“For those who would say it’s too late, I’d say it’s a start to something new” - Rj Bautista
My name is Richard “Rj” Bautista, and this is my journey. I’ve been in the industry for six years and have truly come a long way from where I started. There really are no accidents or mistakes in life, just lessons along the way. My eldest daughter Jailene was born when I was 16 years old, and very early on in my life, I made the decision to start working and leave high school. This is where my grind began.
Years of working in retail, eventually took me to a management position of a telecommunications store. I’d have long days, but even after a 9-hour shift, I’d still make the time afterwards to cut my friends and family because it’s what I enjoyed doing.
It was after a conversation with my brother in-law in 2011 that changed my life. We were talking about how I was thinking of going into the industry, and he pitched the idea to his best friend Gareth (who owns a successful barbershop called G&G Hair Studio in Scarborough) to mentor me. I took the leap, left my management position and went for my dream as a barber with Gareth who took me under his wing. G gave me every opportunity to learn and as I got more information on how to become a licensed barber, a formal apprenticeship was the next step. However, I needed my high school diploma to enroll. I decided that this was not going to stop me from achieving my goals, and so I enrolled myself into Adult School. For once in my life, I was excited for something that was bigger than me, something that I could feel proud of and that I had plan and a goal.
I successfully graduated high school in May 2013, registered for the hair styling apprenticeship program and completed the required levels that same year. Four years later, August 2017, I became a Licensed Hair Stylist.
It was a long journey to get where I wanted to be, but here I am. On June 04, 2017, I challenged myself further to compete in a barber battle for the first time. I placed 3rd in the Perfect Fade Category at Major Fade's Canada’s Largest Barber Battle.
Now I can truly say I love and enjoy what I do. Each day is a new process of learning new things because hair styling always evolves. Doing something that you are passionate about is one of the best rewards in life. My only advice to my younger self would be that it will be worth it. For those who would say it’s too late, I’d say it’s a start to something new…and something great.
-Rj-
My name is Richard “Rj” Bautista, and this is my journey. I’ve been in the industry for six years and have truly come a long way from where I started. There really are no accidents or mistakes in life, just lessons along the way. My eldest daughter Jailene was born when I was 16 years old, and very early on in my life, I made the decision to start working and leave high school. This is where my grind began.
Years of working in retail, eventually took me to a management position of a telecommunications store. I’d have long days, but even after a 9-hour shift, I’d still make the time afterwards to cut my friends and family because it’s what I enjoyed doing.
It was after a conversation with my brother in-law in 2011 that changed my life. We were talking about how I was thinking of going into the industry, and he pitched the idea to his best friend Gareth (who owns a successful barbershop called G&G Hair Studio in Scarborough) to mentor me. I took the leap, left my management position and went for my dream as a barber with Gareth who took me under his wing. G gave me every opportunity to learn and as I got more information on how to become a licensed barber, a formal apprenticeship was the next step. However, I needed my high school diploma to enroll. I decided that this was not going to stop me from achieving my goals, and so I enrolled myself into Adult School. For once in my life, I was excited for something that was bigger than me, something that I could feel proud of and that I had plan and a goal.
I successfully graduated high school in May 2013, registered for the hair styling apprenticeship program and completed the required levels that same year. Four years later, August 2017, I became a Licensed Hair Stylist.
It was a long journey to get where I wanted to be, but here I am. On June 04, 2017, I challenged myself further to compete in a barber battle for the first time. I placed 3rd in the Perfect Fade Category at Major Fade's Canada’s Largest Barber Battle.
Now I can truly say I love and enjoy what I do. Each day is a new process of learning new things because hair styling always evolves. Doing something that you are passionate about is one of the best rewards in life. My only advice to my younger self would be that it will be worth it. For those who would say it’s too late, I’d say it’s a start to something new…and something great.
-Rj-