‘It all fell apart to get here’: Female entrepreneur opens new barbershop in St. George

Written by Jessi Bang
June 12, 2023

ST. GEORGE —A female barber with vocals worth noting is shaking up the stereotype with a brand-new barbershop. And it’s making the cut.

Sarah Birch, Barber and owner of Birch Craft Barbering smiles for a photo inside her shop, St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Sarah Birch, Barber and owner of Birch Craft Barbering smiles for a photo inside her shop, St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“It’s been quite the learning experience,” Sarah Birch said about opening her business Birch Craft Barbering, which held its grand opening on June 1. “It’s been stressful, but so much learning and so much growth in such a short amount of time. And as much as it’s been stressful and hard and so much, I feel so proud of myself. I feel so fulfilled. I’m just excited to be doing this.”

But barbering wasn’t always her main priority or dream. That space was held for her musical talents. And she wanted to make it big.

As a 25-year-old musician, she’s been involved with VocalizeU – a yearly L.A. music camp where Grammy-winning artists and world-renowned music experts spend 10 days teaching and guiding students – for the last 10 years. When she learned exactly what it would take to become famous in the music industry, it shifted her mindset.

Sarah Birch performs on stage in front of a live audience, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Sarah Birch, St. George News
Sarah Birch performs on stage in front of a live audience, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Sarah Birch, St. George News

“There’s a lot of branding and social media marketing and that’s not why I do music,” Birch said. “I just want to do music because I love to sing.” 

She’s been performing gigs across Southern Utahat a variety of local restaurants, venues and outdoor events since she was 17. After high school graduation, she was ready to move out on her own and knew her music alone would not provide enough income to support herself.

“I wasn’t going to just go get some job that I couldn’t have for the rest of my life and just bounce around from job to job,” she said. “I wanted a skill I could take with me wherever I needed to go.”

She loved doing hair and had a natural talent for it, which led her to attend Taylor Andrews Academy. Originally, she went the route of cosmetology, but with six brothers and many male friends, she found herself doing a majority of men’s haircuts.

Sarah Birch, Barber and owner of Birch Craft Barbering smiles for a photo outside her shop, St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Sarah Birch, Barber and owner of Birch Craft Barbering smiles for a photo outside her shop, St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I remember talking to my classmates one day and I’m like, ‘Maybe I should be a barber,’” she said. “I never thought I’d actually be one.”

After graduation, she assisted a hairstylist while also working at a barber hop. The more she barbered, the more her clientele grew and so did her love for the craft. She realized that barbering was what she connected with and what she wanted to do.

Knowing what you want to do and actually doing it look like two different things, and Birch said her biggest obstacle has been being a female barber in a predominantly male industry.

“I would tell people I’m a barber,” she said. “They would say, ‘No, you’re a beautician.’ I’m like ‘No, I’m a barber.’ It says it on my business license. It’s funny that people still think barber is a term for a man who does hair when it’s just the type of hair you’re doing and what you’re trained to do.”

While she’s had many negative experiences at other barbershops, she knew she could change the dynamic in a positive way and create a place she would want to work herself – a place where barbers are a priority. 

The inside of Birch Craft Barbering is pictured in St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The inside of Birch Craft Barbering is pictured in St. George, Utah, June 6, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I stepped into the role of being a barbershop owner,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I’m still a barber. And I want to do whatever I can to help these guys, not just have them benefit me.”

One of those barbers at Birch Craft is Lillian Dalen. She said the biggest difference she’s experienced since moving to the new shop is that she actually feels valued. 

“One thing that I love and respect about Sarah and working here is that she makes you feel like you want to come in every day,” Dalen said. “I love that I can be myself here and I don’t have to worry about putting on a facade to make someone else happy. I can be who I am, and ultimately feel good about myself.”

Another motivation Birch had to open her own shop is to set herself up for the future. Her future plans include a family and she wants the ability to stay home with her kids while maintaining a career and contributing income.

“All these bad experiences I’ve had, even before I got this place, looking into another location and it fell through. I just got down on myself and was like maybe I shouldn’t be doing this and maybe it all fell apart for a reason, but it all fell apart to get here and I’m just so glad about that.”

Birch Craft Barbering is located at 795 E St George Blvd,  Suite 2 in St. George. Make an online appointment here or call (435) 229-5040. Follow @birchcraftbarbering on Instagram for photos and updates.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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