The Vault Grooming Co. Brings Back Operation Sharp Start with Free Haircuts for Students

The Vault Grooming Co. Brings

BackOperation Sharp Start

with Free Haircuts for Students

Lavenna Stambaugh

The Ashland Beacon

The barber shop will host the back-to-school event Aug. 8 to help students look and feel their best for a successful school year.

Preparing for a new school year can be exciting, but it can also place added financial pressure on families. The Vault Grooming Co. hopes to ease some of that burden while helping students start the school year with confidence through its second annual "Operation Sharp Start."

The free back-to-school haircut event will take place Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Vault Grooming Co.'s new location at 2920 Winchester Ave. in Ashland.

The event is open to students of all ages throughout the Tri-State area, and no student ID is required. Haircuts will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Owners Kevin Steele and Vance Lycans said the goal is simple: to give students a confidence boost before they head back to the classroom.

"A fresh haircut can make a big difference in a child's confidence," Steele said.

The Vault Grooming Co. is veteran-owned and operated, and the majority of its employees have served in the military and now continue serving their community. The owners believe a barber shop can be about much more than haircuts.

"It's important to know that self-care is also a way to care for your mental health," Lycans said. "This event is about celebrating kids and helping them start the school year on the right foot."

The shop served 157 students during last year's event and hopes to help even more children this year. With a new location and a growing staff, the goal is to provide more than 200 free haircuts this year.

In addition to the free haircuts, students and their families can enjoy raffles and giveaways throughout the day. Each haircut earns one raffle ticket, with additional tickets available for $1 each. Prizes include an overnight stay at the Delta Marriott, $300 worth of fireworks, free buffet passes to Gatti Land and more. Fluffrito will also be on-site giving away free cotton candy burritos.

Since last year's Operation Sharp Start, The Vault has expanded its services beyond traditional barbering to better serve the community. The shop recently welcomed esthetician Tuxie Griffin, who offers teen facials, waxing, dermaplaning, anti-aging treatments, along with hand and foot massage services.

Steele said self-care is important for everyone and encouraged people, especially men, to make their health and wellness a priority.

"Men are often so closed off that they forget to focus on themselves," Steele said.

The shop also carries its own line of grooming products called The Vault Reserve, branded as "Top-Shelf Products for the Modern Man," including beard oil and other grooming essentials. The Vault also supports local businesses by carrying products made with locally produced honey and beeswax from Wildflowers in Bloom Apiaries and Homestead.

As The Vault continues to grow, Steele and Lycans said the business has added licensed colorists and nail technicians to its team and hopes to add a massage therapist in the near future.

The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is closed on Sundays. School resource offices are also encouraged to contact The Vault if they know of students who could benefit from services throughout the year.

"We want this to be more than just a haircut," Steele said. "We want it to be a celebration. Let's kick off the school year together."

For more information about Operation Sharp Start, contact The Vault Grooming Co. at 606.465.6552.