Ralph Garcia: The artist behind the clippers
When we think of art, we often visualize paintings and photography. Yet if we expand our idea of art, we find that it exists in other forms. True, art is subjective. It cannot be defined and always depends on the creator. But I’ve found that art can be everywhere, even in your neighborhood barbershop.
A haircut is not just a haircut. It’s a way to showcase your personality as well as the barber’s steady hand. I was recently introduced to Ralph Garcia, a well-known barber in my small hometown of Caldwell, Idaho. I was impressed with his artistic mind and what he can do with his clippers. Garcia’s art appeals to the senses and awakens your thoughts. His work encompasses a range of influences: music, sports and literature.
Garcia works at Uppercuts Barbershop, where his business, with its majority clientele of Hispanic descent, has grown over the years. What follows is my interview with Garcia.
NAPRO: Tell me about yourself.
Garcia: I was actually born in Mexico, my parents brought me here when I was six. We lived in Caldwell for a couple of years and then moved to Nampa, and that’s where we’ve been since.
NAPRO: How long have you been a barber?
Garcia: I have been doing this for close to three years, licensed, but all together probably four and a half years. During high school I would always cut my buddies up, family members, cousins, but I never picked it up as a career or thought of it as a career. Before this, I was a painter working construction, until I met this chick and she said, “Hey, man, you should really get into it, you have nothing to lose.” She was the one that gave me that push and I went to school and just did it.
NAPRO: How long have you been at Uppercuts Barbershop?
Garcia: After I finished school, I came straight here. The owner is the cousin of one of my good friends, so he put in a good word for me and they went to go check me out at school. He liked my work and said, “Hey, man, whenever you’re done, we have a spot for you at the shop if you want.” So I would come shadow and I felt like I did fit this style of barbershop and the vibe, so I started here and have been here since.
NAPRO: What inspires you to do this?
Garcia: You know, barbering has come a long way. Before, I would do it because we all wanted to look fresh. Now, it's kind of like a competition, like, alright, I’m going to do a fade. I seen a dude walking around with a badass fade, I want to do that fade but make it better. It's like a graffiti battle but with haircut styles. You want to pull out those fire cuts. Your cut is like a billboard. Quality over quantity.
NAPRO: How do you describe barbering as an art?
Garcia: You have to look at it like the head and the hair of the person is your canvas, the clippers are your brush and paint, and you use your clippers to draw out the haircut, how you want it, and you’re picturing in your head how it’s going to come out. Same with designs. When I start a design, I have it in my head and I’m working with the clippers, trimmer, how I want it, and as soon as I get it to how I want it, I do the detail work to clean it up.
NAPRO: What’s the most intricate design you’ve ever done?
Garcia: The hardest design I’ve ever done, it's probably Nate Diaz. It took me about an hour and 20 minutes. When I was in school I did Tupac on one of my classmates. I also do designs with the clients’ hair.
NAPRO: What is one piece of advice you want to give any aspiring barbers?
Garcia: If it's really what you want to do, dedicate your time and, like my boss always says, “Quality over quantity.” You want that quality there and provide the client with what they want. We want those clients back. We don’t want to rush through a haircut. It don’t work that way here. Quality over quantity.
To see more of Ralph Garcia’s artistic flow, follow his Instagram: Ralphgarciabarber.