BAXTER FINLEY BARBER & SHOP

I guess you can say that Brad began Barbering at the age of 13, cutting designs into his friend’s hair in the garage growing up. After graduating high-school, he went on to study Barbering and Cosmetology, obtaining his license at the age of 19. Brad was an Executive Consultant for the past 25 years, all while maintaining a consistent barbering clientele. He retired in 2019 from the corporate world and returned to his first love of cutting, full time, FOR FUN!

Brad’s inspiration in the world of barbering comes from his clients. Having someone entrust him with an important part of their physical appearance is an incredible emotional high. Over the years, he’s learned from some of the best barbers in his home town of St. Louis, MO, but he believes he mastered his skills at First Class Barbershop STL, under Master Barber, Jerrod, The Barber, Harris. Brad’s idol is Clarence Avant, a music executive, entrepreneur and film producer also known as the Black Godfather, and some say, the most powerful man in Hollywood. Brad is also a huge fan of Sean Carter, AKA, Jay-Z for his artistry with words as well as maneuvering his way through the corporate world.

Brad also admires the mystique of Banksy the street artist. Having the ability to create masterpieces all while remaining completely anonymous in today’s world fascinates him to no end.

Brad loves cutting all hair, but his favorite cut to give is a fade. That perfect blend IS the cut, and he’s perfected his over the past 30 years. He is also known for his use of enhancements, such as tint sprays and hair fibers, to complete the look without leaving an artificial appearance. Brad says he’s still learning L.A. “style”, so he is open and receptive to suggestions from his clients and fellow barbers.

Music is the heartbeat of Brad’s soul; He breaths and sleeps to a beat, but when he hears “I Ain’t No Joke” - by Eric B and Rakim played in the barbershop, he gets hyped!

“While it’s hard to miss a 6’3” black man anywhere, my secret is that I want the world to know me most for “WHAT I’m capable of…” instead of “…WHO I am.”- Bradford Taylor

Francisco has been cutting hair since the age of 16, obtaining his license as an apprentice at a shop in Redondo Beach. Wanting to gain experience in all types of hairstyles and textures, he spent 7 years at a shop that specialized in fades and shaves, moving on to another shop where he spent the next 6 years specializing in men’s scissor cuts. Using the knowledge he gained from both experiences, he began his career at Baxter Finley in 2012, combining both techniques, with a touch of razor detail which leaves each guest in his chair with the perfect cut. He has a soft touch, which helps him to create a soft blend that grows out smooth, maintaining the style as it grows. He also specializes in hair graphics along with sharp, crispy beard lines. When not at the shop, you can find him at the pool with his kids, hanging out at the Hermosa Beach Pier, or taking in the bright lights of Vegas.

Francisco is inspired by everyone around him. He has a respect for other barbers and their work as he’s always learning something new, no matter how long he’s been in the game.

His favorite technique is point cutting and fading with the razor.

Favorite song to hear at the shop is
“Skills” by Gang Starr
“I believe a haircut can make a difference in the way a person feels. Look good, feel good”
#elcortehaceladiferencia

Jacinto hails from Michigan, graduating from Flint Institute of Barbering in 2008. He made the move to the West Coast in December 2020 after several years perfecting his skills in Downtown Detroit at the Standard Barber Co. and found his home with us at Baxter Finley not long after. Barbering seems to run in his family, as his brother and a few of his cousins are also barbers and were a big influence on his choice of career.

Aside from his brother and cousins, Jacinto is inspired by his fellow barbers and his own drive to always better his best. A self-proclaimedall-aroundartist: a painter of portraits, a writer of musicas well as a recorder and performer, he is also influenced by artists from Dali to Frida Kahlo, Pink Floyd to Gregory Isaacs.

Jacinto believes the best cut to give, is the cut that suits the individual in his chair. He is versatile in his work; clipper over comb, sheer work along with clean fades are just a few of his favorite techniques. His clientele is just as versatile, having worked with Patrick of the Black Keys, Guy from Disclosure along with being part of the barber crew on the PGA Tour.

This Love by Bobby Oroza

Barbering and creating a personal style for each client has long been an interest of Rebecah’s. After a 6-year career as a personal wardrobe stylist, she decided to obtain her barber license in 2015. To keep up with the newest techniques and products being offered, she loves attending barber expos and trade shows. You can also catch her doing freelance work for clients before hitting the red carpet and appearances on NBC and ABC network television. When not at the shop, you can find Rebecah watching live music, checking out new bars in Los Angeles or taking a quick weekend getaway to Joshua Tree or the mountains.

Rebecah gets her inspiration from her peers and what’s trending on social media and then creates her own unique way of cutting from what inspires her. Understanding the importance of improving and perfecting her skills, she’s always looking up the newest trends coming up and ways to style.

It’s hard to choose a favorite cut, but if she had to, it would be a nice clean fade with a lived in, laid back look on top. She loves personalizing each cut, taking her client’s overall style, hair texture, and face shape into consideration.

Andrew has honed his barbering skills at Chicago’s Art & Science Salon before moving to LA after 6 years. He’s studied under the creators of American Crew, learning their Advanced American Crew Method as well as techniques from Bumble & Bumble and Reuzel. When not at the shop, you might find him skating around Venice Beach or pursuing his other creative passion, photography.

Andrew has honed his barbering skills at Chicago’s Art & Science Salon before moving to LA after 6 years. He’s studied under the creators of American Crew, learning their Advanced American Crew Method as well as techniques from Bumble & Bumble and Reuzel. When not practicing his signature specialty of cutting men's long hair, you might find him skating around Venice Beach or pursuing his other creative passion, photography.

When cutting hair, Andrew likes to listen to 80’s Rock N Roll and often enjoys discovering new songs he’s never heard before.

He looks to his fellow barbers he works with for inspiration and his artistic inspirations draw heavily from 60’s and 70’s rock & roll.

Ananda’s has been working in the beauty world for many moons. Starting off as a make-up artist and hairstylist for tv/film in NY. She entered the world of barbering in New York when she saw the uprise of the reinvention of the classic barber shop into a more modern approach to barbering. When she’s not cutting hair, you might see her a film set or behind the scenes of a photo shoot.

She never ceases to be inspired by the knowledge, skill and talent of her fellow Baxter Finley barbers. Ananda also finds a good deal of inspiration from runway shows and editorial shoots for magazines.

Pretty much any 90’s hip hop or classic rock gets her in the zone.

Truly a Jane of All Trades, Ananda enjoys creating custom cuts that suit her clients’ specific needs. She loves to keep up with men’s fashions and style trends, incorporating them into her clients’ cuts and hairstyles into a more wearable version that’s easy to maintain. She is also a master at styling hair and can teach her clients how to maintain the style at home.

Monique’s been cutting hair since she began teaching herself how at age 11. Since then, she's continued to hone her barbering talents until attending LA Barber College in Los Angeles. A true renaissance woman of myriad tastes, she names drawing as her first love but has also been a rapper and an amateur chef.

Monique aspires to one day attend the prestigious Schorem Old School Barbering Academy in Holland and collaborate with barbering savant, Darryn Pitman (@TheDarrynPitman) . Among her artistic inspirations are painters Zio Ziegler (@ZioZiegler), Albert Reyes (@TheAlbertReyes), and local LA artist, Cleon Peterson (@CleanPeterson).

She enjoys many different genres of music from jazz to hip hop and classical but her favorite song to work to is the Entire Digable Planets album.

You’ll find her practicing her signature skin-tight fades and putting clients to sleep while administering incredibly relaxing shaves.

This highly-skilled barber has sharpened her shearing chops at the Goth Victorian Salon in Bakersfield and the Shave Club of San Francisco while also learning tips and tricks from YouTube videos. Her favorite hangout in L.A.? That would be at her house with her cat, where she loves to cook and have art nights at home.

She loves local street art as well as surrealist artists like Camille Rose Garcia, Skinner and Salvador Dali. Her inspirations in the barbering world are her fellow Baxter Finley crew as well as noted barbers like Alex Arias, Ed Griffin and @robtheoriginal.

When displaying her mad barbering skills here at Baxter Finley, Modest Mouse is her go-to band.

Carmen is well known for her razor cuts and her skills with a pair of scissors in her hand. Her signature technique often utilizes both.

Having grown up in a family of Hair Stylists, it was only natural for Kieffer to follow the same path, receiving his cosmetology license from (Saddleback Community College) in 2017. Originally from Fallbrook, CA, Kieffer spent the last few years perfecting his skill at a specialty men’s grooming shop in Orange County before relocating to Los Angeles and finally settling in at Baxter Finley. When he is not at the shop, you may find Kieffer riding the swans in Echo Park or perhaps turning a mold of clay into a beautiful piece of pottery or, most likely using his 3-D printer to make his own barber tools or anything else you can think up!

Did I mention the Hair Stylist gene runs in his family? So, without a doubt, Kieffer’s inspiration comes from his mother and sister who are both accomplished stylists. Other inspirational artists include the Spoken Word Poet, George Watsky along with actors/artists, Jack Black and Seth Rogan.

Anything from British Singer/Song Writer, Rex Orange County, would be Kieffer’s go to in the shop.

The haircut that best fits the client in his chair would be his favorite cut to give. Kieffer has mad listening skills, making sure to always give the client the cut they want.

Shane, a native of Los Angeles, has been a licensed barber for over 25 years. He began cutting hair as an escape, loving the feeling and vibes of the barbershop he frequented growing up. After earning his license, Shane began his career in Hollywood, at a small shop that had been in business since 1947. Looking for his next adventure, he eventually moved on to a brand-new shop in Downtown L.A. as a founding barber. Always up for a thrill, Shane eventually ventured out on his own, renting a suite and bossing himself around until the world shut down in 2020. Older and wiser, Shane joined Baxter Finley in the summer of 2021.

His co-workers at the shop and Shane will never forget his two instructors, Al and Donna.

Shane’s favorite cut, is actually a good old-fashioned shave. The art of shaving can be as relaxing to the barber as it is for the guest. To Shane, it is cathartic, allowing him quiet time in the middle of hectic days spent cutting. But don’t let that fool you… Shane loves using all of his tools, especially working with scissors to create looks worth showing off to the world.

Shane loves jazz. But, depending on the mood and the day, you can find anything in his collection. Kool and the Gang, Summer Madness, along with instrumental tunes are just a few choices in his queue.