The average cost of a men’s haircut has increased by 97% since 1997 from an average of $20 to $39.38 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Despite the high-cost of haircuts, business and administration sophomore Diego Reyes provides affordable haircuts for the San Jose State community.
Reyes said his journey of barbering started by coincidence.
“I went into Target and bought myself a trimmer to shave my mustache,” he said. “The trimmer came with barber guards and I thought, ‘I could start cutting my hair.’ ”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Reyes said he chose to attend SJSU to get out of his comfort zone and experience something new.
“I noticed there are a lot of students who are looking for barbers,” he said. “When I came to San Jose, I tried to find a barber, but they’re pretty expensive.”
It was spring break 2022 when Reyes returned to Los Angeles and met with a friend who runs a barber business out of his garage.
“He’s been hustling since quarantine just cutting hair,” Reyes said. “I saw that and thought I could probably start doing the same.”
Reyes’s friend George Pochon took up barbering during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, and started a profitable business in two years.
Reyes said he was inspired by Pochon after he saw his clientele grow and practiced with his trimmers from Target.
Over summer 2022 Reyes said he gave free haircuts to not only increase his clientele, but also to hone his craftsmanship.
He said during his first time with a client, he was scared to dig into the hair with his clippers.
“You can’t really charge if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Reyes said. “It’s not easy when you start cutting hair because it takes a lot of skill and patience.”
When Reyes returned to campus in fall 2022 he said he received compliments from students who motivated him to start charging for his service, first starting from $15 and then increasing to $20.
Nine months after cutting his first client, Reyes said he cuts hair for students on campus regularly between classes and study sessions.
Industrial engineer senior Emmanuel Pioquinto is a returning client of Reyes and said he found him through the SAMMY app.
He said Reyes was very respectful and professional during their first encounter in December.
“I was kind of skeptical because he told me he was getting into the barber business,” Pioquinto said. “But he reassured me everything would be fine.”
After giving his trust, he said Reyes knew what he was doing and delivered.
“He has good prices for good quality haircuts,” Pioquinto said. “I don’t think you can beat that.”
Reyes said outside of his haircut studio in his dorm, he connects with students across campus, whether it be in the gym or the library.
Radio television senior Josue Garcia said he started receiving haircuts from Reyes after he approached him on campus.
“I see his ambition,” Garcia said. “He likes barbering and he’s dedicated to his work.”
Garcia started out getting “emergency cuts” from Reyes when he needed a quick and reliable haircut before a special event.
“Lately I’ve been trusting him more and more because he does a decent job,” he said.
Reyes said he tries to give haircuts to his clients that’ll make them feel good receiving compliments.
Pioquinto said the confidence Reyes gives students with his service is what keeps them coming back.
“Today I got a haircut from him and I walked out a different person,” Pioquinto said.
