Edna’s luminous smile and ebullient energy - and her hairdressing skills - have drawn clients to her, first in Maryland and now California.

Over her 45 year career, Edna has become an artisan in her craft including, as she starts to list, “ color, haircut, blow-dry, both men and women, perms, lowlights, highlights, ombre.”

Edna cares deeply about her work and her clients, and, when asked about her passion for her work, answers automatically: “To understand the need of the clients.”

Not surprisingly, the larger-than-life Edna is also a “hostess with the mostess” - as they used to say - in her home, where she entertains family and friends regularly.

She shares: “I love to entertain. I’m an excellent cook, and I put together a table beautifully.”

Tom is from Cleveland, Ohio, and has been a barber since graduating from high school and opening up his own shop.

As co-owner of Berkeley Barbers, Tom has amassed a loyal and dedicated following of more than 200 clients.

One of his biggest fans and admirers is John Momtazee, Co-Founder and Global Chairman of Media, Sports and Entertainment Group & Global Head of Blockchain Group.

We asked John to share his own perspective of Tom:

“I’ve been seeing Tom at Berkeley Barbers every week for nearly 30 years. He’s exceptionally skilled—fast, precise, and consistent, which matters when life is moving at full speed. But the reason I’ve stayed with him for three decades is that he’s more than a great barber. Tom is a genuine, caring person who’s become a friend and an advisor on just about everything: family, work, weekend plans, Broadway shows, festivals around L.A.—you name it. He knows my life, knows my family, and somehow always knows exactly what I need.

He’s simply the best.”

Signed, John Momtazee

Frank was born in Bakersfield.

His inspiration for becoming a barber was his uncle George, who owned a barbershop in Bakersfield. Frank joined him after he got out of school.

His decision to move to L.A.? “Funnily enough, it was a car that drove through the window right into the barbershop. I was working late one night, in the middle of a haircut, when a lady drives her car right through the glass window into the shop. Of course, it had to close to remodel. I had a cousin living in l.a. who was always asking me to come to l.a. I never thought I would, but since that happened, I decided to try it out - and I loved it.”

Frank’s first job in L.A? At a casino. “There was a wonderful woman who owned a small salon in the Bicycle Casino. She helped me get customers. She loaned me money to get my first apartment, which I eventually paid back.”

Frank joined Berkeley Barbers 21 years ago - and three years ago, he became one of three owners of the shop.

What does he like about being a barber? “I especially like talking to different people, hearing different stories, different personalities.

A memorable haircut? “I inherited a client from a barber who had retired. He started complaining from the first moment I started to cut his hair. He kept stopping me, complaining about what I was doing, comparing it to the former barber. I kept assuring him, ‘I think this is what you are looking for.’ All the way through the haircut - stop and go, stop and go. I finally said, ‘Look, he cuts one way, I cut another way. If you let me finish, we can see where we’re at.’ And by the time we finished, he loved it, and wanted to make another appointment right then. It was frustrating then, but it’s funny now. We now laugh about it.”

Tony is L.A. born and bred, and now commutes to Santa Monica from the San Gabriel Valley.

He loves being a barber, and has wanted to be a barber since since he was a teenager.

“I would to go to the barbershop, and it always seemed like a cool place. People just hanging out, laughing, joking - and I still feel like it’s cool.”

“I love the craft of barbering. I like making my clients smile, starting their day off right. I like making them feel good when they step out of the chair.

A special memory? “I cut this one customer, he had long, long hair. He came back maybe six months later, and he now wanted a fade. He trusted me to give him a short haircut. He wanted to impress his boss, who had a fade. He wanted the same haircut - and showed me a picture of his boss’ hair. ‘Can I cut it like his boss?’ So I did. The next day he took a picture with his boss, and sent it to me. He was so happy with his haircut.

At Tony’s station, you’ll notice a large collection of blades and clippers. “I try to keep my clippers up to date. I love good clippers. It makes the job easier.”

Tony says he loves doing all styles of haircuts. “The important this is, making the client happy. I listen carefully to what the client wants, that’s important to me.”