Felip Junior Pitoc (FJ) is the founder and owner of Hour Hair Studio in Hackney Wick.

We chatted to him about moving from the Philippines to East London as a child, teaching himself to cut hair and building a calm, carefully designed studio with support from his partner, family and friends.

We’d love to hear about you and your background, where you grew up and what family life was like?

I was born in the Philippines , and we were out there until I was about five. My dad worked as a jeepney driver - like a bus, but a massive vehicle in which passengers board from the back and sit along benches.

It’s quite hectic: you pay while you’re moving and get off at any stop by pulling a cable on the ceiling.

My mum is a nurse by profession but we did own a farm back home in the Philippines and I remember the stories of her selling freshly harvested fruit and vegetables on the side of the road.

We moved to the UK in 2005. My grandma already lived near East Ham, so East London has been where I’ve lived since I was six.

East Ham has changed over the years. I used to loved going to Woolworths and visiting the creative section or the clearance section to see a bargain. I used to get Christmas cards and give them out to people.

Were your parents entrepreneurial?

My dad's ran his jeepney driver job himself. In the Philippines, you see so many different vendors and how hardworking they are.

My parents are hardworking, and there wasn’t really an excuse to not achieve something. My brother Kuya Dave (Kuya is a term used for respect of someone older than you) used to sell hand bags.

My sister Ate Angeline (Ate is the term used for an older sister) opened up her Filipino coffee shop last year too called Angeline's Kahit Ano Cafe in Walthamstow where you can get Filipino bakes and food.

How long have you been in Hackney Wick, and what did it take to establish Hour Hair Studio here?

We moved here in February 2025 and started upstairs in a private hair studio. After about six months, we realised we had outgrown the space.

We had the opportunity to move downstairs around August or September 2025, and we asked ourselves whether we should take the leap. There is always something scary about taking a big leap and gambling on yourself.

The main entrance used to be a large glass window, and we got approval to change it into a door. That gave us the opportunity to be at street level.

We then added a coffee bar. The hair and coffee sides helped each other, even though they were under one roof. The coffee shop has now moved around the corner.

Tell us who you mean by “we”?

Kayla and I are partners and business partners, and we now run the show together. Without her, we wouldn’t be where we are today. She helped design much of the space and worked on the branding.

My family also helped us to open this place. They played a big role in helping me achieve my dream’s and ambitions.

All I have to do is ask my friends and they will be at the front door ready to help. They cleaned the space, upholstered chairs, painted walls, filmed and helped with DIY.

Our uncles did a lot too and I was able to learn DIY skills from them, but most of what you see here we built ourselves.

Who does most of the hair work here?

I have done most of the hair side of the space. You could call me the head barber, head stylist and director.

Our barber Sean joined four months ago, and he’s brought his own skills and speciality to the hair side and has been gaining more clients.

It’s been a busy period at the hair studio as I also have my own clients. I’ve been cutting hair for 11 years and I hope it shows.

Where did the studio’s design inspiration come from?

We have a theme and a colour scheme that keep everything cohesive. We drive around the UK to find the pieces we want, and we get better prices outside of London and through eBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Kayla might see something and say we should get a piece like it, and I will find it. We have some Belmont chairs from Japan, which are built very well.

What was the hardest part of setting up Hour Hair Studio?

The hardest part is finding the right team to work in the space. I had always done hair alone and handled everything myself. The challenge was working out how we could replicate the same service for each client.

No one is exactly the same and no one is a robot. If we make things as easy as possible for a stylist, they can have their own take on the service as long as we give them guidelines.

It was about making the service and the whole experience consistent for everyone who comes through the door, without there being a big difference if they change stylist. We also wanted to keep a standard we believe in.

We don’t have outside investors; it's just us. I had worked in a shop before and knew there were things I liked and things I didn’t. Kayla brought her hospitality experience too.

Why hair?

When I was about 14 or 15, I would get a haircut but was never quite happy with it. So I would go home and fix something about it.

So, instead of writing a CV and looking for a job, because it was hard to find something without experience, I bought some cheap clippers for about £5 or £10 and started cutting my friends’ hair.

I started in a car park, posted on Instagram and got more friends coming in through word of mouth. I appreciate them trusting the process, because when I look back at the photos, those were pretty horrid haircuts. I charged £2, £3 or £5, and then it went up to £10.

I made hair tutorials for YouTube and Instagram, and that built my clientele over time. I continued alongside my A-levels and university, where I studied business management.

Whatever else I did, I was still doing hair, so it stuck with me. Eventually I outgrew my studio and thought it was time to open it up to the world and have my first bricks-and-mortar shop.

Can you tell us more about your experience making YouTube videos?

At the start, it was difficult. I used to watch YouTubers making vlogs, and I watched barbers making hair tutorials. That helped me take techniques I liked and turn them into my own techniques.

I borrowed my brother’s camera and made some videos. They got a few views, and people liked them. The videos showcased my work and the attention to detail in each haircut. They showed people that I was serious about hair and wasn’t just going to have them in and out.

On YouTube and Instagram, my name is FjCuts. A lot of people probably still know me by that name. I first considered “Filipino Barber”, but my mate said, “That name is shit.” FJ works.

What experience do you want to create for customers?

London is fast-paced and hectic. When I used to get a haircut in East Ham, it was a different atmosphere. Barbershop culture there is cool: you meet all the uncles and there may be a whole conversation going on over you.

There is nothing wrong with that, but here we want you to have time to relax while still keeping that culture of talking to people. We want more meaningful conversations, not just small talk.

When getting a haircut you have fair amount of time to talk about anything, and after each appointment you get to know each other a little more. I recently saw a client from my old studio who was about to have a baby shower and it’s like you really see everyone grow alongside you.

We want a space where you can interact with each client and being able to read the room whether you may just want peace and quiet. While hitting these guidelines, it’s paired with professional stylist/barbers to make you not just look the best but feel the best after your appointment.

How have rising costs affected how you run the business and price your services?

It is really expensive out there. I would say this is probably the best price you can get for the haircut you want and the space you are getting it in. My pricing before this studio was already about the same. We provide a more premium feel to a normal haircut.

How many stylists work here, and are you hiring?

It is just Sean and me at the moment, and we are looking to grow the team. It is about finding the right person. You can cut hair, but you also have to be professional. We want to maintain the culture at Hour to make sure we are all on the same page.

What guidance would you give someone who wants to start a salon or hair studio?

If you want to achieve something but are unsure whether to do it, save as much as you can before starting. You don’t necessarily need to leave your current job to open a place. There are other ways to begin, including starting small. You always start somewhere.

Take the opportunity if you have it. If it doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world. There is always something afterwards. If it doesn’t work, try again. You are your own person, and the business is not your whole life.

Did you always know you would own a business?

Feeling that urge from working early on has given me the fire that I can do it. It was just a question of when. I hit 25 years old in 2024 and I said its time to do it.

But looking back, I am grateful and blessed to be where we are today. Even now, we face new challenges. Kayla and I come together and focus on how we can overcome them rather than feeling defeated.

I would work 13 or 15 hours in a day, then go home and play a game of Valorant on the PC. I would rather lose a bit of sleep than give up the things I love. Don’t stop doing what you love, even if you have to do it alongside work.

What do you especially like about Hackney Wick?

It's the people we’ve met and the relationships we have created through our space, hair and coffee. Everyone asks how we have been and how business is going, and they are meaningful interactions.

They aren’t asking a question just for the sake of it. Everyone seems to care around this area.

Which local businesses do you visit or recommend?

The Caribbean Vibes jerk chicken is really good, and I send clients there. And the sandwich van does an amazing cheeseburger with onions and fries - it's a death row meal.

We also go to Luk Bros. They’re great people with a great atmosphere. The braised beef is great, and Kayla gets the curry. The dumplings and cold noodles are really good, too.

We also send clients to Hearth (support Hearth's crowdfunding here).

What would you like readers to picture when they think of what you have created here?

When you think of Hour and look around, everything has intention. You are greeted and welcomed into our space. During the time you spend here, you can relax in our cosy seating area, or play a game on the arcade machine.

You would feel completely different from when you walk in. You would feel at peace. The furnishings, art and music we have here - everything has a purpose and each plays a part in our curated experience for your time spent with us.

This story was drafted by Suru with AI assistance from the reporter's audio and notes, and was passed through Suru's journalism check (sourcing, neutrality, verifiability) before publication. Editorial responsibility: James Sandoval.