Education, inspiration and the people shaping the future of barbering.

The September/October edition of BarberEVO North America is out now – and Issue 51 is packed with creative inspiration, expert education, business insight, exceptional interiors, and stories from across the barbering community.

As the industry enters a new season, this issue celebrates evolution in all its forms. From Luca Malnati’s striking cover collection and the barbers behind the FIFA World Cup to innovative educators, community-driven barbershops, and a major milestone for Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, there is plenty to discover.

Cover Story: DEPOT’s *Seasons of Identity*

As summer gives way to fall, Luca Malnati’s brilliant collection for DEPOT, *Seasons of Identity*, could not be a more fitting choice for the cover of Issue 51.

The collection explores transformation, individuality, and the different identities we express throughout the seasons. Strong hair, considered styling, and beautifully executed imagery come together in a collection that feels both timely and timeless.

For barbers and creatives interested in producing their own editorial work, our Behind the Shoot article offers an additional layer of inspiration. It explores how the DEPOT team brought the project together by drawing on the skills, relationships, and creative talent already within their network. It is proof that an outstanding collection does not always require looking far afield; sometimes the ideal team is already around you.

The Barbers Behind the Beautiful Game

This year, one sporting event captured an extraordinary amount of attention across North America, and unexpectedly placed hair and barbering in the spotlight.

The FIFA World Cup brought together the world’s leading soccer talent, but it also created a global stage for personal style. Every cut, fade, design, and transformation was seen by millions, reinforcing the important role barbers play in helping athletes look and feel ready for the biggest moments of their careers.

In this special feature, BarberEVO speaks with many of the barbers who made the beautiful game even more beautiful. David Marulanda, Dany Ale, Jaymena, and many more share their experiences, stories, and perspectives on working around one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

We discover what goes into preparing elite athletes for the international spotlight, how relationships are built with high-profile clients, and what it means for a barber’s work to be seen on a truly global scale.

Education: Never Stop Learning

Back-to-school season makes September and October the perfect time to focus on education – but professional development is important at every stage of a barber’s career.

The barbering industry is constantly moving forward. Techniques develop, trends evolve, tools improve, and client expectations change. Continuing education helps professionals remain adaptable, confident, and inspired while creating new opportunities for both creative and commercial growth.

Our in-depth Education feature brings together respected industry figures, academies, and forward-thinking brands to explore what learning looks like in today’s barbering landscape.

Industry leaders including Rodrick Samuels and Peter Gosling share their knowledge and experience, while institutions such as America’s Barber and Beauty Academy demonstrate the value of strong foundational training. We also examine how brands are rethinking professional development, including Church Pro and its distinctive approach to education.

Whether you are a student taking your first steps, an experienced barber refining your craft, an educator supporting the next generation, or a shop owner developing a team, this section offers practical insight and plenty of motivation to keep learning.

Grooming and Lifestyle: Expanding the Experience

Modern barbering extends far beyond the haircut. Today’s clients are increasingly interested in complete grooming experiences, creating valuable opportunities for barbershops to broaden their services and strengthen their businesses.

In our Grooming and Lifestyle section, we explore how to price and market additional grooming services effectively. Adding a new service is only the beginning; barbers and shop owners must also understand how to communicate its value, incorporate it into the client journey, and set pricing that reflects the time, skill, and products involved.

We also turn our attention to fragrance, styling, and the products helping clients maintain their look and express their identity away from the chair. This feature is filled with ideas for elevating the customer experience, improving retail conversations, and introducing additional revenue streams without losing sight of what makes a barbershop unique.

Interiors: At the Heart of the Neighborhood

A great barbershop can be much more than a place to get a haircut. At its best, it becomes part of the fabric of its neighborhood – a place where people gather, relationships grow, and community is created.

In this issue’s Interiors feature, we visit a range of distinctive spaces that demonstrate the many ways a barbershop can serve its surroundings.

At High Point in Virginia, giving back is embedded in the shop’s identity. Its continued commitment to supporting the local community shows the positive influence a barbershop can have beyond its doors.

We also step inside Alex Sharkey’s Sola suite, exploring how an independent barber can create a personal, professional environment within a more intimate footprint.

Further afield, we travel to Amsterdam to discover Cut Throat, where barbering and bartending have been brought together in a unique concept. The result is a memorable social destination that offers much more than a traditional appointment, demonstrating how hospitality and grooming can complement one another.

Each space has its own personality, but all three show how thoughtful design and a clear sense of purpose can transform a shop into a genuine neighborhood hub.

Business: Celebrating Longevity 

Reaching 25 years in business is a remarkable achievement, and BarberEVO was excited to join Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in celebrating this major anniversary.

We headed to Denver to meet the company’s three founders and hear the stories behind one of the industry’s most recognizable brands. They reflect on the beginnings of Floyd’s 99, the experiences that shaped its growth, and the journey from an ambitious idea to an enduring name in barbering.

In the business feature, we also go behind the scenes with a new brand: HUSH PRO USA, who are reimagining what professional grooming tools can look like. 

Marketing expert Leah Davis gives insight for barbers on how to market yourself, and how to own every room you walk into, while Ivan Zoot and InkShopGuard share tips on how to futureproof and protect your business.

 

Find Your Next Step in Issue 51

Issue 51 is filled with the education, ideas, and inspiration to help you refocus and take your next step. Discover outstanding creative work, learn from leading voices, explore new approaches to business and grooming, and meet the people building stronger communities through barbering.

The September/October edition of BarberEVO North America is out now. Read Issue 51 and discover the people, places, and ideas moving the industry forward.

The stress of loud clippers and trimmers can be overwhelming for some people, turning a visit to the barbershop into a high anxiety, emotionally draining experience.   

Aiming to make those experiences more inclusive is new grooming brand HUSH Pro USA, the US partner for HUSH Pro International, which has launched with a simple mission, to make professional-quality tools more accessible, comfortable, and enjoyable for clients.

“We saw an opportunity to introduce a different kind of grooming experience,” said Kobe Deng, co-founder.

“While many tools focus solely on power, we believed performance should also include comfort, control, and consideration for the environment around the user. The overwhelmingly positive response to the quiet operation of our products showed us there was a significant need for tools that reduce unnecessary sensory stress without sacrificing professional results.”

Although the brand was created to focus on creating affordable tools, its products quickly became known for how remarkably quiet they are. Standard clippers operate between 60 and 75 decibels, with some as loud as vacuum cleaners, but HUSH Pro’s tools measure just 48 decibels, and the trimmers 46 decibels.

“My first reaction was how noticeably quiet it was. As someone who specializes in sensory-friendly haircuts, I immediately started thinking about the clients I serve and how much of a difference that could make,” said Krystal Cotto, HUSH Pro USA’s Sensory Inclusivity Brand Ambassador

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with individuals who find the sound of traditional clippers overwhelming. Knowing that a tool could help reduce that barrier while still delivering professional results was exciting.”

HUSH said that a common misconception is that sensory accommodations are only relevant to a small group of people, but in reality everyone experiences sensory input differently. Loud noises, vibration, and overstimulation can affect children, adults, neurodivergent individuals, and even professionals working long hours.

Reducing noise hasn’t meant reducing power. HUSH Pro USA’s tools focus on motor efficiency, vibration control, component precision, and engineering design. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary noise but preserve the cutting performance professionals expect.

“By reducing noise while maintaining performance, we help create environments that feel more welcoming and comfortable for a broader range of clients without requiring barbers or stylists to change the way they work,” said Kobe.

HUSH Pro USA’s grooming tools not only create a calmer environment, but they allow stylists to communicate more clearly with their clients.

“Communication is one of the most important parts of any service. When there is less background noise, clients can process information more easily, ask questions, and engage in conversation,” added Krystal. “In my work, I’ve found that reducing sensory distractions often creates more opportunities for connection and trust.”

Barbers looking to sharpen their skills with mid- and long-length hair can get an inside look at Church California Lead Educator’s Brandon Faulk’s cutting and styling techniques this September, as he brings his Balance Tour to Philadelphia.

Hosted by WinSome Barber, the special Look & Learn evening will take place on Sunday, September 13, from 5–8pm, with Brandon demonstrating across shags, mods and alternative cuts.

The three-hour session will focus on precision, creativity and efficiency, giving barbers the chance to pick up new techniques as they watch Brandon work through different approaches to longer hair.

Brandon will guide attendees through a more intentional approach to building shape, stronger systems for making decisions throughout a cut, and practical techniques to take back behind the chair.

For barbers looking to move beyond traditional short cuts and build confidence working with longer lengths, the session offers an opportunity to learn in a hands-on, industry-focused environment, while connecting with fellow barbers.

The Balance Tour Live with Brandon Faulk Hair takes place Sunday, September 13, from 5–8pm at WinSome Barber in Philadelphia.

Hair replacement brand Novo Cabelo has announced the launch of TrueBlend, a new non shave hair replacement method designed to offer a flexible, inclusive and natural looking solution for people experiencing hair loss.

Created for both men and women, TrueBlend allows clients to wear a hair system without shaving their natural hair. The method has been developed to blend seamlessly with client’s existing hair, with solutions from solid colour finishes through to balayage techniques, and options suitable for European hair and Oriental hair colouring.

With TrueBlend, Novo Cabelo aims to make high quality hair replacement more accessible, adaptable and emotionally reassuring. It has been developed for a wide range of hair loss types, including female pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, post cancer recovery, frontal fibrosing alopecia and alopecia areata. The method can also work alongside natural hair growth.

The system offers more than 120 colour choices, with length options up to 26 inches, giving stylists the chance to create a bespoke finish. Application takes around one and a half hours, and depending on skin type and hair type, the system can stay on the head for up to five weeks, with an expected life span of up to nine months.

Confidence, Fully Restored

TrueBlend has been created to support clients who may not be ready, or may not wish, to shave their natural hair.

For many people experiencing hair loss, this is a significant emotional barrier, so by removing that step, Novo Cabelo said it is opening up hair replacement while continuing its mission to normalise systems and make the process feel safe, supportive and empowering.

“TrueBlend is a really important step for us because it gives people more choice. Hair loss is incredibly personal, and not everyone feels ready to shave their natural hair,” said Rob Wood, founder of Novo Cabelo.

“Some clients still have growth, some are going through recovery, and some simply want a solution that feels less daunting. TrueBlend gives them that option.

“For us, innovation has never just been about technique. It is about listening to clients and stylists, understanding what people are worried about, and creating something that makes the journey easier. This method allows us to give people beautiful, natural results while helping them feel reassured, supported and in control.”

As with all Novo Cabelo methods, aftercare will be central to the TrueBlend client journey. Clients will receive guidance and the correct haircare products to support their system at home, helping them protect the hair and maintain the result between appointments.

For professionals, training for TrueBlend will be delivered as a one day physical course, supported by pre training material. Stylists will work alongside an educator on either a live model or block head to create their first transformation, with access to Novo Cabelo’s members area and app forming part of the journey.

The course has been designed to equip stylists with the technical skills required, as well as the understanding needed to support clients through the emotional side of hair loss.

This follows Novo Cabelo’s wider education philosophy, which places consultation, aftercare, confidence building and ongoing professional support at the centre of every service.

Novo Cabelo said that the launch of TrueBlend reflects its commitment to raising standards across the hair replacement industry. The brand has consistently challenged outdated perceptions of hair systems, and its work has helped move hair replacement away from secrecy and stigma, to become a modern, inclusive and empowering service.

Hair Gain has launched its Christmas 2026 collection, with a selection of gift sets that bring together some of the brand’s bestselling formulas designed to support healthier, stronger looking hair.

Among the five gifts sets to choose from are the Christmas Bauble, featuring a non-aerosol, volumising dry shampoo and scrunchie set inside a limited edition bauble, perfect for a stocking filler, as well as a Scalp Care Kit, featuring a full-size scalp foam to hydrate and a massager to stimulate the scalp and promote circulation.

There’s also the Holiday Hair Kit, which includes a complete hair care routine with shampoo and conditioner for healthier hair on the go, a Travel Wash Set, featuring a handy travel sized, wash-day routine, and a Starter Gift Set, with a complete wash-day routine designed for healthier, glossier hair.

A vegan wellness brand, Hair Gain was founded by Lucy Palmer after suffering from postpartum hair loss, with the range now including gummies, haircare and topical solutions.

Hair Gain’s formulas have been developed to feed follicles at their source, with all of the brand’s supplements and topicals powered by its clinically-tested star ingredient, AnaGain™, a phytonutrient derived from organic pea shoots.

Check out the full range from Hair Gain here.

Christmas Bauble – RRP £16.99

Holiday Hair Kit – RRP £49.50

Scalp Care Kit – RRP £47.98

Travel Wash Set – £15.00

Starter Gift Set – £36.00

Highland, the haircare brand specializing in high-performing, non-toxic products, is taking rosemary from kitchen cupboard to haircare heavyweight, with a new conditioner alternative, The Condish, a next-generation, broad-use conditioner powered by botanicals and clinically-tested ingredients that hydrate and strengthen hair while supporting scalp health.

More than two years in the making, The Condish was developed in response to traditional conditioners which coat hair in synthetics and silicones, which Highland said creates the illusion of moisture while blocking the real thing.
“They congest your scalp, accelerate buildup, leave hair looking dull and weighed down,” said Highland Co-founder Ben Medalie.

“With our Glacial Clay Pomade and Glacial Cream, we’ve already transformed the way people approach styling products. Completing the ritual meant taking the same standard into the shower. The award-winning Wash reimagined the cleanse. The Condish is our answer to everything after.”

Formulated in partnership with hair professionals, leading organic chemists, and cosmetic experts, The Condish replaces these synthetics with botanical and science-backed ingredients that power a high-performance, weightless conditioner that genuinely hydrates.

“We’re a brand that doesn’t take ourselves too seriously, but we take ingredient integrity and innovation more seriously than anyone else in the industry. This truly is a conditioner evolved,” said Boone Whiteside, co-founder of Highland.

“We set out to thread the needle on making a product that felt premium in the shower, supplied true, long-lasting conditioning, and was made with innovative, clean ingredients. Developing The Condish was strenuous, challenging and illuminated why most conditioner formulas are built the way they are—and exactly why this launch was necessary.”

At the heart of The Condish are clinically-proven ingredients selected for both immediate performance and long-term benefits, including caffeine, Amazonian Babassu Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Cupuaçu Seed Butter, and Aquaxyl™, an advanced humectant complex that supports moisture retention and hydration.

Rather than treating conditioner as something that simply softens the lengths, The Condish combines rosemary with biotin, and panthenol to support the scalp while delivering lightweight hydration, detangling and strengthening benefits. 

Highland said that while other conditioners lean on a few highly marketable active ingredients and leverage fillers for the balance of the formula, with The Condish, every single ingredient was scrutinized and had to earn its place—satisfying specific performance metrics (slip, detangling, hydration, anti-static, etc.) and hair health impact.

Infused with functional aroma notes of Siberian Fir and Rosemary, The Condish is free of silicones, artificial fragrances, sulfates, parabens, SLS, and gluten. It is designed for professional and at-home use, is color-safe, and suitable for all hair types.

Rather than treating conditioner as something that simply softens the lengths, The Condish combines rosemary with biotin, and panthenol to support the scalp while delivering lightweight hydration, detangling and strengthening benefits. 

The result is a conditioner designed to care for both the hair you can see and the scalp underneath it without relying on silicones, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances.

From Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo to Mielle’s viral Rosemary Mint collection and Nécessaire’s Rosemary Shampoo, the botanical has become one of the most recognizable ingredients in scalp and hair care, but its appeal goes beyond its fresh, herbal scent. 

Research has explored rosemary’s role in supporting healthy hair growth. One clinical trial found that rosemary oil and 2% minoxidil produced comparable improvements in hair count after six months among people with alopecia.  Research has also pointed to rosemary’s antioxidant properties, all which can contribute to a healthier scalp environment.

Studies have also explored its potential to support hair growth and circulation, with compounds such as 1,8-cineole, camphor, and rosmarinic acid contributing to its biological activity.  

The Condish retails for $36 and can be purchased on Highland.style and Amazon.

Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland has traded his statement golden locks for a short back and sides, stunning fans on social media before heading to the pitch to face AFC Bournemouth.

The Man City striker posted a series of shots to social media, showing the moment the clippers buzzed off his flowing hair to leave behind a short cropped style, commenting on his new look with a simple “Short hair, don’t care.”

Short hair don’t care 😅✂️ pic.twitter.com/tPzQVFoUIL

— Erling Haaland (@Erling) August 23, 2026

Commenting on Haaland’s new streamlined look, Bailey Snowden from Snowden Hair said: “I am a huge fan of the new look, Haaland is taking it right back to his roots with a style that he rocked when he was a young player.

“I think that it was about time that he freshened up his look and I can really get behind the buzz cut. It currently looks very natural; however, I think he would really benefit from a skin fade or a taper to finish. This would give the style a touch of premium edge, but overall its 10/10 and I rate the new look.”

Santana & Co had already rewritten the rules of scalp micropigmentation in Texas. The new challenge was bigger: put barbering, SMP, tattooing, permanent makeup, and education under one roof.

Three weeks after opening their new 5,500-square-foot space in Fort Worth, it was clear this wasn’t just another barbershop expansion. It was an experiment in what a modern grooming hub could look like.

“I’ve been in the industry going on 14 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Sam Garcia, the brains behind Santana & Co.

“I’ve traveled all over the country, and I’ve never seen a space that has tattooing, permanent makeup, scalp micropigmentation, barbering, and education all together.”

One roof, many careers

Around 20 professionals work inside the Santana & Co space, and the energy is of a shared ecosystem rather than a row of competing chairs. A client might walk in for a haircut and walk out with a new tattoo consultation booked, or come in for SMP and end up planning a full sleeve.

“Somebody will come in for a haircut, then realize they want a tattoo as well,” Sam explained. “It just all complements each other. Everyone’s clientele is one big community.”

From a barber’s perspective, that meant built-in cross-promotion without the pressure of fighting for the same fades and beard trims as the person at the next station.

“It’s not like you’re fighting for clients. You can come to me, go to him, go to them, do it all at once.”

In simple math: nine barbers cutting five to ten people a day means roughly 200 clients a week walking past tattooers and SMP artists. Each tattoo artist then brings their own clients back into the barbering and education side.

Designed for work, not Instagram

Visually, the space was built to feel open and communal, while still hitting strict sanitation and licensing standards. It took about a year just to secure the licenses.

“The space has to be big enough to do all this for sanitation,” he explained. “You can’t cram everything in. Our space is 5,500 square feet, all sectioned out perfectly.”

The fit-out was another story of risk and instinct. Santana met with manufacturers a year before the space was approved, and started designing custom stations, lighting, and furniture down to the last detail.

They skipped traditional tattoo chairs and installed remote-control dental beds instead, making long SMP and tattoo sessions more ergonomic for both artist and client.

The gamble came when he put down around $50,000 on equipment before the city had even voted on his licensing.

“If they didn’t vote it in, then I wouldn’t have a building, but I’d still have 30 crates of equipment arriving. That’s the risk you take in business.”

On January 7, the council voted in his favor. The bet paid off.

Education at the core

For Santana & Co, the space was more than just a flashy buildout. It functioned as an education center for barbers, tattoo artists, SMP specialists, and PMU professionals.

They bring in one to two high-level educators each month, focusing on quality over social media numbers. SMP remains Sam’s “bread and butter,” but all the education arms carry equal weight in the new space.

The vision did not stop at one location. Santana talked openly about franchising the concept globally within the next year and hinted at serious interest from major partners. Aftercare giant H2Ocean also came on board as a sponsor, underlining how seriously other segments of the industry were taking the experiment.

What barbers should take from this

For working barbers, Santana & Co’s new space wasn’t just a cool build; it was a signal of where the profession could go:

A barber no longer has to stay in a single-lane career for life. In a space like this, they could cut hair, learn SMP, explore tattoo or PMU education, and plug into a wider creative culture without leaving a shop environment. The idea was not to abandon barbering, but to expand it.

“I’ve been on the streets before,” he said. “If it all fails, I’ve been there. What do I have to lose?”

At an event packed with world-class education, barber battles, and product launches, one of the most talked-about experiences on the CT Barber Expo show floor was happening at the BarberEVO booth: the wheel of Rolda!

In partnership with Rolda, BarberEVO launched the Wheel of Rolda, an interactive activation that gave attendees the opportunity to spin a custom wheel-of-fortune-style game and win exclusive prizes throughout the weekend.

The activation was a major success, generating more than 200 spins across the event and drawing a constant crowd eager to test their luck.

Participants spun the wheel to reveal their prize before receiving a custom poker chip, which they could then redeem at the Rolda booth. The activation created a fun, engaging journey across the show floor while encouraging attendees to connect with both brands.

Step Up, Step Up

Winners had the opportunity to walk away with Rolda Hair Gel, Texturizing Powder, branded Rolda hats, professional cutting combs, the latest issue of BarberEVO featuring the Rolda family on the cover, or even a one-year subscription to BarberEVO magazine.

“Here at Rolda, we are so excited to be celebrating our 35th year anniversary with BarberEVO – not just with our front cover edition, but also with this amazing activation at CT Barber Expo,” said Luis Di Girolamo, Head of Digital & Ecommerce at Rolda.

While the prizes generated excitement, the activation represented something bigger than giveaways.

As Rolda celebrates its anniversary, the family-owned company continues to champion the values that have helped shape its success within the barbering industry.

“Rolda has been in this industry for about 35 years,” explained Di Girolamo. “It’s a family-owned business, so we’re just like you guys. We’re Latinos. We came from another culture, another country. We’re coming here to make our dream happen, whether your dream is success, a legacy, or achieving what you never thought was possible.”

“Spinning this wheel not only lets you win a prize from the company, but it allows you to meet other people, meet our educators, and start to envision yourself in the future,” he said.

Barbers, students, educators, and industry professionals gathered around the wheel, celebrating wins and sharing conversations between spins. The activation became a natural meeting point where attendees could engage with the Rolda team, discover new products, and learn more about the company’s mission.

With countless winners and a constant buzz surrounding the booth, the Wheel of Rolda proved that sometimes the most memorable moments at an expo come from simply taking a chance and spinning the wheel.

At PBA’s 2026 North American Hairdressing Awards sponsored by JCPenney, the “3” in L3VEL3 became even more meaningful, as not only did the ambassador team garner three finalist spots for the Barber of the Year category, but they took home their third consecutive win, with Carlos Pagan – aka Drastic Barber earning his very own trophy.

BarberEVO was lucky enough to speak to Carlos and the rest of the L3VEL3 team after their win in the Winner’s Lounge sponsored by Goldwell, but also in the BarberEVO X L3VEL3 podcast booth the very next day. David Foster sat down with Jay Nouri as well as Carlos himself to get the team’s first reaction.

When Carlos heard his name announced as the 2026 NAHA Barber of the Year, he did not see it as a solo victory. He immediately framed the win as a collective achievement, saying it was not his moment, it was their moment, and that everyone had put so much energy into the journey and helped each other so much that he genuinely believed all of them were winners.

Standing under the lights in Orlando, Carlos was not just accepting an award. He was validating a culture of shared success.

From Rocky Roads to Red Carpets

Carlos’s NAHA moment was inseparable from a health battle that could easily have ended his run before it began. He recalled that in January 2025 he had been diagnosed with cancer and had fought it for four or five months.

Later that year, he received a call from Jay, who told him he wanted Carlos in for a September shoot. Carlos admitted he told Jay he was not ready, but Jay – in a loving push – decided otherwise and told him he would be coming to shoot the NAHA collection.

He described that outcome as proof that God was amazing, that God allowed struggle to test how a person handled life, then surprised them with something like this on the other side. For Carlos, the award signaled that there was another chapter waiting, one in which God had more in store than he had imagined.

Carlos described the moment his name was called with disarming honesty. He said, “I heard ‘Carlos,’ I thought it was former winner and teammate, Carlos Estrella (Los Cut It.) I will be honest; I totally forgot about myself.”

Sitting in a category with people he called “so, so unbelievable,” including: “Papi Blendzz,” “Los, the goat himself,” and “Arod, the most well-known barber in the world,” he said he simply thought, “Los’s got it.” The reality hit when he heard “Pagan.” From there, the night became a blur of hugs and gratitude.

“When they called my name, I could not believe it, not even for a second. It took me so long just to make it to the stage, because everybody was just hugging me and hugging me and hugging me, and I did not want to let nobody go either.”

“You Are the Captain of Your Life”

In his final words as NAHA’s 2026 Barber of the Year, Carlos turned his story into a directive for others.

He told barbers and creatives: “Do not let nobody tell you what is going to be the destiny of your life. You are actually the captain of your life.” He urged: “Take decisions, put one foot in front of the other, and remember that with God, everything is possible, and there is always a brighter day tomorrow. No matter how big the storm looks today.”

For Carlos “Drastic Barber” Pagan, the NAHA win was not just a personal milestone. It was living proof that faith, family style teamwork, and a refusal to let ego lead could turn a cancer diagnosis, a first-time collection, and a stacked category into a moment that belonged to an entire community.