Exploring Life and Business with Heather Sherman of Cherry Creek Barbershop and Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Sherman.

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My passion to become a hairdresser was sparked as a young girl, while I watched my mother transform people’s hair and makeup for runway shows. When I was in elementary school, I started by cutting my Barbie doll’s hair, but it didn’t take long before I took the shears to my own head. I hold the memory of the first time that I gave myself a haircut close to my heart. “Can I cut my bangs?” I asked. “Yes” said Boo Boo, “We will go to Mcdonald’s in a minute”. I grabbed the scissors from the kitchen, went to the backyard and pulled as much of my hair in front of my face as I could before chopping it off at my eyebrows. It had been getting in my eyes. I was eight years old and I was excited that I got to give myself a haircut and get a Happy Meal all in one day! When Boo Boo found me outside with locks of hair on the ground around me she let out a scream and started to cry. My hair had been to my waist that morning. Boo Boo’s real name was Beverly and she was my babysitter who was partially deaf. She thought that I had told her that I was hungry and asked her if we could get some food. My parents were surprised when they came to pick me up and found that I had cut all of my long brown sunkissed hair off. Later that night my mom had to give me a bowl cut using an actual bowl. Even though I did not like the overall look of my “Bowl Haircut”, I loved not having the hair in my eyes. It didn’t take long before I was cutting my own hair on a regular basis. By the time I was eleven years old, I was giving my friends haircuts. Most of the haircuts were pretty terrible, but everyone’s gotta start somewhere.

My childhood was not what most people would call easy, so I think in the beginning I was attracted to cutting hair because it would help me to feel like someone else while accessing my inner creativity. As the years went on, I continued to practice cutting my friend’s hair through Jr. High and High School. As I got better at cutting hair I started playing around with hair color and soon realized that I could completely transform the way people looked and perceived themselves. I decided to sacrifice my hair and be the guinea pig to my own experiments. I realized that my hobby had turned into a passion, and I started to look at everyone’s hair around me. It made sitting in movie theaters a very distracting place, as it was the perfect spot to analyze the shape and style of everyone’s hair. I wanted so badly to be a hairdresser and share my passion with others, but I did not know how I was going to afford Cosmetology School. One day, when I was 15, I was in the backseat of my friend’s truck on the way home, when we were suddenly hit by a drunk driver. I do not remember much from the night of the accident, but the scars that remain are a constant reminder of how blessed we were to survive the impact. Life was not the only gift that I was given that night. The wounds that I received were deep enough to allow me to get a settlement that covered the entire cost of cosmetology school. It was a blessing in disguise as my dreams started to come true. When I got my first job in a salon, I fell in love immediately. I knew that I was on the right path. I turned into a sponge and took advantage of every education opportunity that I was given.

After many years of working in the beauty industry, I was finally prepared to start my own business as a booth renter in 2016, where I was able to continue building my clientele and lay the foundation for Cherry Creek Barbershop. In 2017 I moved into a salon in Cherry Creek North where I was able to open up the first barbershop in Cherry Creek, Cherry Creek Barbershop. Cherry Creek Barbershop flourished for three years. Then, an unexpected turn of events happened in May of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic forced salons to close their doors for a little over two months. During this time, the owner of the building that Cherry Creek Barbershop was renting space in decided to sell the building to a dispensary. When salons were able to re-open I teamed up with local barber shops where I was able to advance my skills, as well as share my knowledge and experience in cosmetology, barbering, sales and marketing.

During this time I kept the website for Cherry Creek Barbershop active to help attract new clients to the new businesses. It was a great experience to be a part of the start-up process and to watch these businesses grow. But, after every accomplishment, I would feel the pull to continue building Cherry Creek Barbershop. After some encouragement from co-workers and family members, I decided to take the leap again in April of 2021 and moved into a shared suite in Cherry Creek. It was at this time that I decided to rebrand to Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon to welcome a more diverse client base to match my dual licensing as a cosmetologist and a barber. I recently moved into a brand new corner office in August of 2022. The new space is located in the heart of Cherry Creek and offers free parking with private bookings in a double studio with large windows overlooking the Cherry Creek Mall and parts of the Rocky Mountains. I wake up every day and work to make my dreams come true as I continue to pursue my passion of creating haircuts and color transformations for individuals from all walks of life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road I chose to get here today was more of an off-roading one. I found it incredibly hard to relate to other people when I first got into this profession. I knew I could get down on cutting and styling hair, but I didn’t realize how much of this career involved vulnerability. Coming from an unhealthy upbringing, I was filled with fear. I always wanted to work in the best salons that offered the highest level of training so that I could provide the best for my clients, but that meant that I was putting myself completely out of my comfort zone every day that I went into work. When I was younger, I often suffered inside because at home I was barely holding it together trying to finish school without losing myself along the way. My biological father had left when I was seven, and by the time I was fifteen, my mom had lost her mind to mental illness. I was crying inside but in the salon, I put on a mask and hid my true self thinking that “pretty” is all anyone would want to see there. I never really let anyone in, so I never really felt connected. Thank goodness, I eventually got over that! Once I really started to invest my time into getting to know my clients, I realized that we all have our stories and fall victim to moments of self-doubt, and insecurity. I realized when people are genuine, open and honest they radiate a powerful energy. Every obstacle that I have conquered has reminded me of why I choose to do what I do. It’s because we all deserve to feel beautiful inside and out. We all deserve to look in the mirror and smile at ourselves because we feel good.

As you know, we’re big fans of Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon is dedicated to customer satisfaction. We appreciate diversity and welcome individuals from all walks of life. Our primary goal is to find the perfect hairstyle that will empower and rejuvenate our guests. Our stylists are well-versed in services that range from straight razor haircuts to complete color makeovers. Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon offers a variety of luxury services to our clients with stylists that are licensed in cosmetology as well as barbering, you pick! Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon welcomes clients by appointment only. All of the products offered at Cherry Creek Barbershop & Salon are cruelty-free. We also have vegan-friendly options.

“I am comfortable crafting styles that range from super sharp skin fades to elegant long flowing locks. I specialize in hair color transformations, fades, long layers, straight razor haircuts, perms, designs, beard shapes & shaves, curly hair and updos. I love using a variety of techniques and am constantly searching for the newest trends in precision haircutting and color application.

I have taken advanced training classes with Leaf & Flower, Evo, K18, Ethica Beauty, Curl Cult, Mr. Red Fox of London, Keune, Davines, Goldwell, Bumble & Bumble, Kerastase, Redken, and Wella. The relationships that I have built with my clients is something that I will be eternally grateful for. I do this because I understand how important self-image is. I enjoy creating styles that are individually sculpted to each person who sits in my chair because at the end of the day it’s all about you! I believe that everyone deserves to look at themselves in the mirror and feel clean, comfortable and confident. It is always a pleasure to meet new people and help them find the look that they’ve been searching for.

A quote that continues to inspire me as a hairdresser is “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free” – Michelangelo

-Heather Sherman – Barber, Cosmetologist, Owner

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that at the end of the day, people just want a safe space where they can come to relax and receive a rejuvenating service. Having the ability to continue to provide a comfortable space for my guests after everything that my business has been through is one of the greatest blessings that I have received. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught me that I can be met with any struggle in life, and as long as I don’t give up, I can find a way to come out stronger on the other side.

Pricing:

• Haircut $100/HR.
• Style $105/HR.
• Treatment $110/HR.
• Color $120/HR.
• Perm $125/HR.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cherrycreekbarbershopandsalon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherrycreekbarbers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherrycreekbarbers 

Image Credits
Headshot: Meghan Monique Salon Photos: Heather Sherman