Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Moreno.
Hi Fernando, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story as a barber starts back when I was a teenager. During a time in my life where I really enjoyed being inside a Barbershop environment and witnessing all the barbering services being done. From the smells of hair products, shave soaps to the sprays of the Cool Care on clippers, to the conversations, jokes, and satisfied clients getting on and off the Barber chairs. Getting a haircut was always an uplifting and therapeutic experience for me. I enjoyed getting a haircut weekly. Until I realized I could not pay for so many haircuts as more responsibilities came about due to getting older and the bills that come with it. So, I decided to start learning to cut my own hair. I went to a CVS store in Chula Vista, CA bought myself my first ever Wahl Clippers, and began butchering my own hair. Over time and practice, I eventually became pretty good at cutting my hair, and soon after that, friends and family began to take notice. They were kind enough to ask me to cut their hair regardless of my experience level to practice. Throughout my entire life, I’ve always felt the need and desire to become my own boss/entrepreneur in such a way where I can also express my creative and my strong attention to detail sides. After some years and quite a couple of different jobs and trades, all while still cutting my own hair and friends’ and families’ hair on the side, I began to feel more and more eager to become my own Boss/Entrepreneur. So I sacrificed a whole life I had started in Arizona, where I lived for 5 years, started from zero, and came back home to San Diego, CA, where my Mother, who has always been my biggest supporter, was kind and loving enough to let me stay at her apartment rent free while I went to school to become a Licensed Barber. Which I finally was able to acquire in 2022. Since then, I have been focusing all of my time on growing and mastering my craft in the Barbering Industry while riding the wave of “Doing what you love” and seeing just how far I can take it. Barbering to me is an endless journey of knowledge mixed in with a lot of good times overweighing the bad ones. It is a Culture. A Way of life that mixes perfectly well with any others regardless of Color, Race, sex, or location on the earth.
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?
Smooth Roads never start off or stay smooth for long. Smooth Roads take time, hard work, discipline, and many bumps to finally achieve it. Many struggles come from starting something new, and I’ve had my share. From having very little money to support myself or help out my mother at the time financially to some health issues along way. But through the love and support from a few people and most importantly, through discipline, I learned from all the struggles and mistakes, and those lessons got me to where I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize more in the Traditional/Old School styles of Barbering. Classic styles are my favorite with a mixture of some Modern ones as well. I have a strong attention to detail which is why I love classic styles because certain classic hairstyles require a form of precision cutting, specific products, and ways to style. From pompadours, flat tops, to all styles of combovers, slick backs, jelly rolls, to the finish back Ducktails, and more. Doing Modern Skin fades and styles are also my favorite because of the level of creativity and detail I can do. Mixing these styles are also a lot of fun for me. What sets apart most barbers, including myself, is the level of detail, precision, and style one has. I love that there are endless ways to achieve almost all haircuts and styles since it provides anyone in the Barbering Industry a way to be original and unique. Anyone and everyone can stand out in their own way. Which in my case is more of the old-school street culture vibe and style.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learned that through discipline and humility, one can achieve, obtain, and get through anything in life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: fernyy992
- Other: https://getsqr.co/fernando-moreno
Image Credits
@laloproductionstudio
