While scrolling through Instagram, you might have come across a haircut reel from a young barber. That is junior Julian Molina, who has over 2,000 followers on Instagram and is a rising talent in the world of barbering. Most students of his age might spend their free time playing video games or hanging out with friends, but Molina is building a business, one haircut at a time.

His passion for barbering came unexpectedly. From May 30th to June 1st of 2024, Molina and his friends were at a sleepover, a night that would change his life forever.

“We were all bored and were having a sleepover that weekend, and so I just bought some sheep clippers off on Amazon, and I started cutting them up, and then kind of got serious and evolved,” Molina said.

When Molina began barbering, his friends were there to witness the special moment. Juniors Juan Perez and Dave Sharma encouraged him in his journey and volunteered to be one of his first clients.

“I was there at the sleepover where Julian gave his first cuts, and I was the second one to get cut up by him,” Perez said.

Perez expressed how much his skills had improved drastically over the past eight months since then, while Sharma shared his perspective during that night.

“I was there at the sleepover that day. I remember him bringing his brand new barber equipment, and he gave all of us a haircut,” Sharma said.

From cutting his friend’s hair to now working in his home’s basement, Molina continues to develop his skills with different haircuts: tapers, burst fades, and fades ranging from low to high. Each client has their own unique hairstyle, which Molina connects through his barbering.

As his clients continue to expand beyond his friend’s circle, social media such as TikTok and Instagram have helped him to gain more. Molina quickly gained popularity through this and gained connections. One of his frequent clients, junior Mario Perez shares his time while cutting his hair.

“He warmly greets me and asks what I want. He is easy to talk to, so we talk the whole cut. I am always satisfied with the haircut and the experience,” Perez said.

Through Instagram, Perez was able to discover him and is now a loyal client. Although he was successful, challenges soon caught up with him.

“I’m probably gonna get my own place. I’m gonna have her (Molina’s mom) co-sign because I’m not gonna be old enough. I’m going to be 17,” Molina said.

Being only 16 years old, his ambition to start independently faces challenges due to age restrictions. His mom will only co-sign if he goes to college, and he plans to get an associate’s degree in business. Despite these obstacles, he remains determined to his future visions while still keeping his mom’s promise.

“I think he has come a long way from when he first started and has become very good at what he does, and I think he should continue barbering,” Sharma said.

His family and friends’ support fuels his motivation to do his best, as they provide a strong foundation for his personal growth.

“Don’t let the struggle stop you. It could be hard at times, but you’ve got to keep going,” Molina said.

Molina’s determination to pursue his dream is only the beginning of a successful future. As he gains experience, he continues to sharpen his skills and carry on the wisdom he learns along the way.