In this content series, we're focusing on artists who found a niche that really speaks to them and work for their career.  Henry "Tribes" Amoloja(@theweightedcape), is based in Dallas, TX, and practices sensory-friendly barbering. 

Specialty: Sensory-Friendly Barbering

MODERN SALON: Why did you choose your specialty? 

HENRY AMOLOJA: I chose my specialty because I couldn’t find a barber for myself in the city where I attended college, so I decided to become my own barber. From there, it snowballed. I didn’t choose to be a sensory-friendly barber, it chose me. I discovered this community and its great need for a safe space in the hair industry when I invented the weighted cape.

MS: And at what point in your career did you make that decision? 

HA: I had been a barber for almost ten years when I stepped into the role of a sensory-friendly barber.

MS: Did you lose clients when you specialized?

HA: I didn’t necessarily lose clients when I specialized. If anything, they supported me more. Over time, as I shifted my focus more toward sensory-friendly services, I did lose a few clients due to having a more limited schedule.

MS: How has it impacted your income?

HA: It did impact my income at first because I was only charging half of my standard hourly rate for sensory services, however, through donations from the community, I’ve been able to regain financial balance, which allows me to focus even more on this specialty.

MS: How do you market your specialty?

HA: Social media has been a major tool for marketing my specialty. We’ve grown to nearly 1.2 million followers across all platforms.

MS: What’s one mistake you made when building your specialty?

HA: One mistake I made when building my specialty was assuming that my product, the weighted cape, would be the ultimate solution for accommodating children with special needs. I quickly learned that it goes far beyond any single tool. It’s an all-encompassing, end-to-end experience.

MS: Has specializing improved your overall career satisfaction?

HA: This is easily the most fulfilling work I’ve done in my ten-year career.

MS: What advice would you give someone considering specializing?

HA: My biggest advice to anyone considering this path is to never stop learning, never limit yourself, invest in education, network with others, and stay open to possibilities, especially those outside your comfort zone.

MS: How much additional training did you invest in to become a specialist?

HA: The founder of Sensory Safe Solutions for Individuals with Autism, @ thesensorysafesolution, Kate Owens, allowed me to attend a class for free. Other sensory-friendly barbers and stylists have also been incredibly open in teaching me their methods, especially members of the Sensory Society. Jelly Robinson was instrumental in my growth as a sensory-friendly barber.

MS: Do you ever say no to services outside your niche? How do you handle that conversation?

HA: Yes, I say no to services outside my niche all the time because I have to stay focused on my mission of making sensory-friendly haircuts accessible to families across the globe. It’s an easy decision because I know it serves a greater purpose.