Advanced
Fade Mastery
Cleaner blends in half the time.
Beginner class · No license needed
Intro to Barbering
Try the trade before you commit to barber school.
- Duration
- 1 weekend · 12 hrs
- Schedule
- Sat & Sun, 10 AM – 4 PM
- Group
- up to 8 students
- Price
- $395
About the class
Thinking about barbering but not sure you want to commit to barber school yet? Spend a weekend on our floor. You will learn how the tools work, cut on mannequin heads with a master barber next to you, and see what a real day in a busy Brooklyn shop looks like.
We finish with an honest conversation about the road ahead: barber school, apprenticeships, state exams, what the first years earn, and how to pick a school that is right for you.
Who it’s for
- Anyone considering a career in barbering
- Career changers who want to try before enrolling in barber school
- Barber school applicants who want a head start with clippers
What you’ll be able to do
- Handle clippers, trimmers, shears and combs safely
- Set up and sanitize a station to professional standards
- Do a basic clipper cut and blend on a mannequin
- Understand the steps to a New York State barber license
- Decide with confidence whether barbering is for you
Program
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01 Tools and sanitation Saturday AM
- Clippers, trimmers, shears and razors
- Disinfection and station setup
- Posture that saves your back
-
02 Clipper basics Saturday PM
- Guards, levers and blade angles
- Clipper-over-comb
- First blend on a mannequin
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03 A day on the floor Sunday AM
- Shadowing working barbers
- Consultations and client care
- How a shop runs: booth rent vs. commission
-
04 Your path to a license Sunday PM
- Barber school and apprenticeship routes
- State exams and timelines
- Q&A with our barbers
What’s included
- All tools for the weekend
- Mannequin head to keep practicing at home
- Licensing roadmap and school checklist
- Certificate of completion
Licensing
Application
Apply for Intro to Barbering
No payment now. Leave your details and we will call you within one business day to answer questions and hold a seat for you.
- A $200 deposit holds your seat
- Payment plans for courses over $1,000
- Free transfer to the next group if plans change
FAQ
Good questions
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.
Keep learning
Other classes
Advanced
Intermediate
Beard & Shave Craft
Straight razor, hot towels, steady hands.
Intermediate
Classic Scissor Cuts
Shears first, clippers second.