We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Roberto C Torres a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Roberto C, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Over the years I’ve learned how to maximize my craft in order to create a living from it. But, it was not easy AT ALL!

I still remember the day my mother asked me to leave the industry and study something else. She had a good intention in her heart and was worried about me because, I wasn’t making enough money to pay my booth/chair rent. I was BROKE financially!

I looked at her with a sense of indignation and told her that I was not going to allowed that kind of thinking into my process of development. That I was DETERMINED to do what I was PASSIONATE about.

I started as a Barber at the age of 16 years old. But after high school I decided to move into Cosmetology.

To be honest, I was truly lost. My skill sets were not that great. I just knew that I loved the industry and was able to IMAGINE A FUTURE that was better than my current situation at the time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a traveling hairdresser who is based in Tampa, Florida but, also works in Los Angeles, California and in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

I’m passionate about my work… yes. But, I’m passionate about people!

I like to say: People are my passion. Hair is my craft.

I was originally born and raised in Puerto Rico (my homeland). When I was 10 years old I wanted to get a haircut every week because that’s what all of my neighbors used to do.

My dad wasn’t happy with that idea and after a while he encouraged me to cut my hair myself. I took it as a challenge and agreed to it. So we went to Walgreens together and bought some hair clippers. I was truly excited!!

After that, I began cutting my hair myself, every 4 to 5 days.

Of course, in the beginning it looked horrible! But with practice, I got much better. After a while my neighbors begin to noticed and asked me to cut their hair as well.

At the age of 16 my parents forced me to get a job and my grandpa helped me by getting me a job at the best barber shop in the city. And after a year of working there part time (because I was in high school) I noticed that I was making more money than some of the full-time guys. So, after high school I decided to expand my world by studying cosmetology.

Soon I began working in hair salons.

When I was 23 years old I worked as a barber teacher at the same school I studied, while working full-time at a hair salon.

Working at that school help me by opening a door to work at a celebrity hair salon in the island. And I have to say… that was the BEST place of experience and education of my career. Not the easiest place, just the best because I was working with top hairdressers. I mean, the best of the best. And that pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t think it was possible!

A few year after I moved to Tampa Florida and worked in a Redken signature salon. Which it was great!

A few year after that I moved to Los Angeles, California. And LA was both… the best and the most challenging experience of my career.

Los Angeles humbled me deeply but, it brought THE BEST out of me. It put me in situations that exposed what I’m truly made of. It also connected me with my best friend, Chad Cook.

Chad is one of the most creative, secure and kind person I’ve ever worked with!

Chad embraced me helped me in ways no one else has. It was because of him and the amazing team at Chad Cook Hair Salon that I began to dream of owning a salon.

So, after moving back to Florida I open Talo Hair Studio. Talo was created because of my experience in Los Angeles!

In fact, the name Talo comes from the first 2 letters of Tampa and Los Angeles. It also means house (I thought that was cool meaning)

Now I work together with an incredible artist named Cassie. She’s funny, caring and truly passionate about her work. She definitely makes me better hairstylist and I love her for it!

My dream now is to multiply what I experienced at Chad Cook Hair Salon. To create an atmosphere where other creatives can come together and build an environment of excellence and peace. A place where people feel cared for and happy.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Moving from Puerto Rico to Florida challenged me to my core because after working my entire life in the island and having a huge clientele, now I was in a place where no one knew who I was and had cero clients.

Mind you… this is before social media was popular and useful as it is today.

I remember my first paycheck of 2 weeks of work. It was $182.73! I had a wife and a new born baby at the time. That amount was not good for us.

After seeing that check I wept uncontrollably. I questioned my decision of moving, my career path and if I had what it took to continue.

But, I did. In 7 months my wife and I were able to move to our own place and afford to live by ourselves.

Then, 6 years later we moved to Los Angeles. And in LA no one knew me either!

It was there that I got a lot more creative with social media and started coming up with ideas on how to find my clients.

I’m not going to lie. It was way harder than Florida. But, I fought hard since now it was my wife and our 2 kids that were dependent on me.

Instagram became a huge tool in finding new clients! But, at the end of the day, it was my determination what was key in the process.

After living in Los Angeles, everything else feels easier haha! LA broke me and build me in ways that felt horrible at the time, and yet, it has been probably one of the most beneficial decisions in the overall process of my career.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

People! Everything is about people!

I love doing hair. But I love when someone leaves my chair feeling better internally and externally.

I live for connections. I live to help, encourage and lift others up.

That’s my mission in life!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://talohairstudio.square.site/
• Instagram: @robertotorres.hair
• Facebook: @robertotorres.hair

Image Credits
Tyler Nix and Marcela Rodriguez