“Watching how to cut hair on Youtube every single day,” is how freshman Jonathan Salazar started his small barber business.

Salazar wanted to start his own business because cutting hair was one of his hobbies. He got inspired by seeing others pursue the same dream.

He officially started cutting hair two months ago. But, as usual, starting a business means there will be tough challenges along the way.

“Getting people to let me cut their hair,” is one of the challenges that Salazar has come across so far.

When coming across such challenges, it’s always important to have people that support you.

Salazar’s biggest supporters are his dad and cousins because they were with him from day one of having this small business. They even let him cut their hair when he started.

When having a business, it’s almost impossible to only have good or bad experiences when giving haircuts. There will be times when you give great haircuts and times when you give bad ones.

“The worst haircut I ever gave was during quarantine,” Salazar said. “My dad wanted a haircut, and I messed him up.”

The younger generations are known to have the courage and motivation to work hard when pursuing their dreams.

Salazar hopes to pursue this small business as a career later on and also hopes to attend a barber (cosmetology) school.

Salazar has a “pregame ritual” to get in the hair-cutting mood.

“I listen to music and clean all my products before cutting hair,” Salazar said.

Doing this helps him get the right mindset to cut hair and apply different techniques or haircut styles per his clients’ requests.

Applying such skills requires you to have the tools necessary to do so. For example, a barber’s main tools consist of hair clippers, trimmers, shears, towels, and cleaning brushes (dusters).

“I’ve been saving money since my birthdays to buy the stuff I want to buy,” Salazar said. 

This could be a similar situation that other young business owners have to go through to get the materials needed to run their business.

Salazar knows the struggle that comes with an upcoming business. He understands that other Gunderson students can be in the same position as he was before starting his barber business.

“Don’t be afraid to start your own business because everything in the future is going to pay off, and never let anyone bring you down [saying] that you’re not good at what you’re doing. Keep doing you until they see you succeed.”