It’s a necessity for all, an enjoyable outing for many, but for some it’s a lifeline — the latter is true for Beaufort County native Trey Mason, a barber at Ruff Kuttz in downtown Washington.

Mason knows how to cut hair. As a youngster, his mother would cut his hair, a task that wasn’t performed to Mason’s preference, he said. Sometimes Mason would accompany his father to the barbershop, and from watching the barbers perform their trade, he told his dad it looked fun. So one day, he undertook the task of cutting his own hair, something that would seem quite difficult and nerve-wracking to most. But the result was not what most would expect when cutting their own hair. Mason actually did a more than a good job — his mother was impressed and so were his friends, according to Mason.

As an eighth-grader in Chocowinity, Mason began cutting hair for friends and schoolmates in the locker room before sports games or practices and other times during the weekends, he said. Fast-forward to his high school graduation, Mason’s father implanted the idea of attending barber school, and the August following graduation, he enrolled in Grace College of Barbering, something that has culminated into a career Mason enjoys beyond measure, he said.

“What don’t I like about it?” Mason asked, rhetorically. “The more you enhance your skills, the more you can seek knowledge about your craft, the more you hone your craft, the more money you can make. And you’re only as good as your tools. You gotta have some very good quality tools because different people want different styles and not every tool offers the same style.”

Having previously worked at Wendy’s in Greenville, and with a pregnant wife, Mason was struggling to make ends meet and support his family, but opportunity rang in the form of a phone call from Carnell Williams, owner of Ruff Kuttz, who offered Mason a spot in the barbershop, Mason said.

“I don’t know how he got my number,” Mason recalled. “He was like, ‘Hey man, you want to come work with us?’ I felt like the No. 1 overall draft pick or something. It came right on time with my wife having to stop working because of her pregnancy.”

Mason now serves clients all over the area from all different walks of life — even international customers, hailing from Canada, Honduras, Ireland, England and Panama, as well as parts of the United States. Locally, he serves Beaufort County Clerk of Superior Court Marty Paramore, Southside High School Principal Dale Cole and Washington Daily News’ Ad Sales Associate Spencer Stanley, among many others, Mason said.

“I love it because you meet all different kinds of people and you network,” Mason said. “The Assistant D.A., doctors, lawyers, police officers to the “average Joe” to little kids, women — a whole array of people that want something you have.”

Paramore said Mason’s care and attention in serving clients is the main reason he keeps coming back. Paramore had an intern, who went to Ruff Kuttz and had his hair cut. He liked the work, went to have his own hair cut and has been going ever since, Paramore said.

“He’s very professional and takes time with all his clients,” Paramore said. “When you walk in, they make everybody feel so welcome. It’s that old school barbershop atmosphere — we’re talking about ball games and how everyone is doing in the community, and it’s just a great experience. But you can really tell (Mason) takes time with each of his clients. He is a great barber.”

Mason said the opportunity Williams gave him in joining the barbershop was a game-changer in his life. Through passion and talent, Mason has risen to the rank of his life’s dream and has become part of a community center, of sorts, that has been around for almost two decades in the downtown community.

“Barbering has really saved my life,” Mason said. “Before I got that call (from Williams), I didn’t know what I was going to do. But I got that call and the grace of God saved my life. I’ve been able to support my family the whole time I’ve been working.”

Ruff Kuttz is located at 236 W. Main Street in downtown Washington.