A Midvale barber shop is making the back-to-school season a little brighter for teachers. The Fellas Barber Shop (7559 S. Main Street) is giving school teachers free haircuts in a gesture of appreciation and gratitude. 

Inspired by the efforts of teachers, shop owner Mersadies Reber aims to give back to those who shape young minds by providing a small act of kindness. Reber also teamed up with the Strap Tank Restaurant to award one teacher with a year’s worth of classroom supplies. 

“We asked ourselves who our local community heroes are and we felt that teachers are really the staple of our committees,” Reber said. “I think the community will fall in love with the The Fellas and find out who we really are.”

CiCi Alsop is the shop manager at the Midvale location. Formerly known as the Black Sheep Barber Co., the owners partnered with Reber in May this year and rebranded as The Fellas. With its vintage decor, including old-timey chairs and a striped barber pole, Alsop said the shop fosters a community vibe and welcomes everyone who comes through the door. 

“We’re somewhere where people can come in and relax,” Alsop said. “We like to give back to the community. We like to give back to the heroes, whether it be firemen, police officers, veterans, teachers or really anybody who helps their community…We just want to help people feel great. We like to set ourselves apart from everybody and have a good vibe and have a really good culture.”

Any teacher, male or female, can stop by The Fellas and receive a free shampoo, cut and style. Men can also get a straight razor shave and face massage. The shop also offers waxing, scalp treatments, beard shaping and facials that include a hot towel steam, exfoliation, massage, a clay mask and moisturizing.

“We just want everyone to feel good, feel fresh and look fresh for the new school year, and have everyone get off to a good start,” Alsop said. 

Alsop wants to remind residents that it’s important to use quality hair products, especially living in the dry, hot air in Salt Lake County. 

“If it’s cheap, it’s probably not a very good product,” Alsop said. “We live in a desert, so you always want to hydrate your hair, just like you’re going to hydrate your skin. Your hair will start to get super dry. You’re going to get dead ends fast.”

The Fellas was started by Reber and her husband Jeramy in 2018 and the brand has grown to include nine locations and a haircare product line. Military personnel and first responders receive a free service for their first time in the shop and a discount at the shop every visit after that.

For more information and a complete list of services, visit Thefellas.com.

“Self-care is important in today’s world,” Alsop said. “We always like to remind people that even though you’re busy, and you may think you don’t need a haircut, just take that self-time, come on in and relax.”λ