Written by Christina Norris
It’s officially June, and that means sunshine, cookouts, and a whole lot of love for the father figures who’ve shaped our lives. Whether you’re a dad yourself or someone who’s been that steady hand and heart for someone else, we see you, we appreciate you, and we’re celebrating you this month.
And what better place to honor Father’s Day than the timeless hub of conversation, connection, and clean fades—the barbershop.
We recently sat down with Glen Lewis of Universal Cutz in Margate, Florida, to hear his story. From sweeping up stray hairs as a kid to creating a neighborhood staple, Glen’s journey is all about legacy, love, and listening.
The Cut That Started It All
Glen's passion for barbering started early—like, preteen early. When a family friend and barber from Jamaica moved in with his family, Glen found himself captivated by the craft. He didn’t just observe—he jumped in, sweeping floors and soaking up the vibe.“I would always be around him, and I would just watch, and I used to help out, like sweeping up barber shops,” Glen recalls.
After high school, Glen tried his hand at traditional 9-to-5 jobs but quickly realized he wasn’t suited for micromanagement. He craved creative freedom and saw how his mentor was not just cutting hair—he was creating art and income. So Glen grabbed the clippers and stepped into his calling.
Universal Cutz Is Born
Glen started out working under his mentor, then moved around a bit before finally taking the leap to open Universal Cutz. With help from his family and zero dollars spent on flashy marketing, Glen relied on word of mouth—and it worked like magic. “That’s how I get most of my work—just from referrals,” he says. “My clients will be in a grocery store or somewhere, and people come up like, ‘Hey, man, where’d you get this cut?’”
Decades later, those word-of-mouth referrals remain strong. That’s the power of consistency, craft, and community. Today, Glen’s cutting the next generation—literally. Many of his clients bring in their kids, making Universal Cutz a rite of passage. “Kids can be a little harder to work with,” he laughs. “They don’t love being still for 30–45 minutes. But sometimes they sit better than adults!” With years of experience and a steady hand, Glen’s learned how to work with little ones and calm their nerves, turning fear into familiarity, one gentle snip at a time.
More Than A Haircut
Walk into Universal Cutz, and you’ll find more than buzzing clippers and crisp line-ups. You’ll find conversation. Glen’s chair isn’t just a place to freshen up—it’s a safe space for clients to open up. “Sometimes it’s not just a haircut,” he shares. “It’s also a therapy session. You’d be surprised—people tell you their deepest secrets.” It’s the exchange of thoughts, the feeling of being seen, that sets his shop apart. Glen listens. He offers advice. And he values clients who value him back.
Ask Glen what he loves most about the job, and he’ll tell you: the conversations. From sports and politics to race and religion, the barbershop is a space where real talk happens. “Just having those in-depth conversations to see how other people see things—I really enjoy that,” he says. While COVID may have quieted the shop a bit, those honest chats still live on, helping barbers and clients build deeper connections and mutual respect.
In a Nutshell
Universal Cutz isn’t just where you go to look good—it’s where you go to feel good. Glen has built more than a business; he’s built a community cornerstone. A space that welcomes the bold, the tender, the talkers, the thinkers, the kids with cowlicks, and the dads just trying to catch a moment of peace.
This Father’s Day, let’s give a nod to the barbers who hold it down for the dads. To the ones who clip, chat, encourage, and connect—like Glen, who reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful tools in the world are a pair of clippers and a listening ear.
