Beginner
Intro to Barbering
Try the trade before you commit to barber school.
Merzotti Academy
Sharpen your craft in a working barbershop
Hands-on advanced classes for licensed barbers, taught on a working shop floor by barbers who cut every day — plus a weekend intro for anyone thinking about barber school.
Small groups
Five or six barbers per instructor, so you get feedback on every cut.
A real barbershop
You train on our floor, with our tools, next to our clients.
Live models
We book the models. Advanced courses put real heads in your chair every day.
Portfolio & network
Portfolio shoots, a network of Brooklyn shops, and a chair at Merzotti for standout barbers.
Courses
Pick your starting point
Three advanced classes for licensed barbers, and one weekend intro for anyone curious about the trade.
Beginner
Advanced
Fade Mastery
Cleaner blends in half the time.
Intermediate
Beard & Shave Craft
Straight razor, hot towels, steady hands.
Intermediate
Classic Scissor Cuts
Shears first, clippers second.
How it works
From application to certificate
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Apply
Pick a course and send a short application. It takes two minutes.
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Intro call
We call you within one business day to talk about your goals and experience.
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Train
Demos, drills, then live models — with an instructor at your shoulder.
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Level up
Leave with a certificate of completion, portfolio photos and a sharper book.
Graduates
What our students say
I wasn’t sure barber school was for me. One weekend later I enrolled — and I already knew how to hold the clippers on day one.
Five years behind the chair and I still learned a cleaner way to blend. Small group, lots of reps, honest feedback.
The razor day alone was worth it. I added hot towel shaves to my menu the week after the course.
FAQ
Questions about the courses
Will your courses get me a barber license?
No. Merzotti Academy is not a licensed barber school, and our courses do not count toward licensing hours. Intro to Barbering is a taste of the trade and a roadmap to licensing; the advanced courses are continuing education for people who already hold a license.
Who can take the advanced courses?
Fade Mastery, Beard & Shave Craft and Classic Scissor Cuts include live-model work, so they are open to licensed barbers and cosmetologists, and to registered apprentices with their supervising barber’s approval. Please bring a copy of your license on day one.
Do I need to bring my own tools?
For Intro to Barbering, no — we provide everything, and you take a mannequin head home. For the advanced courses, bring the tools you work with; if something is missing, we can lend it.
Who will I practice on?
Intro students work on mannequin heads only. In the advanced courses you also cut live models that we find and book for you, always with an instructor next to you.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, every course ends with a Merzotti Academy certificate of completion. It shows what you trained in; it is not a state license or credential.
Can I pay in installments?
Courses over $1,000 can be split into two or three payments. A $200 deposit holds your seat and counts toward the full price.
What if I miss a session?
Let us know in advance and you can make it up with the next group within six months, free of charge.
Do you help barbers find a chair?
We share openings from partner shops across Brooklyn and Manhattan — both booth rental and commission — and our strongest graduates are invited to work a chair at Merzotti.
Didn’t find your answer? Call us at (718) 555-0142 or write to [email protected].