In what he believes has been the most transformative year of his life, junior Sean Kimura’s garage has been converted from a storage space to a home barbershop. Through hard work and dedication, Kimura has established his successful Bay Area barber business, SeanBlendz.
Said Kimura, “Once I’m passionate about something, it’s like I’m obsessed with getting as good as possible at it.”
Kimura found his inspiration one ordinary night scrolling on TikTok.
“I saw a barber’s video, clicked on his profile and before I realized it I had been on his page for an hour. […] I imagined myself cutting and it motivated me. I went to sleep that night determined to be just like him,” Kimura said.
After that night, Kimura dove headfirst into the world of hair cutting, binge-watching YouTube tutorials. Kimura takes great pride in being entirely self-taught, and has navigated through much trial and error throughout his career. Kimura’s first client was his close friend.
“[My first haircut] was really rough. Everything looked uneven and choppy,” Kimura said. “I got better by visualizing the steps and how I think [the haircut] should look before I start cutting.”
Kimura’s skills stretch beyond being crafty with a comb and scissors; he is also a marketing specialist. His use of humor and staying on top of current trends has garnered him over 30 million views and two million likes across his various social media profiles. His viral videos have even earned him recognition from well-known “Avatar” actor Gordon Cormier.
Kimura now spends up to eight hours cutting hair every weekend on top of the time he spends editing videos and posting them on social media.
“Everyone always says this, but it actually doesn’t feel like work when you like it so much. […] I love seeing my clients happy after I change their lives,” Kimura said.
What separates Kimura from other barbers is the connection he forms with his clients. He emphasizes the importance of a good client-barber bond, engaging in conversation with each client and making each visit feel personal. He believes that this not only makes the job more enjoyable, but also improves his social skills.
Said Kimura, “My clients and friends that get featured in a video are very supportive about being in the video. Some clients even send me videos as suggestions of trends I should do.”
Cutting hair can also create special bonds that hold sentimental value. Kimura shared a story about how he recently helped buzz his friends’ hair in support of someone diagnosed with cancer.
“Currently, I plan to continue cutting hair throughout high school and then going to a four year university,” Kimura said. Although he does not plan on pursuing barbering as a career, it has helped him understand the logistics of running a business, which he aims to do in the future.
From an ordinary garage to a thriving home barbershop, the story of Sean Kimura, Cupertino High School’s resident student barber, is a testament to the power of hard work, determination and persistence.
“No matter how little you know about something, if you are passionate enough and work hard enough you can get to where you want,” Kimura said.
