By David Shoemaker, For The Miami Student
Photo by David Shoemaker, The Miami Student
On the corner of High and Beech Street, Miami University students can find a unique hair-cutting experience in barber Keith Fairfax's Krispy Kutz.
What sets Krispy Kutz apart from other barbershops in the Oxford area is the fact it caters to all types of hair.
"I'm a hustler, man, and I like money. I'll cut a poodle's hair … I'll learn how to cut everyone's hair," Fairfax said.
Fairfax, who is black,opened Kripsy Kutz with the skills to cut every customer's hair. He quickly discovered, though, that black Miami students were in search of a barbershop and would travel to Hamilton just to get a touch-up done.
Fairfax, 39, started cutting friends' hair around 2004.
"I was just cutting partners' hair that I grew up with, and that was here and there if we were going to go somewhere," Fairfax said. "Then I started liking it."
In 2010, Fairfax wanted to do something positive and found that cutting hair was a way to do this.
He enrolled in the Cincinnati School of Barbering and graduated in 2011.
In April 2012, after working three months in Hamilton where he grew up, Fairfax opened up Krispy Kutz on College Corner Pike.
He is still surprised that he was able to pursue his dreams and achieve success.
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"I had always thought about wanting to own a barbershop, but I didn't know it would come that quickly," Fairfax said.
After realizing his College Corner Pike location was not the most convenient for Miami students, that June, Fairfax moved the shop to its current Beech Street location.
One loyal customer is junior Brandon Thomas, who began going to Krispy Kutz his first year at Miami when the shop was still located on College Corner Pike.
After receiving a disappointing haircut from a white barber, Thompson knew he had to find someone who understood his own hair.
Since the BRCTA bus stop left Miami students with a long walk to the former College Corner Pike location, Thompson walked to the formerly located Krispy Kutz from his dormitory. Fairfax would even give rides home to student customers occasionally.
In addition to Fairfax, barber John Webster, who is white, works part time at Krispy Kutz three times a week.
Webster, 68, has been cutting hair for more than 40 years and used to own a barbershop in Cincinnati.
Webster has the ability to cut all styles of hair, but many of Krispy Kutz's black customers prefer to have Fairfax cut their hair.
Both barbers agree the shop's uniqueness stems from this duality in cutting, but also from Fairfax's work ethic.
Although both barbers main role is to cut hair, they enjoy conversing with their customers, meeting new people and working in a laidback environment where their customers can feel at ease.
"A barbershop is a place for dudes," Fairfax said. "Whatever you do, it stays right here. Some guys come in and don't even get cut. They sit in a chair, read the newspaper, drink some coffee and be on their way."
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