Take a deep dive into stories and interests students have in The Humans of Walnut

The sound of snipping scissors comes to a stop and trimmed hair floats to the floor. Senior Jonathan Hernandez steps back and lets his customer admire his new haircut. The detailed burst fade comes into the mirror’s view and Hernandez’s patron finishes telling him about the newest drama at school.

Hernandez began cutting hair for two years alongside his high school attendance. During that time, he spent a year getting his barber’s license from a state board exam and now works part-time at Da Spot Barbershop in Pomona.

“I was able to push through [both schools] and was constantly [juggling] my grades,” Hernandez said. “Although my grades may not have turned out [the way] I wanted them to, it was still enough for me.”

Though he had never actually gone to a barber’s shop before, Hernandez started learning to cut hair, as he was inspired to do so from his mom. Whenever Hernandez wanted a haircut from a barber, his mom would always sass back, “Oh? You got barbershop money?”

“Ever since I was a kid, my mom cut my hair and recently, I started watching videos [online] that helped inspire me to begin haircutting. My mom took time out of her day to teach me how to cut hair and from there, I became obsessed.”

To cut hair, Hernandez first begins by cleaning all of his tools like scissors and the barber’s cape. The next step is to debulk the hair and thin it out before he readies his “canvas” so he can see everything going on. He then combs the hair which helps keep it together and then begins trimming the guideline of where he wants to start cutting.

“I think that anyone can fade but it’s the scissor work and quality of detail that [determines] how haircuts turn out,” Hernandez said.

The social aspect of haircutting was another reason for Hernandez to get his license. Chatting with his clientele helps him catch up on the most recent school feuds and controversies.

“I get to talk to [customers] about things they like and how their day’s been going, how their life is,” Hernandez said. “It branches away from how my own life [typically] is so I get to learn [about some] different experiences. When they talk to me about their lives, I find it really interesting.”

One memorable experience for Jonathan was cutting his cousin’s hair during lunch on the stage. Although he had proposed the idea to Associated Student Body adviser Mr. Schultz, Hernandez never expected to be able to cut hair on the stage. Nerves had begun to sink in as the spontaneous event began but Hernandez pushed through.

“When I saw everyone walking towards the stage, that’s when I became nervous. I didn’t think I would get scared because I’m not afraid of those kinds of moments, but I was shaking,” Hernandez said. “I got a lot of attraction [with students] asking me to cut their hair next afterwards.”

His plans for the future are to continue cutting hair as a hobby but hopes to be able to pursue college in the medical field.

“I will continue barbering but at the same time, I want to go to college and [work towards] a better education. I need something to fall back on [and I] would want that to be nursing,” Hernandez said.

With his family as his priority, Hernandez surpassed his parent’s expectations and now anticipates taking on more to help around his household.

“I’ve taken over a lot of [chores] and I owe it to them for the last [18] years of my life. They put a roof over my head and put food on the table and everything else I can ask for. Little by little, I want to help them out and hopefully, it becomes bigger in the future,” Hernandez said.