There’s No Control Z With Kids

Good morning and welcome back to Creative Parenting Club.

This week, we speak with Travis Hoffart, a Canadian hairstylist based in Berlin.

Originally on a different path, Travis shifted from studying business to hairstyling after realizing he wanted a more creative and people-centered way of working. After building his career in Canada, he moved to Berlin, where he eventually opened a private one-chair studio at home, focused on working more directly and closely with his clients.

We came across Travis through his partner Barbara Woolsey (Babxi), who we recently featured.

What stood out was Travis’s perspective on working closely with people, building something of his own, and navigating parenthood while running a creative career from home.

In this conversation, we talk about changing direction, building a life in a new city, and the everyday reality of balancing work, family, and structure.

Press play above to listen to the full conversation, or continue reading below for the shortened transcript.

[Creative Parentng Club - Diego]

And we’re live once more with another episode of the Creative Parenting Club. Today we’re going to talk with Travis. Welcome to the show, Travis!

[Travis Hoffart]

Thanks for having me. It’s good to be here.

[CPC]

Our pleasure, man. Where are you from and where do you live now?

[Travis]

I’m Canadian. I live now in Berlin. I actually just celebrated my three year anniversary in Berlin yesterday. So yeah, it’s been exciting. I still wonder how long I can say I’m new in Berlin.

[CPC]
Oh man, cool. So yeah, you’re still processing a lot of stuff. And have you been through all the winters here?

[Travis]

Yeah, this was actually the first winter that I didn’t do a getaway. What a winter to choose to spend entirely in Berlin. But if I’m being honest, I’m from central Canada, which has probably the most extreme highs and lows in summer and winter. So really, this weather is not so bad for me.

[CPC]

Yeah, that’s what I was imagining. For a Canadian this is like kid’s game, right?

[Travis]

Yeah, on both levels. Temperature and snow. Back home we can get negative 30, in extreme cases negative 40. And we’re working with one or two meters of snow every winter.

[CPC]

Can you go out with minus 40? What are the rules on that?

[Travis]

It’s kind of crazy. In some places in Canada they cancel schools or work. But in the prairies where I’m from, we have this saying that we’re prairie tough. It’s like prepare better, bundle up, get outside. You’ll have warnings like ten minutes of exposed skin will cause damage, but it’s just cover up, cover your face, warm up your car, prepare. We have this edge that we can survive anything.

[CPC]
Yeah, because that’s what I was imagining. It’s dangerous for the human body, right?

[Travis]

Yeah. You’re not walking home. If you usually walk to school, you’re not walking. But at the same time we have every accessory so you can be bundled up with just your eyes showing. You kind of get used to it.

[CPC]

How many kids do you have?

[Travis]

I have one daughter. She is 17 months old. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s a great age. She’s becoming herself more and more every day.

[CPC]

Yeah, that phase where there’s an update every few days.

[Travis]

Yeah, and don’t try to predict it because you’ll always be wrong.

[CPC]

And what do you do professionally?

[Travis]

I’m a hairstylist. I’ve been doing it for over 15 years.

[CPC]

How does someone become a hairstylist?

[Travis]

It’s funny. I never planned it. I wasn’t the guy doing friends’ hair. I was an athlete. I went to university on a completely different path. But I had family in the industry and I realized I was really drawn to people and the social aspect. The path I was on wasn’t creative or social and I knew it wouldn’t bring me joy. So in my early 20s I made a big left turn, quit university, enrolled in hair school and called my parents.

I remember my dad answering and being shocked. He was supportive, but it was the first time he had heard me say I was interested in hairstyling.

[CPC]

It sounds like coming out.

[Travis]

Yeah, exactly. And of course it was my dad picking up the phone.

[CPC]

What were you studying?

[Travis]

Business, marketing.

[CPC]

So what was the moment that made you switch?

[Travis]

I’ve always liked working with my hands. In school I did welding and woodworking. Teachers told me I should pursue it. But I didn’t like the idea of working in that environment. I liked creating, but it felt like a hobby.

Then during university I did an internship. I was sitting in a cubicle, waiting for my break, and people kept saying you’re set for life. And I thought, this is my life? This can’t be it.

So when I chose hairstyling, it was a risk, but I knew I liked working with my hands and connecting with people. It felt like something that could bring me joy instead of just being stable.

[CPC]

So two filters: working with your hands and working with people. And hairstyling fit both.

[Travis]

Yeah. And in Canada it only takes a year to get licensed, so the risk felt small.

[CPC]

How has it been over 15 years?

[Travis]

Amazing. It doesn’t feel like work. I enjoy sitting with people, making them feel good, being creative. Every day is different. Different hair, different results, different personalities. I feel really lucky.

[CPC]

And how is the business side?

[Travis]

That was an adjustment moving to Berlin. In Canada I was self-employed with a strong network. Here I became an employee again after ten years. And the pay versus expectation was different.

[CPC]

Berlin pays less?

[Travis]

Yeah. But also more competition and different structures.

[CPC]

And what is creativity for you?

[Travis]

Creativity for me is about downshifting. My job is very on, very social. So creativity is anything that lets me slow down. Painting, drawing, making things, even video games. Just something that lets me disconnect.

[CPC]

So it’s a tool to calm down.

[Travis]

Yeah. I give so much during the day that my battery runs out. I often come home and just need 30 minutes to reset.

[CPC]

How do you bring creativity into family life?

[Travis]

Through my daughter. Giving her crayons, sitting together and drawing. It’s simple. No talking, just being together. I still get that outlet.

[CPC]

And your creative passions?

[Travis]

Hair is a big one. And also education, talking to clients, explaining things. I enjoy breaking things down so people understand. There’s often a disconnect between stylist and client, and I like bridging that.

[CPC]

And how do you find time?

[Travis]

It’s hard. I don’t really find time separately anymore. I include my family in it. Music at home, dancing, drawing, playing. Almost everything becomes a small creative moment.

Even simple things like doing laundry with my daughter become a game. Those moments are where I find creativity now.

[CPC]

Nice. That’s the cool thing about kids, everything can be a game.

Becoming a parent changed your relationship with money?

[Travis]

Oh God, how could it not? I think before having a family I was so blissfully selfish. Not even in a negative way, but things like getting tattoos, going on spontaneous trips, buying another sweater.

Having a family rewired what I think is important and what isn’t. Some flashy things just aren’t necessary. I probably have enough clothes, I probably don’t need another pair of shoes. It’s not even about providing more, it’s about considering two other people in my life that are just as important as I am, instead of making decisions without really thinking them through.

[CPC]

Yeah, it’s not about fear of providing, but about not being self-centered.

[Travis]

Yeah, exactly. Someone else can enjoy something sometimes.

[CPC]

What’s one regret you have about having kids?

[Travis]

If I’m allowed to say none, but maybe traveling more before. Being from Canada, we feel really far from everything. Before moving to Berlin, I had never even been overseas.

When I got to Berlin it opened everything. I can go to Italy, Hungary, anywhere. My wife and I did a lot of quick trips and it was amazing.

Now we still travel, and we’re really lucky to do that, but it’s just completely different. The preparation, the packing, the spontaneity. It’s a different way of traveling. So maybe I could have done a bit more before.

[CPC]

Yeah, I feel you. You still have time before school starts. Because once school starts, everything changes.

[Travis]

I’ve got some years.

[CPC]

What is the biggest challenge you face as a creative parent?

[Travis]

Structure. As a creative person I’m used to flexibility, just taking things as they come. But with a child, that doesn’t really work.

Simple things like dinner time, bath time. I don’t have that freedom anymore of just eating when I’m hungry or doing things whenever I feel like it. The difficult thing, and something I haven’t figured out yet, is having structure and a schedule.

You get in the moment and suddenly it’s too late. It’s seven thirty and now it’s too late for a bath. And then everything shifts.

[CPC]

There is no undo.

[Travis]

Exactly. No control Z. And no express version either. Everything takes time. You can’t rush getting a child ready.

[CPC]

What would help?

[Travis]

Reminders. Even small ones. Like it’s five o’clock, you should start dinner. It’s six, start the bath.

Because you get lost in the moment and miss those windows, and then everything shifts and you miss things you didn’t want to miss. And every small delay pushes everything further.

[CPC]

What is something you need to work on?

[Travis]

Planning. Being more proactive. Even small things, like today being Carnival and not knowing.

I want to be more prepared, short term and long term, and make things smoother for her. Before, I lived very freely, even with my partner. But with a child, there’s an adjustment that has to happen.

[CPC]

You’ll get better at it.

[Travis]

I hope so.

[CPC]

If you could pass one thing to your child?

[Travis]

Authenticity. If she can be herself and feel that’s enough, that’s everything. Without comparison, without self-criticism.

[CPC]

Tell us about your studio.

[Travis]

I opened a private studio in my flat. One chair, very personal.

I felt a disconnect in salons, both as a stylist and as a client. I wanted to create something more personal, more relaxed. Especially for people who might feel uncomfortable in bigger spaces or with language barriers.

It’s about connection and making people feel at ease. Yeah, I wanted to bring that connection back into my work.

[CPC]

What are you proud of?

[Travis]

Being patient. With my daughter, my wife, and myself.

Things change constantly, and I try to adapt with patience and understanding, even when expectations shift.

[CPC]

Thank you for this conversation.

[Travis]

Thank you. It was really nice.

A big thank you to Travis for taking the time to speak with us.

One thing that stayed with us from this conversation is how much of parenting comes down to adjusting to new rhythms, new priorities, and letting go of the way things used to work.

How do you deal with structure in your daily life as a parent? Do you try to build it, or resist it?

We’d be curious to hear how this looks for you.

If you’d like to take part in a future Creative Parenting conversation or suggest someone whose story should be featured, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for reading and for being part of the Creative Parenting Club community.