Rosa Contreras is preparing for a trip back home, but this time, she’s bringing her skills with her.

Contreras, the owner of Main Street Barber Shoppe in Carbondale, will travel to Guatemala for a week as part of Shear Advantage, a local nonprofit that teaches haircutting skills to students in underserved communities. This marks the second year Shear Advantage has made the trip, but a first for Contreras.

“I’m very excited because that was my dream,” Contreras said. “I always wanted to help people and teach, but here in the United States, it’s hard because you have to get a lot of licenses to teach a beauty academy.”

Contreras moved to the United States in 2007 and has owned her Carbondale shop for nearly eight years. She first heard about Shear Advantage last year when her English teacher shared a link about the nonprofit’s work.

“My teacher sent me the link and asked if I was going to Guatemala with these people,” Contreras said. “I said no, I didn’t know anybody. But then I looked it up on Facebook and found the organization. I called the owner, and when she found out I was from Guatemala, she said I could go with them.”

Shear Advantage was founded by longtime Roaring Fork Valley hairdresser Mhairi Loebb. The nonprofit provides education and training to students who may not have access to formal schooling in cosmetology or barbering. This year, the team will expand beyond San Cristobal to Antigua, where they plan to train 20 to 25 students.

“We’re just so happy to have somebody like Rosa who wants to give back, and it’s so exciting that she gets to do so in her home country, ” Loebb said. “She can speak Spanish and jump right in to teach. That makes a big difference for the students.”

The program focuses on teaching basic haircutting skills. In Guatemala, cosmetology licenses are not required, making it easier for students to start working right away. Last year, Shear Advantage saw success with its first group of students, many of whom are now cutting hair professionally.

“We taught 10 students in San Cristobal, and last I heard, all of them are still cutting hair,” Loebb said. “This year, we’re going back to teach more advanced techniques and set up a salon space for students to work in.”

Contreras has been fundraising to cover her travel expenses through a “cut-a-thon” event at her shop. On March 7, She will be offering men’s and boys’ haircuts at a reduced price of only $20, with all proceeds going toward her trip.

“She’s doing this all herself,” Loebb said. “We ask stylists coming with us to contribute to travel and lodging, so she’s raising funds to cover that cost.”

Shear Advantage will leave at the end of April, with Contreras joining a small team of stylists and volunteers. The group will spend the week teaching, providing tools, and helping students develop their skills.

“Growing up in Guatemala, this is what I wanted to do when I was young,” Contreras said. “There are others over there who want to do this and I want to help teach them.”

For those looking to help fund Contreras trip to Guatemala, Venmo @Rosa-DelgadodeContrerasFor more information or to support Shear Advantage, visit shearadvantage.org.