( ENSPIRE Features ) Tristan Walker Teaches Grooming To CAU Athletes & Financial Literacy
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Bevel is a barbershop business created by entrepreneur Tristan Walker, who partners with OTE. Their goal is to ensure that the mental-emotional and grooming needs of Black men are prioritized and put at the forefront. Bevel recently donated to HBCU Clark Atlanta University to remodel the Men’s basketball team facility. Bevel provides the right products that cater to Black male hair and skin types. OTE contributes revenue opportunities for basketball athletes looking for new paths to the league and helps them develop their skills. This partnership brings head-to-toe grooming to the university’s student-athletes.
The grooming brand opened Bevel Barbershops inside Atlanta’s OTE Arena. Not only did Bevel Barbershop cater to the athlete’s grooming needs, but they also provided products and learned hair care routines based on their needs. One of OTE’s educational goals was to provide financial literacy. According to BET CAU’s head basketball coach, Alfred Jordan, in a press release, “I am very appreciative of the safe space created for our student-athletes to focus on academics and prepare for game day. I am also very thankful for the national partnership that has brought to our entire athletic department.” Now, OTE has a revamped locker room with a state-of-the-art barbershop and lounge space thanks to Girard Hardy ( Brand Marketing Director for Bevel) and Breann Davis (Senior Brand Marketing Director for Bevel).
Girard Hardy discusses the partnership between OTE and Bevel, the goals of grooming and education for CAU athletes, the top three Bevel grooming products, essential grooming and hair care tips for Black men, and more.
How did the Bevel and OTE partnership begin?
Bevel has worked with the Overtime team thrice over the past couple of years, so the relationship organically developed into this incredible partnership. The first project we partnered on was influencer content around a new product that had recently launched. Shortly after the conclusion of the first project, Overtime announced it was launching Overtime Elite (OTE), a basketball league aimed at providing a place for high school-aged hoopers to play professional basketball and stay in the United States. There is a substantial overlap between the Bevel consumer and the Overtime Elite consumer, so it felt like a natural fit. This past season, Bevel was named the exclusive men’s grooming brand for OTE.
What distinguishes Bevel products, such as shavers, body, hair, and face care, from competitors in this industry?
What sets us apart from our competitors in the industry is that Bevel’s products were created to help Black men, and ultimately all men, eliminate issues related to shave, skin irritation, and razor bumps. Bevel works best with curly, coily, textured hair and melanin-rich skin, head to toe. These are simple issues that often when left unaddressed, impact the confidence of a Black or Brown men are issues that have frankly gone unaddressed for a very long time. Looking at each Bevel product, our passion, intent, and commitment to our community are clear. We develop all our products to solve grooming challenges or problems and provide solutions to our community because we genuinely care.
What are some goals of this partnership for grooming and education?
At Bevel, we are committed to the overall success and empowerment of Black and brown men. We believe that education, mental health, and personal or self-care and grooming are a big part of that total success. With all our partnerships, we aim to reduce barriers and raise awareness of various topics. With OTE, our goals were to provide education on personal care and grooming, fully embodying the sentiment of “Look good, feel good, and play good.” We believe that a fresh haircut and proper grooming are a piece of proper mental health, combined with licensed professionals and therapists, meditation, mindfulness, etc. — but it’s a pretty important piece.
How will the CAU athletes be taught to learn grooming? How do you know they are interested?
As a brand, we believe fully in people experiencing our products. By offering products from the Bevel Shop, student-athletes can understand how to use them organically. Barbers cut student-athletes’ hair, discuss their unique hair needs and the products that would work for them, what the products are, how to use them, and how they work, all while using them in context. We pulled up at homecomings and meet and greets, especially as we unveiled the Bevel Shop and revamped athlete lounge at Clark Atlanta University. Every time we see their interest in our products, how they make them feel about themselves, and their excitement in knowing they were made especially for them. Walking away with education and holding their head high in newfound confidence. Good grooming and great products do that to you, which is the Bevel Difference.
What are the three best Bevel products for beginners in grooming, and why?
All the Bevel products and tools are incredible; however, the below kits would work for a broad range of men, young and old(er):
The Bevel Essential Disposable Starter Kit ($29.95): Ensures a flawless, clean shave with products designed to reduce razor bumps and ingrown hairs. The kit includes the Bevel Essential Disposable Safety Razor, Bevel Clear Shave Gel, and Bevel Bump Control. Perfect for that nomadic, on-the-go lifestyle of discovering themselves and the world for the first time.
The Bevel Skin Essentials Kit ($34.95) The Bevel Skin Essentials Kit contains the Bevel Face & Beard Wash to gently cleanse and unclog pores, the Bevel 2-in-1 Exfoliating Toner Pads to brighten and exfoliate dull skin and Face Gel for skin hydration. If you are learning (or re-learning) to prioritize your skincare routine, the Bevel Skin Essentials Kit is the perfect on-ramp to elevated self-care.
The Bevel Shave System Starter Kit ($89.99): From pre-shave oil to razors, shave cream, and post-shave balm, The Bevel Shave System Starter Kit is clinically tested and designed to give the closest shave for coarse and curly hair while eliminating irritation and razor bumps. Whether he wants to grow out a beard or keep a clean shave. Designed to help protect, cleanse, and nourish your skin every time you shave, the kit is suitable for all learner levels. It includes the Bevel Safety Razor, the Bevel Shave Brush, the Bevel Priming Oil, the Bevel Shave Cream, the Bevel Restoring Balm, and 40 Blades. Our Shave Starter Kit is an absolute classic and is perfect for when you are ready to step up your shave routine to the highest levels of self-care. We’ve got you covered. This is an ideal graduation, first internship, and first job gift.
What are three grooming tips that young Black men must do daily?
First, put down the Bar of Soap and 6-in-1 Body Washes. For your face, plan to use an actual, dermatologist-tested Face Wash daily.
Number two, wash your hair with some consistency. Ask those around you who know what they’re doing, what products they use, and how often they wash & condition their hair. Wash and condition your hair with the right products. Again, NO 6-in-1 Body Wash / Shampoo combos. There are rumors going around that if you’ve got short hair, you don’t need to wash regularly. That’s nonsense. Dry, dusty hair isn’t a good look.
And finally, number three, figure out what your smell is, or your scent is, or what you want it to be. There are some guys who are wearing colognes, and that’s great, but maybe yours is just a great deodorant paired with a fantastic body wash. If I give a fourth, I would say wash your
clothes. Every week. Seriously.
Will there be future collaborations with OTE to expand Bevel Barbershops for other university athletes?
We have loved working with OTE, Overtime, and Clark Atlanta University, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds as we continue to serve young people and athletes alike.
To buy some of BEVEL’s products, visit https://getbevel.com/surplus-sale, check out their surplus sale, and build your options. Follow BEVEL on Instagram for product updates. To buy tickets or shop for merch on behalf of OTE, visit https://www.instagram.com/ote/.
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