VicBlends: Redefining Men’s Grooming Through Connection and Care
Celebrity hairstylist Victor Fontanez, widely known as VicBlends, has carved out a unique space in the barbering world that blends artistry, motivation, and personal connection. With millions of followers on social media and a client list that includes cultural icons like President Barack Obama and football legend Tom Brady, Fontanez has elevated barbering from a routine haircut to an experience akin to therapy, emphasizing emotional well-being alongside style.
“My best attribute as a barber is the way I connect with people,” Fontanez tells Entrepreneur. “There are a lot of barbers that may cut better than me, fade better than me. I’m great at what I do, but I know connecting with people is my gift. Everybody’s gonna remember how you made them feel, and not just how you made them look.”
Building on this philosophy, Fontanez has partnered with industry veteran Joey Thomas to launch Betterdays, a men’s grooming brand that prioritizes modern self-care and how men feel about themselves, not just their appearance. This venture taps into a growing awareness that men’s grooming is deeply tied to identity, wellness, and confidence.
Cut from a Different Cloth
Unlike many boys who dream of athletic or scientific careers, Fontanez aspired to be a motivational speaker from a young age. His early experience as a long-distance runner taught him the power of mental focus, a lesson he internalized and later translated into his personal and professional ethos.
His inspiration came from Eric Thomas, a renowned motivational speaker whose powerful storytelling captivated Fontanez throughout high school. Despite battling anxiety and self-doubt, Fontanez initially focused on barbering—a craft he honed through observation, YouTube tutorials, and formal education at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
“In those early years of barbering, it was just about having the tightest fades, the tightest lineups, how many artists you could cut, how much you could scale your barber business,” Fontanez recalls. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic halted his ability to cut hair that he began to integrate his passion for motivation with his craft, using social media to uplift others and redefine his role beyond haircuts.
Fading His Way to Fame
Fontanez’s breakthrough came when he used haircuts as his stage to inspire. At just 21, he began giving strangers haircuts while sharing motivational messages, leveraging social media to amplify his impact. The response shifted from admiration of his barbering skills to appreciation of his inspirational voice.
A pivotal moment arrived when he styled President Barack Obama’s hair—a dream client he pursued persistently after cutting Tom Brady. Navigating complex networks, including the Secret Service, Fontanez secured a 45-minute, no-rehearsal appointment with the former president. The experience was both nerve-wracking and life-affirming.
“There’s only one person in the world that sounds like that,” he remembers hearing Obama’s voice before the former president entered the room. “I felt like I was on a roller coaster. Then, he came through the door and said, ‘Vic, my man!’”
This encounter symbolized more than professional success; it marked a personal triumph after a difficult year. Fontanez reflects, “I believe that if you are who you think you are, and who you believe God made you to be, when the lights come on, and it’s your moment, you show up. There’s always a test before a promotion.”
From Barbershop to Boardroom
Fontanez’s entrepreneurial journey took a new turn in 2025 when he met Joey Thomas, an e-commerce expert with leadership roles at Dude Wipes and BIC. Thomas identified a gap in the men’s hair care market, noting that many brands relied on outdated marketing tropes such as wood grain and musk scents.
“It’s finally time for a brand that speaks directly to men and allows them to be their best selves and gives them the tools they need for the hair that they want,” Thomas explains.
Together, they founded Betterdays, a brand inspired by the barbershop as a cultural hub for self-expression and transformation. Their product line, launching with Rebound Cream and Grip Powder, caters to diverse hair types and textures, emphasizing hydration, volume, and styling versatility.
Fontanez contrasts this new venture with his earlier, challenging experience in the hair care industry, where a restrictive partnership delayed his progress for four years. Now, with a dedicated team and proper legal support, he embraces the value of timing and teamwork.
“I had 100% of a grape when I first started,” he says. “But I can only manage so much. And if your goal is to eat, you have to bring on a team. With the team, you can split half a watermelon, which is way more food than a whole grape.”
Betterdays Ahead
Fontanez’s journey also includes personal battles. In 2023, he was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder after experiencing a severe manic episode and depression. This period challenged his public persona and motivated him to focus on small daily acts of self-care, supported by family, friends, and his team.
Betterdays is poised for growth with a robust product pipeline, including sea salt spray and styling gel in late 2026, and clay, detox shampoo, and hair-growth serum planned for 2027. Fontanez emphasizes intentionality in every aspect—from formulations to the brand’s unique scent, “Scent Number 26,” which honors his roots.
“These aren’t white-label wholesale products from China. Our scent is crafted from scratch. We went through multiple rounds of scent testing,” he says. “Everything’s intentional.”
Rooted in the barbershop tradition of honest conversation and emotional openness, Betterdays aims to redefine masculinity by encouraging men to express vulnerability and individuality.
“It’s here to give men a chance to define themselves as an individual and not follow the norms of what they think a man needs to be,” Fontanez states. “Everybody’s looking for a personal identity now. Everybody’s so different, and everybody should have a chance to be themselves.”
For more on VicBlends and his growing men’s grooming empire, visit Here.
