Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabriel Lopez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Gabriel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I would hope people would say we built a place of refuge. A place you can go and leave your worries behind. A place you know you will leave feeling great and with new ideas. I wouldn’t mind if our guest use our shop to vacate for the moment. Let our guest leave into their mind and dream about peace and positive thoughts. A place where you can laugh till you laughing makes you laugh more. A place you can trust, because you believe we will always do the right thing for you. A place where people can meet new friends or catch up with old friends. A place where tradition is visiting Lorena & Gabe because it just is. A place where you can wear your heart on your chest and know your heart is protected. A place of Strength & Liberty.

from Lorena: moving my business here to hondo for me was about continuing my family legacy here in business and aldo support my community. we have been able to become a resource for our community. by holding gagthering events that support and boost our local economy by giving space to other smalll vending business has allowed aaron & hur to become the place of support and representation. I would like to be remembered as a person to always be quick to help or lend a hand, alwas showing up and repsresengting strength and liberty.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are Lorena & Gabe owners of Aaron & Hur. Master Barber and Coloritst. We have a combined experience of 27 years in our cosmetology and barber industries. We both have qualification in educaiton as licensed operators, intructors, and enthusiast of the beauty industry. We provide detailed consistent relaxing services in haircolor, haircut, and hair fun for all peiople. We focus on the relaxing side of salon services and incorporate technique learned from our 27 year experience learning and leading classrooms, venues, and our guest with a positive approach toward solving problems in hair integrirty or desired color.

For 2023 we are most excited about joining New York Fashion Week for the very first time ever! We have been introduced to Id Hair a haircolor company took a haircolor class. We meet people from their educaiton team, and then Lorena get a call from the team lead member Amber cooper educator for Id Hair to join her team of hairdressers for New York Fashion Week. We said Yes! We see the value in the network oppertunity and see how this will help our skills grow to serve our commnity. We always wanted to bring the pleasure of the big city with out the ngeative precieved attitude toward those pleasures. Sooooo with our wedding coming in October 2023 we decided together to take this challenge on. We know we are different, we know are set apart, and we know when great things are presented to us we can handle the task. That is what we want people to know, Lorena & Gabe know we are and know what we want from our life together.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I picked this quesiton because I believe I tell the story so well. My cofounder is Lorena Gallegos, she a Cosmeotlogy Instructor from Pheonix, AZ. She came to Texas as fast as she could and started her new career in San Antonio, Tx. Meanwhile I was continuing to establish my career as a Cosmeotology and Barber Instructor for Hays CISD in Buda, Tx. At the time we both worked for a brand called Johnny B Authentic Haircare. I worked in the men’s division and Lorena worked in the female division called ColorEdge/ Electra Haircolor. I asked our brand to send me a haircolor educator to reinforce the basic skills of haircolor to my students. They sent Lorena and all I could do is watch her work, She is amazing today as she was then. I could tell she had a passion for her skills which told me she cares for herself which turned me on and let her go. It felt weird for me to hit on her in my class after her class. I did not feel that was time or place. So I let her go, and eventually later (like a month or so goes by) I see her at my event my side of the brand was hosting. When I saw her I knew what time and what place we had so I let her know without assuming I felt she had the hots for me, I let her know that I had the hots for her by inviting her out with me for the remainder of the night. I believe if she saw how I like to relax she could get to know me outside the classroom and she would love me. Lorena invited me to her house the next weekend during our first night out, I knew this was not just a one time invite to me. That is what I believe! How could a person that I was struck and smitten for pop up with out me knowing she was going? How could I not think her invite was a invite to our life together? So I said yes of course and came open to our possibility of life together in marriage. Today we will be married, and I count all our years together as marriage because I choose her and committed myself to her.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Opening our store front on highway 90, in the heart of Hondo, our one goal, and honestly our one plan on marketing is, WE CONSISTENTLY DO OUR BEST. We told that to each other every day. We are going to open, set business hours; stick to them, and every service we provide; we provide it to the best of our ability. Consistency is key. We believe it builds trust and gives people that piece of mind that we will be here for them. We also believe you not only have to be consistent, but you gotta get out and be involved with your community. If you want loyal guests coming to see you, you gotta be one too! Gabe and I, frequent many locally owned businesses and get involved with community activities. Consistency & Community are our brand pillars at Aaron & Hur. and honestly we are just getting started.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.strengthandliberty.com
• Instagram: @aaronhur.hondo.tx @aaronhur.masterbarber @invisibledetails
• Facebook: @aaronhur.hondo.tx @aaronhur.masterbarber
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/N5-ELTolN08
• Other: invisibledetails.teachable.com

Image Credits
@artherrerafifty5