Barbers for Life trains barbers and barber students in CPR and emergency preparedness so they can respond confidently when emergencies happen in their communities.
Our Mission
"To equip barbers with the CPR knowledge and emergency response skills to protect the communities they serve — making every barbershop a trusted, safer space."
Why We Exist
Barbers for Life was founded by Sherod Holloway, a barber veteran of nearly 30 years, educator, and lifelong servant of the barbering community across North Carolina.
This initiative was born from the untimely loss of one of Sherod's former students, a talented barber who suffered a fatal heart attack in the shop where he worked. No one on site knew CPR. There was no defibrillator available.
That moment became a turning point. Barbershops have always been trusted community spaces — places where people gather for connection, conversation, and care. But when a medical emergency strikes, most barbers have no training and no tools to respond.
Barbers for Life exists to change that. One school, one student, one community at a time.
"Not that CPR would have saved him, but the effort could have possibly helped until EMS arrived. That's when I knew something had to change."
What We Do
Barbers for Life delivers CPR training and emergency preparedness education through four core programs — built for barber schools, working professionals, and the communities they serve.
We partner with barber schools across North Carolina to deliver AHA-aligned CPR certification training to students before they graduate. Every student leaves prepared to respond when emergencies happen.
Licensed barbers can stay current through our continuing education CPR refresher program — designed for working professionals who want to renew their certification and sharpen their emergency readiness.
We work with sponsors and community partners to help barbershops acquire and install automated external defibrillators (AEDs), because CPR and AEDs together dramatically improve outcomes.
Free CPR demonstrations for clients and community members held at participating barbershops. Because safety education should reach everyone in the chair — not just the barber behind it.
The Process
A barber school, shop, or organization partners with Barbers for Life to bring CPR training to their students or staff.
We coordinate a certified CPR instructor and schedule a session that works around the school's calendar — no disruption, full flexibility.
Students receive hands-on CPR and AED training from a qualified instructor, following nationally recognized standards.
Every student who completes the training receives their Barbers for Life CPR certification, and leaves truly prepared.
Join the Movement
Barbers for Life is growing, and we need community partners, sponsors, and supporters to help us reach every barber school and shop in North Carolina.
Bring CPR certification to your students before they graduate. We handle the instructor, the materials, and the coordination. You provide the space and the students.
Request a TrainingRenew your CPR certification or host a community CPR event at your shop. Equip your staff and clients with the confidence to respond in an emergency.
Sign Up for TrainingSupport CPR training in barber schools, fund AED placement in barbershops, or sponsor a community event. Your investment directly equips barbers to save lives.
Become a SponsorSponsorship Tiers
| Level | Investment | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Community | $500 | Sponsors CPR training for up to 7 students |
| Champion | $1,000 | Sponsors a full class of 10–14 students at one school |
| Founding Partner | $5,000+ | Funds full pilot program. 3 schools, 30 students, program coordination |
About the Founder
Sherod Holloway is a barber veteran of nearly 30 years, a licensed barber, educator, entrepreneur, and community servant whose career spans the chair, the classroom, and the community.
As Director of two barber schools in Raleigh and Durham, Sherod has educated hundreds of barber students, shaping the next generation of professionals across North Carolina. As an equal managing partner of The Bar Ber Shop Wake Forest, he brings hands-on industry experience to everything Barbers for Life does. He also provides Professional Development and Leadership Training through Freehand Enterprise.
Sherod's public service roots run equally deep. As a Program Coordinator for Baby Love Plus, a maternal health initiative under the NC Department of Health and Human Services, he worked to strengthen families and communities across eastern North Carolina by educating fathers and men on their vital role in achieving positive birth outcomes. As a Fatherhood Coordinator and Facilitator for the Family Resource Center, he facilitated the 24/7 Dad curriculum, equipping fathers with the tools to lead, protect, and invest in their families. Barbers for Life is the convergence of his professional platform, community values, and personal loss.
Nonprofit Partner
Grooming Resources & Opportunities (G.R.O.), Inc.
Barbers for Life operates in partnership with G.R.O., Inc., a Raleigh, NC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses barbershops as community hubs to connect people with vital resources.
Founder, Barbers for Life | Barber Educator & Community Leader
"Barbers have always been community leaders. Barbers for Life simply gives us the training to protect the people who trust us most, in the chair, and beyond it."
Let's Connect
Whether you represent a barber school, a shop, a health organization, or a company that wants to invest in community safety, we want to hear from you.
