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For many Syracuse athletes, a fresh cut before game day means a visit to barber Alex Gonzalez. What started as Alex trimming a friend’s beard has grown into a loyal following.

“I used to watch all the barber stuff on YouTube,” Alex said. “I just never knew it was going to be me.”

Alex, or Ayeblendz on Instagram, has carved his own spot with Syracuse football as a barber. He’s grown his clientele from friends in his area to players like Yasin Willis, Jackson Meeks and Rickie Collins. Others, like NFL running back LeQuint Allen Jr., used to ask for a fresh cut before every Syracuse game day.

Cutting hair wasn’t always the dream for Alex, who grew up trying nearly every hobby you can think of — from athletics like lacrosse and basketball to card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. Alex said he’s always been focused on improving not just his work but himself.

Alex first started working in the fast food industry when he was 16. After moving from company to company, one day he decided to quit, knowing food service wasn’t right for him.

He reached out to his uncle, a barber, asking for anything to do, even sweeping floors. Alex’s uncle threw him right into the mix on his first day. A friend came with him, and moments later Alex was holding clippers, with his uncle instructing him on how to cut his friend’s hair.

“From that moment on, I really just enjoyed the feeling,” Alex said. “My friend was pretty happy, even though the cut was terrible. It was a good feeling, knowing that I was capable of doing something I’ve seen on YouTube all these years.”

He went from cutting his friend’s hair to having his own spot at the barbershop — a bigger station, a proper chair and better tools for his growing list of clients. Alex said at this point, everything started to come together.

That was until Alex’s mom died.

The passion that came with cutting hair was overpowered by the loss of one of the most important people in his life, Alex said. He not only lost his drive to go to the shop, but for the hobbies he’d once loved.

“I was angry,” Alex said. “My mom was my twin, my best friend. When she was gone, nothing felt the same.”

Alex’s focus shifted to distractions — drinking and staying inside. The loss was a mountain to climb and a heavy burden to carry, he said.

Ozzy Ozmere, one of Alex’s clients and longtime friends, said he tried to get him out of the house in any way he could, like asking Alex to come skateboarding.

Gonzalez learned to cut a wide variety of hair from multiple mentors throughout his career. Scissor skills, fades, curly haircuts and tapers are all in his portfolio.Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

“(We) tried to have some fun or something to get his mind off the pain,” Ozmere said. “But I definitely noticed a difference.”

A trait Ozmere always admired about Alex was his honesty — not just with others, but with himself. He said that Alex always remained true to who he was, even when he was grieving.

Alex slowly began returning to his normal self, reconnecting with friends and picking up where he left off. Even through the change, one thing stayed constant.

“The one thing I remember about that whole, tragic maybe a year or a summer was I never put them clippers down,” Alex said. “I knew it was meant for me.”

Alex’s dad, Christopher Gonzalez, was always confident in his son. He said from a young age, Alex eventually accomplished every goal he set. Even through the hardship, he knew his son would find success.

Another one of Alex’s uncles later reached out with an opportunity for him to be a barber at Destiny USA. It was right up his alley: fast paced with lots of conversation and graffiti on the walls. It was also a gateway to connect not just with his usual clients, but with athletes.

The new job introduced Alex to a different realm of people. His most memorable client was former Syracuse football offensive lineman Codie Hornsby, he said. Hornsby walked into the shop hoping to get a cut last year, but no one seemed to acknowledge him until Alex took initiative and asked if he wanted a trim.

After that first haircut, Hornsby came back with four other players, and Alex’s popularity began to grow.

“Cutting their hair, having photos and videos with them, helped me really take off and gain a lot of exposure,” Alex said.

Alex started traveling to Syracuse University dorms to trim athletes’ hair. After spending more time cutting hair in SU dorms and less at the barbershop, the shop let him go. Alex said it was another hill to climb.

He tried moving to another shop, but it wasn’t the same. While barbering brought him happiness, Alex said things took a toll financially. He still didn’t want to put the clippers down.

The choices were to push through the financial struggles or find another job. When a studio space opened for rent on North Salina Street, Alex jumped at the opportunity.

“It was a monthlong process,” Alex said. “I painted the walls black. Got hexagon lights. It’s hot. I basically got my own barber shop in a room.”

While the project is still in its early stages, Alex believes this is the next step forward. Not all of his experiences at past barbershops were enjoyable, but each one helped him grow, he said.

Alex said mentors from different backgrounds taught him how to cut different types of hair. He learned different cutting techniques from an expert with scissors. A man from Africa taught him how to cut Black hair. And his first mentor, his uncle from Puerto Rico, taught him how to handle curls and tapers.

“I really just soak in every different type of barber around me, and I felt like I utilized the best of it and made myself the ultimate, and I do that everywhere I go,” Alex said.

He said his approach to Syracuse athletes is no different from his regular clients. He builds connection through simple questions that are a change of pace for players who often talk about athletics.

“They eat, sleep and live football. That’s all they talk about,” Alex said. “So I just try to talk about life, you know, ‘What’s going on?’ ‘How’s the family?’”

Ozmere said when he goes to the shop for a haircut, he often forgets what he came for and ends up just talking with people. Whether it’s playing on the PlayStation or watching YouTube on the TV, the shop is a place where bonds form.

Along with growing his personal relationships, Alex has been expanding his presence online. He uses his Instagram account to connect with both new and returning clients. He doesn’t just post his work, but moments from his daily life, showing how he navigates his days as a barber.

Christopher has supported him every step of the way. While he admires Alex’s barbering, he’s even more proud of the man his son has become. He said Alex’s kindness comes from his mom and his grandmother.

Alex said he’s been working toward the future for a while. He plans to earn his apprenticeship and license: a vital part of evolving his dream. His dad couldn’t be prouder.

“People turned their backs on him,” Christopher said. “People didn’t think that he was good enough. But look at him now, and I know eventually he’s going to have his own place.”

Published on November 6, 2025 at 12:19 am
Contact Cam: crmcgraw@syr.edu