Colton Stine, 34, a recent graduate of the A-B Tech Barber Academy, found his way to the barber chair unexpectedly. After working for a decade in supermarket warehouses, the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania native grew tired of his job in 2019, prompting Stine and his wife to move to western North Carolina to start a new life.
Stine had studied health and physical education in college but never finished his degree. His move to WNC was prompted by a former baseball coach who invited him to move to Pisgah Forest to help repair log cabins. A travel lover, Stine jumped at the opportunity but soon found he didn’t enjoy the work. Unsure of what to do next, he booked a haircut at The Local Barber & Tap, one of Asheville’s funkiest spots. It had been three years since his last haircut. His long mane touched his shoulders, and his mother was due for a visit. “I figured I’d surprise her,” he said.
A lover of old timey shops, Stine loved Barbar & Tap’s vintage atmosphere and the fact that he could order a drink at its bar. After getting his cut, Stine left, feeling cleaner, lighter and uplifted by the community vibe. Two weeks later, A-B Tech’s Continuing Education class schedule arrived in his mailbox…