One-of-a-Kind Haircuts: An Interview with The Lost Rōnin

Who remembers the post from December 2023 in the Annapolis Moms Facebook group with the picture of the boy who wanted a snowflake haircut for the holidays and was finally able to find a barber who would grant his wish? Well we tracked down his barber, and his name is Jabari “Bari” Goulbourne, and he runs The Lost Rōnin, a samurai-themed barbershop in Annapolis. We had a great conversation with Bari about trends for men’s hairstyles, haircuts as self-expression, and alien haircuts:

What is the idea behind your shop?

I wanted to create something in Annapolis that had a little culture to it. I had the idea to have a samurai-themed barber shop, especially because the samurai have a lot of respect and spirituality; that lifestyle is all about respect, which I like.

What do you see as upcoming trends in men’s haircuts?

People want the freedom to express themselves in their hair cuts… I wanted to be available for both styles- people who want a casual business look but also people who want a little more edginess to their style, more expressive. In terms of designs, a lot of people come in for sports, kids who have teams that they play for- lacrosse, soccer, I’ve done designs of sports mascots. Men are looking for more than the standard business cut; we are seeing tons of fades, pompadours like the Johnny Bravo, old school style, and people are bringing back things from the 70s and 80s, like a high top fade.

What about styles for kids?

Kids should be able to do what they want with their hair, because they don’t have the responsibility of a job; they don’t have as many restrictions.

What is your process for the designs?

I am an artist, and I transferred my skill of art into doing hair. I work with stencils. As long as you can show me what you want, I can do it. It gets complicated to explain, but basically I use trimmers to do the designs.

Who are some celebrities you would like to cut hair for?

Soccer players are a lot more open when it comes to haircuts, so Ronaldo or Messi.

What is a favorite cut or design you’ve done?

I had a kid once who wanted an alien invasion for his design, so we did a whole city with the spaceship and buildings and everything. I also did Thanksgiving dinner once on someone’s head.

Any final thoughts?

I think that when people choose eccentric haircuts, it promotes individuality. And I think that’s something we lack here in America. I believe self-expression is the key that is needed to encourage entrepreneurship in our country.

Be sure to check out The Lost Rōnin’s Instagram for some awe-inspiring designs and book your appointment today!