Inspiring Conversations with Alberto Perez of A.P. The Barber

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alberto Perez.

Hi Alberto, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got my start in the restaurant industry, working two jobs — one at Chipotle and another at a local spot called La Bodega. At the time, I was just focused on saving money to eventually go back and finish schooling at UMKC had over 60 credit hours completed. I had recently moved in with my girlfriend, and we were barely making ends meet.

One day, her father — who owns a barbershop — asked if I’d ever considered going into the barber industry. He saw something in me and actually bought me my first pair of clippers. That small gesture changed everything. I started cutting my friends’ and family’s hair just to get some practice, and from September 2019 through January 2020, I watched countless tutorials and put in as many reps as I could to build my skills.

By March 2020, I felt confident enough to enroll in barber school — right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the challenges, I stayed committed. Since then, I’ve fully embraced the art of barbering. It never feels like work to me — I love what I do every single day.

Now, I run my own brand, A.P. The Barber, and rent a booth at Ruben’s Barbershop, which is actually my father-in-law’s shop. Recently, I’ve been sharing my work online through Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. In just my first month of posting consistently (March 2025), I reached over 45,000 combined views across all platforms. It’s been exciting to see that kind of growth, and I’m really looking forward to building a strong online presence and continuing to grow both in-person and digitally as a barber.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey definitely hasn’t been smooth, there were a couple major challenges along the way.

One of the hardest parts in the beginning was building up the confidence to believe in myself and my skills. When you’re just starting out, especially with something as personal and detailed as cutting hair, it can be intimidating. I had to push through a lot of self-doubt. Even to the point where I wanted to give up and go back to the restaurant industry. But I kept practicing, watching tutorials, cutting friends and family — and eventually, something clicked. From that moment, my growth started to accelerate, and I started seeing the process of cutting hair in a whole new way.

The second big challenge came when I enrolled at Headlines Barber Academy in March 2020 — just weeks before the COVID-19 shutdowns. The school had to close temporarily, which delayed my education and put a lot of financial pressure on me and my household. When school returned in June, to make ends meet, I took on DoorDash, working long hours after school, due to my full-time student schedule. It wasn’t the best pay, but the flexibility helped me stay afloat while I stayed focused on finishing barber school.

Looking back, those tough moments taught me a lot about perseverance, patience, and how much I really wanted this career.

We’ve been impressed with A.P. The Barber, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I operate under the brand A.P. The Barber, and I’m a licensed professional barber specializing in trendy and modern men’s hairstyles. I’m confident working with all hair types and styles, I’ve developed a strong eye for the kinds of clean, stylish cuts that are popular today —fades, tapers, textured crop tops, and everything in between. I also work with kids and pride myself on being especially patient with children, including those on the spectrum. That’s something deeply personal for me, as my son is Level 1 autistic. Growing alongside him has taught me patience, understanding, and adaptability. Qualities I bring to every appointment.

What sets me apart is my dedication to both my craft and my clients. I’ve put in long hours, open to close, at the shops I’ve worked in to build a loyal and trusting clientele. But beyond the chair, I’ve also worked to overcome my own hesitation about self-promotion and started investing in my online presence. Since March 2025, I’ve been consistently posting my work across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and it’s already helped expand my reach within the community.

I’m proud of the brand I’m building it’s more than just haircuts. It’s about creating a comfortable, consistent, and elevated experience for every client. Whether you’re a longtime regular or someone looking for a new barber, you can always check out my work online to get a feel for my style before booking.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success isn’t something you can measure with numbers or an exact formula. There’s no algorithm that tells you when you’ve “made it.” Success is a feeling – it’s when you can pause, look back on your journey, and genuinely smile. It’s remembering the ups and downs, the times you laughed, cried, struggled, and still pushed forward.

You know you’ve reached a moment of success when you realize how far you’ve come – not just in your work, but in your growth as a person. It’s about being in a better place today than you were months ago, and taking pride in that progress. That quiet, fulfilling sense of “I did that” – that’s real success to me.

Pricing:

• Men’s Haircut $35
• Kids 10 and under $30
• Men’s Haircut and Beard $50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ap-the-barber.square.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.p.barber21?igsh=NnV1dWEzNnJ2enJ4&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@a.p.thebarber21?si=Edy97vIegzLfYuyP
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@a.p.barber21?_t=ZT-8ut8Q2wfkzO&_r=1