(r to l) Rayce Dossett, Dallas Barbee and Matt Barbee of Surrendered Studios Barbering Ministry
Here, we talk with Dallas Barbee, owner, master barber and speaker with Surrendered Studios Barbering Ministry, located at 2337 Pass Road, Unit B, Biloxi.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF SURRENDERED STUDIOS?
Surrendered Studios is a luxury barbering ministry focused on using our time and talents to bless those less fortunate in our community, as well as encouraging others through aid, mentorship and educational opportunities to do the same. We want to share the love of Jesus and spread hope one haircut and relationship at a time.
HOW AND WHY DID SURRENDERED STUDIOS COME ABOUT? TELL US A BIT ABOUT ITS HISTORY.
I had been doing similar work in Spokane, Washington, for many years, but in the end of 2021, my husband and I felt a call in our hearts to relocate and rebuild our ministry and barbering program on the Gulf Coast. We wanted to provide a wider range of support and services to those in need, and, through my husband entering barbering school here, we recognized a lack of high end, professional barbering services, as well as mentorship for young barbers in the industry.
I knew with my background, experience, education and a call from The Lord, we could build something special for both guests and staff. We are a fully “faith-funded” program, which has been challenging and incredibly beautiful at the same time. We’re basically a pay-it-forward program and provide free services to those in need, but we still pay the staff for their time through gifts given through our website, TikTok, people in the community and an apparel line we created to financially support the ministry.
Watching people take part in what we do here is such a joy, and being generous is one thing you’ll never regret.
WHAT’S NEW AND EXCITING WITH SURRENDERED STUDIOS?
We recently began releasing a line of our own, handcrafted beard- and body-care products that we are extremely proud of. Being able to provide luxury services is one thing, but we pride ourselves on also equipping our guests with the education and products to practice the same level of self-care at home in between visits to the studio. These products are truly created with so much intention and love! We want our guests to know how valuable they are and how much they deserve products that produce results.
HOW IS SURRENDERED STUDIOS HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT?
The impact we have is something that can be tricky to measure, as it’s so personal to each situation. Sometimes, it’s a warm cup of coffee on a cold, wet morning for one of our homeless friends. Other times, it’s getting a guy ready for his first job interview or wedding. The moments we get to share with our guests often are overlooked and taken for granted in today’s busy world, but here at Surrendered Studios, we slow down. We listen. We provide that safe, judgment-free space for people to open up and even begin to heal. Our most significant initiative is providing a luxury barbering service and experience at no cost to the guest who can’t afford it, with no judgment ever, while teaching others to use their time, talents and/or businesses to do the same.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST THING YOU HAVE LEARNED OR GAINED PERSONALLY BY BEING INVOLVED WITH SURRENDERED STUDIOS?
The greatest gift I have received by being part of this ministry is simple: relationships. Because of our everyone-is-welcome, open-door policy, we have gained friendships with the least likely of people, from those experiencing homelessness and living on the abandoned golf course behind our studio to the newly enlisted, terrified military kid to the multimillion CEO and the single mama just struggling to put food on the table. We love them all! They all have important stories to tell and things to teach us, and we look forward to hearing every one of them.