ECBC

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ECBC instructors are all highly trained and experienced in the barber industry.

Chapin Turner - Owner/Instructor - Licensed Barber since 2009, Chip's Barbershop owner since 2017, Chip's High Maintenance Product Line Owner since 2019,  Head of Men's Hair Department for Tribeca film festivals: Blood for Dust 2023.

Chris Flores - Instructor - LicensedBarber since 2011, Independent barber since 2014.

Becky Hicks - Chemicals Course guest instructor - Licensed Cosmetologist since 1998, Cosmetology Instructor since 2004

Additional Guest Speakers - Include numerous local barbers, shop owners and financial literacy advisors.

Born and raised in Eau Claire, Wi over 30 years ago as a minority, getting a haircut I could feel confident and fresh in didn't exist here. I began teaching myself how to cut at 13, to obtain the look I desired. The more skilled I became, friends and family started coming to my house for their own cuts. Before I knew it, I had a barber chair in my basement!  I proceeded to get my barber license in 2009, and although the program allowed me to begin a professional career, the lack of techniques taught on ethnic hair were disappointing. 

As a young adult I struggled with my own identity, leading to jail time and felonies. The lack of resources and role models who looked like or could relate to me, made it difficult to recognize the success barbering could bring, or how to take advantage of my ability to provide quality services to everyone, including minorities, like myself. 

But determined to alleviate those struggles for myself, future generations, and represent the growing ethnic populations, I started Chip’s Barbershop, soon known for exceptionally high quality service, and atmosphere of banter and comradery that traditional barbershops were built on while propagating a sense of community where any ethnicity can come not only for a cut they look good in, but know they belong.  

Barbershops have long been a place of social interaction and public discourse; a place of acceptance for all walks of life. A cultural safe haven for debates, voicing concerns, and engaging in discussion.

Chip’s represent just that; it's not always about clients needing to look good, it's often because they don’t feel good. 30 minutes in the barber chair can bring one back to the best version of themselves.  You absolutely get a fresh cut that has you feeling good, but beyond the cut, the security of the shop allows guests to speak their mind and let down any guard they’ve held up. 

I’m not in the look good business, I'm in the look good, feel good, do better business. 

With these values in place, Chip’s has grown quickly since opening in 2017, with 7 independent barbers, each adding their own talents and diversity to the shop.

The fulfillment I experience providing the opportunity of ownership and freedom of self expression, that took myself so long to discover, has inspired me to take my profession to the next level, by opening a barber college.  Eau Claire Barber College, will focus on techniques and maintenance for all hair types, ensuring students are prepared to provide quality services for everyone including our growing ethnic populations, providing positive representation for minority youth in our community, identifying their belonging in the industry, and developing skills and knowledge for financial literacy.

Barbering has a rich history and promising future, for anyone who knows a haircut isn’t just a haircut.