James Boyd has wanted to be a barber since he was 13 years old. "My dad cut our hair when we were kids, and I was the one who was fascinated by the clippers," recalls Boyd.

Boyd had a natural gift that soon grew into a flourishing business. "I started cutting hair in our house, giving haircuts to friends and Shaker High School athletes," says the 33-year-old.

Two years ago, Boyd and business partner Lathan Bennett transformed a former garage on Larchmere Boulevard into Polished Professionals (12511 Larchmere Blvd.), an elegant, upscale barbershop.

"We wanted to create a men's barbershop with a professional atmosphere," explains Boyd.

Polished Professionals, one of a dozen or so barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere, is now a community hub within this multicultural neighborhood. "Barbers are very community-oriented, and we want to be a pillar on Larchmere," says Boyd.

In the past several years, the number of barbershops and hair salons on Larchmere has grown steadily. The street, which has been an art and antiques district for decades, has in recent years added an eclectic, diverse group of services to its retail mix.

Boyd lived in Las Vegas from 2003 until 2005, when he moved home because he was homesick and missed having four seasons. "I lived the Vegas life for a while, but I wanted to raise my family here," he says.

For Boyd, owning his own business was about "starting a legacy and controlling my destiny," he says. "My grandfather was an entrepreneur, and everyone in my family looked up to him. It was also my mom's last wish that I start my business."

Source: James Boyd
Writer: Lee Chilcote