Photo by Shawn Arrajj
Photo by Shawn Arrajj
Photo by Shawn ArrajjElijah Cobb, known to his friends as EJ, took on another nickname after opening his own barbershop in July 2009: "The Razor King." Five years later, with a full barbershop team and a dedicated customer base, Cobb said he has earned the nickname.
Success was far from guaranteed when Cobb first opened the shop.
"I remember going to other businesses and passing out fliers and dancing with signs out front," he said. "It took four or five years of work and dedication to build up that core foundation of customers."
Before he was a barber, Cobb worked as a juvenile probation supervisor. He was inspired to get his barber's license and open a shop by his grandfather, a professional barber who taught him how to cut hair.
"He taught me to always remember that the barber is a professional," Cobb said. "More than that, he's an artist. The razor is an extension of your hand."
Razor King offers both haircuts and straight razor shaves. Cobb said he specializes in tonsorial artistry—the study of the beard. Today, he works at the shop 12 hours every day except Mondays.
Cobb, who lives in Copperfield, describes his shop as family-focused. The weekend before school started, Razor King hosted a community event during which students received free school supplies with their haircuts. Cobb also offers free haircuts to the physically disabled and victims of strokes year-round.
Customer Wendell Hidalgo said he appreciates Razor King's consistency.
"I've been coming here since it opened," Hidalgo said. "It's hard to find a shop that cuts your hair how you want it. Once you find [a good shop], you're willing to wait hours to get it cut there."
Cobb said seeing his customers leave happy is part of what makes working as a barber so rewarding.
"Everyone likes a good cut," he said.
Mobile barbershop
Razor King also operates a two-chair mobile barbershop, which staff members drive around to local offices to give employees haircuts during breaks. The concept has proven to be popular, owner EJ Cobb said, and he is looking into expanding the idea with more buses going to more locations.
"We are in the process of converting an RV into a single-chair barbershop," he said. "Over time, I hope to add as many vehicles as I can."
Barbershop style
Cobb, who considers himself a tonsorial artist, specializes in shaving and the study of the beard.
Cobb received his barber's license in 2008, one year before opening his shop. He said consistency and listening to the customer are the keys to success.
"We just want to serve everybody and have everybody leave happy," Cobb said. "We're a strong business in the community."
Barbershop team
Cobb has assembled a team of skilled barbers at Razor King over the years. The barbershop team all shares a passion for the trade, he said.
One of Cobb's barbers, Saidah Coleman, has been with the business from the start—ascending the ranks from receptionist in 2009 to braider to barber.
Cobb said his team follows a mantra of consistency—"One shop, one cut." Cobb said his personal mantra is to lead from the front.
"I tell my barbers that without the public, we wouldn't exist," he said. "They give me an opportunity to do right by my family. I have to make sure I do right by them."
Razor King Barber Shop
7544 Hwy. 6 N., Houston 281-731-7948 www.facebook.com/razorkingbarbershop
Hours: Mon. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tue.–Fri. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
