Daniel Lim
Grooming is often associated to women and glamour though the trend is now changing.
Local entrepreneurs are taking small initiatives and steps to overturn this misconception.
One of them is an entrepreneur and owner of Klippa Co Barbershop, Aedy Ashryn bin Haji Matali.
He started his grooming and hairdressing journey earlier this year after cementing his parlour at the scenic location along the Kuala Belait river at V-Plaza Hotel.
For many years, society has perpetuated the belief that hairstyling and grooming were primarily female-oriented.
This has led many men and local entrepreneurs like Aedy to feel more comfortable seeking a hairstyling experience tailored to their needs.
“The idea of opening a barbershop came after looking at other barbershops in the Brunei-Muara District. While there are many barbershops that focus on grooming in the capital, they’re almost non-existent here in the Belait District,” said Aedy.
“We had plans to open here, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to postpone our plans to this year, and Alhamdulillah, we were able to make our dream a reality,” he added.
“The concept of our barbershop is different from others as we aim to create an atmosphere that is comfortable to our clients as well as create classy hairstyles that can offer a strong first impression,” said Aedy.
Aedy also strives to scout and discover new local talents when it comes to hairstyling. One of them is a barber named Mohd Suhaimy bin Sulaiman.
He recalled how he first started his journey and his stint in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to learn the necessary skills.
“I took a barbershop course for two months in 2005, and from there I gained the necessary experience of hairstyling and grooming which I continue to hone regularly depending on the trend,” said Mohd Suhaimy.
Mohd Suhaimy said the evolving trend is mainly seen in younger generations.
Many teenagers that frequent the barbershop have their preferences. Since he prefers to work closely with his customers to meet their expectations, “Everybody wins!”
He added, “When a customer walk out happily with his new hairstyle, that’s when I know I’ve done my job.”
As a barber with 18 years of experience, he appreciates the unique opportunity to interact with customers of all ages.
“From children to the elderly, everyone was able to enjoy the hairstyle I’ve created for them. For young children, it can be tricky as it can take a while for them to warm up to a barber. So it’s about making them comfortable, with their parents being the top priority, ofcourse,” said Mohd Suhaimy.
“I think the role of a barberis to make sure there’s a constant interaction with the customer, to connect with them. From there we can grasp their personalities and gauge their tastes. It is important especially when dealing with new customers,” he added.
Aedy hopes that he can maintain his standards when it comes to pleasing his clients.
“When you look at barbershops outside of Brunei, it is surprisingly comparable, in terms of the services we provide. We just need the confidence to make our customers happy,” said Aedy.
