Established in 2017, The Lady Clipper is Washington DC’s premier, full-service, women-owned barbershop. Conveniently located in the epicenter of the U Street Corridor, this uniquely classic facility and talented staff of ‘lady clippers’ continues to exceed the expectations of its clients with fresh new trendy styles. Immersed in its community, the walls of Lady Clipper are graced with local art work that inspire creativity while offering a relaxing hair experience. The diversity of its customer base is as wide-ranging as its services creating transformative style.
Owner Lesley Bryant is originally from Trinidad in the West Indies and moved to DC after her parents separated. She has been a DC resident for 30 years and lives in Southeast DC, near Capitol Hill. She is passionate about design and art in all of its forms, including the performing arts, and is fascinated with fashion design. In fact, prior to diving in the world of barbing, she was a graphic designer specializing in the commercial real estate industry. And although she loves using her hands to craft her clients’ hair, she has a dream of one day learning to play a musical instrument.
When asked what inspired her to open her own barber shop, she said: “I was inspired by my own barber, Otis Anderson Jr. I went in for a haircut and walked out with a great business idea of opening and owning my own barbershop. Traditionally men looked after men’s hair and women looked after women’s hair, but now there are more and more people entering careers that are non-traditional – I think it’s great and I am happy we can make an impact in the industry.”
When deciding where to open her shop, the U Street corridor was a natural choice because it possesses a special vibrancy and truly embodies the music and arts scene of Washington DC. Bryant says: “We love that our business captures that experience for our clients when they are here with us.”
The Lady Clipper is located at 1514 U St NW and is open Tuesday-Friday from 10am-7pm and Saturday from 9am-5pm. Appointments are required and can be made at TheLadyClipper.com. They offer a full range of hair cutting and styling services for adults and kids (age 1-15 years), as well as natural hair braiding and non-surgical hair replacements. Check them out on Instagram at @LadyClipper to see more of their work!
Be sure to check out their new Immerse Hair and Body Oil, available in-store and on on their website!