Daily Inspiration: Meet Sebastian Alvarez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Alvarez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Well, on the short side of things I really wanted to be an automotive mechanic before I ever picked up shear and comb. I can talk about American and Japanese automotive for days on in. Till this day I will still pick up a die-cast of Hotwheels from the store and hide them somewhere, Between that and shoes, it’s a horrible habit. Growing up, in Clayton County on the southside of Atlanta, my childhood was unique. I grew up in a multi-cultural family, My father who is Puertorican, raised me to the sounds of Tito Puentes, Marc Anthony, John Coltraine, Miles Davis, and Marvin Gaye.

You name it, the old man is an illustrator. Every year and on time The Godfather trilogy was on rotation with a glass of whiskey and the scent of a Cuban cigar in his knit sweater. On the other hand, My mother is African-American, she raised me on Creme of Wheat with toast, and her favorite food line “pork chops and apple sauce” was also a fan favorite in the Alvarez household. Her kind soul and warm apple pies molded us all together. All it took for this angel to be happy was a picnic on a warm summer day. I can still hear her yell “Get up! It’s time for school, and don’t miss the bus!”

As a 29-year-old man, that still haunts me. I am blessed to have watched two completely different people raise 4 freaking kids!

My siblings represent everything that I am. I am the youngest of four. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. All of us are uniquely talented in ways unimaginable, Norless, when we are together, we are completely inseparable. My oldest brother is always the brains of an operation. My sister is the planner of an operation. My other brother is the muscle of an operation. Therefore making me a compound version of all of them.

By any means not one of us is perfect, but I was raised to know that failure is not an option. Which leads to how I got started. Growing up my parents would send us off in the summertime because apparently, we were heathens! So my childhood summers were mostly spent in Queens, New York where an Uncle of mine who was a barber, worked in a barbershop. Oddly enough, I would watch him cut hair, and somewhere it oddly clicked!

Now, of course, growing up, I had a consistent barber, but the irony in it was that they also wanted me to jump into the trade. Unfortunately, at the time barbering was not in the deck of cards.

After and during college I had worked every job imaginable. I quickly learned the corporate America route was not for me. So I solely dedicated one year towards my next career. As I attended C.E.I. Hair school for my license in “Master Barbering”, I quickly learned that this also was not for the weak-hearted. Hair school was all about dedication and extreme patience. Today, I’m honored to be a licensed master barber in the state of Georgia. I’ve now been cutting hair professionally for four years at Groomed Gentlemen’s Parlour in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all, this road I choose to turn on taught me a great deal about who I am, and the people in my life currently. This shift also taught me that some of the people closest to you, won’t always understand the “why” and the “why not”. It was especially tough when I exclusively quit working to focus directly on the craft of master barbering. Being in the industry as involved as it is can bring a sense of non-appreciation. Crazy, but true.

This road taught me that being afraid is not an option. I had to concur obstacles with moxie. My travels lead me to learn that my biggest goals are not for the expectations of others, but for myself… period.

The struggles that attempted to veer me off track by no means steered me off track. I still continue to push through life and the obstacles of being in the minority every day.

Big K.R.I.T. has a song called “Multi til the Sun Die” and he has a lyric that goes as followed.

Be just and justify your actions
Breathe deep and walk upright
Lead and never follow
Love the people, be of the people
Humble yourself and pray
History remembers Kings

That helped me remain focused on the goals ahead every day.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Master Groomer that specializes in the totality of men’s grooming at Groomed Gentlermans Parlour in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta.

I’m most proud of the brand partnership that I’ve had the opportunity to work with like Paul Mitchell, The Art of Shaving, Toni and Guy, St.Regis here in Buckhead, Lindbergh clothing, Hifi Buys, and Motorcars of Atlanta.

I would not say I SPECIALIZE in anything particularly. I do genuinely love giving a traditional face shave. Being able to feel like Bob Ross with a DOVO razor handle puts me in a place of zin!

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In my industry, I believe we as barbers all need mentors. Finding a mentor involves a person being able to accept someone else’s criticism and leadership abilities. Networking is key to finding a great mentor, and in today’s world networking is so much easier now because of all the social media platforms and connectivity. Now, the following up and applying it, is the part where we all can improve on. What has worked well for me is being able to accept that I do have flaws and I can work on them through time. I also welcome new ideas and thought patterns to elevate my craft and my current mental state.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.groomedatl.com
• Instagram: @thegroomtician | @papi_dont_play | @groomedatlanta

Image Credits:
@madisonvictoriamedia
@ninblanka
@pearled_productions
@saymojo