By Keturah Miller
Published: January 28, 2008

Ana Hernandez Serrato is one example of how persistence in life and faith in people can lead to “shear” success.

“There are so many amazing people out there,” Serrato said. “Don’t give up on people because with everything that happens, anything is possible.”

Serrato, 31, was born in Gudalajara, Mexico and is the youngest of three siblings. Serrato and her family grew up in Fullerton and have a strong family bond due to unfortunate situations in their family, such as the deaths of family members. However, the difficulties in her life are what made Serrato stronger and more determined.

“I had to finish school,” Serrato said. “I wanted to give my mom my high school diploma versus giving it to myself.”

With no admiration for school or any high grades, Serrato didn’t take school seriously. Even though she only attended freshman and sophomore year at Fullerton High School, Serrato continued her education at La Vista High (Continuation) School and received her diploma in 1995.

Immediately after completing high school, Serrato said she decided to attend cosmetology school at Fullerton Junior College. Although she had no fascination with hair or beauty tips, Serrato chose to complete cosmetology school because she thought this was the only career that allowed her to be self-employed.

“I had a lot of guys hitting on me while in school,” Serrato said. “I’d just tell them to come back and get a cut if they wanted my number.”

Serrato had many male clients while attending cosmetology school but she said she wasn’t afraid of the guys or the clippers. After graduating from cosmetology school, Serrato ended up with an even bigger clientele, working in Irvine. Serrato got the opportunity to work with both men and women. She helped out with applying color and cutting hair.

“Men don’t take as much time, are easygoing and don’t nag,” Serrato said. “With women, no offense, you can work on them for three hours and they are still not satisfied … men only take 30 to 45 minutes.”

Having woman as clients was emotionally draining, Serrato said. She decided to stick with men and concentrate on their business.

After working in Irvine, Serrato assisted at Richard’s Hair Design in Yorba Linda. While working there, Serrato had an allergic reaction to the chemicals in the hair products and chose to leave.

After leaving Richard’s, she dabbled in jewelry for a while before deciding to work with children.

“I’ve always wanted to work with kids,” Serrato said.

She worked as a teacher in a pre-school at the church she currently attends, Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton. She juggled both jewelry making and hair styling while raising her son as a single parent and keeping the determination to strive for something better.

When Serrato’s son was almost two, she decided to start seeking potential places of employment in the industry she loved. While working at the pre-school, Serrato began networking to build her male client base. She eventually landed a part-time job cutting hair, with her own station, along side two other barbers at Telegraph Barbers, in Placentia.

Serrato felt confident during her initial stay at Telegraph because she had regular clients coming in to see her and had been cutting hair for a while. However, Serrato actually learned so many additional things about clipping, trimming, straight razors, different sheers and hot lathering. The skills that Serrato obtained at Telegraph then became the very skills that landed her the beautiful barber shop in downtown Fullerton today, Lather One.

After working at Telegraph for three months, she left and styled hair from her home until she found her new place of business.

“The first and hardest step in my life was leaving Telegraph Barbers,” Serrato said. “I’d drive around looking for places to lease and in the back of my mind I wondered, ‘What was I doing?’”

Shortly after Serrato’s quest for a place, her search ended. Patrick Miller of Fullerton Savings, which is now Fullerton Community Bank, assisted Serrato with the start of her business.

“I wanted to help her because it wasn’t easy for a single person to open a small business for the first time,” Miller said. “I wanted to help her succeed because I saw the determination and drive she had and she was willing to understand the risks of owning a business.”

All of the right people were in place at the right time during the early opening stages of Lather One.

“A friend of my uncle did all of my electrical work for free,” Serrato said.

Serrato received one blessing after another.

One of her previous clients paid the first six months of the lease and the landlord paid for one additional month. Having the first seven months paid gave Serrato additional time and the ability to concentrate on the plush, lavish and classy décor displayed at Lavish One.

With its modern, artsy, masculine and firm feel, Lather One gives each customer an amazing barbershop experience. With each hair cut, you receive a hot lather, straight razor and a splash of after shave.