He says that one of the toughest things about owning the shop is keeping his co-workers in a positive frame of mind and keeping everyone motivated. Lindo has managed to do this by stressing creativity. "One thing I love about being an entrepreneur is the consistency I must maintain in being creative," he said. "I love using my mind to improve the business, and giving my employees the freedom they need to work productively and keep the customers satisfied."

Although certain aspects of building his business, such as picking quality barbers, has been difficult at times, Lindo said that quitting was out of the question. "I never really thought about giving up," Lindo said. It's a good thing he didn't. The smiles on the faces of his customers proves how Best Cuts has earned the reputation for being one of the best barber shops in Northwest D.C.

Location: 2612 Georgia Avenue NW Washington DC
Phone: 202-238-9598

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