Cityscape talks to House of Barber’s stylishly-dressed and slick-haired barber Jason Nguyen about the art of hair and beards.

How did you get into the hair industry?

I wanted to do what I love and it’s artistic. I learned and worked at a barber shop in Vietnam for two years and came to work in New Zealand four years ago. I feel happy that my talent allows me to make friends and share stories.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a barber?

I would love to go back to school to continue studying architecture. It was a dream of mine in days gone by.

What’s the best thing about working at your barber shop?

It’s a brightly-lit shop with an Xbox game station, chess, and a football table. You can enjoy the best barber shop vibe in the Christchurch CBD and it’s next to Riverside Market so you never worry about food. I love learning with the other barbers. Everyone here is dedicated to each other, like a family.

What is your speciality and favourite style?

My specialities are scissors cuts, skin fades and hot towel shaves, and my favourite haircut style is a pompadour with a skin taper.

Do you have a favourite barber’s tool?

My Babyliss trimmer.

What make you a great barber?

Honestly? Just always listening and learning good things from other people.

What’s your most popular service?

Haircut and beard trim, or a hot towel shave and facial massage.

How do you stay up to date with the trends?

I’m constantly updating on news about the hair industry on social media and checking on barber shops around the world.

One quirky tip for great hair that most people won’t know about:

Try a buzz cut. It’s simple and feels good.

Top tip for someone who wants to be a barber:

Don’t underestimate yourself and never stop learning. If you don’t take yourself seriously and believe in your goals, nobody else will. You need to be your biggest advocate, your biggest supporter, and your biggest cheerleader – even when times get tough. The longer you waste your time selling yourself short on your skills, your services, and everything you have, the longer you’re putting off your maximum potential.

What’s your personal style?

Old-skool, basic, classic.

houseofbarber.co.nz