“If you want to go to barber school you can become a barber and come to work with me.”

Those words that Darla Wise spoke to her daughter-in-law, Deborah Wise, were all Deborah needed to become a barber.

Deborah is the owner of Wise Barber Shop and has been cutting hair locally for several years.

When asked the difference between her and a cosmetologist, Wise replied, “I am certified to use a straight razor, while cosmetologists are not.” In fact, Deborah ends her men’s haircuts with an old-style shave, including shaving cream and a straight razor.

The journey began for Wise shortly after she graduated high school in 1976. She attended Lubbock Barber College in 1979-1980, having to complete 1,500 hours of training before she began cutting hair locally in 1980.

She did that until 1990 when she and her husband Dennis, who worked for a construction company, spent ten years living in three different places across the country before moving back to Brownfield in 1999.

And she went right back to cutting hair.

Wise said she wants her barber shop to be an old-style business where men can congregate and talk about the day’s events.

“I think over the years barber shops have gotten away from doing that, but I want mine to be like an old-style barber shop where the customers can sit and talk to each other. I love listening to the guys talk about old times and reminisce.”

When she’s not helping men look their best, Wise spends time remodeling her home with her husband.

“We both really enjoy that as a hobby,” she said. “So far we’ve remodeled two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and I think we’ll start on our bedroom next.”

Wise’s other hobby is enjoying her family. She and her husband have three grown children, Bradley, Blake and Brock. They also have five grandchildren.

“I love having grandkids,” she said. “It’s so fun because I don’t have to raise them. I can play with them, spoil them and send them home.”

Wise said she would like to keep her business open at least another ten years.

“That’s what I want to do if my body can hold up that long,” she said. “Standing ten hours a day is hard on the body.”