5 Days of Pomade-Day 3: Fabian Ponyboy Rodriguez

(Fabian is involved in the SoCal chapter of Greaser Social Club and since I am also apart of GSC I thought I would get someone involved from the GSC. So when I asked Ponyboy his top 5 this was what he had to say.-Frankie The Barber)

Black Jack Pomade

   I have lame answers tho....sorry. Eloy at OLD FASHIONED BARBERSHOP in Vegas carries LAYRITE. The boys over at STAY GOLD in Fontana carry SUAVESITO. I use MURRAYS or DAX (sold pretty much anywhere) with a tad of either ROYAL CROWN or Mike Moose' BLACK JACK. Other than that Im a hit n a miss (told u my answers would suck). I pretty much stick with what works. They've been working for bout 20 years now. BUT BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GREASERS SOCIAL Clubs very own pomade. GOD willing, it should be coming out early next year....thanks.

Royal Crown Hair Dressing

5 Days of Pomade-Day 2: Chops Barbershop

(Chops Barbershop is located in Harrisbug,PA and coming from the west coast I thought it would be a good idea to see what is going on out on the east coast.)

     It's impossible to find ANY on the East Coast unless you go into the major cities...Philly, DC, NY....that's why I carry so many. Sometimes you get lucky but most times you have to order online.
Top five:
1. Dax
2. Dr. Rubens
3. High Life (Adam makes it impossible to order - no wholesale)
4. American Greaser Supply
5. Suavecito (I hate to include a water-based pomade but this stuff can compete with any petro-based pomade. It's cheap, good customer service and it takes about 1.5 days from order to doorstep)

5 Days of Pomade- Day One: Frankie The Barber

    Io as you have guessed it for the next 5 days I am trying to get some regulars in the hair and pomade game to give us there top 5. You know, those cans of pomade that go everywhere with them. That go to for those special occasions. I figured I would start the week off with my top 5!! For me my top 5 is in no particular order.

1) Suavecito Pomade - Ok let the death threats begin. I understand that alot of people hate calling this a pomade but the truth is the hold is good and when you have a wife she sometimes appreciates the fact that there are no grease stains on the pillow cases!

2) Murray's Super Light - I stumbled across  Murray's Super Light on accident and evern since I will order a couple cans every few month. Shine and easy to comb through.

3) AGS 40 WT - AGS holds a soft spot in my heart. I used to drive down to Fullerton just so I could get a couple of cans. Grease and a toy....like Crackerjacks for greasers!!

4) Dr.Rubin's - The Dr.Rubin's is quickly becoming a favorite of mine....Easy to use and a smells good. Even the wife likes it!

5)Uppercut Deluxe Monster Hold - This is my heavy hold pick. A heavy wax that does the job!

So there it is my top 5. Tomorrow I got Chops Barbershop chiming.

Taper & Fade.....Cool reading material coming soon!!

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   So I know I have posted about this before but as they get ready to wind down (13 days left to be exact) I thought I would post again.

   I remember first seeing this project shortly after it's launch back in July and I will be honest kind of forgot about it until back in August when I had the pleasure to meet and spend a few days with not only the staff of BOLT Barber but Sammy Corrado and Trevor Penna.

   When I first read about the book I thought it was just a look book for BOLT Barber, but as I talked to Trevor and Sammy more about the book I began to realize that it is more then just cool haircuts from a cool barbershop in Los Angeles but it is about the culture ot the barbershop.

   This 128 page book is not going to be like the crappy style books you see at normal salons or the corporate salons. Taper and Fade will show the everyday man and the latest rage in hair. Taper & Fade: Los Angeles will not only be a collection of current hairstyles for men but offer tips on how to put more swagger in your step.

   I have put my money where my mouth is. Right after I got back from LA I made sure I committed to this project and hope to see other do so as well, especially barbers. A book like this is good for us

Yeah, that's me after a long day of cutting in Venice

Change is Coming

   So sitting around the house getting ready to head to the shop for another day. I will be honest my work weeks become hit and miss. Some days I will be busy more often then not I am slower then I would like. I have been grateful that I have been working an hourly wage but I see that coming to an end soon.

   If you are a barber (or even a hairstylist) you know that an hourly wage shop is very, very rare. You either are paying rent or commission. Hourly is great if you find it and as a your barber/stylist you are making a paycheck while developing you chops. But here is my question: Does working on a commission statues open more opportunity for you as a barber/stylist to be more successful not only financially but professionally?

   The truth is I do not think there is an easy answer to this question. I think the key to being successful as a barber working on a comission is 1) Is you shop owner keeping your hands tied when it comes to trying to build business and make money and 2) What are you doing  to get yourself out there to the public? and  3) Are you willing to work....I mean seriously start putting the time in your shop like you need to?

   Let's talk about the guy who owns the shop...If you are working as an hourly wage your hands are tied. You have to ask permeission for every thing you do (promos, prices, hours you work...etc) but as a comission barber your hands should not be tied and you should be in control of what you do but is your shop owner in charge of what you do. Do you still have to ask permission for every move you make with your own clients.  You need to take control of your business!!

   Questions 2 and 3 have the same answer...Your success is all up to you!! From your skills to getting people in the shop. If you are not willing to out the time and work in your business is not going to grow and you will never make the money you know you can make. It is your responsibility to take pride in what you do because it will show in not only your work but your business!!

   So as my shop gets ready to make changes in the next few weeks it will be my time to really strp up and take control of my future, my business and my craft!!

Murphy's Traditional...An experiment

   So after my post about pomade makers and those who claim to make handcrafted pomade but in all actuality they are having others make it for them I decided to go through the process of making my own pomade.

BeesWax from Tower Health

   Murphy's Traditional is what I am calling my pomade for this project. So the first thing I did was spend a ton of time looking for recipes on a pomade and surprisingly enough I did not find as many as I thought I would. So after finding a base idea I needed to figure out what I wanted it to smell like and how heavy I wanted it.

   So I decided to work on two weights...A medium hold and a heavy hold so I hit up Tower Health Food in Fresno,Ca and picked up a couple of small bags of beeswas pellets (melts fairly easy and evenly) and a small bottle of orange oil for scent (this is going to be the medium hold). For this experiment I hit up my local dollar store and purchased several cans of petro (buck a piece, can not beat that).

    So finally get a some time after I get done with my day at the barbershop grabbed metal mixing bowl, some crappy beat up measuring spoons and a pot of hot water. Melt down the wax, added the petro and orange scent then grabbed a couple of empty can I had laying around the house poured the ingredients in the cans and let it cure for the night.

    Next day I checked out my little concoctions and had to figure out what I needed more of. Melted them back down added a little more petro in both, added more orange in the medium weight and had to add some more rum to the heavy weight (yes, I said rum. Sailor Jerrys to be exact). Let it cure again over night.

First Can Of Murphys Original

   I got to work this morning with my small can of the medium weight (orange scent) and used it in my own hair and so far it is holding in a fashion that I was hoping for. Not super hard but still easy to manipulate. The heavy weight still has some tweaking to be done. One of the keys it to keep track of everything you are doing....Write that crap down!!!

   So what is to become of this project...My own Frankie The Barber brand pomade. Who know, but I will tell you this a huge thumbs up to all you guys out there putting out good product. Keep up the good work. We appreciate it!

Shear, Shave, Shark!!!! Best weekend ever!!

    When you think of a trade doing guest spots you think of tattoo artist you usually do not think of a barber. This weekend I had the opportunity to do a guest spot in Southern California with the staff of BOLT BARBER and BOLT On Safari.

Me and Mohawk Matt

    The event called "Shear,Shave,Shark" was four days of free haircuts and Shark Week goodies held in DTLA, Long Beach Aquarium, Venice Beach and Gladstones 4 Fish in Pacific Palisades. The event was in conjunction with the Discovery Channels "Shark Week".

    Getting the chance to work with other barbers in a whole new setting is a good thing to do once in a while. It gives you a new perspective on what you do and where you do it. For me this trip gave me a whole new perspective on myself and reminded me that I am a good barber. More importantly I am a better barber then some people give me credit for. I may not be the greatest barber yet but one day I will get there!!

Working Hard At Gladstones

      The locations I got to cut hair at could not be beat. Seriously, the ocean is one of the best views on the planet. Venice Beach was cool with some odd characters. I was able to meet some interesting people and seeing some out right odd kats!!

    Gladstones was amazing! Did not do as many haircuts here but met some cool people. The staff of Gladstones were AWESOME!! There kitchen staff all came out and got haircuts, fed us and totally got what "Shear, Shave,Shark" was all about.

    When you get an opportunity to do things like this...take them and work just as hard for them as you would at your own work. You never know what may happen.

Work station At Gladstones

    I need to thank my boss for letting me take the day off to be apart of this event. More importantly I need to thank Mohawk Matt and all those involved in "Shear,Shave,Shark" for welcoming me into there tribe. I do not think you guys realize how much I not only enjoyed my time with you guys but how much I needed the new perspective on what I do....THANK YOU!!!

BOLT On Safari