Today we’d like to introduce you to Jorge Arellano.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
My passion for cutting hair started when I moved to Texas in 2005. I started cutting my hair because I experienced a few bad haircuts. My 7th-grade summer was when I started experimenting with my hair to have an edge. Slowly but surely, many of my middle and high school friends wanted me to be their barber, even though I didn’t think highly of my haircuts then. I’m not going to lie; there were multiple times I gave up cutting hair because I thought it wouldn’t get me anywhere. But after high school, I joined the army and found my love for cutting hair all over again. Like high school, I cut my way through basic training and AIT to make more money. When I came home in 2013, I was jobless for some time but always cut my hair until I got an opportunity to work in a barbershop, which shocked me because there was no way to get a chance to work in a shop unless you had a license. I worked there until 2015; then, I met an owner from another shop who always saw my potential, who also happened to be one of my biggest inspirations as a barber and an owner at CFC Barbershop. The same year, I met my fantastic wife, who pushed me to excel at what I do. I was working there for 8 years since day 1. The owner, Cesar Rodriguez, made me a shop manager, which made me look at everything from an owner’s perspective, including how to run a barbershop. However we had a lot of ups and downs in the industry, but we never quit working or gave up on our dreams of keeping the shop alive. I worked there for 8 years and saw what the industry offers without the smoke and mirrors. During my time at CFC, I learned so much that I had to show people how the industry should go to have more barbers or stylists like my wife and me. Now, with God’s blessing, we were able to open a full-service salon and a beauty school to show students what it really takes to be a barber and cosmetologist.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all a smooth road. This is a roller coaster ride. There were plenty of days where I went it for a whole week, not cutting one person’s head. Then, I go weeks and days where I don’t stop cutting. A primary obstacle that comes into play is getting complacent. Most barbers/stylists see the industry as quick money, but it also comes with much sacrifice. I experienced countless things, starting as a barber and then as a self-contractor. I had days where I would go to work and not make a single dollar and have seconds to think of my career. I realized many of these struggles are more self-inflicted actions that push people away from their careers just by not having patience.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m still a barber and have been cutting hair since I was 12. I am also an instructor at the school my wife and I opened up at Texas Barber and Beauty Academy. I would specialize in the art of blending hair. I took most of my career to make sure I could do a perfect fade before I even touched a design. In this case, it was a crawl-before-you-can-walk phase. I know more about my fades, consistency, timing, and customer service. People want a barber who can converse about anything and be a good listener, so I always try to give my undivided attention to them. The part I’m most proud of is that I never gave up, always let the slow times motivate me to save, and always appreciate whatever walks through that door. This is the prime example of why I set myself apart from the other great barbers in San Antonio. I always make sure my clients are in and out promptly because, in this industry, time is money.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
The biggest risk I took was being able to turn down a for-sure check. Everyone wants to get paid, especially if they’re doing nothing. But being a self-contractor/barber means you have to make your own money, have discipline to go in early and leave late, and promote your own self to create your image. Most people who come into the industry expect clients to come up to them or have the barber shop take all the heat because they are slow or not making money. This is 100% your skills and discipline that keep you going. It’s a big risk for people who rely on PTO, bonuses, and paid holidays. I quit my dead-end job to be a barber and never looked back because I understood that the more you work, the more you make. I also understood that in business, don’t expect to make money the first 3-5 years, but focus on why you became an entrepreneur to master the skills it takes to make money. There were so many days I wished I had returned to a regular job, but those days I didn’t quit made me who I am today.
Pricing:
- Basic haircut $40
- Style haircut $50
- Haircut with beard $60
- After hours $100
- House calls $250
Contact Info:
- Website: Texasbarberandbeautyacademy.com
- Instagram: @Fadetoven_1
- Facebook: Jorge arellano
