Up until a few months ago, Julien Howard – widely known as the Velo Barber – personified the New York City grind. A barber by trade, Julien spent his day spinning across the city from one appointment to the next, providing a unique and highly convenient service to hundreds of clients. Like many personal care-based providers, COVID-19 forced the notoriously swift stylist to slow down and appreciate the small things.

‘New York City has always been more manageable on a bike,’ says Julien. ‘But this time has made it even more so and given me an opportunity to take some time to think about my business, my contribution, rest up and decide how to execute my creativity in different ways.’

While New York City may seem like the perfect place for a freelance barber, the commute quickly proved a logistical nightmare. Public transport was too slow to reach all of his clients in one day, and driving was even slower.

So Julien turned to the bicycle, and the bicycle became his brand. So much so that when he didn’t literally roll up to his clients’ homes, they’d ask if something was wrong. Julien became known as the biking barber, and thus, the Velo Barber was born.

The freedom of his work has given Julien the chance to meet clients from all walks of life. From athletes and entrepreneurs to tattoo artists, bartenders and CEOs – each has a unique story, and Julien makes a point of treating each appointment as an opportunity to learn something new.

‘I don’t know if I could do this anywhere else. There’s no place quite like NYC,’ he says.

But what do you do when the city that never sleeps comes to a screeching halt? Well, if you’re providing a service in high demand in a highly convenient way, you get creative. A quick cut in Times Square would have been unthinkable before it became devoid of people. And with the removal of thousands of cars from the streets and people avoiding mass transit, the Velo Barber already has the preferred mode of transportation.

‘I’ve always been a believer in quality over quantity,’ says Julien. ‘Having a lighter load for a little doesn’t bother me. And as my schedule fills up again and I go back to cutting hair, I want to make sure I’m providing a unique experience and adding value with each interaction.’

As the world slowly reopens and businesses like Julien’s are deemed safer, he hopes to continue finding creative ways to connect safely with others. And while haircuts in the middle of a deserted Times Square may be few and far between, Julien will meet you wherever you are.

Have a cutting-edge idea you want to share? Connect with Julien on Instagram @TheVeloBarber.