Barber establishes education center for hairdressing within Chowchilla penitentiary.
In a unique and groundbreaking move, well-known barber VicBlends, known for his popularity on TikTok, has opened a licensed barber school inside Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California. This pioneering program aims to train inmates, providing them with vocational skills upon completion of their sentences.
VicBlends, whose real name is Victor Fontanez, is no stranger to high-profile clients, having served the likes of seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady and former President Barack Obama. With over 25 million followers on social media, VicBlends' influence is far-reaching.
The barber school, located within the prison, offers more than 100 haircuts a week to incarcerated men. However, the accessibility of the school to the public remains unspecified.
As of now, Valley State Prison's barber school is the first accredited and licensed barber school inside a California state prison, and also the first licensed barbershop operation in a U.S. prison, established in 2025. Despite its innovative nature, no other prisons have officially launched similar programs inspired by VicBlends Academy in Valley State Prison.
VicBlends hopes that this pioneering program will inspire other prisons across the nation to open similar programs for rehabilitation through vocational training. However, as of now, Valley State Prison remains the sole facility with such a licensed barber school.
The scope of the barber school's curriculum or specializations is not detailed. It is also unclear if the school is open to the public or if it serves the general public as well. The barber school does not appear to offer certifications or degrees, but upon completion of their sentences, inmates can leave prison licensed by the state of California to cut hair.
The potential impact of this program on reducing recidivism rates or providing vocational opportunities for inmates is yet to be discussed. Regardless, VicBlends' initiative marks a significant step towards rehabilitation and skill development within the prison system.
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VicBlends, with his extensive influence in fashion-and-beauty and beyond, is seeking to expand his impact by inspiring other prisons to adopt similar vocational training programs, particularly in the home-and-garden and lifestyle sectors. Although Valley State Prison's barber school is currently the only licensed barber school within a California state prison, offering just haircutting training, its success could pave the way for more comprehensive vocational education in various fields.
The unique and pioneering program initiated by VicBlends not only provides inmates with a valuable skill in haircutting but also has the potential to catalyze substantial changes in the rehabilitation and skill development within the prison system, extending beyond just the lifestyle or fashion-and-beauty industries.
