Inspiring Conversations with Justin Daniel Ortega-Arredondo of Barber

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Daniel Ortega-Arredondo

Hi Justin Daniel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello my name is Justin Ortega my barber journey started when I was a sophomore in high school, during that time I was in school then the pandemic hit the whole U.S. I was not going have to attend high school for about two years, I was not sure what I was going to do with my life I had nothing in mind, one thing I was always good was with art and showing my ways of art. I was scrolling through YouTube when I first saw a video how to cut hair, it looked very entertaining and satisfying to watch and the overall art on how you can make someones over all personality and the way they see the world with just a clean haircut. That’s when I knew that I wanted to become a barber so I bought some cheap clippers and trimmers and started my journey as a barber, my first ever client was my little brother, he was hesitant at first but was down to let me cut his hair. About a year and a half pass and I was able to attend school again, during my time as a student in high school I was a introvert person so I was not sure during that time how to really grow as a person and barber. I started to learn ways to communicate better and made a lot of friends, people were starting to know me as the barber of my school through my instagram post, I knew something was going right when I started to notice a growth in my overall personality and clients. my last day of school I wanted to go out with a bang, I wanted to let everyone know that I was going to become something big, when a friend of mind gave me a idea to cut his hair in front of the whole school I was very hesitant and nervous because I was going to have to show my work in front of the whole school, I thought about it for a whole day and at last I said “yes lets do it”. I started cutting his hair and people were in absolute shock and when I graduated people knew me as the barber, I was able to have the opportunity to work in a salon in apex the owner was generous enough to teach me scissor work and more about cutting hair I worked there for about 6 months but I had to take a year and a half break when I got into a car accident, I had a little trauma experience and that’s when my mind set as a overall person change and I knew that we can literally die at any moment in time and that we have to grow as people so while I was in my break as barber I started working in construction and started teaching my self about business and ways to communicate better with others while I was in my lunch break, I knew I was never the type of person to be bossed around and that why made a goal to become a barber again and started to look for a barber shop in Raleigh but as a part time so I can slowly bring my self up, I was able to find a barber shop and and started to working and polishing my self I learned the real art as a barber the overall environment was really different and I struggled keeping up with the barbers and I knew that place was going to be my foundation as a barber. one day I was working in a job site with my group and the group we were with got us in some problems and fired our whole group, I knew at that moment that it was sign from God to dedicate my self to pure barbering and everything I have been teaching my self to use now. I started working in my barber craft had to start again from zero and grow a steady clientele I started to post more on my instagram and started passing around my business cards so people could know who I was.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Through my overall journey as a barber it was not a single bit easy I really struggled mentally and physically. There were time when people looked down on my success and till this day people are still looking down on me, but that what motivates me to grow higher and help my family. there were times when I wanted to go out with friends but I knew I can’t grow and I have to sacrifice hanging out and partying, I’m currently putting my full focus on barbering and succeeding. As a barber to really grow you can’t rely on motivation but discipline after putting that work in you will slowly start to see the growth that you want, yes theres time when you feel down because your not getting money or can’t see progress I scratch that out of my mind and think about the overall art and ways to show the world what I have.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Barber ?
I am a barber and as a barber the only way to really grow is by showing the type of person you are and the sort of work and services you provide for all your clients. Well as you can see I am a rising barber who’s still learning in this craft you are always learning new things theres no barber that knows everything because there new things to learn. A lot of people know me as the cool funny barber to talk and be around, I usually specialize on designs for peoples haircuts. The thing that I would personally set me apart from other people would say the discipline that I put into this craft I started from the botton as a learning barber and I still have a long way to go.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The advice I would give to any person doesn’t matter what you want to become or do in life, always follow those dreams no matter how far it seems keep running after it. There will be times when you will struggle but that’s what we call life and to really grow as a person the only way is by facing those obstacles no matter what. One thing I do wish that I knew when I was starting out as a barber. That there will be good days and bad days but that does not mean to always but in the work and dedication for a better future for your self and that success does not always come if you do not put in the work and the dedication to keep on going and never look back on the simple or big mistakes you have done in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://booksy.com/en-us/1165842_101-elite_barber-shop_27100_raleigh#ba_s=sh_1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_101elitecutz_/