Today we’d like to introduce you to Pierce McKie.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story really started with having to adapt to life changing surgeries and losing everything I’ve worked for. A forced restart. I never thought I would have to deal with learning to walk again, giving up my future soccer career, and getting disconnected from my family and friends.. I’ve been through a lot at a young age, from dealing with autoimmune diseases and other health problems to having major spinal surgery that completely changed my life. I had a spinal fusion from T2 to T12 because of a 94% curvature in my spine cause by a rare spinal disease. The surgery lasted around 8 hours, I had 22 screws and 2 rods put in my back, and afterward I had to learn how to walk again.
Before all of that, I had dreams of playing soccer and seeing where that could take me. I was on a path toward playing at a high level, and having that taken away was something I struggled with for a long time. I had to figure out who I was without the future I originally pictured for myself That was one of the hardest parts of my life, but it also changed the way I look at everything today. I started putting more of my energy into barbering and building something for myself. I wasn’t handed a successful business. I had to learn the craft, learn how to talk to people, learn how to run a business, and figure things out as I went. There were times when I didn’t know if everything I was working toward was actually going to work, but I kept showing up.
Now I’ve built a life around something I genuinely love. I’ve built a strong clientele, grown my brand, traveled, created content, started working on different business ideas, and created opportunities for myself that I never had before.
But honestly, the biggest thing barbering has given me isn’t just the business side of it. It’s the people.
I’ve realized that when someone sits in my chair, I have an opportunity to do more than give them a haircut. I can give them confidence. I can give them a place to talk. I can help them feel good about themselves when they leave.
That’s really what I feel like my job is. I’m not just here to make people look better. I want people to leave feeling better about themselves and more confident than they were when they walked in.
Everything I’ve been through is a big reason why I care so much about that. I know what it feels like to have your confidence challenged and to have to rebuild yourself. So if I can help somebody feel even a little bit better about themselves through what I do, then I feel like I’m doing something bigger than just cutting hair.
I’m still building, and I’m nowhere near where I want to be. But I’m proud of the life I’ve created from everything I’ve been through. The goal now is to keep growing, keep creating, keep helping people, and build something that gives me the freedom to live the life I always wanted while helping other people feel confident enough to go after theirs too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had to overcome a lot physically, mentally, and personally.
I lost the soccer team I grew up with, along with the friends and families that came with it. I lost about 2.5 years of high school, missed school events and time with my friends, and ultimately lost the future I thought I had in sports. For about four years, I was going from hospital to hospital trying to get answers, sometimes having 4–8 appointments a week, while dealing with depression and not knowing what was actually wrong. I started to give up on life, and if it weren’t for my mom pushing and finding doctors and new ways I wouldn’t of been in the spot I am today.
Eventually, I had to travel to Arizona for a month to have my spinal surgery because there wasn’t anyone around me who could perform a surgery that major. The surgery was only the beginning. I had a long recovery, and I’m still working through parts of it today. I also dealt with heart and stomach complications and a point where I couldn’t eat solid food for almost two years.
At the same time, I was trying to figure out what my future was going to look like. I had to teach myself how to cut hair, study and teach myself everything I needed to get licensed, build a clientele completely on my own, and learn everything that comes with running a business. From talking to people and building relationships to marketing, content, scheduling, finances, and actually turning barbering into a business.
There were a lot of moments where I could have given up, but I kept finding a reason to keep going. I’m still recovering, still learning, and still building, but everything I’ve been through has shaped the way I live and work today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a barber based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, serving all of Kansas City and I specialize in personalized haircuts that are built around the individual. I don’t just look at what haircut someone asks for I look at their hair, face shape, lifestyle, style, and what they’re actually trying to achieve.
I’m known for detailed work, clean fades, shear work and creating an experience where people feel comfortable and confident. I’ve built my clientele completely on my own, and a big part of my business has come from building real relationships with the people who sit in my chair. Also I am known for posting lifestyle/barber content on my socials, from traveling to tutorials I hit a wide variety of content forms.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve been able to take this after everything I’ve been through. I taught myself how to cut, studied to get licensed, built my clientele from the ground up, and turned barbering into a business and a brand that continues to grow. Not letting couples let downs and life changing events stop me.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a pretty introverted kid. I had a strong circle of friends that I had been close with since kindergarten, and a lot of my childhood was spent with them. I played soccer every day before and after school, and although soccer was my main sport, I also played basketball and football.
Outside of sports and my friends, I’ve always been really family-oriented. I loved spending time with my family and being around the people closest to me. I have one younger brother, and I would do anything for him. we have always been close and share similar interest. even if were in a rough spot we both want the best for each other and hold each other accountable. my mom raised me on the saying “You are your brothers Keeper” and that really stuck with me. a big reason I push so hard in my life and my business to be a good role model for him and to show him anythings possible if you work for it.
I’ve also always had a huge passion for cars. I would go to car meets, spend time at dealerships, watch car content online, and learn about different cars. I’ve always loved not only looking at cars but actually working on them and making them better. Before I started cutting hair, that was actually what I was doing. I was detailing cars, doing body work, maintenance, and anything I could to clean them up, fix them, and make them better. Looking back, I think that same mindset has carried over into barbering. I’ve always enjoyed taking something and figuring out how I can improve it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pmblendz.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierce.mckie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PierceMcKieBarber
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PierceMcKie
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pmblendz__
