Before owning her shop, Lorian worked various jobs to make a living—as a barista, in landscaping, and homecare, to name a few. The idea for Liberty Barbers came from a desire for personal freedom. “I just had this sensation that I never wanted to ask for a job again,” she says. “I wanted to call the shots and start my own business.” This mentality was partially due to the hardships of Victoria’s economy. Like many smaller communities, it’s a gig economy, which comes with its own set of challenges. “You have no sense of security. No way to project forward what your year or your finances are going to look like. I knew that I needed to have a plan.”

The seeds of this plan began five years ago when Lorian was initially inspired to cut hair. Originally from Colorado, she heard about a barber in Los Angeles who would bring clippers and a chair to a park and offer haircuts to low-income communities. The fact that these few tools were all he needed to operate his business (and that he contributed to his community while doing it) flipped a switch for her. After learning about his story, she quickly enrolled in barber school. Following her six-month program, her career in hair began.

Initially, she worked at a local barbershop in Victoria. But after three years, she left. Still searching for freedom, Lorian wanted to open her own shop. “ I was independent for a year without a name or a place to cut hair while I worked on the ‘how’ to make [the shop] all happen.” During that time, she floated from place to place, working on contract and even in friends’ basements. One notable moment was when the owner of Eden’s Barbershop—a fellow immigrant, female barber, and woman of colour—let Lorian work in her shop. Lorian, a Black immigrant to Canada herself, reflects fondly on this intrinsic support between marginalized communities: “Diversified female business owners [are] very supportive of each other. It’s amazing.”

Diversified female business owners [are] very supportive of each other. It’s amazing.

After time, dedication, and commitment, Lorian’s ambitions paid off. With years of experience in one hand and a following of local clientele in the other, Lorian took the leap. In January 2020, she bought her first little shop in Quadra Village. Liberty Barbers was born—the name liberty to honour her sought-out quest for freedom. Although it’s been a turbulent ride with the pandemic, Liberty Barbers has been overwhelmingly successful. “It’s been beyond my wildest dreams,” she says with a smile. One reason for her success has been her clients. The shop is a microcosm of different personalities, cultures, backgrounds, values, beliefs, and opinions. Most importantly, it’s a safe space.

From LGBTQ+ to racialized communities, Lorian creates a space for anyone and everyone to feel welcome—which she does naturally with her warm, kind presence. As a Black woman, she also acknowledges the importance of these spaces for racialized communities. “There was never a stylist for me here [in Victoria], so I would wait to go to America every year to get my hair done,” she says. “Hair has been colonized.” Her shop is also a place to reclaim what may have been lost or devalued due to whiteness. With Liberty Barbers, Lorian strives to celebrate everyone’s individuality. “A big part of embracing [diversity] is recognizing that all those people have different needs, and somebody needs to know how to take care of those needs. And that starts with places like this.”

A big part of embracing [diversity] is recognizing that all those people have different needs, and somebody needs to know how to take care of those needs. And that starts with places like this.

Given that Lorian runs a barbershop, her clients are primarily male, too. She finds that many of these male clients have questions regarding social movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter. “And they need a place to ask them,” she says. “I try to make that okay for them. Nothing’s going to change with cancel culture.” When it comes to social progress, she refers to Daryl Davis, a Black man in the U.S. who talks to members of the Ku Klux Klan to try to dispel racism through communication, and succeeds. “Never underestimate the power of a good conversation,” she says.

This diverse network is central to her business: she profoundly values her community. And although everyone is part of a community, Lorian believes establishing a network close to your heart requires effort. That means checking in on her people and support for one another— especially when there are challenges. This past year, there were. Lorian bought her Quadra Street shop in January 2020, and in February, they closed due to COVID-19. To stay afloat, Lorian’s perseverance and determination helped, but her community “was everything.”

They supported her through difficult times for a barbershop, an industry hit hard by the pandemic. Amidst renovations and a closure, her clients not only got haircuts, but they also offered anything from money to construction help. Thankfully she didn’t need much assistance, but knowing people were there for her gave her comfort. “I didn’t have a doubt that we would be fine.” And she was right. Although the business is still getting back on its feet at this stage of the pandemic—her shop doesn’t yet have signage or a website—she’s busier than ever. Her success is almost entirely due to word-of-mouth. “I don’t advertise; I don’t even have a sign on the door,” she says with a smile. “But my clients love that and they help it grow. So, that’s the community that I feel like I’m a part of. I feel very lucky.”

I don’t advertise; I don’t even have a sign on the door, but my clients love that and they help it grow. So, that’s the community that I feel like I’m a part of. I feel very lucky.

Throughout all of these ups and downs, one thing remained constant: belonging. This inclusive, supportive network is a testament to Lorian herself. It’s a culmination of her warmth, kindness, and her long-standing dreams of personal freedom. To Lorian, freedom is not solely financial or entrepreneurial; it also means celebrating what makes you authentically you—all of which is reflected at Liberty. If you want to be a part of this beautiful community, too, you know where to find it: at a signless barbershop in the heart of Quadra Village.

This article was originally published in print in December 2021.