I really hope that all Barbers either hear this episode or learn about Autism in some way.

In all candor, this has probably been the most challenging introduction for me to write. While I want to communicate the importance of this subject, I also don't want to be over-dramatic to where I sound like a carnival-barker. I'm just going to let the interview do the talking.

We have a growing number of people in our chairs who are dealing with heightened sensitivities and along the spectrum of Autism, and it's an experience that many of us are untrained for.

The Sensory Safe Solution is an organization that helps to prepare Barbers to accommodate both children and adults who are on the spectrum. They are working very hard to help as many Barbers get brought up to speed on the subject, making Barber visits easier and a greater experience for everyone.

Kate Owens Heins, the Visionary CEO and Founder of The Sensory Safe Solution, boasts a wealth of experience behind the chair for 25 years as a salon owner for 14 years and with five years dedicated to researching sensory-safe services and refining the associated processes. Beyond professional expertise, she brings a deeply personal touch as a parent to a son with autism. In a remarkably short span of just over one year, Kate has led the organization to successfully certify over 3400 providers across 43 states and 7 countries, establishing The Sensory Safe Solution as a beacon of transformative support for the barbering and cosmetology industry

Learn more about The Sensory Safe Solution on their website.

You can reach Kate at

email kate@thesensorysafesalon.org

Instagram: @thesensorysafesolution

Facebook: The Sensory Safe Solution Page

Well... he said that I would start cutting without straining my body and/or the pain...

...and he was right.

We were originally going to record this immediately after the workshop in September of 2024, but by the end of the workshop, we were both pretty well worn out and decided that we would do it later.

While I don't think either one of us expected it to be eight months later, it worked out very well, since I was able to go take private lessons from him in Nevada for a couple days and then record the second part of the podcast.

In a word, my results have been pretty fantastic, and we go more into depth about Ergonami and how it helps Barbers to be able to cut without the pain and without straining our bodies.

Mr. Ronald D. Wada's journey in the beauty industry is a testament to his dedication and innovation. With over 15 years invested in developing the Ergo-Nami® Cutting System, he has addressed a significant issue faced by stylists and barbers: the physical toll of their craft. His system not only aims to prevent injuries but also ensures that professionals can maintain their artistry while protecting their bodies.

Beginning his career in 1997 as an AVEDA Territory Manager and Product & Service Educator, Mr. Wada has been recognized for his excellence, receiving two regional awards from Mr. Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of AVEDA Beauty Products.

Raised in Orange County, California, and now based in Las Vegas, he has built a reputation as a leading Master Shear Sharpener and Corrective Shear Repair Expert over the past 18 years.

Mr. Wada is a respected speaker at the International Beauty Sharpeners Association conferences and is well-regarded by industry peers, hairdressers, and barbers. He actively shares his expertise through the Ergo-Nami Cutting Workshop, Hair Shows, and Advanced Cutting Academy in Las Vegas.

You can reach Ron at Ergonami

Info.Ergonami@gmail.com

Instagram: @ergonami

We get taught one way to hold our shears, our bodies, and our clippers, and then we have to take it from there.

Ergonimics for Barbers... I have been looking high and low for ergonomic developments for Barbers.

I have spent thousands of dollars on shoes, inserts for my feet, special socks, extra floor pads, swivel thumb shears, and countless other items to make sure that I can keep Barbering over the next couple decades without the pains that a lot of folks tend to develop over the years.

One day, I ran across Ron Wada's Ergonami courses. They talked about different ways to cut with our shears, different ways to position our bodies, and approached Barbering from more natural positions that I had been shown at school and at tradeshows and events since then.

I'm going to be taking his class next week, and I see this as a great chance to do a podcast about his methods beforehand, and then do a follow-up afterward. There are points where this leans a little toward becoming an infomercial about the Ergonami classes, but mostly it points out how and why all the things we get taught are great to get started, yet need some tweaking so that we are not tearing up our bodies while doing this profession that we love so much.

Mr. Ronald D. Wada's journey in the beauty industry is a testament to his dedication and innovation. With over 15 years invested in developing the Ergo-Nami® Cutting System, he has addressed a significant issue faced by stylists and barbers: the physical toll of their craft. His system not only aims to prevent injuries but also ensures that professionals can maintain their artistry while protecting their bodies.

Beginning his career in 1997 as an AVEDA Territory Manager and Product & Service Educator, Mr. Wada has been recognized for his excellence, receiving two regional awards from Mr. Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of AVEDA Beauty Products.

Raised in Orange County, California, and now based in Las Vegas, he has built a reputation as a leading Master Shear Sharpener and Corrective Shear Repair Expert over the past 18 years.

Mr. Wada is a respected speaker at the International Beauty Sharpeners Association conferences and is well-regarded by industry peers, hairdressers, and barbers. He actively shares his expertise through the Ergo-Nami Cutting Workshop, Hair Shows, and Advanced Cutting Academy in Las Vegas.

You can reach Ron at Ergonami

https://www.ergonami.com/

Info.Ergonami@gmail.com

Instagram: @ergonami