Thread: Mexican immigrant makes name for himself with salon

http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 60305/1001

Mexican immigrant makes name for himself with salon

Oscar's Salon has been catering to Keizer for two years

C.A. FISHER
Statesman Journal

July 6, 2005

When Oscar Hernández opened his hair salon, he hoped that enough business would come his way to help him make his lease payment.

It did.

"When I started this business, I had $400," he said.

Hernández, 30, has been a hairstylist for six years and has been at his location in Keizer for about two. Because Oscar's Salon is his first business, he said that he is pleased with the flow of customers.

Whether it is a haircut, a perm or hair coloring, he said, about 20 people come to see him daily.

"I feel really good, but it could be better," he said. "I like it. People are welcome to walk in or they can make appointments."

Hernández said he would like to have a bigger parking lot, but the customers also can park in the back. He said the nearby shop owners are friendly about sharing parking spaces.

Before he opened his business, he worked at salons such as SuperCuts and Great Clips.

Three times, he made house calls to cut the hair of ex-Portland Trail Blazer Scottie Pippen.

"He was really friendly and had a good attitude," he said. "He was a really cool guy."

Hernández is from Mexico City and moved to the United States in 1998.

He started attending school to become an auto mechanic but then decided that he would rather become a hairstylist.

"I really like it. You meet nice people everyday," he said. "It's a good job."

There are four stylists who lease space inside Hernández's shop. Beto Zapien said that he likes doing hair because he meets new people.

Zapien, 26, has been at the salon for about two years and licensed for three, but has been cutting hair since he was 13.

He said he learned from cutting his brother's hair and then learned how to trim his own.

"Next thing you know, I'm cutting everyone's hair," he said.

With a large base of clients, Zapien said he reads "GQ" and "Esquire" magazines to keep up with trends.

"I try to stay ahead of the styles," he said. "That's my job."

Both Zapien and Hernández said they do not cater to a certain age group. They have customers ranging from 1 year to 60 years old.

"I take pride in their cuts," Zapien said. "I want them to leave twice as confident as they did when they walked through the door. I do everything I can to accomplish that."

afisher@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6716

Is Oscar in America legally? Otherwise, nothing else counts.

That was my question as well. If he is here legally, then good for him.