Looking about the interior of Eye Envy Him, you see what appears to be your basic barbershop. There are lines of chairs for hair cutting, a couple in front of sinks for shampooing. But the carefully picked elements for decoration, the chess table and the choice of music in the background tell the observer that a great deal of care went into picking the elements visible to customers.
"I'm still learning the game," owner Margaret Davis said. "I just managed to beat the kid teaching me for the first time. I consider that an accomplishment."
As new at the chess game as Davis may be, she's been in the hair care/barber trade for a bit longer. The 35-year-old Texarkana, Texas, native first began learning by cutting the hair of her father and brothers.
"They let me take care of their hair, and I got lots of practice on my brothers and father (God rest his soul)," she said.
She entered the hair care trade as an "independent contractor-operator" in the beauty and cosmetic industry and worked many years in that capacity. But when time and circumstances permitted, she went independent, first establishing Eye Envy Lashbar, specializing in hair and cosmetic care for women, three years ago. She then realized there was a niche in this business that was underserved in Texarkana.
"Eye Envy Him is not just a barbershop," Davis said. "Hard-working men can come here for a range of male grooming services. Things a man might not have realized could be helpful, or may have thought were only for women. We will show you that is not the case here."
"Often, men are left with the heavy burden of working to support a household," she said. "Some of their grooming needs might get neglected, and they may not even realize it. We will take care of that here and educate you as well. Facials, skin care, all sorts of things we will show to you."
Her shops have been going strong, and she fully loves her decision to go independent.
"This gave me a level of freedom I needed to fly as high as talent would allow," she said. "Drive is the key to succeeding as an independent businessman, but in this trade, you also need patience, endurance, skill and a good personality. But above all, you need drive. You've got to want it."
Davis is looking for a few good barbers to join her staff.
"I want some good people for my staff," she said. "Experienced ones are preferred, but we'll consider the right new barbers. I want people who love their craft and are looking for a place they can add to their skills. Experience is great, but the right attitude is even better."
Eye Envy Him is located at 812 College Drive, Texarkana, Texas. Call them at 903-791-1852 or visit Eye Envy Him on Facebook.