Inspiring Conversations with Conor Eaton of My Friend’s Barbershop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Conor Eaton.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story with the city of Long Beach starts back in 2006 when I first attended Long Beach State to play division 1 volleyball. After graduating in 2011, with a bachelors degree in communications, I continued my volleyball career in Europe for 6 years before retiring from sport and jumping right into the world of barbering. It was a skill that I hadn’t yet honed but already enjoyed, regularly giving haircuts to teammates abroad.
Upon returning to the states, we started out in Chicago, where I attended the Denmark School of Barbering, right in the heart of the city. My wife, Bryn, and I are accustomed to hard work, having both been college and professional athletes, so we grinded the next 2 years. She worked a day job, I went to barber school, and we both coached youth volleyball in the evenings.
In 2020, during the pandemic, when it seemed everything came to standstill, our lives changed direction and we decided to move to Long Beach. Bryn got a job as a project manager and I took my first, official barbering job at a shop on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. I immediately fell back in love with the city, as did my wife, and we started to talk about putting down roots in the community in 2023. We were ready to go all in and open our very own barbershop! Building a business plan and finding the right location took some time, but it was worth it. We opened My Friend’s Barbershop in the heart of Belmont Heights on 4th Street in Long Beach in 2024. My Friend’s Barbershop has now been open for almost a year! (September 24).

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?
With every profession comes trials and tribulations! The road, although unknown and a little daunting at times, has been an incredible journey. Through pandemics, to moving across the country and starting a completely new career, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best individuals in our industry.
Like many, I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome. Being one of the least experienced barbers in our shop is a humbling experience. However, I’ve learned the number of years spent behind the chair is just as important, if not more, as the skills gained from being a teammate and leader in athletics. Leaning on my strengths, while learning to improve in other areas, helped me to find the confidence to continue pursuing my dreams.
Starting a small business is not for the faint of heart. It’s a leap of faith to trust in your ability to juggle the responsibilities of being an owner and barber, while overcoming obstacles you didn’t know existing at the outset. My wife and I invested in this business without the assistance of grants or funding, which meant a lot of pressure to succeed. I’m forever grateful to her, our families, friends, and, of course, loyal clients, who provided consistent support and reassurance that I was on the right track – even went it felt like we were going off-roading. The bumps along the way allowed us to learn about ourselves, and challenged us to stay true to our values of building a community-based, welcoming barbershop instead of chasing the almighty dollar. The result has been better than we could have imagined – our team is full of hard-working, hilarious, and truly special individuals and clientele have become close friends that brighten the day with every visit. With a lot of help and guidance from friends and mentors I believe we have built a barbershop that reaches far beyond the typical haircutting brick and mortar. It hasn’t always been easy which is why I feel so lucky that I get to build this business with my wife and life partner who truly makes each day a unique gift and opportunity to be great.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’re the friendliest barbershop in Long Beach! We pride ourselves on providing services to people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and identities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myfriendsbarbershop.com
• Instagram: @myfriendsbarbershoplb
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyFriendsBarbershop

Image Credits
Louie Mendiola & Phyras Men