Carlos Gabriel Turpeau Ramos

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Carlos Gabriel Turpeau Ramos, although professionally I am known as Tulpi The Barber. I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Juana Díaz until I was fourteen. Although our home was in Juana Díaz, Ponce was also part of my childhood: I visited my grandmother in Coto Laurel almost every weekend. Puerto Rico lives in my heart and is an inseparable part of my identity. Today, I live in Taylors and do my professional work in Greenville, South Carolina.

I am a Master Barber, a South Carolina Licensed Barber Instructor, a bilingual educator, and an entrepreneur. I am also a director, producer, and content creator. I own Barber Gallery Suite and am the founder and CEO of United Multimedia Services.

In one location, I have brought together three parts of my professional life: my private barber suite, United Multimedia’s office and production space, and the space where I teach my students. That combination represents who I am today. I work behind the chair, teach, produce, and develop digital systems to help other professionals and businesses grow.

I started cutting hair in ninth grade. At that point, I was not doing it because I was in love with barbering. I began out of necessity, knowing that I would soon have greater responsibilities as a father. My brother was already a barber, so the trade was close to home. In eleventh grade, more formal opportunities began opening up: I entered J. Harley Bonds Career Center, initially to learn welding, and switched to cosmetology after seeing the structured approach to learning a trade. Over time, necessity became a profession, that profession became a purpose, and that purpose became a mission of service and legacy.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

Greenville is a very special place to me. Puerto Rico will always be my homeland; if I were born again, I would choose to be Puerto Rican again. But Greenville also holds a deep place in my life because this is where I grew as a man, a father, a professional, an educator, and a business owner.

I value its green spaces, the kindness of so many of its people, its diversity, and a welcoming downtown that has character without feeling overwhelming. It has also been a city where I have found work, education, and opportunities to serve. After so many years, I do not feel that I simply live near Greenville; I feel part of its story and its community.

To me, Greenville represents growth, wisdom, character, professionalism, and education. Here, I learned to adapt to another language and culture, to work, to lead teams, and to turn ideas into businesses. That is why I want the next stage of my life to create jobs, education, and opportunities for others in this region.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Tulpi The Barber offers professional barbering and personalized care at Barber Gallery Suite. I work by appointment and take time to understand each client’s style, routine, and needs. My experience also includes specialized services such as scalp micropigmentation and hair replacement when they are appropriate for the individual.

My journey began out of necessity. In ninth grade, I carried clippers to school and practiced on classmates. As I approached seventeen and the responsibility of becoming a father, it stopped being a curiosity and became a way to work and move forward. In eleventh grade, technical training showed me that a trade could be learned through a structured method. Although family responsibilities prevented me from completing that school program, I continued learning and working, and later earned my professional credentials.

Over the years, I developed Barber Gallery, managed two barbershops, and worked with a team of twelve barbers at our largest stage of growth. That experience taught me about service, leadership, management, reputation, and developing talent. Later, I transitioned to Barber Gallery Suite, a private model where I can serve clients, teach, and develop new programs.

In September 2026, Booksy notified me that I had reached appointment number 17,700 and that 2,000 clients had marked my business as a favorite. I do not see those numbers as trophies; I see them as accumulated signs of trust and consistency. I have also collaborated with Booksy as an ambassador and educational content creator.

United Multimedia extends that mission into the digital world. As founder and CEO, I lead projects involving branding, content, filmmaking, websites, applications, and automation systems. We also help manage companies’ digital presence and teach practical, responsible uses of artificial intelligence to improve processes, productivity, communication, and growth.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

I would tell them to first learn to be useful, reliable, and disciplined. Talent can open a door, but your conduct, consistency, and ability to solve problems determine how long that door stays open.

Today, there is an excess of information. From the moment we wake up, we receive content, advertising, advice, and promises. Much of it lacks substance and wisdom. That is why we have to be selective about whom we learn from, whom we follow, whom we spend time with, and what we consume.

I have a saying of my own that I want to leave as part of my legacy:

“Knowledge is not power; the power is in applying what you learn and what you already know.”

Consuming information alone does not change a life. We have to turn it into action, habits, decisions, and results. We also have to treat people well. When honesty, kindness, ethics, and a genuine desire to be useful guide the work, a business can grow without losing its purpose.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

Over the years, many clients have told me, “This is the best haircut I have ever had,” or, “No one has ever cut my hair this way.” I do not share that to feed my ego. To me, those comments form an imaginary display case of awards earned through trust and results people can see.

One of the experiences that affected me most, however, went much deeper than a haircut. A longtime client arrived one day looking emotionally weighed down. We already had a relationship of trust, and we began talking about life, faith, and hope. At the end, he hugged me, began to cry, and told me he had been considering taking his own life. In his own words, that conversation influenced his decision not to do so. Out of respect for his privacy, I would never reveal his identity. He is alive today and remains my client.

I am not a therapist, and I do not pretend to take the place of a mental health professional. That experience taught me that behind the chair, we are not simply working on an image; we are caring for human beings. Sometimes listening, paying attention, and treating someone with dignity can matter in ways we do not fully understand in the moment.

Where do you see your company in the future?

Over the next three to five years, I want to keep creating jobs and helping businesses, both small and large, grow. I want our work to improve their ability to generate revenue and operate effectively, but also to make a difference personally for owners, teams, students, and clients.

For United Multimedia, I envision a much larger operation: trained teams, twelve to twenty mobile production units that visit businesses, and one to three offices or studios where we can welcome clients, record interviews, produce photography and video, print materials, and develop complete campaigns. Much of our operation is currently virtual, and we travel to businesses. The goal is to preserve that flexibility while building spaces and teams that allow us to connect more directly with the public.

I want to continue working with businesses and organizations in Greenville, Greer, and other markets, both locally and nationally. I also want De Barbero Dotado a Artista Leyenda to grow as an educational program that combines technique, business, discipline, ethics, and professional development.

Mindset Priceless is the crown jewel of this stage. It is a legacy project and an intensive, intentional life-coaching initiative centered on faith, discipline, learning, and purpose. It is designed to challenge people to work on their mindset, habits, and personal responsibility so they can pursue goals they once considered impossible, putting God first and doing their part.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest misconception is that being a barber is simply about cutting hair. Technique is essential, but it cannot sustain a career on its own. You also have to consult, listen, maintain hygiene, manage time, understand the client, build a reputation, and keep learning.

Success as a barber, like success in life, goes beyond skill. It includes doing the right thing when no one is watching. It requires discipline. I compare motivation to fuel that briefly ignites something: it may drive you today and disappear tomorrow. Discipline leads you to follow through even when you do not feel like it.

De Barbero Dotado a Artista Leyenda teaches technique and helps students understand that a barber is also an artist. But the program goes further: it addresses mindset, service, business, branding, finances, technology, and responsibility. Everything begins in the mind. A healthy mental state and a focused mindset help us face difficulties and build with purpose.

Artificial intelligence can also help professionals create content, organize processes, and manage their businesses more effectively. Its value comes from using it with sound judgment, human review, and responsibility.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of my greatest struggles has been understanding that talent and vision are not enough to sustain everything I want to build. Running barbershops, developing teams, and building other businesses forced me to learn leadership, administration, finances, conflict management, and structure.

I have had seasons of strong discipline and others when small areas of my life began to become disorganized. That taught me that a person can look successful on the outside and still need work on the inside. Growth means correcting yourself, accepting responsibility, and getting back up each time you fall.

My faith is central, but I also learned that faith must lead to action. There is a biblical principle I always keep in mind: faith without works is dead. I can pray and trust, but I also have to prepare, act, make corrections, and persevere.

“God can do everything in your life except the part that is yours to do.”

When something does not turn out as I hoped, I try not to turn it into an excuse. I face it, learn from it, and keep going. Every day, I try to become a better man than I was yesterday.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My favorite athletes of all time are Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi. I admire Jordan’s competitive mindset and his understanding of teamwork. One of his sayings is, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” I apply that to my life because no great project is built alone.

I admire Messi’s determination, humility, and authenticity. He is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, but what resonates most with me is how, despite his stature, he conveys simplicity and lets his work speak for itself. His way of treating family, fans, and others reminds me of qualities I also admire in Daddy Yankee.

In music, Daddy Yankee is one of my strongest influences because of his discipline, longevity, and the way he has managed his brand. I also admire the expression and depth Arcángel can bring to his music, and Drake’s flow, presence, and reach. These days, I listen to a lot of Christian music, instrumentals, classical music, bossa nova, lounge music, and rap beats. I also pay attention to the music in my professional space because it affects the atmosphere and how clients feel.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

First, I want to recognize my wife, Eva Ramos. She is an esthetician and beauty professional, the founder of ERA Posesión Fundación, and the creator and CEO of Latin Beauty Stage. I admire her discipline and her love for serving vulnerable women, including those who have experienced violence, abandonment, trauma, or incarceration.

Latin Beauty Stage grew out of her experience in the beauty industry and her desire to sustain and expand the foundation’s community work. The event will take place on April 17, 2027, at the Greenville Convention Center, bringing together beauty professionals, brands, academies, and artists. As a team, we are working to turn that vision into a platform for opportunity and service.

I also want to recognize my brother, Jairo Maldonado, known professionally as Jairo Styles. He was already working as a barber when I started and was an important influence on the path that opened up before me.

I am grateful to my clients, students, collaborators, and everyone who chose to believe in my work or give me an opportunity. Above all, I thank Jesus Christ. My faith gives me peace, patience, and courage to face problems without letting them take away my sense of direction.

“You can achieve success and conquer the world without God, but without God, you cannot conquer yourself.”

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

The central hub for my professional work is tulpithebarber.com. Visitors can learn about my barbering, services, and the educational options available through De Barbero Dotado a Artista Leyenda. For appointments, my Booksy profile is the direct route.

Anyone who needs branding, audiovisual production, websites, applications, content, or digital systems can visit United Multimedia Services. We also work with people and businesses that want to learn how to use artificial intelligence and understand how these tools can improve their professional and personal lives.

On social media, I am @tulpithebarber on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and TULPITHEBARBER on Facebook. Latin Beauty Stage and ERA Posesión Fundación have their own websites for anyone who wants to learn about the event and its community mission.