Diana Mencia shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Diana, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yes, recently during the ribbon cutting for my second barbershop, I had a moment where I looked around at my team, my family, and my community showing up to support us—and I just felt overwhelmingly proud. We started this journey with very little, coming from Honduras, growing up in an orphanage, and now standing here, building a future not just for myself but for others. It made me laugh and smile because I remembered all the tough moments and how far we’ve come. That day reminded me that hard work, faith, and family really do pay off.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Diana Mencia, and I’m one of the proud owner of two barbershops in Texas—Barbers at Cinco Ranch and Barbers on the Lake. My journey began in Honduras, where I grew up in an orphanage and faced many hardships at a very young age.
I remember picking up food from the landfills just to survive—eating expired food because we had no other option. I started selling in the streets at just 4 years old. My mother did what she could, but there were days when we had nothing to eat, and all we could do was try to make it through one day at a time.
When we didn’t have a place to stay, we cleaned buses in exchange for a safe place to sleep. Life was not easy, but even then, I held on to something that kept me going—hope.
Today, I’m living proof that with faith, hard work, and love, anything is possible. I’ve been in the barbering industry since 2015, and now I get to show my children that no matter how hard life begins, you can rise above it.
What makes my brand special is the heart behind it. We don’t just give haircuts—we help people feel seen, valued, and confident. Our barbershops are built on purpose, passion, and community. I’m proud of how far we’ve come—and even prouder of what we represent.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I wasn’t enough—that because I didn’t have a home, a family, or stability, I wasn’t worthy of dreaming big. I thought my circumstances defined my future. But now, I know that’s not true.
Today, I believe I am strong, capable, and worthy of everything we’ve built. I’ve learned that where you come from doesn’t limit where you can go. I’ve turned pain into purpose, and I’m proud to show my children that they can do the same. With love, effort, and faith, anything is possible.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. It showed me how to survive when there was nothing—no home, no certainty, no comfort. It taught me to fight for every step forward, to value the smallest blessings, and to never take anything for granted.
Success may open doors, but suffering taught me how to build them. It gave me empathy, purpose, and the unshakable belief that if I could rise from that, I could help others rise too.
That’s why I choose kindness. I believe in treating people with respect and compassion—the way I wish I had been treated as a child. My past didn’t make me bitter; it made me softer, stronger, and more intentional with how I show up for others.
And that’s what I carry with me every day—as a mother, a business owner, and a woman who finally found her voice.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the barbering industry tells itself is that success is all about image—how popular you are on social media, how trendy your shop looks, or how fast you cut. But real barbering is about connection, care, and how you make someone feel in your chair. A good haircut can lift someone’s spirit, and that emotional part is something the industry often forgets.
Another big lie? That this job is easy. It’s not. Behind every clean fade and smooth shave are years of discipline, long hours, and a deep passion for the craft. It’s not just a hustle—it’s a calling.
But the biggest lie of all is that women can’t be barbers. Even today, people still get surprised when they see me—a woman—using a straight razor, doing flawless fades. The industry is still used to the image of big guys with tattoos cutting hair, but that’s not the only version of a barber that exists. We’re changing that.
I’m proud to be breaking those stereotypes and showing my daughter—and everyone else—that t
is space belongs to us too.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I loved deeply, gave everything I had, and never forgot where I came from.
That even though life was hard at the start—a little girl with no home, cleaning buses and selling whatever she could on the streets just to survive—I never let that define me. I turned pain into purpose and used my story to lift others up.
I want to be remembered not just as a business owner, but as a woman who created opportunities for others… someone who treated people with kindness, dignity, and respect.
Most of all, I hope people say that I made them feel seen, valued, and inspired to believe that anything is possible—because I truly believe it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: barbersatcincoranch.c0m
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbersatcincoranch/
- Facebook: Barbersatcincoranch
- Yelp: Barbers At Cinco Ranch
Image Credits
photosbysydneyTx
