August 2017 Student Spotlight – Gustavo Nila Rodriguez

Name: Gustavo Nila Rodriguez              Age: 22

LaBarberia Institute of Hair would like to recognize our stylists for their talents, ambition, and hard work at our barber college. For the month of August we would like to acknowledge Gustavo Nila Rodriguez. Gustavo was raised in Painesville, Ohio until the age of 13 when he moved to Mexico. He lived there for 5 years and then recently moved back to Ohio in 2013.

Before coming to LaBarberia Gustavo worked full time at a factory in Mentor, Ohio and in his free time he would cut hair for fun. He decided to become a barber because it was something that since a young age he enjoyed the artistry of. He would sit at the local barber shop and watch all the different cuts and really enjoyed it. At the age of 14 he picked up his first pair of clippers and began cutting his friends’ and neighbors’ hair from his front patio in Mexico.

Gustavo’s hardest thing to master as a barber has been his shear work but being at LaBarberia, along with this great team of instructors and staff, he has learned a lot. He believes this has been the best decision he has made and he is learning new techniques every day.

Gustavo’s most rewarding thing about becoming a barber is building great relationships with everyone that sits in his chair. He gives his all in every service and seeing a smile on his clients faces satisfies him. Completing his hours here at LaBarberia would be a great accomplishment because he knows this will make his parents and family proud. He also does it to set an example for his 2 younger brothers.

Once his hours are complete here at LaBarberia, he will work at a barbershop in Painesville, to gain the knowledge and experience from the other barbers and put it together with what he already knows.

He has a lot of goals, his nearest goal is completing his hours at barbeer college and his next goal would be to become a successful barber shop owner as well as being an educator in the barber industry.

Follow Gustavo Nila Rodriguez on Instagram: @_gustavobarber

July 2017 Student Spotlight – Willie Ortega

Name: Willie Ortega                        Age: 29

LaBarberia Institute of Hair would like to recognize our stylists for their talents, ambition, and hard work at our barber college. For the month of July we would like acknowledge Willie Ortega. Willie is from Ashtabula, OH and just 5 months away from graduating from LaBarberia Institute of Hair. We would love to congratulate Willie for taking 1st place in the 2017 Steel City Barber Expo. This student battle was against 15 others from Northeast Ohio, and Willie went home with 1st place.

Willie’s passion to become a barber started as a kid watching his father cut hair for a living. He really enjoyed the atmosphere and all the different people you meet. Before enrolling in barber college, Willie was a street barber and has been cutting hair since the age of 14.

His biggest challenge has been mastering shears, but through his instructors Joe and Mr. Irons he has really grown to enjoy the different techniques that go along with them. Accomplishing the artistry of being a barber has driven him daily to grow his career. His longterm goal is to open a barber shop in Ashtabula, OH and to ultimately franchise the business.

When Willie is not cutting hair he enjoys spending time with his kids, which includes dancing with his daughters and embracing their love for fashion. He also loves to spend time watching and playing sports with his son.

Follow Willie Ortega on Instagram: @yuniquestudios

June 2017 Student Spotlight – Gavi Hamel-Sasson

Name: Gavi Hamel-Sasson       Age: 19

LaBarberia Institute of Hair would like to recognize our stylists for their talents, ambition, and hard work at our barber college. For the month of June we would like acknowledge Gavi Hamel-Sasson. Gavi is 19 years old from Beachwood, Ohio.

After graduating from Beachwood High School Gavi wanted to pursue a career to become a barber. Growing up he would cut and style his brothers and his own hair and found a passion behind the art of it and making others happy. His biggest challenge has been cutting different styles of longer hair, but learning how to master these have helped his drive to be successful.

Gavi’s plan once he graduates from LaBarberia Institute of Hair is to work at New Champions barber shop in Cleveland Heights. Along with his passion for barberstry, Gavi is a huge Cleveland fan and loves to play baseball and watch other sports.

Follow Gavi Hamel-Sasson on instagram: @gavisasson

May 2017 Student Spotlight – Willy Rojas

Willy Rojas

Name: Willy Rojas Age: 25

LaBarberia Institute of Hair would like to recognize our stylists for their talents, ambition, and hard work at our barber college. For the month of May we would like acknowledge Willy Rojas.

Willy is a 25 year old student at our barber college. He is originally from Guatemala but grew up on the westside of Cleveland. Before coming to LaBarberia Institute of Hair Willy was a bartender at Nido Italia in Little Italy. It was here that he met Laura Clemente, the owner of LaBarberia. After several conversations with her about what she does, he became very interested in her barber college and the opportunities it would lead for a successful career. Willy has always been interested in barbering. He believes that it is a true art and something he has always wanted to learn. From watching other barbers growing up and then meeting Laura Clemente he knew this was something he was meant to do.

Willy’s biggest challenge has been mastering all of the different cuts, but has found this to also be the most rewarding since every cut is different and mastering one at a time helps him grow as a barber. His goal is to become a successful traveling barber, cutting for celebrities all over the world.

Willy enjoys taking part in barber competitions and is always striving to learn something new!

Follow Willy Rojas on instagram to catch his latest and greatest cuts: @willyshears

The Benefits of Becoming a Barber

There’s something to be said about making someone’s day, or, even, changing someone’s life. That feeling that takes over you when you know you’ve done something that the other person feels great about – that’s something unexplainable. This isn’t something that only celebrities can feel, or the wealthy, this is something everyone can feel based on the paths they choose in life.
The benefits of becoming a barber are far more than taking a razor to someone’s scalp and carving designs into it. That’s not what this career encompasses. Every time someone sits in the chair, hair overgrown, misshapen, too flat, too big or too messy – it’s really a blank canvas waiting to have new life breathed back into it. You see, being a barber means there is an element of control to the situation – A fresh start occurs after the snipping and shavings hit the floor because of YOU and what you’ve created.
Being a barber means being an artist – a creative soul who seeks out change and design and is deeply passionate about their craft. Choosing to be a barber allows for those who aren’t feeling fun, fresh and edgy to reinvent themselves. It means someone trusts you enough to say “Change it up” and then wear their hair confidently down the street afterwards. This forces you to keep an open mind that is constantly thinking of innovative ideas.
Being a barber is fun and exciting. When people sit down for a cut, once they see your work and start to trust you, a bond and friendship forms. The role of barber is now that of a confidant, listener and friend. It’s far more than just a title.
On top of all of that, independence is another awesome benefit. Working in a shop can be exciting for most, while others want the feeling of control and eventually open their own business. The possibilities are endless as all shops are different and have their own unique vibe, while opening your own shop can allow for more creative freedom. If a portfolio is created, your work can also be used in magazines or for fashions shows, which shows off what a rockstar you really are. Career growth can go in many directions depending on the choices you make. The sky is the limit and you get to figure out where you’re headed.
The benefits of being a barber boil down to fun, creativity and satisfaction. Finding a career that you truly love is one of the most difficult things that we are challenged with as we “grow up,” because, let’s be serious, who really knows? But, given you have the passion and characteristics of an artist, you can challenge that in an outlet that allows you to be social and inspired.
More so, nowadays, people crave the freedom of a flexible work schedule, hours & knowing that their income is solely based on what they put into it. The reward of exerting your effort into your business, making each person look the best they can when they leave your chair and then telling 10 of their friends about you, is one of the best compliments you can receive.

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