Vince Garcia: The Barber Behind Dior, The Lakers & HBOs The Shop

I've had so many

Yeah. interaction

interaction with Kobe. Everyone's like, "Yo, you didn't get a pick." I'm like, "No, man. It's one of those where like you not you don't want to ruin the moment. It's just memories that I'll forever cherish and I'll for you know, forever remember." And there's a time where like he's getting cut and I'm there cutting booze and, you know, we're just talking about family, man. And Cob's like, "Yo, man, like everything you're doing right now, bro, is is for the family, man. Like building that legacy. It's all about the family. All your hard work you do, all your sacrifices, man, it's all for for your family, for your kids." kids and I was like, damn. Like, that's real, bro.

Welcome to the Barberstar podcast brought to you by Supria, hosted by the Marcus Harvey. This is where game gets passed, not gatekeep. Supreme is the freshest the world's ever been, a virtual barber shop and professional network for barbers, stylists, and grooming pros who want more than just likes. They want legacy. Whether you're just getting started or you're ready to cut celebrities, executives, and athletes, we built this community for you. Yes, once again it is on. You know what time it is? It's time for Barber Star. Cuz see, every star needs a barber, but every barber ain't no star. And today we have a barber star. If the word ever meant anything, the one, the only Vince the Barber.

Not only is he the barber for the shop, Dior, Nike, Roane, Gillette. Appointment by appointment only. Come on, man. Tell me somebody who got mo. I can't find it on the floor. And now we about to get down to what you know. My man Vince Garcia. Give it up to him, y'all.

No, I appreciate you, man. Appreciate it.

Normally I add a little You gonna see it when the post see when the post come out.

Hell yeah,

man. Hey, man. Thank you so very much for taking the time out of your truly busy schedule cuz see a lot of people be saying, "Oh, no, you busy." Nah, bro. to you. Vince Busy. Vince right now is probably in a private suite at the airport right now. If I know him to know him cuz he's up there all the time. Hey, man. So, so tell tell the people where you at right now, Vince.

Man, I'm uh I'm here at the Air France Lounge. Uh about to take off to Paris for fashion week.

Okay.

Yeah. So, I'll be there. I'll be I'll be there for the rest of the week.

All right. Hey, man. We we going to dive into that cuz that that's that's some But let's before we get to that, let's get to the first question that like to start out with every guest. Um tell us the story of how you were bit by the Clippers. Meaning the thing that really brought you in, your first best haircut. " Tell me that. I mean it all to be honest it all started um I used to do lineups and designs on all my homies like seventh eighth grade. I didn't know how to fade whatsoever. We had a childhood barber by the name of Kevin. So we used to go see him at his house once a week. But then you know at the curb I would just give everyone lineups of the bick the bick razors

where Yeah.

And then you know I bought like a I think it was like a Remington or wall trimmer maybe and I was using that to do

You can't say that. You said you got a Gillette razor. a Gillette. I I don't to be honest, I don't even know if it was a Gillette one. It was probably those cheap big ones.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

But yeah, I think I had like my first pair of trimmers. I just bought them at like I think I bought them at uh Walmart. I don't even remember where I bought them, but I used to use those to just draw on my on my homies, you know, just do designs and stuff cuz I used to draw. I grew up drawing, sketching all the time. So, you know, I had that artistry in me to just want to get down and like do whether it's like the Nike logo or the Adidas logo or suit, you know, I used to graph and do graffiti and all that, too. So, I used to tag their names or last names, whatever. " I was like, "Nah, fades are whack. Let me just give you one level. "

And uh

you you was already negotiating. You was already negotiating.

Yeah. We had to start somewhere, man. But then I just came to Kevin. " I was like, "Yo, Kev, I need to learn how to cut, man. " So, sure enough, he just kind of, you know, showed me the ropes, gave me the basics, and then I just took, you know, my hand full of homies, started practicing on them. Took me two hours, three hours, cuz, you know, as an artist, and, you know, now Barbara's like, "We're perfectionists. " So, you know, I mastered that part of it to be able to be like, "Okay, I'm comfortable with how how this looks. go out there, start spreading the word, and I just started cutting up all the homies. High school came, same thing, man. That was like my little side hustle.

Five, $10, you know what I mean? Lunch money, gas money,

every money, every money. You need money.

Yeah, man. So, I didn't know where, you know, I mean, I didn't know where it was going to take me. It was, it was a hobby. " And everyone started asking me for cuts. Teachers were asking me for cuts. I was cutting up my teachers. Like that's when it was like, okay, you know what, man? Like this could be a thing. You know, at the time, obviously, you know, you can make good money off of it enough to just kind of get by, but I didn't know where it could even get to. So, you know, what happened was I finished high school, got into engineering for college. I did one year, I was still cutting hair. I did one year. I was like, "Yo, this ain't it.

" But I could I could see myself cutting hair all the time. So, you know, I told my parents. Actually, I dropped out of college. I didn't tell my parents for like 6 months.

You know, they thought I was going to

Where were you going to school?

This This was still in Toronto, so I was going to uh Humber College uh at the time for engineering. So, they thought I was going to school, but really I was going to the barber shops. You know what I mean? I don't know. I don't know if you guys I don't know if a lot of people know. I mean, people probably know about it now, but back then, um there's no such thing as like licensing for barbers in Toronto. So, if you could if you could cut hair and you got clientele, you got yourself a chair. So, I used to go to a shop, different shops, see who had availability, see who had a free chair and um yeah, went to one shop and you know, they tried me out. They got clientele.

" Sure enough, gave me a chair and I grinded it up from there, man.

What was that what was that shop name?

That first shop was Oh, man. What was that first shop? Signature Shears. That was the first one. See, every everybody has everybody has like their first shop has some type of real barberh shop name. My my shop my first shop was not a barberh shop name. It was called Doing It for the Lord. It was a Holy Ghost church.

Oh, damn.

It was a same

people people are getting blessed in more ways than one.

Listen, they had the church pants over on the on the wall. They had Man, it was a old deacon who owned the on the first barber shop that I worked at. His I forgot his name, man. But he was an old deacon. He had a He had a Harley, you know, one of them reticent come up there with a whole bunch of keys and stuff.

I ain't cutting no hair, man. Come on. You ain't You ain't You ain't got no clowns. I thought you said you had clients. I thought you said you had clients. So So that's dope, man.

That's dope, though.

So Toronto, man. So like, hey, you really were the one of the first cast to really put Toronto on the map when it comes to barbering. like how was how did that even come about while you were in Toronto first and then you know we'll talk about the little bit after that but in Toronto specifically what was that like like really climbing the ladder of Toronto like you said everybody wasn't licensed but there still was a pecking order and I know there was cats who were like the the the main how did that go

yeah no I mean so I'm I come from a small city called Missaga I mean it ain't small now but at the time uh it's called Missaga it's like 20 25 minutes from downtown Toronto um and We had, you know, some ill barbers we used to go see, obviously getting cut every week. And so I was just trying to work with these guys and try to see, you know, if I could learn from them and whatnot. And the shop that I was at had like a legendary barber. He was a hair stylist as well, name of Clint Anderson. Amazing dude. And he, you know, he taught me a lot with the shears, you know, signature shears. He called the shop. So like he he gets down with the shears. And at the time there's not too many,

you know, if you're a barber, you're just strictly clippers, and comb,

that's it. But, you know, he was one of the very few that could do both. So, that was like a big a big big benefit working with him. But, no, like I worked I worked at several different barber shops when I was still living out there and they were all Jamaican ran barber shops. I was the only Asian. Yeah.

Like what was that experience like?

Only Asian. It was I mean I grew up with you know a lot of there's a lot of Jamaicans in Jamaicans trainee.

Yeah. Yeah.

Lot you know a lot of the Caribbean community in Toronto. So I grew up in that man. Like, so I I understand PWA. I I eat all the food, you know what I mean? Like I'm I was really in it. So like majority of my clientele to this day are, you know, African-American. Like they're they're black.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And I feel like I cut best with black hair.

And people Yeah. People just would walk in and look at me. They would obviously just send me clients at the time, just strictly walk in. So like, you know, everyone's all booked up, all the big heads. So they point at me like, "Hey, go to Vince." And they're all like, "I don't know. I don't know. I don't know about that.

Yeah. " And then I built my clientele like crazy quick. And then um you know, I ch I structured my my whole business different where I started doing appointments cuz I liked it better that way. I could see how much I'm making. I can see how much you know, I make it this day, that day. And then it just changed everyone else to start doing that. And um I think from shop to shop that's all I kept doing was like just changing [ __ ] up and doing it my way to help like elevate that shop. And then when I felt like you know there was no more growth for me there I tried to look for another shop.

Uh I think it just got to the point where like you know I just started networking with everyone in the city whether you know taste makers in the city.

One of my best friends is a photographer well-known photographer. He shot every big name out of Toronto Drake and Drake gave him his name photo will. So, uh, he got called up to do a photo shoot with Chris Bosch when Bosch was on the Raptors at the time. Obviously, biggest

player in Toronto,

Canada. And, uh, he asked him like this when he had dreads. He's like, "Yo, do you need a barber? My best friend's a barber." He's like, "Yeah, yeah, just bring him on set." So, that was my first taste of like A-list, celebrity, athlete, whatever you want to call it.

Went to his house, lined him up, you know, left, did all that. Uh, two days later, he calls me. " I'm like, "Yeah, simple. " So, roll to the game. And just that whole experience, as you already know, dealing with athletes. I was like, "Yo, this is crazy. " Obviously, at the time, Chris Botcher is the only, you know, big star athlete in Toronto. And so, I was like, "Man, how do I do more of this? How do I start cutting up other players? " And so, you know, years go by, he, you know, he gets traded to uh to Miami. And when he moved to Miami, that's when I made the jump to LA.

Word.

And so, yeah,

let's get into that. Like, you start running like Toronto, you and your your homeboy doing the photography. You're killing it in the barbering. You cutting Bosch now. Um, are you having other people from out of town now? Now that you bosches, Barbie, are you having other like uh clients from out of town like starting to say, "Hey, you know, who cuts who?" Do they do you start getting that or are you just strictly with Bosch at this point?

Um I got a little bit of that. Not too too much. It wasn't obviously as crazy as it is here in LA when I moved to LA. Yeah, it wasn't too much of that. Was mainly like his homies that were coming in town. Yeah.

Um I probably cut like a few other guys on the team. No, no, no one, you know. So that's why

the reason why I'm asking that is because that's a big jump to be like, okay, your one of your main clients is moving out the out the country and now you're like, you know what, I think it's time for me to move out the country. Like what was the thought process of that? And then what made you choose LA versus Miami? If you're loving this episode and want to go from listener to community member, check out our first chair membership. It's the easiest way to join the combo inside Suprea. You'll get community access, feedback from top tier barbers. So, if you're ready to be surrounded and supported, hit that link and take your seat in the first chair.

Um, I just felt like for what I wanted to do, I tried out Miami. I tried Miami for like a month or so and just it wasn't it. I didn't see it as like a place to grow and, you know, do good businesses. It's a place to vacation, party, whatever you want to do. But for me, I felt like LA, like I wanted to get into like the movie scene and TV shows, you know? I felt like LA is a land of opportunity and for me to tap in in like the sports world. Shoot, they got damn near two teams for every sport.

Yeah.

So, like I just felt like there's more opportunity out there for me. And uh everyone's like, "Why don't you just move to New York, man?" I'm like, "Dude, it's just like Toronto."

Yeah.

And it's so close. like it just so I felt like if I move to LA that's such a big jump coast to coast where

I almost have to make it I almost have to figure it out because I don't want to move all the way to LA and then it's like oh man this you know I I I didn't make it work and so I have to just move all the way back home and it's just like but a part of me just felt like I have to try it at the time

Mhm. for me to say like, okay, I tried it and if it didn't work, it didn't work. At least I could live my life,

you know, without the regret of like, damn, I should have at least tried it out. You know, I was young, I was single, no, you know, no ties to anything,

so let me try it out now versus if I were to open up a shop, which I could have done easily. I'd be kind of uh trapped, you know, I'd be like, I have something already in Toronto, so I can't just open something up, dip, what if it works out, which it did, then what do I do with the Toronto shop, you know? So, I'm like, let me do this first. If it works, it works. If not, I'll go home, open up shop, and I'm good. I got clientele. I got everything going off going for me there. It's cool, but let me try this out. And so, I moved in 2010. I was 23 at the time. So, I've been here I've been in LA 15 years now, man.

Yeah. And a lot has happened in 15 years.

I know. I want to get to it. I mean, that's amazing for you to even have that type of uh thought process because like you said, a lot of people and the reason why I'm glad that you brought that up is because there's a lot of barbers here who are going to be um in the future who are going to be, you know, relocating whether it be to a different city in their in their own state, whether it be to a different state alone, or whether it be to a different country. " And I I want to really go and tap into that a little bit more. What do you think were the What were you think were the pros and cons to you actually being in with you actually being in LA versus you having a shop in Toronto?

Well, before I made the the jump to LA, I went to LA for like two, three weeks just to really, you know, feel it out and like visit all the shops, like whatever like are the most popping shops. And I went to like every city, man. Like from Hollywood to Beverly Hills to like even the outskirts like the IE area and the valley and just visiting different shops. I kind of just get a feel for like, okay, what like how's the vibe? What's missing? What can I do that could bring a totally different feel?

And I felt like that's what that's what was missing versus yeah, I could open up a shop in Toronto and you know it could just be like not to say it could be like any other shop, but I think for me being a new face, a new you know person in this space in LA, like I could really make an impact, you know, and uh I just felt like in Toronto, I grew up being like a shy dude. Everyone knew me as like a shy guy. Me moving to LA, no one knew who I was.

this was my way to kind of step out of that that comfort zone and really be more more um social and like really just use my voice and start really marketing myself and you know um and so yeah man I just felt like there was something missing and I felt like there's something I could bring to LA that could really make noise and you know my first shop was Capsule Barber Shop as you know.

Yeah. Capsule

for me I felt and I've heard from many barbers throughout the years like yo Capsule was the one to kind of start this whole community man this brotherhood of barbers and you know just just really build like literally build our our community man and

you know from from from Lee starting Barber Shop like I met Lee before he even started Barbershop connect he used to hand out mixtapz and he came to my shop to capsule and was like yo I love what you're doing here man like I can't wait to see where it goes Look where he is at now. Look where Barershop Connect is. That started off as a mixtape, man.

As a mixtape. And that's the that's the wild thing about a lot of things that people don't realize is like everything that's created probably had a different purpose prior to it being created, you know?

Mhm.

You said like you said that you saw that there was something missing. What do you think you brought to LA besides just being a new face? What do you think you brought to LA?

Community, culture. I think just like the essence of of barbering as a whole. It's not just a regular capsule. wasn't just, you know, a barber shop. It It wasn't just a place, a neighborhood barber shop for people to just come in, get cut, and leave. It was It was a home base, man. It was like a networking hub. It was a place to like not only like look good and feel good, but it's just a place to just, you know, I don't know, man. I I just felt like I wanted to just create something really wholesome where people wanted to come in. Like everyone comes to LA.

LA is like such a tourist spot that I wanted Capsule to be one of those spots that you come to LA, I have to come to bar, I have to come to Capsule. And that's what it was able to to become, you know what I mean? And I think for me moving to LA, networking, started, you know, started cutting up like a bunch of the Lakers. I I was just I felt like I was able to tap in with different parts of the industry whether it's like street wear to sports to music entertainers to then when I opened up Capsule I was able to bring all that there

together

utilize those relationships that I built to have them help bring out Capsule and like promote it and you know it was easy for them to just come in get cut so love post it you know at the time Instagram just started so like

it was a big deal you know what I mean so definitely a blessing man it It's just one of those things where I had to take that leap of faith in Toronto and just try it out, man. And it, you know, it worked out for the best.

I like to call those things that you just uh described where you have, you know, your connections in street wear, you have your connection in sports, you know, entertainment, music, all these other different things. I like to I like to call that success clusters where you as an individual meet several different people. And you even mentioned it with your boy who's a photographer.

you know, a barber and a photographer meet and then they meet a PR person and then they meet an assistant and then they meet a PA and then they meet some all these people who may seemingly start off in a very as a society would say low entry point always seem seem to rise up and continue those connections and rise the ladder together and then like you said when the time comes you're able to make a capsule and half the cash that you were like when we were just running together when we were just imagining and dreaming now we all manifested what we believe that we were going to we were going to have and now we're able to bring it together in a hub such as captain man.

Like who was your first Laker?

Um

that's crazy to look up. That's crazy that you had to look up. That is crazy you had to look up.

It was um there were two rookies is Derek Carer and Devin Ebanks. And then from there it went to

I remember it went to Ron our test and then from Ron our test obviously he was the plug to everyone. So at that time

every year that was a time the craziest part is that

I moved to LA the year after they won back to back. Oh and and I when I moved to LA

they were still on LA that's when they were started that downfall. So I was like damn damn near almost every year was a new roster. Okay.

You know what I mean? So, I've been, you know, from from Ron Artes, I was able to and then there was that whole shift with like J uh Jeremy Lynn and Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Price and, you know, Wesley Johnson, like that whole cast. And then obviously Dwight when he first came, I was cutting him, which was a big deal. And I thought Chris Paul was coming. I was like, "Oh, damn. This is going to be tight." So there, you know, I was in there for a minute, you know, every year.

I still hate Cleveland for that, man. I still hate Cleveland.

I know. But yeah, man. It's just it was like every year I was, you know, I was at the facility. Every single year I was there cutting who whoever it was. It was at least anywhere from two to five some two to five players if not some of the coaches. And you know, I've been blessed to be able to like be at the facility like while Kobe's there. There was times where I would beat Kobe and all that. You know, all the stories with him coming in 5 a.m. Bro, it's true.

Well, yeah. Roll past that. Yeah, man.

So, the beauty the beautiful part of being the Lakers barber cuz that's what we going to consider you as, you know, there because there wasn't no official title, but if you're doing that many players coming that you're the official Lakers barber at that point, like tell me what some of what was like the things that like really stuck out to you. Do you have like a Kobe story? Cuz everybody got a dope ass Kobe story. I know as a barber you have to have a dope Kobe story.

Yeah, man. So, I mean, so Kobe at his only guy, his his barber he's used from the jump.

What's his barber's name?

Oh, man. What was his name? Uh, starts with a C.

Oh, man. It's going to come to me. Um, he's older black dude, man. Super cool dude.

It's going to come to me. But, so the funny thing is, man, like anytime, and mind you, they only had one barber chair at this, so at this practice facility, this is when they shared it with the Kings.

Okay.

With the Yeah. With the LA Kings. So they had like two different I don't know. It just wasn't it. But it is what it is. That's what it was. So like they had one barber chair. Usually I would get there. Most of the time Kobe's there early. So Kobe would be in the chair. His barber's cutting him up. And there's times where like his barber would cut like I don't know one of the trainers or someone that works on part of the Lakers organization. Kobe walks in. He's like, "Yo, out the chair, man." Like make cut. It don't even matter. Out the chair, man. All right. Kobe gets in, does his thing, you know. Uh, but one of the, you know, most memorable stories I could say is that

he didn't even look at, he didn't even look at the dude. He just said, "Get up."

He say, "Yo, out." Yeah. He's like, "Yo, yo, you're out."

The dude started taking the cape cape off himself before before the barber could even do it or

Yeah. Here, man.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, no. You want my chain, too? Come on, man.

Yeah. We We just got started. It's all good. Just got like guideline up guideline all the way around. No, no, no. Don't worry about it. I'll do I'm good. I can finish this later. But no, there's a time, man, where like, and mind you, I've had so many

interaction with Kobe. Everyone's like, "Yo, you didn't get a pick." I'm like, "No, man. It's one of those where like you not you don't want to ruin the moment. It's just memories that I'll forever cherish and I'll for you know, forever remember. And there's a time where like he's getting cut and I'm there cutting booze and you know, we're just talking about family, man. And Cob's like, "Yo, man. Like everything you're doing right now, bro, is is for the family, man. Like building that legacy. It's all about the family. all your hard work you do, all your sacrifices, man, it's all for for your family, for your kids. And I was like, damn.

Like, that's real, bro. You know,

yeah. And he's like, "Yo, just keep doing your thing, man." And there's times there's days where cuz mind you, that's at that time,

this is the time when

he started seeing me more. This is that that team when it was like, like I said, Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lynn, Ronnie Price, all those guys. And there's times I would get there like 6:00 a.m. and then Kobe comes in, he's like, "Damn, V, he beat me today, man." You know? Yeah. So, there's times where like I would see him first or I'll go there thinking, "Oh, damn. I beat Kobe again in today. This dude's like in the shower." He's like, "Damn, you late, bro." Like, damn, man. This guy, this dude probably got here like 5:00 a.m. for real. But not his work ethic. Just seeing that firsthand is crazy.

That's dope seeing how like he was that detail oriented that he would even have like a running joke with you on like work ethic. like, you know, saying something like, "Hey, bro, you beat me. You beat me today." Or, "Hey, bro, I was expecting you to beat me today and I guess we need to check some check some stats real quick." Saying that competitiveness, man. So, you start cutting, man. And like, bro, man, like, you start becoming not just like the Lakers uh barber, but it starts going crazy, bro. Like, we got the shop. How did that even come about? How did the shop come about,

man? the shop. Uh, I met Mav like man years years ago and I met him through just mutual mutual friends. Um, and so he tells me the idea and it's crazy cuz one of the one of the dope memories I remember cutting Mad was during the decision that whole decision with Braun. I was cutting him. We were watching that [ __ ] like it was just that moment was crazy. But anyway, um you know, I get a call that they're, you know, they're trying to shoot a pilot in Toronto Allstar weekend. Uh when was that 13

2013 25 Toronto? Um and they're like, "Yeah, man. It's, you know, just shop."

Wasn't that Kobe's last one or something like that?

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. That's right. And they're like, "Yeah, it's uh it's called the shop, you know. " So it was me and uh and Scott Famos. They had Famos come for that one and it was just a pilot. So, we did that. We didn't know where it was going to go. And then, man, we just stuck with it. We just kept shooting episodes here and there. And then we hear that, you know, HBO picked it up and we're like, [ __ ] this is crazy. So, then with that, man, we just literally just started shooting, man. And, um, here we are. There's eight seasons. We're on our eighth season now. So, just that experience alone, man.

like Ron being Braun, you know, just having that repertoire with him and being able to like be in the same rooms and him and just meeting that whole team, you know, him, Rich. So, I I would cut Rich Mad like if Nick's not available, I'd be there to take care of them, you know, when Braun moved out here and Nick didn't move make the move yet, I was taking care of, you know, the four horsemen and um just again just being part of the shop, man. Like, I've been able to meet dudes I've idolized growing up and from Hoveve to [ __ ] you know, everyone you could think of. Yeah,

you know, Will Smith, [ __ ] Martin Lawrence, uh, Tom Brady, I mean, the list goes on. You you've seen the people we've had on the show, so like just being in the same rooms as them and like hearing them,

you know, just talk their, you know, speak their minds and it's just crazy, bro. It's it's a blessing, man. Just, you know, being a part of that all. What do you think is the best part of cuz you know a lot of times people talk about uh talk down about being a celebrity barber just because in my estimate a lot of times it's just because they're not one at that time but but

I really want people to understand how grateful a all of us that I know of are like every time I see each other like we're

we look at each other like oh you made it one more time. You know what I'm saying? It's it's like we we're not we're not too high to think that we're not we're we're supposed to be in this situation or this position and we're not too low to think that we don't deserve to be in this position or or this or this spot. So like tell me what you love the most about being connected in this realm of barbering.

I mean first I never really like the term celebrity barber just cuz again it's I'm sure you already know it.

I mean it's just but I think yeah it's definitely a blessing to be trusted with these A-list clients and um you know wanting us to to you know to take care of them and I think a lot of it goes with yeah trust professionalism and just doing what you do man and just keeping it at that like I think more than anything now is the easy any barber could be a celebrity barber right now it's too easy to cut a celebrity right now it's with social media all it's it's easy you know what I mean and I at the time back when you and I Kenny a lot of us OGs in this game have been doing this for years like at those times were tough you know it wasn't that easy to so for us to still be where we are now you know 10 and 12 years later still doing it I think that that just goes to show like how we are you know personally how we carry ourselves is a is a big deal um again just professionalism man and being trustworthy with with knowing who's around you and Um, I mean there there's very few of us that are still doing what we've been doing for the last 10 10 12 years, you know, and that goes to show that shows a lot about who we are individually.

It does, man. Um, like I said, man, I've always been a huge fan of what you were doing even at Capsule before that. Um, I know when I know when you were doing capsule and I remember, you know, me coming out to barber barbercons and and barber expose and all this other stuff and I'm coming out to the west coast and me and you both at the beginning of our careers kind of like, you know, really launching. You know, I'm in Atlanta. Atlanta is kind of a miniature LA, as they say. You know what I'm saying? It's a it's a black the black Hollywood. So, you know, I'm always blessed with having, you know, a lot of people come and visit.

But just for you to be a part of that that that elk of being in Hollywood and not be Hollywood. Tell the people how you're able to be because there are some barbers who are in Hollywood who are Hollywood and they don't have your resume no matter if they've been there before. You were raised out there and you have literally the probably one of the most um celebrated careers of a barber in history of barbering. So like like tell us tell us that tell us the difference on that. Man, I think it's just how I was raised. You know what I mean? I was never one to like talk highly of myself.

Don't don't get me wrong, like I'm truly grateful and blessed for everything I've been able to accomplish, all the opportunities that that came my way, the people I've met and cut, but I think it's just one of those where like end of the day, I'm I'm just a barber. We're just barbers, you know? And I feel like yes, like you said, there are people, not just Hollywood, but every everywhere else where they they feel and talk and walk as if they're bigger than the person that really is that person.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? Which I mean, it's Yeah, it's cool. That that might get you some likes and followers and this and that, but end of the day, man, it's like you got to remember that all these people are looking at how you are and like how you perceive like how how you um how you show yourself, how you show up, you know what I mean? And obviously with social media now, like that's all clients look for. Like, oh, who you want to send?

Which barber? Oh, let me see their IG.

Oh, no, man. He is he doing too much,

you know? So, for me, it's like I literally just try to keep it simple. Go show up, do what I got to do, feel the room. If they talking a lot, then okay, I could be a little a little bit more social. If not, do what I got to do. Get paid. All right, man. I'll see you next time. You know what I mean? I think having that having that formula has worked many many times for me, I think. And it's just, you know, just keep your head down, keep working, and everything else is just going to come towards you.

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know what I mean? So, like I'll pull up to trade shows and there's like, you know, me meeting up with like like the Kenny Duncan and like yourself and other people and then there's the younger generation barbers come in. They're like,

" Like, that's I'm not that type of dude to, you know, me. I'm not all over IG and it's just I do what I do and if you see it, you see it. If you know, you know. And I I kind of like it that way where I'm not like a like, you know, a big face in the in the spotlight. Like it's just I love the whole if you know, you know, type of deal, man. And I just kind of run with that. And you know, I just keep it moving, man. My whole thing is like I just try to keep things going and growing, you know what I mean?

Whether it's my own I try to create my own lane, my own path, and whoever wants to hop on and like I try to teach and create more opportunities for other barbers and other people and that's just been my thing, man.

Yeah. I mean, even talking about your teaching, man. You used to used to do a a whole tour, man. Tell me more about the tour that you used to do back in the day. And are you bringing

Yeah, man. I might bring it back. I know once pandemic hit, we kind of just slowed

down. Everything kind of slowed down.

Um, yeah. I used to do tours like people like, "Yo, you don't cut." I mean, you don't do classes like within the US. I was like, "No, I like doing things internationally." One, I want to try to help build out like help build their the barber community outside of the US. two, just showing them our ways of, you know, doing it out here. Um, and three, just getting to know their culture, man. And like exploring the world that that way. I'm blessed to say that Perry Clippers was able to take me literally across the world, man. From

across the world?

Yeah. Like Europe and Southeast Asia. Like, mind you, I'm, you know, I'm Filipino. My parents born and raised in the Philippines. I went to the Philippines for the very first time when I was 30 years old. And what brought me there? A pair of clippers, man.

Jeez.

You know what I mean? And so like you know I used to do these South Asia tour where I again I would do uh Indonesia start off in Jakarta then go to Bali and then Guam, Singapore. I threw in the Philippines that that that years what eight nine years ago.

Um and how many barbers did you have at these?

It was bro I never even knew there was barbers in Indonesia at the time. And I'd have classes from like maybe the first class was maybe 30 people then 50. And Singapore was like I think 65 70. Bali is such a small island. I think I had like 65 70 barbers there and people were flying in from different parts of Southeast Asia to just come see me and like cuz they're not used to that. You know what I mean? So for something like this to come to their to their was huge and that's the reason why I wanted to do more international stuff like this versus go you know Miami, New York and like different cities like that where we all kind of know what we do versus these guys have no idea how we do it.

You know what I mean? So, I'd love to share that and share my story to give them um you know, give them that push and motivation like damn there there is a way for me to to be bigger than this, you know? And I think for what we do, this is the whole purpose, man. Like, I still do this because for that reason, I want to show that there's more than if you want to be behind the chair all day, it's all good. But just know that there's other ways to make money and to to put your work out there in different ways where you know it ain't cheap anymore, man.

Hey, man. Hey, bro. You know what's funny? I I ain't going to front. I almost got emotional just for a second randomly cuz it just hit my mind as you were saying it, man. Like why we do this stuff. You know what I'm saying? Like you said before, man, we don't even really think about it as being celebrity barbers. It's a title. And it it's a title of what we do and who we specifically service a lot of times. And one of the things that you said that a a conversation that me and Kenny Duncan had on on the Barber Star uh podcast. Go check out that that other episode was trust transferred.

And something that you were showing is like how you're able to, you know, tr like transfer the trust of like like you said, the number one thing that you have is that your clients can trust you. Like you know how to read a room. You know how to keep things on the low. You know what I'm saying? Like that's why we not even I don't I don't ask no deep questions when it comes to the to this thing because we know there's a code to it, man. you know, we have the closest access to pretty much anybody to any of these celebrities. When when we're doing a razor line, we're hearing every everything they got going on. We're hearing their mindset.

We're hearing what what what what they're what they're beefing with that nobody knows that they're beefing with. We hear all those different things. And, you know, we're just there to just be be dope. And uh and you've been doing that for many many years, man. Um, I got to ask you about I got to ask you about the the Suns, man, cuz you have you had you have two of the coldest killers in NBA history and and two of and two of the wildest spectrums of freshness, right? We got

Rick We got Rick Fontaine, Pretty Ricky, what they call them. And I I hope you hear this, Devin. They call you pretty Ricky. Pretty handy. You know what I'm saying? Cold blooded killer Devin Booker. And then you have KD. Sometimes I don't care about no brush. And then then other times we see, oh, he got Okay, Vince got him right.

Tell me about those two guys cuz man, those guys those guys have been a definition of your last five, six years of, you know, who of who you are. So tell me more about about those relationships and how those came about,

man. With books. Funny. I I just got back from Phoenix last night. I flew out there to cut them.

Okay.

But see, all that started was right after the bubble, man. Um, literally right after the bubble, he had hit me. He was out in LA and I started cutting him up there and [ __ ] He was by by the time it was time for uh training camp, he was like, "Yo, you [ __ ] with me in Phoenix." I was like, "Uh, yeah, I mean, you know, make it make sense." And, you know, for sure I'm there. It's quick flight,

45 to hour flight.

And so, yeah, man. Sure enough, we, you know, we were able to make something work out. And I've been with him ever since the bubble. I'm in Phoenix once a week, man. once a week.

Uh just taking care of him and you know just giving him that that that freshy.

Yep.

And then once once I seen Kate KD come KD's been on my bucket list from I every barber's bucket list, you know, and I was like, man, I got to just one time. Let me just, you know, and so when it started when I cut him for the first time, I was like, damn, this is crazy. like just you know how it is as barbers. You got to learn what what we see is one thing but to really see it in person firsthand. It's like okay now I could kind of see you know how to how to make it work and how to first cut I got it down but I felt like the next cut was going to be even better which exactly what usually happens cuz now it's like okay I see where I could have done this. I

you know what I mean?

I tell all my clients hey man give me three cuts.

Yeah. Two three cuts is

the first one you going to love. The second one I'm gonna be getting comfortable, but the third one you g like, "Oh, that's the look." You know what I'm saying? So, like, how many how many kids you be giving people? You say like two, three.

I'd probably say, "Yeah, two, three, man." And so, like, you know, I had my own technique already, you know, I figured it out. And then even like when they were at the Olympics in Paris, I was trying to make it out there, but there was nothing really like the bag wasn't right. So, I was like, "Yeah, you know, I I can't do it. I ain't going to do it." So the homie that was out there with team Canada, he actually ended up cutting book in KD.

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And so I was able to kind of tell him like, "Yeah, this is how I cut his hair. Just, you know what I mean? I'm going let you know because I don't want you to show like so like damn, how the

how do I do this?" You know,

so he was able to get him right, man. He said, "Yo, thank you for that, bro." I was like, "Yeah, no, for sure." And I think all that goes with like the whole trust thing, man. You already know me, you, Kenny, we be sending each other people like

Yes. It's so like perfect example, you know, when Ben got traded to Philly, I was like, "Yo, Ben, I got the best dude in Philly." Boom.

You know what I mean?

[ __ ] Even with you, Luda. Like, you got to hit my hit Marcus. Like, whoever's in Philly, Atlanta, we already I already got y'all on speed dial. You know what I mean? So, it's like that's where it goes back to the whole trust thing of having your clients trust you. And I for me, it's like I'll take care of my clients whether it's me or someone else, you know what I mean? And they know that, which is dope. And, you know, I don't think it's all about no, it's got to be me. It's got to be me. Like, no, man. End of the day, they all as long as you're taking care of them outside of you, they'll always come back to you regardless. You know what I mean? And I I already know they're in good hands.

So, it's like I think that's what barbers have to get used to, man. They're too

like because that's what Suprea is.

Suprea is literally that where trust transfer where we do not feel like there's any gatekeeping. We like to get all of our top clients to all the top barbers. And if you're not a Suprea barber, there is a way that you can become one. Just go to the link in the bio. You'll see all that stuff. But yes, sign up to be a part of the membership. Sign up to be a part of the community and the network. The network is where you want to be. That's where we have these conversations like, "Hey, my clients come in here. We have the the part the part called the perfect cut. This how my client likes his haircut. These are the information.

All detailed. Everything.

All the detail. No more having to go in each other's DMs, figure that stuff out. You're trying to get into the the superstars DM. That's not going to work. You got to you got to get us. We got you, baby. So come through, Suprea.

If you know you're meant for more, the network is calling. This is where trust is transferred. Join the network where serious barbers position themselves for next level success. Opportunities to cut celebrities, executives, and athletes. Get exclusive mentorship and join private conversations with founders and industry legends. The difference is who you surround yourself with. com. Okay, back to that. Thank you for that little shameless plug. We're powered by Suprea. Thank God. Thank God. But uh so speaking of Paris though, because right now you're in a lounge in the balcony, little quiet spot because they know how ballers do at Air France right now.

Uh you're on your way to Paris because you are the head US barber for who?

Your deal.

I didn't even know there Hey, I didn't even know there was such a thing. It is crazy.

Man,

hey, like I said, man, I keep my head down, keep it working, you know, wake up one morning, check my emails, and I'm like, "Oh, Dior ship." And I was like, "Okay, let me, you know, let me let me dive into this and like really see what it is." And, you know, we we talked it out. We negotiated for a few months. It wasn't something like, "Oh, damn. Yeah, whatever it is, I'm down." I just really had to make sure like, yo, you know, I'm at the point of my career where if you just want me to just post product and all that, I ain't doing it.

Yeah. Oh,

that don't rush because a lot of times,

you know, us as barbers, we talk about we talk about everybody knows what partnerships we have, but certain people don't know how we negotiate those partnerships. So, when

it's their turn to have those partnerships, they get lowalled. They get uh cuz like you said, you were able to kind of So, what were some of the terms that you were looking for? You don't have to be very specific, but you still can be broad to be able to know exactly what what they should be looking for, what barbers should be looking for when it big brands.

I mean, shoot, I get DM'd, emailed all the time, man, from barbers like, yo, like, how do you how do I structure this? And I'm like, yo, send me send me the scope. What do they what do they want from me? And then I kind of help them, you know what I mean? Figure that out for them. And, you know, I've been working with brands for years where like there was no blueprint. I had to kind of, you know what I mean, figure that part out and see how it made sense. Like, yeah. So, I got low balled, but then you learn from that, you know what I mean?

And so, for me, it's like again, if it's something where like you just want to post product and product and at first, yeah, if it's your first thing, like maybe it works for you, then yeah, do it. But for me personally, it's like no, one, it has to fit my brand. Two, I have to really like [ __ ] with it. You know what I mean? But three, it has to make sense for me. And I again like kind of what I tell brands now. It's like I want to be able to utilize I you know I'm in the space 20 23 25 plus years where I'm at the stage where I want to utilize my knowledge and my expertise in this grooming space. You know what I mean?

Like brands coming to you is like okay they're coming into your world now. So like you got to kind of speak up and be like yo I want to actually have an imprint

on promoting this product or this brand. So like let me get involved in the nitty-gritty of marketing it and whatever it is. I want to be in those in those conversations. I don't want to just

meetings.

Yeah. So, I don't want to just be given here's a product, do it like this, post it like this, do you know what I mean? Like I want to kind of be in involved in

creating the product, whether it's creating it or having my opinion on no, we should do it this way or do it that way. So when brands come to me, like that's now where I'm at where I want to really be part of this whole, you know, this whole department of grooming, you know, and really helping it grow in the way it's supposed to and not like if you're a big brand and you have a grooming line now, you're depending on the name to push the line. Like no, we as barbers, we know what's needed. We know what shouldn't be in these products and whatnot and like how to really market it to the masses, you know?

And I think that's where me and you, a lot of us that have been in the game for so long, that's where our expertise comes in. I mean, and I think for the younger barbers trying to get brand partnerships and brandies, it's really one like work on your brand. Um, and two, just really know your worth, man. You know, and if it's something a product that you really believe in and it's something you feel like you can help elevate uh the brand and bring it to other eyes and you know, really help it grow, you know, make it make it more marketable or whatnot, then you know, there's a price to all that.

If you're connected to certain things and certain people and brands want, you know, want that want that network of yours, there's a price to that.

So, it's like,

and sometimes if you're scared to name that price, then you're never going to get, you know, what you're worth. And I feel like you got to just speak up, man. And

you know, I you know, I've used this term a lot. I know a lot of people do, too. It's like closed mouths don't get fed. So,

if you don't speak speak your mind and speak what you want and your worth, then you're never going to get that back. So,

that's just things I've learned along the way.

So, with Dior right now, you're on your way over there for fashion week. Tell me more about how that kind of works out. Like, how what's that whole experience like for you out out there?

Well, again, this is my third I just signed my third year with them. um my first year going to fashion week, I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna go there. " So, pretty much my job is as their groom, you know, as their groomers, uh I pretty much take care of all the VIPs that attend the show. So, and then I get to attend myself. So, I get to kind of give them the whole experience with the grooming products and um you know, just kind of giving them uh yeah, a great experience of, you know, Dior Savage and what what we what it entails and what we're about and just obviously they're going to show up looking good, but they're going to feel good and look fresh, too. So, that's kind of kind of my job.

Um and then I get, you know, I get there, get to meet with the team. My my main team is based in New York, but then, you know, there's a central Paris team that all the shot, you know, they call the shots. So, I get to link up with them, see what's in the works, you know, see what's coming up and see how I could help with uh with bringing those to life.

That's dope, man. Before we uh before we get off, I know you got to get to your flight and stuff of that nature. Before we get off, we want to do this. I know that you have had Capsule before, but now that you kind of Oh, wait. Before I before I even get to that, I got to ask you about two two haircuts that you did that went super viral, right? And they are Super Bowl haircuts. One with the Travis Kelce joint, man. Tell me about that that how that used to how that was going down, man. Like because you've been cutting Travis for like years, right? Like, and how did that even come about?

Yeah, man. I mean, I got link with him. So after he won his first Super Bowl, um I was in Chicago and I think we connected in Chicago for Allstar weekend the week after and um my homie knows his manager and was like, "Yo, uh you in Chicago like Travis Ky needs a cut." And I was like

[ __ ]

So I went linked up with him and you know he [ __ ] with it, exchanged contact and then ever since then it's just you know every time he's in LA you know he'll just hit me up and obviously all his commercials, all his shoots all done in LA. So, you know, I he would just hit me up for that. Um, and then that one cut that went viral is when he won his second one and uh he had the beard and it was like, "Yo, Vince, I'm taking all this off." I was like, "Yo, I'm documenting this shit."

He's like, "No, no, for sure." So, I I hit my videographer, photographer. I'm like, "Yo, I don't know care. I don't care what you're doing.

Like, Travis's on his way to the house. Hold up."

Yeah.

So, then, yeah, we documented the whole thing, man. And that was crazy. It was a crazy moment to cut all that off. But shoot, not only that, then you know the Jail hurts. I was able to cut Jaylen for the very first Super Bowl where they'd lost to the Chiefs.

This was in Phoenix.

Wow. How? So you cut both of them while you were there, too, right?

No, no, no. Patty was Patty cut him. Patty cut him for that Super Bowl. Um, and then I cut Jaylen for that for that one.

So y'all switch y'all switch kind of clients at that time?

No, no. So Patty cuts is Travis's original like main that's his main guy. So he usually cuts them for like all his, you know, every every that Damian pretty much almost every game he comes out there. But for the Super Bowl, no, I Patty cut him for that. And then I got plugged with Jaylen through all my guys at Clutch cuz he's, you know, he's part of Clutch.

Clutch. He a clutch. She his agent, she runs the uh football division now, right?

Oh, Nicole. Yeah, she's a beast.

Yeah, killing it, huh?

She Yeah, she killing it, man. But yeah, man. So that was my first time cutting him. And for my first time to cut him for the the Super Bowl was crazy. I was like, damn. Like I was like, damn, I hope they win. But then I'm also I ain't mad if the Chiefs win, too.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Um you know what I mean? But so it was dope that

Yeah. So it was dope that he you know Jaylen ended up winning last year, man. So but yeah, it's even same with him. Like anytime he was in LA, I would come cut him up. But it's funny cuz once I posted that cut right before the game started, everyone was just blowing my phone up and then I was at the tailgate before going into the game. I see Dame. Dame's like, "Bro, I might need that cut you just gave Jayen." I was like, "I got you, bro."

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

You know, so like I mean I've known I've been cutting Dame Lillard for years now, too, man. You used to just pull up to the shop all the time.

Yeah.

But no, man. Yeah. It It's pretty dope, you know, to say that I cut, you know, two of the best dudes that that that played in that Super Bowl. late in that Super Bowl, man. You you getting MVPs and and and bro, and legends. Speaking of MVPs and legends, this is one of those this is the question I was going to ask you, man. So, you you ran a legendary and MVP type of shop. Many beasts came out that shop right now. If you could start over just right now and you had a a five cheer shop, you being one of those cheers, who are the other four barbers, I'm talking about nationwide that you would want to

Dang, man.

And it doesn't have to be because they the nicest. We're not talking about you the nicest, but it could be personality, connection, style of cutting, all that stuff.

Man, that's tough, bro.

Yeah. Yeah. The funniest thing though is that for me to mention some of these names, none of us would probably even be in the shop.

Yeah, that's that's

because of the [ __ ] we're doing.

Damn, that's tough. Five chairs. Me one of them. So four. God damn. That's tough, bro.

Hey, man. Hey, things are tough.

I know. I'm trying to see.

Come on, man. Ain't nobody ain't nobody ain't nobody that senses, man. Just say just say somebody. Just say some folks. first board. You don't mind?

It's funny cuz we're all we're all damn near everyone that I would think of are all shop owners. But if I were to just create a ill team regardless of what it is that we do if we're just all in a shop,

man. So, it'd be me. I'd have you cuz you I mean, man, you would you start conversations, bro. You're you'd be the joke. You'd be the the comedian of the shop, which every shop needs. You'd be the one talking to every [ __ ] I say me, you, Kenny, Jules, Julius Caesar.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Um, and who would take that last spot? Damn.

You tough boy.

And then I would probably pick Oh, man. Who would even be that fifth one?

You got You got to give me a lady. You got to give me a flying lady cuz we You know what I'm saying? We got to bring We got to bring them all in.

Yeah. No, I'll pick Selfie then.

Okay. Yeah.

Selfie. Yeah, that's Sam. Yeah. No, she I seen her girls from the jump, too. So to see where she's at now from where when I first met her as far as like she was just really quiet. Oh, dude. She's killing. I love seeing that, man.

But yeah, that would probably Oh, that's a killer five, man.

Hey, that's a shot. Hey, that shop haircuts are $7,000 coming in this month.

Yeah, bro. You got to be paying retainers for that. That shop's on retainer.

We called on retainers. Not not on retainers. All right, man. Tell us a little before we do go. Tell me about the uh you starting you know appointment only like that like like bro like that was genius to like you being a traveling barber and to come out with a travel kit. Tell me about that process how you came up with it and then and then we out man and and I appreciate your time

man. Well I just you know again from doing this for so long I I used to always just carry a backpack and a and a case of clippers and clippers be bouncing around everywhere getting chipped. I was like, you know, wrapping them in towels and trying to, you know,

keep them secure. And I was like, man, how come no one's come out with just one thing that to just hold everything, man? And so the Shan, bro, I worked on it for like three and a half years.

I just wanted to be the first to create something that was needed for the for the industry, man. And I know everyone's been blowing me up like, "Yo, what's going on with it?" We've kind of been silent, quiet for a minute. Just obviously with the tariffs going on and all the other [ __ ] going on in the world, like we kind of just took a took a pause. But it's funny cuz I just got the new sample in yesterday.

I'm bringing it to Paris. We we did this was a general light size. We actually just made, you know, a few different additions to it.

Okay.

So, I'm trying it out in Paris. you guys will see, you know, mock-ups of it soon and we'll have it for pre-orders in the next little bit. So, you guys can stay tuned for that, man. But, uh, we're also, you know, going to launch like a lifestyle side of of bags, not just barber related. So, you know, just trying to do something different, man. But this is what I mean where like barbers could tap into product development and different things to one help boost our industry and community, but two to just help people help barbers out there. You know, everyone's mobile now, man. "

Hey, dope, man. Hey, bro. I know you got to catch this flight, man. If you could give us um give us one dope fence gym that we can give to all the barbers of this world, man. Whether it be about patience, the career, family, whatever it may be. Tell tell us what you think.

And I just say, you know, stay true to yourself, stay humble. I mean, that goes such a long way, you know. Stay hungry. Stay motivated, man. And just just know that there's a bigger purpose in what we do. Ain't just about the haircut, man. It's about, you know, how good we make people feel. How good we feel. That satisfaction of seeing them smile once you turn them,

you know, face them. Face them to the mirror. Um, and just, man, just, you know, just be real, man. Just be a real one. Look out for one another.

Yeah, man.

Just just be you.

Just be you, man.

Yeah. Just be you.

Hey, man. Bro, I truly appreciate you again. As you

appreciate you, too.

We've known each other for over a decade now. Every event we've seen each other at from Allstar weekends to Super Bowls to award shows to barber expos. I know we see each other at least five to six times a year sometimes it feels like. And on two different coasts and I appreciate you for trusting me with your clients. Again, I also you for taking care of my guys when I'm when I'm able to, you know, send somebody your way. again, bro. All success to you. Thank you so very much. This has been an episode of the century, guys. We have Vince Garcia, Vince the Barber, Gillette, Roane, first pitch at the Mets game of opening day. It what has this man not?

And he just opens his eyes and goes to his emails and finds all these dope opportunities. Who would have guessed it? We would have guessed it. That's why we are YouTube barber stars, my man. I truly appreciate you. Thank you, bro. Love you. Be safe too. Drink a lot of champizzle on your brother. You know what I'm saying? Drink a lot of champagne. You feel me? Supreme.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Long live, baby. Long live. Thank you, brother. Success.