THERE’S a new barbershop on Peel St claiming to be a cut above, giving a youngsters a chance to hone their chops and build a career.
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2340 Barbershop is a “social enterprise” training-up aspiring barbers in a real shopfront based in the Joblink Plus office in Tamworth, staffed by Kylie Potts, Chris Lynch and Courtney Abra.
Chris Lynch is looking to get some formal qualifications after having about eight years of experience cutting hair in various settings.
“It gives us an opportunity to do in store training and saves us from going up to TAFE for training, it’s all located here,” he said.
But cutting hair is a lot more than a job for Mr Lynch, he says it’s a way of life; a message he wears on his arm in the form of a small tattoo.
“For me, it’s a lifestyle,” he said.
“I live and breathe hair, I guess.”
Being able to finally get formal qualifications, means Mr Lynch can get make a career out of his passion.
“I’ve had a big step up about five months ago, I became a father,” he said.
“Having him around me, he pushed me to do this.
“It brings me up everyday, knowing I’m doing this for me and him.”
The head trainer
Kylie Potts is the head trainer, bringing more than 27 years experience, at the new shop and she hoped it might give some more youngsters confidence to pursue a career.
“They’re so skillful, they just need to get their qualifications and the learning environment we, sometimes, put them in, just doesn’t work,” she said.
Mrs Potts said she was originally drawn to the industry because she like working with people, but she said it’s not “always about the hair”.
“It’s also about giving them confidence and people who are in hard times it’s good to get a haircut to freshen up and make you feel good,” she said.
Mrs Potts said the new shop would also be bringing a focus on beards and cut-throat shaves, which she said haven’t been available in Tamworth for a number of years.
Giving others confidence
Helping others gain confidence was a recurring theme for the staff at 2340 Barbershop.
Courtney Abra has been a hairdresser for four years, following in the footsteps of her two older sisters.
“With hairdressing, men’s cuts were my favourite to do,” she said.
“With ladies, it’s more technical, but with men’s I just click with it really.”
Like her colleagues, Ms Abra knows the value of a good haircut.
“If they walk in and they’ve had a shit day, they can walk out feeling a million dollars,” she said.
Ms Abra believes the new Joblink Plus enterprise will be beneficial for students and punters looking for a fresh cut, with a hands-on approach to training the aspiring professional under the watch of experienced professionals.