The warm, inviting space of Warfleigh Barber and Supply Co. at 818 Broad Ripple Avenue draws in clients of all ages as Hank Williams plays and the refreshing scent of aromatic pomade fills the air. Warfleigh co-owners, Cody Potter and Matt Jones opened their part gentleman’s supply shop, part barber shop in the spring of 2015. Carrying an array of skin and hair care products in addition to a well-curated selection of toiletries and manly gifts, Warfleigh’s masculine vibe offers clients an easygoing, rejuvenating experience.
“We’re dedicated to making you look good, and in turn you’ll feel good,” says Matt Jones whose business background and 15 years of experience working in Indianapolis pairs well with co-owner, Cody Potter who gained his barbering expertise from Kenny’s Academy of Barbering. “We feel that a nice haircut and a good conversation can carry itself into other areas of your life, give some more self esteem and generally make you feel better.” At Warfleigh, the clients are the focus and Potter and Jones are interested in the lives of those who sit in their shop’s two barber chairs, “We look forward to meeting new people from all over the world too, and we’re always interested in a good story.” Coupling a client-focused shop with ruggedly handsome atmosphere is a winning combination for the shop that just recently added an additional barber, Nick Beverly to meet the demand for the shop’s popular haircuts.
For each haircut, Warfleigh barbers consult their client on what they would like done to their hair. They suggest what products work well for a client’s hair and style, additionally offering styling advice to try after leaving the shop. The style of cut at Warfleigh remains classic. “We really like traditional barbering like crew cuts, side parts, quiffs, pompadours we even do a few shoulder length cuts.” Before leaving the shop, clients can peruse the neatly arranged shelves including their best-selling product, Layrite Original Delux Pomade, in addition to Baxter of California hair and skin care, a fragrance-free Sixty8 Provisional Co. Chicago product line, and shaving instruments from Parker. Other interesting novelties available for purchase include pine, spruce and cedar soaps, pins and pocket notebooks.
To help maintain a Warfleigh cut and style, Matt Jones recommends conditioning hair regularly, especially in the dry winter months. He also suggests using Layrite Grooming Spray for added volume and lift which is used on clients in the shop and advises finishing with a pomade. In addition to offering polished hair cuts and gentlemanly products, Warfleigh also offers beard trims and shaves. Serving over 30 to 40 clients a day is rewarding for Jones and Potter who provide barbering discounts to veterans, active duty military, police, fire fighters and senior citizens. “Its really cool to open a place that serves such a diverse range of customers from all over the city and state,” says Jones who finds his connection to clients gratifying. “What I love most about our shop is community.”
The future looks bright for Warfleigh Barber and Supply Co. Clients can stop by the two barber chair shop or book an appointment at their monthly pop-up shops which have taken place at Pattern Workshop. Interns will be added in the coming months as well. “We couldn’t be happier,” says Jones who is grateful for the success the shop. “I’m super proud of the response we’ve gotten from our community and am really proud of the progress we’ve made over the last 10 months.”
Photography by Ben Michaelis.
