Crown History

Roberto Palmer, whom many know as “Crown the Barber,” was born in Charleston, South Carolina. At the age of five, he and his single mother relocated to Columbia, South Carolina, where his journey truly began.

At 15 years old, one of Roberto’s neighborhood friends approached him with a pair of clippers and asked him to cut his hair. With no barbering experience at all, Roberto took the risk. He cut the hair low and even, and when he finished, his friend was impressed enough to ask for a design in his head that read “Lee” — a tribute to a childhood friend who had tragically lost his life years earlier.

Although Roberto wasn’t confident in his ability to deliver the design perfectly, he accepted the challenge. To his surprise, his friend loved the haircut and proudly told others who had cut his hair. That moment sparked the beginning of people requesting Roberto to cut their hair. At the time, however, he lacked the confidence to take barbering seriously or consistently pursue it.

At 17, Roberto experienced a major turning point in his life. Facing legal trouble and uncertain about his future, he struggled to figure out what direction his life would take. During this difficult season, a teacher named Mrs. Thurmond pulled him aside and asked him what he planned to do after leaving school. Without a clear answer, Roberto responded, “Maybe I’ll start cutting hair.”

Mrs. Thurmond believed there was potential in him. After reviewing his academic situation and realizing he did not have enough credits to graduate, they created a plan for his future: obtain his GED, attend barber school, earn his barber license, and begin working in a barbershop.

At first, the plan seemed unrealistic and out of reach. But Roberto decided to take action. He purchased a pair of clippers, studied barbering tutorials on YouTube, and taught himself the fundamentals of cutting hair. As his skills improved, he began cutting hair throughout the neighborhood.

After leaving school, Roberto once again found himself battling street life and legal issues, eventually receiving three years of state probation. Determined to change his future, he earned his GED and worked various jobs, including at a temp service and later at Captain D’s. Over time, he realized he wanted more for his life than simply working a fast-food job forever.

That realization led him back to barbering.

An opportunity soon presented itself when a friend informed him about an on-the-job training (OTJ) program that would help him earn his barber license while working in a real barbershop environment. Roberto connected with James Strothers (“Pup”), owner of Pup’s Razor Cuts, who gave him his first true opportunity to learn and work professionally in a barbershop.

After obtaining his barber license, Roberto continued sharpening his craft at Brisons Barber and Beauty, owned by Lester Woods. In 2015, he officially established TopOfTheCrown as the brand that would represent his vision, creativity, and purpose.

Seeking greater opportunities and a fresh start, Roberto made the life-changing decision to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia in 2016 at just 24 years old. Once in Atlanta, he began working at a franchise barbershop called Clipper Kings. Within a year, he earned the opportunity to manage one of the company’s locations. Soon after, he was selected to help launch and manage a fourth location within the franchise.

Although successful in management, Roberto felt called to build something greater for himself and his brand. In August 2019, he opened TopOfTheCrown Studios — a private one-chair studio designed to create a more personal and elevated experience for his clients while embracing true ownership and independence.

Like many small businesses, TopOfTheCrown faced major challenges during the difficult events of 2020. Despite the obstacles, the brand endured and continued to grow through faith, perseverance, and dedication.

Today, TopOfTheCrown stands as more than a barbershop brand. It represents transformation, resilience, growth, and the power of believing in a vision even when the odds seem stacked against you.