Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Nelson.
Steven, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Steve Nelson, also known as “Big Steve the Barber.” I was born in the 1970s and raised in North Nashville, Tennessee. Coming up in the inner city, I got caught up in drugs and drug sales and spent many years in and out of the penitentiary throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
In 2013, I entered recovery through Narcotics Anonymous and started turning my life around. Around that same time, I found barbering, and it became a major part of my purpose and healing. After one final run-in with the law, I was released in 2016, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to giving back to the city that raised me.
For the past 10 years, I’ve worked as a barber, business owner, community health worker, mentor, and advocate in Nashville. I’m the owner of Total Life Recovery and TLR Supportive Housing Solutions, where we help individuals rebuild their lives through support, accountability, and stable housing.
I’m also a founding member of Cutting Out the Stigma, a program focused on bringing HIV awareness and education to heterosexual men through outreach in barbershops. Today, I use my story and experiences to encourage others and show that recovery and change are possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I truly believe we become who we’re supposed to be through the struggles we face in life. My road definitely hasn’t been easy. I’ve dealt with drug addiction, incarceration, and many other challenges along the way.
Today, I thank God for every part of the journey because without those experiences, I would not be the man I am today. I may have never taken the paths that led me to recovery, purpose, and giving back to my community. Everything I went through helped shape me, strengthen me, and prepare me to help others who are trying to find their way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Distinguished Gentleman Barbershop LLC ?
The Distinguished Gentleman Barbershop brings an old school feel with new school techniques. We offer premium barber services including hot towel treatments, facial shaves, black masks, and upscale grooming services.
What sets us apart is the environment and the way we treat people. We believe the barbershop is more than a place to get a haircut. It’s a place for conversation, support, mentorship, and community. Our motto is “We’re more than just a cut,” and that’s exactly what we stand for.
I’m most proud of the impact we’ve made in the community and the relationships we’ve built over the years. We’ve created a space where people feel welcomed, respected, and encouraged while also receiving quality service.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like most about Nashville is that it’s growing and has a little something for everybody. I call it the biggest small city in the world because you can do just about anything, meet all kinds of people, and still realize how connected everybody really is. No matter who you are, it feels like there’s only a few degrees of separation between people here.
What I like least is that the city has grown so much that it’s lost some of that old Nashville feeling. The “y’all come back now, you hear” spirit, the friendliness, and the politeness don’t feel the same anymore. And of course, the traffic has gotten out of control too.
Contact Info:
- Email: distinguishedgentleman350@gmail.com
- Instagram: dgbarbershop3318
- Facebook: Steven Nelson
- Twitter: Bigboy350
- Youtube: Bigstevethebarber
