Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Adams.
Hi Ryan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised by my great grandmother, shortly after my son was born when I was 15 she passed 3 months later. That was it for me. I dropped out got my GED, got emancipated by a local judge and started my life. I did iron construction for the first 5 years of my work life until landing a tattoo apprenticeship. I did that for 3 years before moving into barbering and never looked back. I’ve been a barber now for 7 years and finally opened my own shop in East Nashville called black heart barber company. I am a self-made man and have been alone and on my own since I was 15 with child. I am a tradesman and craftsman and have worked like a horse to pave my way. I now operate black heart with my beautiful wife Tara adams and my business partner Ian Johnston. Things are going great, we are a barber, social, gallery. Asides from being a barbershop we hold creative social events for local Nashville artists. We also have an art gallery “Black Heart gallery” in which it is free for local Nashville artist to display their work and when something sells the artist gets to keep 100%. Using our space to help promote local Nashville creatives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I guess I would say the biggest challenges for me stem from past life situations. Growing up without a mom or dad and being raised by my great grandmother who passed 3 months after my son was born when I was 15, I didn’t have the luxuries everyone is typically used to, no savings accounts no inheritance to financial help or guidance. I was just alone by myself sent into the world, left to figure out how to be a “man”. Then of course the obvious things like opening a business during a worldwide pandemic and political and civil crisis doesn’t help either.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started off working as a laborer ironworker. I didn’t do that as long as I could before realizing I was tired of being a grunt. I was an artist my entire youth and desperately wanted to get back to it. I ended up tattooing professionally downtown Nashville for 3 years but eventually family needs outweighed the schedule of a tattooer. I had to take one for the team and find a “normal” 9-5. The first tattoo shops in America were in the back of barbershops. Seeing this relation of crafts I figure why not? I’m a classic tattooer I’ll just become a classic barber. I dove in and fell in love. I specialize in traditional classic hairstyles but very much enjoy doing modern edgy things as well. After landing a sponsorship by Reuzel pomade and Redbull I decided it was time to cultivate something Nashville had never seen before.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is when I finally had a piece of art displayed in an adolescent museum in Knoxville. My grandfather from my father’s side came and supported me and my great-grandmother who raised me. It was the most praise and support I had ever received in my life.
Contact Info:
- Email: Barber@blackheartnashville.com
- Website: Www.Blackheartnashville.com
- Instagram: Blackheartnashville
- Facebook: Black heart barber company
