Jorge Buccio has won, for the second year in a row, the American Crew All-Star Challenge in the United States, and is representing the US at the global challenge in Barcelona, now underway.  The challenge is a photo submission contest that asks stylists to create their interpretation of the American Crew man. 

The owner of J Buccio Salon in Austin, TX. Buccio shared some details on his styling background and inspiration:  

 Describe your professional career path :
I was always fascinated by the beauty and fashion industry. I loved going with my mother to get her hair done at the salon. I loved the energy and the magic of that salon. When I moved to Chicago from Mexico at 19, I started assisting at a salon in Chicago (Gallery of Hair). When I finished beauty school, I started working full time and completed several cutting advanced programs like Llongeras (Spain)and Mekka (Canada). 9 years years ago I moved to Austin and opened J Buccio Salon and decided to start training to be an educator for Schwarzkopf Professional.

Becoming a Schwarzkopf Professional Technical Advisor made me a better stylist. After few years I was named guest artists for SKP and entered my first mayor hairstylist competition, the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) in 2014; I was nominated for best men's collection. After that, I started doing some celebrity grooming and hairstyling for clients like Matthew McConaughey and Kirsten Dunst. Now I keep creating yearly men's  collections, entering contests, magazine editorials, celebrity grooming and styling.

 What do you love most about being a stylist?
I love the ability to change my guest's mood and appearance, the fact that someone can put so much trust in us without really knowing much about us. That is a great responsibility and an honor. Guests allow us to enter their personal space and let us change the way they look. I think that is pretty amazing.

 Do you have any influences from your life that motivate and inspire you artistically?
From a very young age, I loved playing with hair and could spend hours looking at fashion magazines. Growing up between Mexico and Chicago has influenced my work so much, and constantly inspires me.The culture and childhood experiences from Mexico, and the structure and modernity of Chicago, have shaped my attention to detail and my aesthetic.Traveling also motivates and inspires me.

How has the American Crew brand influenced the way you view menʼs grooming?
In my opinion, American Crew is a pioneer of men's grooming products in our industry, And the way it has influenced me is by allowing me to create looks that are relevant and current with the tools and products I need to give them a perfect finishing. Nowadays you can't have a picture perfect look without hair products.

 What are your grooming must-haves and favorite American Crew products?
I must always have my hair trimmers, cutting comb and a great pair of scissors. I absolutely love, love the Boost Powder, Pomade, Fiber and Grooming Cream.

What does the American Crew All Star Challenge mean to you?
American Crew is a brand known around the world and this contest means so much. It puts our work as finalists on a global platform. It also gives me validation, a way to show me I'm doing something right, that my vision is shared by other artists.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to pursue a career as a stylist?
I would tell them to never stop learning, to stay fresh and current. I like to always imagine I just graduated beauty school, because that is the time when we are more in search of knowledge, experiences, and hungry for education. Also, keep up with fashion and pop culture.