Catalyst Barber Co.

Catalyst Barber Co. is a KC-born-and-raised–owned multi-location barbershop founded in 2019 by Les Washington Jr. — a Kansas City native who took six weeks in Zambia to reimagine his craft — now operating three KC-metro locations, voted Best Barbershop in Kansas City two consecutive years (2023, 2024).

Description

Catalyst Barber Co. is a Kansas City–born barbershop company with three metro locations, founded in 2019 by Les Washington Jr., a barber who was born and raised in Kansas City.¹ Washington discovered his passion for cutting hair at age 15, giving his first haircut to a friend in his garage, and had been building his craft since 2012.¹ By 2017, though established in the KC market, he was burning out — and in August of that year he booked a six-week trip to Zambia, Africa, living off-grid.¹

The Catalyst concept was born at Victoria Falls. Standing at the Mosi-oa-tunya Falls in Livingstone, Zambia, staring 350 feet down over cascading water, Washington experienced a clarity of vision about what a barbershop could be: not just a service business but “a catalyst for a new reality — a world that is more friendly, enthusiastic, and energetic.”¹ He returned to Kansas City and opened the first Catalyst Barber Co. location in January 2019 at 5545 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, starting with four chairs and a small team of founding barbers.¹

The business has grown steadily. In August 2021 a second location opened in Gladstone at 7221 N. Oak Trafficway — now the flagship, with 11 licensed barbers and a retail component.¹ The Crossroads location at 323 Southwest Blvd followed, placing Catalyst in the heart of Kansas City’s arts district with another 11 barbers and a regular schedule of industry workshops.¹ The original North Kansas City studio was converted to a private, appointment-only headquarters space offering an intimate one-on-one experience with a complimentary bar.¹ Catalyst was named Best Barbershop in Kansas City by PitchKC in both 2023 and 2024, and Best Barber went to team member Bezhin Barzinji in 2023.²

Ownership and history

Les Washington Jr. was born and raised in Kansas City. He began cutting hair at age 15 and has honed the craft since 2012.¹ Before founding Catalyst he was an established independent barber in the KC market.

Year	Event
2012	Washington begins professional barbering in Kansas City
Aug 2017	Six-week trip to Zambia; Catalyst concept conceived at Victoria Falls
Jan 2019	Catalyst Barber Co. opens — 5545 N. Oak Trafficway, Suite 15c, Kansas City, MO (4-chair original location)
Aug 2021	Gladstone location opens — 7221 N. Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO 64118
2023	Crossroads location opens — 323 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
2023	PitchKC Best Barbershop + Best Barber (Bezhin Barzinji), Kansas City
2024	PitchKC Best Barbershop Kansas City (second consecutive)
2025	PitchKC Best Barbershop Kansas City finalist

Washington’s business philosophy centers on energy and intentionality — the name “Catalyst” signals the shop’s role as an agent of change in clients’ lives, not merely a grooming stop.¹

Links

• Official website: https://catalystbarberco.com/
• Gladstone on Fresha: https://www.fresha.com/lvp/catalyst-barber-co-gladstone-north-oak-trafficway-kansas-city-Gy3BEY
• Crossroads on Fresha: https://www.fresha.com/lvp/catalyst-barber-co-crossroads-southwest-boulevard-kansas-city-5z5QkR
• Yelp (original/N. Oak location): https://www.yelp.com/biz/catalyst-barber-co-kansas-city

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

1. Catalyst Barber Co. — About/Our Story page, https://catalystbarberco.com/our-story — Asserts: Les Washington Jr. born and raised in Kansas City; began cutting hair age 15 (first haircut in garage); has honed craft since 2012; established KC barber by 2017; traveled to Zambia Aug 2017, lived 6 weeks off-grid; concept conceived at Mosi-oa-tunya Falls; opened original location Jan 2019 at 5545 N. Oak Trafficway, Suite 15c, Kansas City, MO 64118 (4-chair start); Gladstone location opened Aug 2021 (7221 N. Oak Trafficway); Crossroads location at 323 Southwest Blvd; original studio now private headquarters. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

2. Yelp — Catalyst Barber Co. (updated February 2026), https://www.yelp.com/biz/catalyst-barber-co-kansas-city — Asserts: address 5545 N Oak Trfy, Kansas City, MO; updated Feb 2026; active operating status. ↩