Naser

By Rex A C. Silver

Born Hussein Naser, although these days he prefers to go by just Naser, is a man with an incredible story. Beginning with a life of enormous toil and hardship, restriction, displacement and then, at the age of 18 and upon arrival to Australia, a life lived forward from that moment… fully embracing his newfound freedom, and achieving all that he has set his heart and mind to.

Well almost…. his Barber journey still has many goals he’d like to tick off and I can see them all happening for him with the determination he embodies, and the passion he gives his craft.

Naser has embraced the country that has bestowed him this beautiful gift of acceptance, belonging and freedom and through his art, Naser paid tribute to Australia with his collection ‘Living in Two Worlds”. This collection earned him a finalist’s placement at this year’s AHIA Creative’s and a place in the hearts of the judges and sponsors for such a touching and heartfelt gesture to our first nation’s people.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1988, at the age of 12, he moved to and grew up in Jordan. As a refugee he could not go to school and had to work from the age of 12 to help provide for his family, working in a men’s clothing department store.

He was in the A league soccer academy in Iraq and would have most likely played for his country had he not needed to flee Iraq.

He arrived in Australia in 2006, could not speak any English, attended school and learnt English along the way.

How and when did you connect with Barbering?

I had the passion for barbering because my older brother was a barber apprentice in Iraq. When I arrived in Australia, I went to school to learn English. I had an opportunity to study nursing.

While I was studying, I went back to Iraq and visited my sick grandfather. When I saw him, he was unshaved and had not had a haircut. I tried to take him to a barber, but they would not help him because he was shaky. I looked after my grandfather for a month, grooming him and caring for him, giving him haircuts and shaving him.

When I returned to Australia, my practical for nursing was in an aged home where I took care of elderly men by giving them haircuts and shaves. In 2010 I was asked by my soccer coach if I would work for him in his barber shop which he had just started. He was impressed by my own haircut and beard grooming and was even more shocked when I told him that I had done it myself! I worked part time barbering and nursing from 2010 - 2013

When did you open your 1st shop? Walk us through that period and how it has grown for you.

I opened my first shop in 2013, the first 3 months I worked on my own. As the shop got busier on the weekends, I employed a senior barber. After 6 months, I then employed an apprentice who I trained up myself. In 2015 – I opened a shop in Victoria Park WA – which I later sold to a staff member. I then opened a shop in 2017 in South Lake, which, again I sold to one of the staff who worked for me also.

I trained both of these staff members and taught them the business model that I formulated over the years of running my barber shops. I was then able to buy my first premises and then a second premises. I am currently fitting out the second premises with a Barbershop of my own design and style.

Tell us about your education platform and how that operates.

I am normally invited by different product companies or scissor companies as a guest educator. The classes are held for students who are training up, but also for experienced hairdressers and barbers. The haircuts covered are classic cuts, fades and they are always very interested in the beard work and designs that I do. In 2019, I also decided to do some studying of my own by doing some TAFE courses, as well as achieving my formal barbering qualification by way of an RPL. As I was unable to teach at TAFE or on the premises at TAFE without a Cert IV, I obtained that also, so now I am fully qualified to do the teaching I have been doing for some time already.

Tell us about the inspiration for the AHIA finalist collection.

I love entering competitions because I like to challenge myself to achieve something that is recognised by the industry. I believe my style and creativity is unique to my personality and I try bringing that out in every collection.

The AHIA collection was a tribute to our First Nations, and I wanted to pay my respect to the country that took me in as a refugee and is now mine and my family’s home. As someone who was not born here, I wanted to honour Australia as home.

Let’s talk about hair in more technical sense. Tell us what tools you love to use and why.

Scissors:

Different brands since 2010, Excellent Edges, Olive Gardens. Ace scissors EE 6.5 – good for texturing and giving a sharp finish. Can be used over fingers or comb. Different techniques without changing the scissors Crock Scissors – good definitions of hair cut like Mallet, French Fade, Pixie Cut

Machines:

WAHL – Best worked with, all models. I use this as my everyday machine for all my cuts. I love the feel of this machine, I have even have a tattoo of this machine on my arm. Andis – T liner for a beard fade / design and creativity. When I went to the USA in 2011, I bought my first Andis machine, I cut it to create my own T liner 11 years ago. I still have this machine. I use Andis for all my design and creative work. Andis makes it easier for me to work quicker without having to change a guard.

What care and styling products do you choose to use and sell in your shop?

American Crew – Dust powder and sea salt spray for a messy look, for styling and bold looks and design. Morgan’s Pomade for the slick look. I use softener and straightener for beard. Beard Oil and Anti Bac soap Slick products for my everyday classic look, like a Clooney look. Slick Beard Wax

What’s on the horizon for 2023 and beyond?

I am opening my bigger shop, with my own design of the shop interior I mentioned earlier. Doing more education classes and training more apprentices who are interested in barbering.

I would love to promote and be an ambassador for Wahl or Andis!! In 2024, I would like to complete the business diploma I am commencing in January 2023. It’s 9 months as a course but I am allowing extra time. My 5-year goal is a barbering school in Perth. I will enter more competitions and put my name out there and I would love to compete Internationally!