Hansel Montalvo, a recent graduate of El Dorado High School, has cut a path to success in the Socorro Independent School District’s Legacy Barbershop program.
In April, Montalvo became the first student in the program's four-year history to win a gold medal for his outstanding barbering skills at the SkillsUSA Texas Championships. He continued his winning streak in June, securing a bronze medal at the SkillsUSA National Championships.
“I was pretty confident that I was going to get it,” Montalvo said about his first-place finish in the Texas competition. He was excited for the opportunity to compete in the national contest.
“It's a good opportunity because I mean not everybody gets to do this, and I just feel like it’s exciting,” he added.
The Legacy Barbershop at Socorro High School is a two-year state licensure program offered through SISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE). The program is open to students from all high schools in the district and provides hands-on training to prepare them for a career in barbering. Upon graduation, students can obtain a Class A barbering license.
SISD is the first and only school district in West Texas to have a barber school.
Additionally, students showcase their skills and knowledge at SkillsUSA competitions, which are open to students in various career and technical education programs. These competitions help students gain confidence through practical experience, build their resumes, and network with industry professionals, preparing them for successful careers in various skilled trades and technical fields.
“I'm very proud of (Hansel),” said Nancy Mestas, the Legacy Barbershop’s instructor. “I feel like nobody deserves this more than him.”
At this year’s state competition, Montalvo said he had a better understanding of what to expect after placing fourth in last year's event.
Participants were judged on their skills in haircutting, hairstyling, hair coloring, and beard design and coloring. Montalvo used mannequins to replicate two men's haircuts from photographs. Additionally, he created a freestyle design inspired by the competition’s theme "Fire and Ice," which Mestas believed contributed to his first-place victory.
“When he did the creative design, he blew everybody else out of the water,” Mestas said. She recalled watching from the sidelines as spectators photographed and recorded Montalvo while he cut, styled, and colored the hair of his mannequin.
“I had another teacher come up to me and tell me, ‘He's got it! His is the best one!’ And I'm like, ‘I know, right!’”
Montalvo began cutting hair at home at the age of 15 after watching YouTube videos. The barbering program allowed him to develop and refine his techniques. Students in the program learn a variety of skills, including hair cutting, braiding, fading, facial shaving, beard grooming, and manicures. They also learn sanitation and safety practices, customer service skills and marketing techniques.
“I learned a lot in the barber program,” said Montalvo, who became popular among the school’s barbershop clients after showcasing his work on Instagram. “I would have trouble with like sheer work and designs. It helped me like get better at everything.”
After graduating from high school in June, Montalvo is looking to the future. He hopes to open his own barbershop one day. He also encourages other students interested in barbering to consider joining the program.
The program is free, although students are required to pay a fee for their barber student permit and invest in a barber kit, which includes supplies and tools, such as sheers, clippers, a shaver and more. Transportation is also provided to students from other high schools to attend the barbering program at Socorro High School.
"For sure," Montalvo said when asked if the barbering program was an excellent opportunity for students. "You basically just pay for your kit, and like you'll be good. You just take the test, and if you pass, you'll be licensed. After that, you're ready to go."