Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto Rodriguez.
Roberto, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Humble beginnings is really how it all started. I was one of 3 boys (middle child) being raised in a small 700sqft house in southern Los Angeles. My parents moved to the states in the early 80’s in pursuit of the American dream. My dad was working in a warehouse job, pulling orders, shipping, receiving, etc. And my mom was a stay at home mom raising three boys. My dad’s dream was to one day own a business and my mother’s dream was to one day become a hairstylist. Coming from Mexico and having not completed high school that opportunity would never happen for either of them.
In the 90’s, when gang violence was at a peak, my dad was offered better opportunities here In Texas. Leaving everything we knew behind, we decided to make a move for more opportunity but more importantly, the safety of our family.
Over the years, Texas grew on our family, at age 16 I got my first job working in a warehouse doing much of the same my dad did and by the time I finished high school, I managed to score an apprentice position as a body man working on cars. Though Texas was ok I hated the heat and working in a warehouse and on cars wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do the rest of my life. It was more fun working in my car than it was on other cars.
Growing up, my mom had taught herself how to cut all of our hair and had gotten pretty good at it. Frequently she would mention how much she wishes she could have done hair but would never be able to, and after years of hearing this over And over the idea started to sound appealing to me, either work in the heat or try something different. So at age 20, I decided to for the first time to walk into an actual salon and get a real professional haircut, not just to get a cut but to pick the stylist’s brain on the idea of doing hair. After my haircut, I was sold on the idea, and within two weeks, I quit my jobs and signed up for hair school. Fast forward ten months later, I graduated from The Salon Professional Academy in 2009 and immediately got a job at Studio720, where I still am today. During the time there, I have branched out and started my brand of haircutting and education system (theLAB) as well as operated in my salon for a short time. I have been granted the Paul Mitchell challenge coin, was inducted into The Salon Professional Academy Hall of Fame, and have been a Paul Mitchell National Educator since 2016, but by far, my greatest achievement was becoming a father to my beautiful boy is 2018.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Like many others, my journey wasn’t easy. Coming from a poor background was always hard, and coming from a very old school household, hair wasn’t exactly looked at as a job that would amount to anything more than just that, a job. But I carried on my path, despite not having all of my family support for Being a guy wanting to do hair. Being a male hairdresser in a female-dominated industry wasn’t easy in my early years. In the beginning, I struggled with hair, using tools that I had never touched in my life and others around me had, but with time I caught on fairly quickly and ended up being pretty good. Good enough that I’ve managed to build a solid clientele with appointments booked out months in advance without cancellations, so that’s nice. The real struggle that I have yet to perfect is the art of social interaction. I’m not exactly the most outgoing social person haha, I’m not good at it. I’m very good at being quiet, except when it comes to teaching. When I first became an educator, fewer words more meaning didn’t apply to me. You couldn’t get me to say enough. But with time I’ve excelled and have broken the art of teaching down to a science, I’m obsessed with teaching how to cut hair and it is an area I don’t lack words.
Tell us more about the business.
So we are located on the border of Little Elm and Frisco off of 423 and Eldorado, we are a full service hair studio, providing services to everyone of all ages and hair types. As a salon, we specialize in haircutting and color services. I specialize in precision craft haircutting, color and education. I have focused most of my career on crafting truly custom looks for each guest that sits in my chair—real haircuts for real people. When you don’t find me behind the chair, I am usually busy creating and documenting new hairstyles and color techniques through my system I’ve created theLAB, which I share with my salon team and new hires. I find educating your team to be the best is by far the most important thing in reaching success. What I am most proud of as a salon is we truly function as a family and a team, we are such a close nit group, I feel what sets us apart goes back to how happy we are to be at work, it shows and we deliver that level of comfort and passion to each and every one of our guests.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck, coincidences, or anything like that. I believe everything happens exactly the way it’s supposed to happen. Hard work and perseverance help achieve our goals, but yea as a dear friend once told me (he’ll know if he reads this), I believe we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be. The universe makes no mistake.
Pricing:
- Woman’s Haircut $75+ 1hr 15
- Men’s haircut $45+ 45min
- Haircolor $100 per hr
Contact Info:
- Address: 2700 e. Eldorado Pkwy suite 102 little elm TX 75068
- Website: Studio720salon.com
- Phone: 9722940208
- Email: rob.rodr.88@gmail.com
- Instagram: Rob.rodr.88
Image Credit:
Roberto Rodriguez
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