Today we’d like to introduce you to Prince Hixon Jr.
Hi Prince, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Life is a process, they say. And my story is definitely that! I am Prince Hixon Jr., better known as @ProfessorP via social media. Over the years, I have, as a serial entrepreneur, acquired success in my businesses as owner of My Touch Barber Shop – an upscale and prominent barbershop located in Lakeland, Florida; CEO of My Touch Barber Battle – An exclusive Barber battle that collaborates with the NBA to showcase the most talented barbers around the nation, along with our winners being announced during half time of a professional NBA game; Owner & Designer of Impressions – A luxury, high-fashion men’s clothing and lifestyle brand.
No success comes easy. My starting place originated with me being an exceptional sports player in high school. Like many athletic kids, I always saw myself finishing in the sports industry. I was awarded Polk County’s Player Of The Year in high school. I was also star quarterback at Lakeland Senior High School. But after starting Junior College Football, I decided that I wasn’t truly walking in my purpose. I have always had a love for art. And decided to attend Cosmetology School to become a barber. It was a way for me to professionally incorporate my love for art in an environment where I could connect with a broad scope of people and explore my creativity on different canvases (my clients). This also has led to me being able to exercise my philanthropic strengths within the community. This is the story that led to my now international barbering career and my doorway into the fashion industry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. One example of this I always share when explaining my journey as a barber. I clung onto the love and art of barbering so much that as I desired growth, I realized I didn’t fully understand the necessity of good marketing. My clientele was not growing at the pace I wanted. So I started researching social media and utilizing its benefits, passing out business cards daily, taking advantage of who I had contact with, and word of mouth. It was after putting in that extra grind that I became so well known for not only my craftsmanship but also my customer service. But it took me putting myself out into the world and stepping away from my comfort zone inside the barbershop that created those results. After all, the uncomfortable place is always a place of growth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multi-faceted business owner. I am first the owner and barber at My Touch Barber Shop. I opened the doors to the public on Tues Dec. 4, 2012. What a great journey has it been! I’ve been cutting hair since ’08, and I’d say I specialize in nice clean, freshly faded, crispy lined haircuts/hairstyles that I consider to be works of ART! LOL! As a youngster, a good friend and I would compete against one another, duplicating cars and other drawing from magazines. That same competitive mindset from then is what pushes me to be better everyday! I’m consistently striving to continue to give opportunities to my peers, fellow colleges & friends to keep contributing positive growth to my community. It’s all about the PEOPLE! My professionalism and love for my community is really what sets me apart in this industry.
My Touch Barber Battle is another business I am proud to be the owner of. This ideal of starting a barber battle that allows barbers and stylist, both internationally and nationwide, to have a place to share our talents was birth from myself and a good friend (Jimmy Missouri) of mine. We both truthfully wanted to bring something unique to our culture and city. With utilizing the great resources we had built within the barber industry and within the NBA… the Orlando Magic to be exact, this became possible. My Touch Barber Battle is one of the most exclusive Barber Battle designed simply because not only do we provide a platform for barbers to freely showcase their best skillsets to a large audience, as well as having the opportunity of a lifetime by being announced during halftime of a live NBA game. We are the only Barber Battle in the world to do so.
As I have grown within the barber industry, it has paved a way for me to flourish as well in other industries that I have always had a passion for. One being fashion. Fashion for me is just as much as my identity as barbering has become over the years. I was always known in school for my clever color palettes, the unique hues of my shoes, and for the confidence that I carried with my one-of-a-kind swag. I am now the proud owner of Impressions – A luxury, high-fashion men’s clothing and lifestyle brand. Our collections are a composite of simplistic, fashion-forward designs that create a new level of style. This is a business I am very found of because it allows me to express major confidence in myself as well as helping others find it to express within themselves.
How do you define success?
Success is a universal and can be explained only by its owner. Success for me is defined by the grit one builds, the habits they create to persevere and their determination to keep going forward to achieve their goals when they want to give up.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.impressionslyfe.com
- Instagram: @professor.p @impressionslyfe @mytouchbarbershop @mytouchbarberbattle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyTouchBarberShop/
- Twitter: @MyTouchBarber
- Other: https://www.impressionslyfe.com/professor-p
