Meet Krishneel Sami who is a barber at Blade & Scissors Hair Lounge at Vanua Arcade, along Victoria Pde in Suva.
Even though there were not many people coming to have their haircut done at midday, Krishneel is still optimistic and determined that business will be good.
This new barber shop opened in Suva late last year and Krishneel is helping his manager trying to get the business going despite the hardships following the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Krishneel, 30, used to work at Supercut before being approached to work at Blade & Scissors Hair Lounge.
“This is now my seventh year working as a barber and I tell you it’s an interesting job.
“You will meet different people and make new friends.
“As a barber, you need to make sure to serve your customers well and do a good job.
“You will need to do a good job so they will come to you every time they need a haircut.
“If you don’t satisfy a customer, then you won’t receive an income. So you have to be at your best all the time.”
Krishneel was brought up in Naleba, in the cane fields outside Labasa Town.
“Growing up at home was not easy. We had to work hard and help our parents.”
Now, when I’m living in Suva, I have to be independent and work hard in order to survive.
“After I finished my Form 6 in 2012, I came to Suva to study automotive electronics at Fiji National University.
“During my free time, I usually go to my elder brother who is also a barber.
“So my brother Ronald introduced this work to me and I eventually tried it out.
“From that time until now I have never regretted being a barber.”
Krishneel said the busiest times were usually on weekends and before the start of the new school year.
The new haircut, he said trending among the young and old was the “fade haircut”.
He explained that as a barber you have to learn quickly and keep up with the new trends and how to deliver a new haircut that was in demand.
“I always ensure that I am on par with the rest of the barbers on the new hairstyles and broaden my skills. YouTube is also helpful for tips.”
In the future, Krishneel said he hoped to have his own barber shop.
In the meantime, he is determined to work hard and ensure that Blade & Scissors Hair Lounge gets a lot of customers.
