BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO

In a city built on reinvention, a new Wash Park barbershop is rewriting what a haircut can mean. R&R Head Labs is more than a place to get a fade. It is a community-centered movement, rooted in second chances, offering justice-impacted barbers and returning community members a place to transform their lives.

Here, every scissor snip and every razor-sharp lineup becomes a testament to resilience, self-respect, and human dignity. Their mission is to care for more than just hair by restoring hope, purpose, and opportunity for people who have fought hard for a fresh start.

With a vibe that blends community, conversation, and creativity, R&R Head Labs stands as a reminder that redemption is not a footnote. It is a lifestyle. We sat down with CEO, Karen Nimmo to learn more.

R & R Head Labs believe in the transformative power of second chances. Can you share the moment when you decided to build this business specifically around giving formerly incarcerated individuals a real opportunity?

When people ask me when the mission behind R&R really began, I always go back to 1997. I was interviewing a man for an equipment-operator job at my family’s recycling company in Indiana. I remember feeling this immediate sense of trust and steadiness from him, something you can’t fully explain, but you feel it. The next day, I called to offer him the job, and that’s when he said, “There’s something I need to tell you. I’ve been in prison for the last 28 years. I murdered my best friend in a drug deal when I was 18.” I had never heard anything like that in my life. It stopped me in my tracks.

But in that moment, my heart told me exactly what to do. He didn’t have to share that with me. He chose honesty. I realized it wouldn’t be right to change my mind just because he trusted me enough to tell the truth. So I hired him. And he turned out to be that first-in, last-out kind of employee, the kind you’re grateful to have. We’re still friends today.

That experience left an imprint on me and I knew my next chapter had to have deeper meaning. And then, out of nowhere, I received an email from a Hollywood producer, Scott Budnick, producer of the Hangover, and prison-reform advocate asking if I could help get barbers and hairdressers in the California prison system licensed.

That email brought everything full circle. It was the reminder, and the invitation I needed to build something rooted in second chances, dignity, and the belief that people are more than their worst mistake. 

For many in our community, the idea of hiring someone with a criminal record still carries stigma. What would you say to someone who might not understand that side of your mission, to help them see the value and impact?

I always remind them of something simple but often forgotten: many of our barbers made life-altering mistakes when they were teenagers. They’ve been held fully accountable. They took responsibility then, and they continue to take responsibility now.

But what most people never see is the reflection, the rehabilitation, the real work of rebuilding yourself from the inside out. By the time our barbers come home, they’ve spent years confronting their choices, understanding their past, and actively choosing a different future. They’ve done more deep, personal growth than most of us ever have to. The men and women who sit behind our chairs today are humble. They’re gracious. They are grounded in gratitude in a way that only someone who has truly lost everything and fought to earn it back, can be. The adversity they’ve overcome and the mindset they carry forward is inspiring. It challenges all of us to remember that people make mistakes, and mistakes have consequences, but they don’t define who you are forever.

If you choose to see people only by the worst thing they’ve ever done, you’ll miss out on some of the most resilient, hardest-working human beings you’ll ever meet. We choose to see who they’ve become and the value they bring to our team and our community is undeniable.

One thing most people don’t realize is that barbering isn’t just a skill for our team, it was their outlet, their refuge, and their passion during incarceration. Many of our barbers spent years cutting hair inside, honing their craft every day. They come out with thousands of hours of real experience and a unique ability to cut all hair types and textures, something you don’t typically see in traditional cosmetology school.

But in Colorado, there’s a major barrier: individuals in men’s facilities can’t get licensed while incarcerated. So these incredibly skilled barbers come home as experts, but they still face the challenge of getting licensed, which can take up to two years and cost upwards of $8,000. And in those first few months back, everything hinges on stability. To reduce recidivism, people need to work immediately, find purpose, find community, and be able to support themselves and their families.

R&R Head Labs is  the launch pad. We’re the community that embraces them the moment they walk out. We give them a place to practice their art, make an income, regain their footing, and continue their growth. And through our Barber Scholarship Fund, we help them earn the licensure they were never given the chance to receive inside.

We don’t just provide jobs, we provide a pathway. A dignified, stable, supportive path that lets extraordinary barbers do what they love while building a new life for themselves and their families.

You have a Barber Scholarship Fund to help cover the cost of licensing. Can you tell us about a story where this scholarship fundamentally changed a life, or is changing one right now?

One of the most powerful examples of our Barber Scholarship Fund in action is James. We hired him the day after he was released from prison. From the moment he walked in, he had steady income, a supportive team, and a place to put his craft to work. Today, James is one of our most sought-after barbers. His clients adore him, and he brings an energy to the shop that reminds us why this mission matters. Our scholarship fund helped him connect to barber school, offset the significant costs of licensing, and even work with the Department of Corrections so the hours he earned cutting hair inside could be transferred toward his state licensing requirements.

The result? James isn’t just surviving, he’s thriving. His journey is exactly why we created the Barber Scholarship Fund: to remove the barriers that keep talented people from rebuilding their lives. 

For your new Wash Park shop location, what kind of atmosphere and community vibe do you want to create?

We want to create an atmosphere where people feel good not just because they’re getting an exceptional haircut, but because they’re part of something bigger. Wash Park is a deeply residential, generational neighborhood, and this shop is where people of all ages can experience what second chances actually look like in action.

Our goal is to build a space where stigmas fall away, where people from all different backgrounds and life experiences can sit side by side, talk, listen, and realize that we share far more similarities than differences. When you walk into our shop, we want you to feel inspired by the stories around you, connected to your neighbors, and proud to support a mission that lifts people up.

We’re not just adding a barbershop to Wash Park; we’re adding to the fabric of an already tight-knit community. Our hope is that this space becomes a hub of connection, compassion, and curiosity, a place where great haircuts meet real impact, and where supporting second chances becomes part of the neighborhood’s identity.

How can members of the Wash Park community, clients, local businesses, and neighbors become champions of this mission, not just by coming in for a haircut but through meaningful support and partnership?

The Wash Park community can become true champions of our mission in ways that go far beyond getting a haircut. They can collaborate with us, include us in neighborhood events, and create opportunities for our barbers to give back by providing cuts and care to organizations in need. The community can help amplify our mission by driving awareness, sharing our story, and helping others understand why second chances matter. They can partner with us in breaking down conscious and unconscious bias by engaging in real conversations, staying open, and allowing us to educate and inspire.

Neighbors and local businesses can support our Barber Scholarship Fund, which helps cover the cost of schooling and licensing for our team members. Every contribution directly removes barriers and accelerates someone’s path to stability and long-term success. When clients, businesses, and neighbors join us in these ways, they help strengthen our mission, uplift our barbers, and build a Wash Park community that not only welcomes second chances, but proudly champions them.

R&R Head Labs opens their new Wash Park space at 282 S. Pennsylvania St., in early 2026. Go visit them in person and online at rrheadlabs.com.