Today we’d like to introduce you to José Castañeda-Rios
Hi José, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m José Manuel Castañeda-Rios, born in Santo Niño, Durango, Mexico and raised in La Grange, Texas. Yup, you read that right! After dedicating two decades of my life serving in the US Army, I realized I had a lot of creativity that still needed to be released and found an outlet in hair cutting that immediately became a passion.
Never in a million years and certainly not while patrolling the streets of Baghdad and navigating the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, did I think I would ever find myself geeked out about combs, haircuts and twirling shears!
Educated in the craft at the Aveda Institute and Sassoon Academy, dozens of hair shows, fashion shows, an independent movie credit and a feature in Elevate Hair and fast forward 10 years later, here I am, a bonafide stylist of sorts and today I celebrate 7 years as a small business owner.
I have since cultivated a niche within the industry and I always strive to give every guest an experience and not just a haircut. Deciding to brand myself was something I realized during the pandemic as I looked into the future and the evolution of Sol Y Tierra. So I began to create a carefully cultivated line of superlative merchandise, from bath bars, enamel coffee cups, linen and room sprays and more.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was never a smooth road. It required many hours of practice and hard work. The dedication to the craft had to be almost as focused as being a husband and a father, without eclipsing my primary responsibilities of home life. My wife has always been extremely supportive, so that has been a great source of relief as I move forward in the industry. A partnership along the way that became uncertain made for a slightly stressful vision of my direction, but you can never rule out moments or situations that tend to provide obstacles and inevitably a bit of reluctancy to move forward, but one must recalibrate and venture beyond doubt.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a master hair cutter that specializes in curly hair and custom haircuts for all people whether they have short or long hair. I am known for providing an exceptional experience in a completely relaxing environment and a place where judgement of any kind is never invited. I’m most proud of the amazing clientele that I have amassed during the past ten years. They are a source of joy and fulfillment with endless support and motivation. My consistency in providing a great haircut and the ritualistic nature of my services and the growing array of branded superlative mercantile is what sets me apart from my contemporaries. Want to find out? Book with me!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being of service to other is what makes me happy. I believe that I was built for that specific purpose and I have been doing that for a very long time. From my 20 years in the army, the countless hours of hospice volunteer work and master naturalist work, the annual back to school haircutting events for the mothers and kids at the San Antonio Battered Women and Children’s Shelter and what I do for a living. I also love being a part of people’s lives and seeing them go through changes of their own or watching my younger guests go from high school to college and even getting married. Through the good and the bad, they know I’m here for them. I’d love to be here for you too, so please give me an opportunity.
Pricing:
- All Haircuts Are $75
- Shampoo & Blowdry $60
- Ceremonia $110
- Repair Mask (add on) $20
- Tweak $25
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @solytierrasatx
- Other: https://linktr.ee/solytierrasatx?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabsaPkt7_cCIPUIdmifGNo1fwGbagQuYhWdB5MK4eegn-jg6WDqiKVhyWc_aem_yee7XgtxTuM5AIauVF9euA
