New barbershop school in Visalia is 'life-changing' for its students

East to West Barber Academy is giving community members a brighter path and is bringing barbershop culture to Visalia.

People can enroll to learn how to cut, fade and perm hair as well as learn from award-winning barber Fredo Olan. Olan is the owner of East To West Hair Artistry on Main Street, but after continued success in the business, he decided to open an academy around the corner at 320 S. Bridge St. in downtown Visalia.

He and his wife, Jennifer Olan, have been cutting hair in Visalia since 2009. Fredo first started when he was 15 years old. Originally from Lancaster, Penn., he saw his friend throwing away a pair of clippers and asked if he could have them instead.

“I've been cutting hair ever since,” Olan said.

East to West Barber Academy has enrolled 38 students since its grand opening last September.

Walking into the school, one room had kids enjoying their time on the barber chair as students practiced their fades; another room had students rolling curlers in mannequins' hair-dos to get the perfect perm. Testing rooms are also set up so students are one step closer to their certification.

Parents were chatting with the barbers and music and laughter filled the air, making it a fun environment to learn, students said. Olan on the other hand was rushing back and forth, grading tests and checking on customers and students, to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Bennie Alvarado, a student enrolled in the academy, said he’s inspired by Olan’s work ethic and it’s one reason he decided to join.

“Mine and Fredo’s backgrounds are a little similar, so that was really motivating for me," Alvarado said. "He’s had a hard time on the East Coast, and to see where he is now… it says a lot about his character."

What am I doing in life?

Olan didn’t always want to cut hair, but by 16 he “ran into trouble and made mistakes kids make,” he said. After a stint behind bars as a kid, he continued to practice the clippers as a hobby.

“Even back then I didn't think, ‘Yeah, I’m going to go home and open up a barber shop. I’m going to barber school,;" he said. "I didn't think like that. I cut hair to feed myself."

At 24, Olan was living at his mom’s house, going through a wave of depression and feeling like his life was escaping from him. He was in and out of prison and asking himself, “What am I doing in my life?”

He said he then turned to the TV and saw a commercial for a beauty school, and that’s what made him want to join one in Pennsylvania. After finishing school, he and his wife returned to her hometown area of Fresno County and later moved to Visalia.

“We have a family now. We have three kids. We have our businesses," he said. "I haven't been in trouble in so long, over 20 years, and so this really saved my life."

'Life-changing'

Alvarado was also incarcerated and said it was hard to get a job because of his record and the tattoo art covering his neck and head - even after getting his diploma. He said he felt accepted in the academy.

“If you look in the barber world, we all come from different backgrounds, different looks and different styles, so for me, it's the first time I fit in in a long time,” Alvarado said.

He said a school such as this, five minutes away from his home, is “life-changing.” Many students said the nearest one is Bakersfield or Fresno, so having one down the street saves them time and gas money.

Alvarado said he’s doing this to set a good example for his own children. The biggest thing he learned is how to run a business because he hopes to have a shop of his own one day. Alvarado’s been enrolled for three-and-a-half months and is set to graduate with his class in April.

“You can do anything. Imagine coming from my background," Alvarado said. "For my kids to see me eventually have my own business, that would mean everything to me. That's the ultimate goal."

More than just a haircut

Olan said there’s a lot of pressure as a business owner and it's overwhelming at times. He remembered making $11 a day while he had two kids already. He wondered if barbering was the right decision for his family.

When he left one shop to start his own, he didn’t have a lot of clients in the beginning.

Richard Torres IV, who’s been working at East to West for 10-plus years, remembered when he’d stay in the shop all day and only get one customer.

“When you open up a new business, it's usually not booming the first day, but I watched it go from that, and it turned into the busiest, biggest name in Visalia when it comes to barber shops," Torres IV said. "It was a great experience, watching it go from ground zero into what it is now."

He works in the barbershop on Main Street but has also teaches at the academy. Torres IV, 31, started when he was 18 and said he learned to mature at the barbershop.

Torres IV said it disciplined him to think about other priorities in life such as his physical, mental and spiritual health. He’s also enjoyed seeing Olan’s growth as a person and a barber.

“What a beautiful vision to watch, man. It was like a movie,” Torres IV said.

‘You’ll get there one day, baby'

Olan credits his wife, his mother and his kids for his motivation.

His mother would always tell him, ‘You’ll get there one day, baby.” His wife stayed in his corner during his darkest times and always cut hair alongside him, getting her license a year before he did.

They have 22- and 14-year-old daughters and a 10-year-old son. Olan said his kids had faith in him when the business and academy faced obstacles, one being the pandemic.

“I mean a lot of people don't really see what's happening behind the scenes… When we had this building, the school, and it was getting remodeled and everything, we were struggling. My kids have seen us struggle for a long time," Olan said. "I would have to reassure them."

He got through COVID-19 by selling barber products, from gels to equipment, since he couldn’t cut hair.

Now, his barbershop is back on a long waitlist and his academy is nearly full.

It's not a man's world

The academy provides great opportunities for Spanish-speaking students and women, said Edith Limón Solis, who doesn’t speak English. Her quotes have been translated.

“Normally, barber shops are typically for men, but there’s this new thing happening where women are starting to study it," Solis said. "If women are interested in this, do it. Don’t be afraid because we can do this, we can learn it too, progress and come out on top."

She wants to take advantage of the opportunities the school has to offer and own her own business down the road. She joined the class in September and was interested in cutting men’s hair because it's always a new, growing industry, Solis said.

Beyond cutting hair, she said the biggest thing she has learned is how to network, how to be patient with her clients and how to organize her equipment, such as keeping it sanitized. Solis also praised Olan for being a good teacher and being able to speak Spanish.

She’s also learned a lot from her classmates and has seen the opportunities that come from East to West.

“There are people who make bad decisions at one time in their lives but then decide to take a better path," Solis said. "This barber shop academy is a good option for people who think they can no longer get a career in something big, who don’t have much time to study or who have kids.

"This school gave them a new chance to get ahead in life and make things right,” she added.

Edward Salinas, another student, said he wants to do better now that he has an 8-month-old son to take care of. He’s from Tulare but lives in Visalia now. For Salinas, he said everyone needs haircuts so it's great to learn and make money out of it.

He’s learning how to perm and communicate with his clients, learning a lot from classmates also.

“We're all here for the same reason. We all want to be professional at what we do, so it's good to hear their stories and what they've been through," Salinas said. "We’re all here to learn how to get better."

'It's all about the client'

Olan wanted his academy to be like his barbershop: a place to better the community and deter people from the wrong paths.

“When I first opened my barbershop, these kids got thrown into certain lifestyles, and they had no choice," he said. "And if I could help these people out, and have these students make better choices, it can benefit them and their families. And I'm all for it. That's what I want to do."

Olan’s younger kids are raised in the barbershop, he said, so he imagines what would happen to them if they were steered in the wrong direction.

Torres IV shares Olan’s sentiments and said in the classrooms, he doesn’t hold anything back.

“I want these young barbers to grow into great artists,” Torres IV said. “Not only artists but great adults. I feel like when you find a good avenue of income, it gives you time to mature. Even when you're young, you're just trying to make it and it's kind of hard.”

The barbershop has gotten a lot of loyal customers, one of them being Justin Chapa.

He said he’s been going to East to West for five years because of the quality and because the barbers listen to the customer.

“They're all good people. They're all cool and friendly, and they're just welcoming,” Chapa said.

He works at Sequoia High School and said the students enjoy it when barbers like Olan come to career day the past several years. Chapa said he’ll always endorse and support the business because of the good they do in the community. He is even interested in joining the academy after he heard it opened.

Olan said is passionate about haircuts to the point he gets emotional. He knows some people don’t see the artistry in it, but he knows how impactful his clippers are when someone has a birthday, wedding or it’s a child’s first haircut.

"It's all about the client, Olan said. "It's all about how I made that client feel… Some people need that boost of confidence."

He added that his academy and shop bring with it a prestige and a promise.

“We’ve been in the industry for a long time. I've won a lot of awards and sponsorships. My barbershop is sponsored by a major clipper company,” Olan said. “At the end of the day, if there are ever students that join and enroll, best believe that we're going to do our best. We're going to give you 200% to get you on the right path to be a successful, licensed professional barber."

To enroll in East to West Academy or learn more about it, visit https://easttowestbarberacademy.com.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: New barbershop school in Visalia is 'life-changing' for its students