Barbero Bengie - Puerto Rico By Rex AC Silver

L3VEL3 Shareholder, International Guest Artist and Educator, Puerto Rican Trova Singer and Husband, Bernie Candelario Arocho injects passion into everything he does and inspires many others along the way. He has 379k followers on Instagram, 1.2M followers on Facebook and his instructional videos on his You Tube channel have been viewed nearly half a million times.

We spent some time to get to know this dedicated creative a little better.

Please tell us about yourself…

My name is Bernie Candelario Arocho. I grew up with my dad, my sisters, and my brother in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I had a childhood full of a lot of learning. After finishing high school, I began my studies in barbering and hairstyling. I had the opportunity to work in a barbershop while I was studying, and I worked there for 20 years. Today I have my license as a barber and professional stylist, I have more than 500 hours of continuing education, I have my own barbershop “Bengie Salon” in the town of Caguas and I currently live with my wife in Juncos, Puerto Rico.

Can you lead us into what drove you to excel to such a high level within the craft of barbering?

It all started at young age of 15 in the year 1993 at my grandmother’s house. I cut our neighbours and relatives even when I was very young. A great influence that I had in my childhood, was my brother, who cut his friends hair and I always watched him. Then I studied to get my diploma and license as a barber. What has brought me to this level? Commitment, dedication and above all putting God first in all things.

You own your own Barbershop, what does an average workday look like for you?

I work in my own barber shop called “Bengie Salon”. Normally when I’m not traveling, I’m at the barbershop. I start work at 9:00am. I cut 5 to 6 people a day and when I finish work around 6:00 or 7:00 pm I head home.

L3VEL3 has exploded onto the world stage and has instantly merged high level hairdressing skills and barbering together with its incredible imagery in the marketing of the range from the likes of yourself, Robert Braid and Abass Ahmadifard to name just 2 other ambassadors. Users of the product have jumped straight on board with the colouring of hair and the precise lines in the architecture of the haircuts and beard work. Can you expand on this for us please?

L3VEL3 is a brand of barber products that has become widely known in a short time for the quality of its products. I have been working with the brand for two years and I give demonstrations of how to use its products in order to have a good result and ensure its correct use. L3VEL3 is a quality product that differs from other brands and takes you to another level. My talent coupled with L3VEL3 products, videos and exposure take me to another level! I believe that both L3VEL3 and the barbering industry have gone to the next level, as bleaching and colours are a fundamental basis for displaying your work, as it is an art and a way to expand your knowledge in the art of barbering. colorimetry to highlight your cuts or jobs. Since it is not only based on cuts but on the union of what is barbering and cosmetology.

You seem just at home with women’s cuts as you do with men’s especially with the use of colour. Can you tell us about the added dimension to your art that hair colour gives you, and how colouring hair inspires such intricate detailed creations in some of your latest work?

I feel comfortable doing cuts for both men and women and with the continuous education of cutting techniques and colorimetry techniques I can easily adapt them. At present I combine different colours to the cut to give a different style that distinguishes you, because with the union of these two techniques you can create an immensity of works that the only limit is created by that our own imagination.

Can you tell us about the joy you get from sharing knowledge through your role as an educator and a little about the extensive shows you are doing now?

I believe that to be an educator, you must educate yourself and with 500 hours or more of continuing education, different certifications, and a degree in barbering, it’s given me the opportunity to acquire knowledge and be able to transmit it to other people in the right way for their professional growth and for the 28 years that I have been in the industry. I can touch on several topics that I have mastered perfectly both in the technical, and theoretical aspects.

All this makes me enjoy the process of learning to be able to teach others and what God has allowed me to know. Seeing me at the shows, you can see how I apply all the techniques I have learned, using L3VEL3 products, and giving my personalized touch to all my creations. Being on stage is hard work, but at the same time it is gratifying to give others a little of what I know, and it fills me with satisfaction that other people can take away the best of me.

What’s up next for you this year?

Hard work, more education, continue to grow as a professional, and more surprises coming soon!

Any words of inspiration you would like to share with our Australian Barbers?

To my Australian colleagues I say never stop dreaming. There are no limits in the world of Barbering. It is very important to constantly educate oneself in order to be able to innovate and offer the best to your clients. Barbering is a beautiful art through which we can bring about positive changes in the industry. I would love to visit Australia; it would be a dream to get to know such a beautiful country.

60 SECOND SPEED DATE WITH BARBERO BENGIE

Favourite Destination in the World: My home with my family

Favourite Food: Rice, beans and porkchops!

Favourite Movie: Stargate.

Favourite Book: “La canción verde” (Green song) it’s about a Coquí, a native animal who can only survive in Puerto Rico.

What/Who are you reading right now? The Bible.

What/Who are you listening to right now? Christine D’ Clario

What are you watching right now (TV)? NBA basketball

@barberobengie

@lv3pro

www.barberobengie.com

Article assisted with translation by Jay Nouri