Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Ro the Barber (aka Jason O. Roland)
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jason. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started out sweeping up hair in my dad’s barbershop on Saturdays when I was about eight years old. At the age of 12, my dad put clippers in my hand for the first time. I would cut my friends’ hair in my parent’s bathroom all through junior high and high school. I finished barber school at 19, while being a full-time student and playing basketball for Texas Southern University. After graduating with a degree in finance in 2003, I opened my second barbershop location.
Less than a year after graduating college, with barbering as only a part-time job, I realized that cutting hair was the only true career that made me happy. I purchased Current Cuts from my dad in 1999 and began to sharpen my barbering skills. I have not only become the go-to barber for most of my friends and their sons, but also to celebrities and athletes across the country.
In 2014, I partnered with Houston Texans star running back Arian Foster and his brother about opening a third location. The idea was to have a barbershop inside athletic training facility where all types of professional athletes can not only come to work out, but also get a haircut. Thus, the inception of the third location of Current Cuts was born and has been booming ever since.
In 2019, I moved from the initial gym location into LJ performance training with the same concept. There, I cater to most of my Texans’ players such as Deshaun Watson, DJ Reader and numerous other players and coaches.
In November of 2019, I launched my own hair care product line, J. Ro the Barber Signature Line. All my products are certified organic and vegan-friendly. This year, I will embark on business education workshops to help other service industry professionals grow their businesses and take them to the next financial, personal, and business level.
I also continue to partner with various community-based organizations to help reach the youth of the city of Houston such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Real Men Mentor Barbershop Campaign and COH Library Groomed for Literacy Barbershop Youth Program.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle I’ve had to endure is the passing of my father and mentor, Kenneth Roland Sr., in 2012. My dad and I worked side-by-side for nearly 20 years as barbers. He was a great barber and businessman. After losing him, I sort of fell out of love with hair. For a few years, I was just going through the motions until I had an awakening while attending a hair show. Being around so many people that want to learn and take over the hair industry inspired me to take the necessary steps to grow my business bigger and better.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the J. Ro the Barber Signature Line story. Tell us more about the business.
I have always envisioned having my own hair product line. The vision became a reality after attending the hair show in 2018 and seeing so many others with their own products, and when my wife, Shannon, began doing research on how I could get my own products made. She believed in me and my idea and pushed me to make it happen. After only a year and a half of choosing the types of products I wanted and the manufacturing company, and then designing my labels, I began marketing and selling one of my products in November 2019.
I started with November because that month is nationally known as “No-Shave November” when men all over the world stop shaving and grooming to let their facial hair grow to raise cancer awareness. I believed this was the perfect time to share my beard oil because it aids in hair growth and gives hair a healthy, nourished shine. Everyone loved it and it sold out almost instantly. In December 2019, I began selling all my other products which also have been selling extremely well. All my products are: Beard & Scalp Oil, Hydrating Leave-in Conditioner, Styling Gel, and Intense Hydrating Shampoo. These products are not just for men either! Women, children, and men all use and love the products, and it is made for all hair types. And again, they are ALL vegan-friendly and certified organic.
I have sold many of my products wholesale to barbers across the country. This means they will be selling my products in their own barbershop. In addition, this year I am focusing on selling my products in beauty supply stores in and around the Houston area.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I wish I could name every single person who has helped me in the past 20 years, but I can’t. All my clients have played a meaningful role. Without all of them, from my past, the present, and the future, there is no story here. I would not be doing well and would not have gotten so many business opportunities. They are the ones telling others about me and even working with me in their own business ventures. They all believe in me and work that I do.
My wife and kids support me in EVERYTHING that I do, and they are my daily inspiration. The barbers at my shop, past and present, continue to motivate me to make Current Cuts and myself better.
And I must shoutout my NFL clients/friends. They are the ones who made the initial contact with Houston Texans star quarterback, Deshaun Watson, and told him about me. He has been my client since he got drafted by the Texans. I have always had several pro athletes in the NFL and NBA; however, when ABC13 aired the story about me and my clients after game 6 of the 2016 NBA finals, my business really went through the roof. It led to more TV, radio, and print and a huge increase in clientele. Honestly, every single person I have encounter has played a meaningful role in one way or another.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9330 Eastex Freeway
Houston, TX 77093 - Website: Jrothebarber.com
- Phone: 832.723.8491
- Email: jasonoroland@gmail.com
- Instagram: @iamjrothebarber
- Facebook: Jrothebarber
- Twitter: @iamjrothebarber
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