BOARDMAN -- As a teenager, Robert Diaz cut other people's hair, but never fancied himself a

BOARDMAN -- As a teenager, Robert Diaz cut other people's hair, but never fancied himself a hairstylist.
When he was a student at Poland Seminary High School, friends, as well as his grandfather, entrusted Diaz to cut and style their hair. Around the same time, his grandmother shaped, cut and styled his aunt's hair and allowed him to set the rollers she used for the job.
Despite this experience, Diaz took a different career route when he was young.
About 30 years ago, he worked as a coil feeder helper at the former Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube. For a while, he lived in Florida and took a job there installing hurricane shutters. He also worked in the body shop at General Motors' Lordstown plant and at Alprod in North Lima remodeling homes.
But while serving as a bartender at a party, a friend "talked me into going to Victor George [Beauty Academy] and here I am 25 years later," he said.
He eventually decided to go into business for himself and in the late 1980s, Diaz opened Snips Styling Salon on South Avenue.
Training
He previously completed the required 1,800 hours of classroom and fieldwork at Victor George, formerly in Youngstown. He attended the Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago to take classes in advanced cutting, perming and coloring techniques.
He also spent eight years as an assistant stylist at Hair Hut, as well as two years at the former LeChic Salon in Boardman. He served for four years on the advisory board of Choffin Career & amp; Technical Center's cosmetology program.
He still attends seminars in New York City, Cleveland and other cities to learn various coloring, cutting and style ideas and to keep abreast of changes and trends in the industry.
"If you pick up one thing at every hair show, you're ahead of the game," he said.
One-on-one attention, emphasizing a personal touch and giving people recommendations for what they can do to keep their hair in top form also have kept a steady flow of regular customers coming back, he said. But creating a homelike atmosphere has been a key to Snips' success, he said.
"Our salon is like a laid-back family where everyone feels like family," he said. "It's a fluffy, not stuffy, salon."
Diaz said he has several customers whom he first worked with as young children. Taking an interest in people, watching other stylists and attending seminars have been a big part of his success, Diaz stressed.
"I'm a lucky person because I love what I do and that's why I work 12 hours a day," he said. "Clients come because they like the way they look when they leave."
Diaz said that business at the salon continues to grow and he predicted that new development in the area, such as the new Sam's Club on South Avenue, will further the trend.