Meet Carlos Jimenez of Swarthy’s Beard & Hair Design in South Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Jimenez.

Carlos, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I studied Barbering & Cosmetology and completely embraced the Art of “Helping People Feel Better through Looking Better”, I then returned to train as an Instructor after which I began volunteering on and off for 1 1/2 years until securing a Barbering Instructor position with LAUSD, all the while gaining real world experience and using these experiences as the foundation for Swarthy’s Beard & Hair Design, Styling all Hair textures and lengths and now also Swarthy’s Apprenticeship. In my Apprenticeship Program it’s my great pleasure of overseeing the birth and development of Barber and Beauty Professionals of all ages, through a hands on approach that only Apprenticeship provides. My role: provide real world preparedness for each and every student, far past the mere task of achieving a Barber or Cosmo license. The license is only a certificate stating we understand the minimum health/sanitation standards to service the public, but to become a Master Stylist, no matter the license. You hold Barber or Cosmo, to have an arsenal of skills that catapults you to a position where you can Style, Design, Redesign, Transform & of course fix whatever Hair Situation that might walk through your doors with your own unique expressiveness and creativity is priceless.

The Barber & Beauty industry is an ever-evolving living industry that pushes us to our outermost reaches of greatness, learning from others as well as ourselves the journey to our very best is an eye opening and many times surprising experience, for me to take part in this journey is by all Accounts awesome

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?
Definitely not a smooth road, one of the first lessons I learned was research everything, especially before opening up brick-and-mortar., I entered into a less than optimal lease where there was a yearlong road construction right outside my door. That construction almost destroyed my business not to mention it was 2010 so the economy wasn’t back yet. I should have had a lawyer or at least a real estate agent do their due diligence in the matter.

Secondly the value of self-worth and individualism, knowing when and where to invest, invest in yourself, in your brand, in your vision and doing so intelligently. At times those closest to me weren’t always the most encouraging so I discovered “Believing in yourself” is such a powerful resource! If no one else will clap for you then you clap.
Currently is growth and growth come hand in hand with change without losing your core values. Ray Cook said If you’re not growing you’re dying” there is no middle or in between. Growth is multidimensional not only measured in apparent size but more in depth and that’s where I find myself now, Expanding

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SWARTHY’S BEARD & HAIR DESIGN story. Tell us more about the business.
The grooming industry as a whole has catered always to women mostly because Women are willing to pay a premium for their grooming services, everything from waxing, manicures, pedicures and especially hair and hair color. Men on the other hand shy away from paying a premium they’ve been satisfied with being on the outside looking in, conforming to a haircut which only shortens the length of the hair but doesn’t consider their facial features, profession or lifestyle. There is a difference between something made and something that is designed, that’s what Swarthy’s offers and what Swarthy’s Apprenticeship instills. For example men don’t mind getting a manicure pedicure we just don’t like being the only ones in the mail we appreciate quality but avoid pretentiousness. Google recently reported they had more inquiries on men’s grooming then women’s grooming for the first time since the Internet so there’s definitely being more image conscious map out there men that are willing to pull away from what has previously been taboo men are more willing to talk about getting a facial wanted on the same level as giving without worrying about their manliness for manhood being putting question. These are the man swarthy’s attempts to service, continually honing our skills as barbers-stylists staying current with trends while respecting the old world looks and techniques. There seems to be an explosion in the barbering industry as of late put a barbers license is very much like the driver’s license many people have a them but not everyone should be driving as there are more licensed barbers I feel that there are less barriers. The Term master barber is a title that is loosely used. apparently almost everyone is one difference: Swarthy’s is on its way to becoming a one-stop shop for men both in Tonsorial and the Sartorial. There’s something very empowering about looking good, it makes you feel good and there’s never a good time to look nor a bad time to look your best!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck, fortune or favor I believe I’ve been very lucky., why I gravitated to the things I have or did I really can’t say, I ran from cutting hair all my life my brother-in-law and my sister both did hair and makeup in the movie Industry, they’d nagged me all through high school about becoming a barber-stylist and my father was Tailor, a Master Tailor, both have been influential factors in what I do now., although my aspirations were never to be a Barber or a Wardrobe Consultant or Image Professional but here I am and I Love it! Looking back I wouldn’t have thought that my years of selling suits at Macy’s curating men’s wardrobes or single outfits was all in preparation for the business I’m currently developing, so yes I’ve been very lucky., I’ve been surrounded and wrapped up in God’s favor, having a great support system at home with my wife Jennifer which I truly wouldn’t be who or where I am today without her.

Pricing:

• Listing the most requested/popular. not sure how relevant
• 75.00 Deluxe Hair Design
• 75.00 Deluxe Hot Towel Shave

Contact Info:

• Address: 1014 Fair Oaks Ave. South Pasadena Ca 91030
• Website: swarthys.com
• Phone: (626) 378-2887
• Email: carlito@swarthys.com
• Instagram: swarthys
• Facebook: soyswarthy
• Yelp: swarthy’s beard & Hair design

Image Credit:
i own all media submitted