Rock, Paper, Scissors, Clippers!

Barber Keith McKay Is Building His Legacy One Cut At A Time

By Kia Lisby

“I believe no one’s going to provide the level of customer service and service that I provide.”

Local barber, brand ambassador and Hyattsville native, Keith McKay has been contributing his skills and charisma to the Prince George’s County community for 28 years and counting.

At 16 years of age, McKay began cutting hair for members of his church. After graduating from high school, he was offered 50 percent of a barbershop and the chance to obtain a barber’s license by his Sunday school teacher at the time.

After about a year, unfortunately, McKay found out his former teacher did not have a barber’s license, nor did he own the shop. He then decided to drive up the street to another barbershop where was hired the same day and has been barbering professionally ever since.

McKay with Prince George;’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks.

The entrepreneur currently barbers at My Barber’s Lounge in Greenbelt, under his brand Keith Kuttz. He offers a variety of hair services that include detailed haircuts, scalp treatments, hair color, hair units, and an assortment of other services. He has also won awards including first and third place in the fastest fade competition hosted by DMV Illustrations Barbers. The competitions were held to recognize barbers in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area every week before COVID- 19 transpired.

In addition to his awards, McKay has certificates of completion in training such as Creative Color Training Course and Custom Hair Units.

He services men, women, and children of all ages, races, and nationalities. “He greets you with a smile and leaves you with a big ole grin” said a client of three years, Daphne Holman, who has also referred a few of her friends to McKay.

Not only is the clip artist a barber for his clients, he also caters to the community by giving haircuts at homeless shelters, funeral homes, and free back to school cuts to students, amongst other community services.

My Barber’s Lounge also gives back to the community through an organization called 13th man founded by shop owner Davon Kelly. The mission is to elevate the lives of young men through empowerment, development and leadership engagements.

McKay is an avid believer in giving back, especially after having endured a brain tumor. Being on bedrest for over a year, the cancer survivor lost clients and had to rebuild his life both inside and outside of the barbershop.

Though COVID-19 has affected a lot of his business, Keith plans to open a barber and cosmetology school in the county should next year.