Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Govea.
Hi Justine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the shop for as long as I can remember. My mother has been cutting hair for over 35 years. I remember when she worked at a local hair salon, and I would go to work with her. She eventually opened her own shop years later. At that time, I would help her around the shop, doing things such as sweeping, folding towels, wiping windows, and so on. I didn’t actually start cutting hair until I was in my mid-20s. I wasn’t really into it because I had been around it my whole life, but I thought I’d give it a try on a friend, and I grew to love it.
I first began cutting hair as a mobile barber. I would cut hair for free, mostly giving kids free haircuts, and eventually started charging $5 for gas. I became busier, so I started cutting hair in my first apartment. I worked two part-time jobs, and after those jobs, I would go home and cut hair for clients who wanted haircuts. Years passed, and several apartments later, I knew I wanted to take this seriously and cut hair full-time. In 2022, I spontaneously quit my job and started barber school the following month. I knew that with the money I was making, I could afford my bills and barber school. I attended Roffler’s Barber College, where I met some great people and learned things that I felt I couldn’t have learned without attending barber school.
After attending barber school, I joined a shop that gave me a great opportunity to grow as a barber. I was able to save money, and six months later, I opened my first shop in 2023. This is where Bombkutz began. It was a small, three-chair shop, and I hired two very talented barbers.
After one year of being there, I knew I wanted to expand. I opened my second shop in the neighborhood where I grew up. That was a dream to me because I wanted to give back to MY community. I added more chairs and hired more barbers to complete the team.
Being back in my old stomping grounds felt like such an accomplishment. I was in an area I was familiar with, where I grew up and had seen so much change, but it still felt like home.
Through all of this, my wife Chelsea and my son Jeter have played a huge role in my journey. They’ve given me even more motivation to keep pushing and growing. I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Everything I’m building is for my family and our future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve always taken my craft seriously and made it a priority to respect both my time and my clients’ time. Because of that, I was able to build a loyal clientele who respected me and took me seriously. Keeping clients was never really a struggle for me.
It wasn’t until I opened my own shops that I started to understand what real challenges were. Going from being responsible for myself to managing a team of barbers was a big adjustment. As the shop got busier, I had to learn how to manage different personalities, work ethics, and expectations while making sure everyone was happy and comfortable.
I quickly learned that not everyone who came through my doors shared the same vision I had for Bombkutz. I had to make some difficult decisions along the way because, ultimately I had a business and a reputation to protect.
One of the biggest challenges came after opening my second shop. I was excited and ready to continue growing, but just two weeks after opening, my shop was broken into. They stole all of my equipment and my employees’ equipment, leaving us with a broken door and window.
That was a tough moment for me. It was then that I realized owning a business came with a lot more responsibility than I had imagined. I wasn’t just responsible for myself anymore. I had a team, a business, and people depending on me.
Through those experiences, I’ve learned that being a business owner isn’t always easy. You’re going to face challenges you never expected, but it’s how you handle them and continue moving forward that matters.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bombkutz Barbershop is located in the heart of East Austin. I wanted to create a shop where people could come in, get a great haircut, have good conversations, and just feel comfortable being there.
We offer everything from haircuts, beard trims, hot towel shaves, facials, kids’ cuts, and other grooming services. But I feel like what sets us apart is the experience we give our clients. We offer complimentary drinks, a comfortable waiting area with great music and good vibes, and just an overall welcoming environment. I want people to feel like they’re getting more than just a haircut when they come to Bombkutz.
One thing I’m really proud of is the atmosphere we’ve created. I wanted Bombkutz to have that neighborhood barbershop feeling. A place where people can come in, laugh, talk about whatever is going on, and feel at home. Whether you’ve been coming to us for years or it’s your first time walking in, I want everyone to feel welcome.
Being in East Austin makes it even more special to me because this is where I grew up. I’ve seen how much the neighborhood has changed over the years, but I still want Bombkutz to have that same community feeling I remember growing up with in my mom’s shop.
At the end of the day, I want Bombkutz to be known for more than just good haircuts and talented barbers. I want it to be a place where people feel appreciated, where my barbers can grow, and where the community knows they’re always welcome.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I honestly don’t know where the barber industry will be in the next 5–10 years. I feel like it’s constantly changing, with new trends, techniques, and different ways of doing things.
I’m just grateful to be in the position I’m in today. I’ve come a long way from where I started, and I know I still have a lot more to learn. Of course, I want to continue growing Bombkutz, bringing in more talented barbers, and becoming better as a business owner.
No matter how much the industry changes, I feel like one thing will always stay the same, and that’s the relationship between a barber and their clients. That’s something I never want to lose.
For now, I’m just taking things one step at a time, continuing to learn, and seeing where this journey takes me.
Pricing:
- Haircut $60
- Kids cut $40
- Full service $100
- Senior citizens $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://getsqr.co/justine-govea
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bombkutz?mdxt=MXV2YTQzMXNsZXVnNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KSAPKgszb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://share.google/3HZIE7yY1nl0GeBe8
