Meet Gabriella Ibarra | Barber: Gentlemen Haircuts & Grooming Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriella Ibarra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriella, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting your own business can be driven by various factors. Mine was based on the desire for independence including a more flexible schedule to be more available for my two small children while in the early stages of primary school. And the sole passion for the barber/ hair industry. Taking the time to really know who my clients are individually is important to me as I build within the community and help others find the right barber who will listen to their hair care needs. I’ve always focused on quality over quantity, and inside a lot of franchise barbershops they don’t teach or focus on that aspect.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I did not know what I wanted to be “when I grow up”. In high school I was still involved in different sports such as band, volleyball and wrestling. The school district built a trade school that only select few could attend so I joined the cosmetology program as a junior. Participating in a state-wide competition placing 3rd thinking “okay I must be good at this”. I did freelance practicing on friends and really got to see the transformation as their face lit up and they thanked me a hundred times. I fell in love with doing hair but wanted to switch my focus on men’s haircuts instead. Had came to the conclusion that there’s more retention, the clientele is more relaxed and the haircuts itself are more trendy. A lot of the chain barbershops I worked in were all about numbers and quickness, which meant there’s not enough time to really be able to help the problem they wanted fixed with their hair. Before starting my business, I was a manager of a barbershop where i could maintain the atmosphere of the salon. the problem was i was treating it as if it was my own and not getting the salary of a owner. caring is good, but caring too much is when people will take advantage of it, so i decided to leave the toxic environment. My business now, focuses on what the client is trying to achieve, being attentive to their needs, while not feeling rushed. As a grooming specialist, taking care of all the hair care needs from beards, to waxing services, and giving a man a mini facial is so satisfying. A one-stop shop for men to come and spoil themselves or just take care of their hygiene. A lot of men are not used to receiving such relaxing services when they go to a barbershop, let alone a female cut their hair. So i believe there is room for us “lady barbers” to cater to the male clientele in a respectful way while paying attention to detail.

That’s what Gabi Cut & Style is all about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Originally from DFW so I do love the city, but it can be very crowded sometimes.

Marietta square is very family oriented and has some history behind the city itself. There’s a few homes on Polk rd, that have been there since the 1900’s but are in really nice condition and decorate really extravagant around the holidays. The square is perfect for a nice sunny day to walk around, sometimes they have Farmers markets to attend on a Saturday morning. The food hall is a cool place for lunch, especially if someone is indecisive, its like an indoor food court with plenty of options!

The battery is a cool place to take Instagram ready pictures with an Atlanta feel! Even if there is not a braves game, you can always watch it on the big screen, or grab a bite to eat, my favorite restaurant down there is The Yard House.

If we feel like shopping, the Avalon in Alpharetta is a newly built outdoor shopping center with high-end shoppes and an open grassy area for kids to play. Or if you’re looking for deals the Woodstock Outlet mall off 75N is a nice outdoor shopping place, I could spend all day in the Kate spade and Nike store.

These are just a few areas I would take my best friend on their first visit to Georgia!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person who gave me life, my mother, Nicole Ibarra. This strong women paid for my schooling as a single parent raising three children who were all into different extra circulars. Always supporting me to do what I enjoy, and being the nurturing parent a daughter needed growing up.

My husband, Anthony Welles, helped me finance the start of my new business. He taught me and is still teaching me a lot of financial literacy throughout the process, and knowledge of entrepreneurship along the way. He’s always a “solution solver” when things seem to be falling apart, so nevertheless an awesome support system.

In general, all of my past supervisors at any hair-cutting establishment I have worked for. There’s quiet a few things a barber or cosmetology school can’t teach you that working on the salon floor on your first day will. From dealing with customers to learning different haircutting techniques, and being in a management position, thank you to everyone who has been apart of my journey.

Website: http://gabi-cut-style-co.square.site

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gabicutandstyle?

Other: Pinterest https://pin.it/7GzlbWM

Image Credits
Anthony Welles Gerthy Agard