“LIFE IS GOOD AND SOMETIMES WE FORGET.”
An artist will see a blank canvas and ponder what is their vision is calling for, they will let their heart speak with their hands, through the brush unto the canvas creating the masterpiece that was once stuck inside the creative soul.
“HAIR IS A BLANK CANVAS SCREAMING FOR CREATIVITY.”
The artistry that is barbering at its very best is now in the forefront in today’s culture, it has transcended and broke barriers far exceeding anyone’s imagination. Making barbers who have stood behind the barber chair with hours of perfecting their craft have now become business men and women. From sponsorships to big endorsements and ambassadorships, barbering has allowed a growth in the industry without borders reaching heights that were once thought unachievable.
“I AM A PRODUCT OF MY PARENTS CREATIVITY.”
“LA FAMIGLIA E’ TUTTO.”
My parents Rosario Lombardi and Teresa Di’Franco brought into this world a son of creativity, they both were hairstylist, growing up I never quiet understood why my father was but I did know that he was passionate about it all and was very good at it. I guess it all began for my father attending shows where his love for this industry really took off for him, my mother being supportive went into business seeing their dream come true in the form of a salon. I was 7 years old and there I was sweeping and cleaning for my parents, it was like being a part of the family business where 25 family members were all involved somehow or another in the hair industry it was as if my destiny for doing hair was in the cards I just wasn’t dealt the hand yet.
Throughout my life my parents worked hard they instilled in me a work ethic I continue to have until this day, I always believed that in this business the minute you get stagnant you will be left behind. The hair industry like time waits for no one, having parents that were born in Sicily knew nothing else but hard work they both knew that to achieve anything in life that hard work needed to be involved.
“HAIR IS ALIVE THERE IS ATOMY TO HAIR”
Growing up I was not too sure of what I felt I wanted or needed to do with my life, I just seen my parents who were both successful in the industry prospering and never gave it any thought of one day walking in their footsteps. The industry I felt was not for me, I did not need it and the feelings at the time were vey mutual. Sometimes the term “one day” actually comes and when it does how we react to it is a quick judge of one’s character.
“OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS OR KICKS DOWN THE DOOR”
I gave in and fell in love with her, by her I meant the industry it had casted a spell on me that I was not sure if I wanted a cure. I found myself enrolled in cosmetology school where I learned to fight my way in the industry because I was a male, it was a foreshadowing experience that eventually helped me later in my career. I learned so much with my time in school and instantly felt true emotion for a craft that would eventually show me a feeling of acceptance and admiration. I knew the direction I was headed that success was around the corner and I was ready to take on the challenge in the hair industry head on and create a lane for myself once paved by my parents.
“YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE REMEMBERED OR YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE FORGOTTEN THE CHOICE IS YOURS.”
Experience taught me lessons I could never learn in cosmetology school, experience taught the hardships and victories with its life lessons and class was always in session. I was a student of life, I studied people when they sat in my chair, asking questions of their history wanting to know the ins and outs of the human being I was about to give an experience to. If you take the time to listen to the client they open up emotions you never knew existed within oneself. We are more than the hairstylist or barber in our craft we take 45 minutes of one person’s day and change it completely, from the client who is experiencing Murphy’s Law (whatever can go wrong will) to the client who is about to propose to his girlfriend we take those moments in and we become a turning point within their day or their life.
“WHEN CLIENTS BECOME FAMILY IS THE BEST PART OF THIS CAREER”
In life we travel to places near to us or abroad just to find a place where “we belong” I worked in salons that until this day have played important roles in my life, taking a bit of them with me along this journey I have been on these past few years. Antonino’s salon in Livingston Gio sarracino thank you for my 1st opportunity, New Jersey, Panico salon West Cadwell, New Jersey with mentors Tom Harris (from Paul Mitchell), Angelo Pacente and Dieci Uomo of Livingston, New Jersey, Elite hair studio of Hasbrouck, New Jersey with Marta Mehlham who helped me so much, my path would not have even begun without any of you taking this trip along side of me, I thank you.
I wanted a challenge and doing women’s hair was a challenge but I felt a void needed to be filled, I started to cut more men’s hair I was always intrigued by the barber and felt that if I put forth my efforts I could excel in that field as well. I saw something on a client’s face that needed just as much of attention than the hair, the beard needed structure it screamed for creativity, it yelled for power the beard like the hair needed to stand for something and I was on the cutting edge of making it possible.
There was a company that really caught my eye well… the logo really captured my attention it spoke volumes to me, it was as if that logo was a part of me so I started to do research on this company coming to see that it was a beard care company by the name of Maestro’s classic it was me everything about it was me. I would work on my craft tagging Maestro’s in every cut I did that contained a beard catching their attention and being asked to visit their headquarters in Bristol, Pennsylvania, I was invited to train and sharpen my craft remember how hard I had to fight to make my presence felt back in cosmetology school? Déjà vu… I was not accepted at first at the time I doubt I was even being respected because I was not “one of them” meaning I was not a licensed barber but soon earned their respect and acceptance, I was not going to back down nor walk away because I wanted this more than anything I could have ever imagined, taking me back to a time in a small apartment with my girlfriend who is now my bride working hours upon hours on a mannequin head, that hard work paid off so I knew this would pay off as well, it was sink or swim so I doggy paddled when I had nothing left… that Italian work ethic at its best.
Traveling as a Barber Maestro opened doors for me that I could never dared knock on but they are open for me and I am taking full advantage of the opportunities presented my way. From a WAHL professional sponsorship as an educator traveling the world spreading the message of proper clipper usage and techniques I now can share with others, the blessings upon blessings are truly humbling.
I don’t know what is next for me or where this road will lead to but for now I am enjoying the ride in cruise control with Frank Sinatra in the background singing my life’s story on how I overcame it all and just did it A MODO MIO (MY WAY).
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