Richie the Barber tattooed his face so he could become a ‘permanent clown’ (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

A barber dad and soon-to-be pastor took his love for clowning around to a new level when he tattooed his whole face to resemble his favourite character – a clown.

Richie, known as Richie the Barber, has his nose inked red, his cheeks blue, his under eyes adorned with confetti dots, and his mouth grinning from ear-to-ear.

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But perhaps the most attention-grabbing feature is his raised eyebrows, courtesy of silicone implants, giving him a perpetual look of surprise and split tongue.

Richie, now 37, has had a soft spot for clowns ever since he was a young boy.

He has his nose inked red, his cheeks blue, his under eyes adorned with confetti dots, and his mouth grinning from ear to ear (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

He always wanted to dress up like a clown and started building a treasured collection of over 200 clown figurines.

“My grandfather took me to a circus, where I met a clown that showed me how to juggle,” Richie told Cover Real Life.

“That clown inspired me so much that I started practising juggling and painting my face with my mum’s makeup.

“I hid my clown interest for many years until I finally realised I wanted to be a real clown forever.”

Richie grew up in a tight-knit family, the oldest of three boys. He was a creative 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 who loved drawing, playing guitar and skateboarding. But his greatest passion – making people laugh.

He’s cut the hair of celebrities including Bruno Mars and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

When Richie’s parents divorced in his young teens, he and his siblings moved into their grandmother’s house with their mum, who ran a daycare.

After finishing high school, Richie pursued a profession in the barber industry.

“I moved to Hollywood because I wanted to cut celebrities’ hair,” he explained, adding that when the Covid-19 pandemic strangled his business, he returned to Orange County to live with family.

Regulars including Bruno Mars and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, as well as Jackass daredevil Steve-O (Stephen Gilchrist Glover), who tweeted in 2021 about a visit from Richie the Barber, have all cut or styled their hair in Richie’s chair.

Talking about his extensive body art, Richie explained he got his first tattoo at 17 on his left arm.

Richie explained he got his first tattoo at 17 on his left arm (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

“I went crazy, returning every week to get another tattoo,” he said.

“I worked at Albertsons bagging groceries and spent every pay-check on tattoos.”

Six years later, neck tattoos began creeping up to his face.

“It started small, with a rose on my jaw, and gradually grew,” Richie added.

“I was already clowning, so I got the clown nose. Then I had the smile tattooed on me. I blued out my face because blue is my favourite colour. I also did the eyebrow implants.”

After injecting 20 shots of anaesthetic into his forehead, Richie remembered the surgeons had made an incision before adding the bumps into his eyebrows.

He said: “It felt like I had been hit by a baseball bat in the head. I love it, though. It’s like clown eyebrows.”

Richie recalled that becoming a permanent clown was “challenging” and involved a lot of pain and swelling.

He continued: “So many hours of needles stabbing my skin repeatedly with a lot of swelling.

“But I did what I did because dreams can become a reality, and if you really want to do something in life, you can achieve all your dreams with just a thought.”

His most painful body modification? His split tongue.

Richie says most of his clients ‘appreciate his quirkiness’ (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

Richie also shaved off his brunette hair. But that “didn’t look too friendly’, so he grew out his hair and dyed it red.

His daily attire matches his quirky personality. His wardrobe is filled with loud costumes, including plaid pants, polka-dot shirts, oversized shoes, and under-sized hats – and he’s not shy to wear them to work.

His transformation into a tattooed clown might catch new clients off guard, but most quickly come to appreciate Richie’s quirkiness, recognising that being a clown is a delightful way for him to embrace his inner 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥. Ironically, it’s the 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren who prove to be his toughest critics.

“Working with kids can be challenging; some are scared, while others are filled with joy, and that’s perfectly alright,” he said.

“People are unique, and I embrace that diversity. If you’re kind, I’ll shower you with love, but even if you’re not, I’ll still greet you with a smile, wave, and honk my horn.

“The choices I’ve made in life have always been driven by what brings me happiness, not the judgments of other.”

He added: “While many are intrigued by my persona, I proudly wear my clown identity. When I cut hair, I also perform as a clown, engaging in all sorts of clown antics.

Richie always wanted to dress up like a clown and started building a treasured collection of over 200 clown figurines (Image: @richiethebarber/Cover Images)

“I’m in constant performance mode, whether it’s throwing confetti to celebrate a 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day, providing tiny party hats, or showcasing tricks. Keeping that spark alive is crucial; otherwise, you risk losing your touch. It’s all about staying sharp and never letting the magic fade away.”

For Richie, who has an 18-year-old daughter, being a permanent clown doesn’t end with spreading smiles wherever he goes.

His quirkiness led him to impress the judges during a performance on America’s Got Talent. He’s also appeared on TMZ, confetti-bombing the Kardashian sisters and Jennifer Lopez, and was singled out on Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

He has become a motivational speaker, using his story to encourage others to follow their dreams and embrace their uniqueness. As a seasoned barber, he imparts his knowledge and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to aspiring hairstylists, and plans to open a clown school, teaching the art of clowning to those who dare to bring out their playful sides. And that’s not all.

Beyond his skilful artistry with clippers and razors, Richie is embarking on a journey of spiritual discovery, and studying to become a pastor – a calling he believes aligns with his path and purpose.

Also Richie’s vision extends to an 80-acre plot of land in El Paso, where he plans to create “Richie the Barber” land. In this place, joy, freedom, and inspiration will be the order of the day.

“Much like Walt Disney with Disneyland, I envision a place that celebrates imagination and creativity, a place where dreams come true,” he said.