MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — At the Everglades Correctional Institution, inmates showcased their barbering skills during the facility’s fourth annual style-off competition, an event organizers say is about more than just grooming.
The competition gives inmates enrolled in the prison’s barber school a chance to demonstrate their skills in a structured setting, while participants say it can serve as a stepping stone toward a career after release.
Clippers buzzed throughout the room as inmates worked carefully, delivering clean cuts and sharp shaves while competing head-to-head.
“This is amazing. I have learned so many things, and the most important thing I learned, it taught me how to be disciplined,” said inmate Kevin Walker.
Organizers say the program is designed to teach more than barbering. Inmates also learn sanitation, customer service and discipline — skills they say are critical for success outside prison.
“I don’t know about other guys, but it’s therapeutic for me, and I love it, and you know, like I said, I have a passion for it,” said barber school student Mitchell Gibbs.
The competition was judged in part by Charles Reynolds, a former inmate who now owns a business. He returned to the facility as a mentor and judge.
“It’s mind blowing because this is where I did a lot of my time at, and I never came through the doors as a free man. So now I get to walk in here as a free man, and I’m in awe,” Reynolds said.
Program instructor Johnnie Carter said the goal is to help inmates build a foundation for life after incarceration.
“We try to rebuild these guys into men, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and go back out there and be a great pillar to their society,” Carter said.
Participants say the experience is about preparing for the future.
“I just want to tighten my skills up and build me a skill set, so when I get out, I can provide for my family,” Walker said.
After completing the program, inmates earn about 900 hours toward their state certification — a first step toward potentially starting a new career.
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