Today we’d like to introduce you to Joff Bermoy.
Hi Joff, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was around 12 I started cutting my own hair. This was the late 80’s in Waianae, Hawaii, where I grew up. West side of the Island.
My mom would cut all of our hair, I’m the youngest of 3 boys. We would wait for the next one to be up next. At the end we would get this Bowl Cut that we all loved, right? Lol .. I’m lying.
Well I grew out of that haircut. One day I decided to be adventurous, grabbed my mom’s sewing scissors and started trimming away. Got the sides short and even, then I worked my way to the top,
altho i couldn’t reach the back so i left it alone. I wanted that Spiky look. Very late 80s hairstyle. At the end of the haircut, I’d slap some L.A Looks Gel Brand and styled it. The Mullet was born, and I rocked that look for a bit. Who knows where those photo’s are now.
Eventually my 2 older brothers caught on to what I was doing. That was the defining moment. I took over from then on, and my mom would never cut our hair from then on ever again, Bye bye bowl Cut.
Wahl Clippers was purchased not long after that by my older bro. My 1st clippers I ever owned. Fast forward to eventually cutting hair for our neighbor friends and classmates all the way till I moved away.
Not until 2013 i decided to take the advice of family and friends to pursue Barbering as a career. In 2013 I enrolled to Hawaii Institute of Hair Design. Quit my job as a Tire Tech as i was on my way to learn automotive mechanics. One of my biggest career decision choice to move from.
After graduating from Hair School I landed a desk job at a high end Salon called Citizen Salon. The owner Jaime Malapit took a chance on a Barber graduate who had no experience professionally but saw my the potential.
3 months later I was promoted to as the Men’s Barber at Citizen Salon. Any walk-ins that was male, I had the opportunity to cut their hair and provide the best service possible. Every Wednesday for 4 years, Jaime would hold classes just for us employees and learn the Sasoon technique he was taught in Europe and in LA.
I then learned the techniques not just to cut mens hair but for women as well. It was a grueling 4 years of training. Any mistakes we did, we’d have to stop, wash their hair and repeat the process until it was almost perfect over and over again. Although it was difficult, It was also a blessing and a great opportunity that was givin to us.
2018 I left the Salon to pursue Barbering on a bigger scale and decided move to Austin, Texas. My 1st big decision as a licensed Barber. I was hired at award winning Generation’s Barbershop in Pflugerville where I worked for a lil over a year.
The 1st 2 weeks was definitely difficult. I felt judged by clients as I was the only Pacific Islander at a predominantly black barbershop who may or may not know how to cut Black people hair. I justed needed that 1 person to give me a shot at cutting their hair. Before that day i basically stood and sat around waiting and hope for people to sit on my chair and cut their hair.
The 1 person finally came and asked me. It was very busy that day so he didn’t have any other option. He asked if I knew how to cut hair? I said “yes of course have a seat, i’ll take care of you bro”. Other people saw my work and asked if they could have the next haircut. That was a relieving and proud day for me.
Soon after I had a good following of people. I then decided to have my own lil studio in Roundrock where I rented my own space. Another difficult decision to make. Fearing my clients would not follow. But they did and I gained even more clients during that time. I was booked every week. I started making fun tutorial videos and even comedic video that I would post on Instagram.
In 2023 I and my wife Frances, whom I met here in austin in 2018. I decided to take a break from barbering. We left Austin and lived in the Philippines with our 1 year old daughter for a year to live off grid. We built a home that was made of bamboo and wood only, and palm leaves as our roof top. The Best experience we got to have. No electricity, just a solar generator, some candles and flashlights.
We cooked dinner on a open fire and enjoyed watching the fire flies that surrounded the trees at night. Felt and looked like Christmas every nite. Every morning waking up to the forest sounds of birds and chickens. We made friends with the community people and families. They welcomed us with open arms, literally and figuratively. It definitely was fun experience and great full.
In early 2026 we came back to Austin. I now work at one of the longest running barbershop here in Austin. Platinum Fades Men’s Lounge Austin. Starting over again at a different shop, rebuilding clientele, while still having some of the old clients from the past still visit me and sit in my chair as their Barber. And now here I am grinding away and providing for my family until our next adventure, wherever it takes us 🙂
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. I definitely understand this career. Especially as a Barber. From moving to 2 different states, feeling judged, to collecting clientele and having their trust. Sometimes some places won’t have a best traffic for walk ins. Marketing and making videos to get yourself out there can be frustrating and stressful. More so if you have a family to feed. Studying and Keeping up with the haircut trends etc.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being considered as an old school Barber having that experience for over a decade professionally. I got to master the Clipper fading skills and Shear cutting. Both I’m known for.
Working at Citizen Salon taught me how to be precise with the Shears. Not only specialize with the clippers but also with the Shears.
I do all Barbering techniques, such as Fades and even designs.
What I feel sets me apart is my experience and my knowledge not only with clipper work but with Shear work as well. Before barbering professionally I had a lot of jobs doing sales. Basically knowing how to talk to people and treating them with knowledge and personality.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diversity of Austin, all walks of life have sat in my chair. From different ethnicities to different careers and personalities. It’s great I love it. There’s nothing I can complain about, I love all walks of life. Long as they trust me with their hair lol.
Pricing:
- Specialty haircuts $50
- Just Fading haircut $45
- Beard cut $20
- KIDS cut over 8yrs old $45
- Womens haircut with out styling $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://book.thecut.co/cebucrewbarber77
- Instagram: Barbero_Joff
- Youtube: What’s Up Austin Texas
