Community Highlights: Meet Russ Vicencio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Russ Vicencio.

Hi Russ, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started cutting hair when I was 13. I loved the feeling of having a clean, fresh haircut, and the confidence it gave me. Instead of begging my parents to take me to a barbershop, I asked for my own clippers. I taught myself how to fade and shear cut my own hair. I eventually got comfortable enough to cut my family’s hair and that grew to cut my friends’ hair through high school.

I got to college and kept cutting hair on the side. After graduating, I spent a year using my Bachelor’s degree and just cut hair as a hobby. At this point, after graduating college, starting a career, and making decent money, life still felt empty. Regardless of all of my “accomplishments”.

So, I ended up leaving my comfortable job to pursue a more fulfilling career. I enrolled in barber school months later and haven’t looked back. Hair has given me the opportunity to help my community by not only helping them feel good about how they look but also providing them a safe place to talk about emotions that are weighing on their own lives.

I am not God’s gift to barbering. But barbering has been God’s gift to me. I’ve made it my personal goal to be the person I needed when I felt like my life had nothing new to offer. I want to help my clients be the best versions of themselves in their careers and relationships, push them to pursue their dreams and aspirations, all while having the best haircut I can give them.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve been blessed with my career as a barber. I’ve been cutting hair for 17 years and that really helped me build my clientele as soon as I became a professional. Since I already had quite the following, building my business wasn’t an issue.

The hardest part for me was just making the career change, not knowing if barbering would actually work out.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I do a lot of fades and beard trims.

Skin fades and big beards have been popular lately. I also do a lot of weddings and offer day-of services for the groom and groomsmen. I’m most proud of the consistency I’ve built with my clients. From quality to schedule, my business is overall very consistent.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve always been able to learn from everyone.

Whether it’s a barber student or a barbershop owner, there’s always a characteristic, a perspective, or a skill that I can take away and apply to my own life. The more diversity you surround yourself with, the more you see your own flaws that can be improved.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://linktr.ee/theuncleruss

Image Credits
Bailey Pianalto Photography, Sarah Dean Photography, Epic: Photos + Films, and Makayla May Photography