STRAIGHT OUTTA barber school WHO: BALIN BURNS. AGE 21. WHERE: UGLY MEN’S ASSOCIATION BARBER & SHAVE SHOP PERTH WA
It’s important to give back to the industry by bringing newbies in and having them feel the pain, by teaching them a skill that will provide them a futrure with endless possibilities. It’s also important we recognise these leaders of tomorrow by celebrating their early success and that’s what we do right here.
been there through my apprenticeship I have worked with the team closely and feel I have contributed to the shop and its growing form in my own way.
Balin, tell us a bit about yourself: I’m not originally from Perth myself I’m from a small country town in the Great Southern part of W.A. called Denmark where I grew up in a coastal country town setting for 17 years of my life. If you weren’t enjoying the ocean back home, it was the forest’s or just relaxing in the dam that’s when it wasn’t raining. School gave me a lot of experiences however I left in year 11 to move to Perth after getting accepted into a college where I finished year 12 as the new kid on the block, which was an interesting experience but fortunately I get along with most. I shared a house with my older brother and looked after myself in the city and it had its ups and downs, tough lessons also but probably the best thing I did for my future. Fast forward two years I’m a hospitality worker in the Hills region of Perth for most the time I was in Pert until I went on a trip to Japan for two weeks. Whilst I was on holiday my restaurant called me and said they closed down for renovations while I was away, so I didn’t have a job to come back to. That was proceeded by a rut in life as being jobless and without director gets confusing. However, I found a hidden away shop at the bottom of the stairs that was looking for a no-experience apprentice and that is when my path was crossed with Uglymen’s Barber & Shave Shop, which is my barbershop and second home in Perth. In the time that I have
Why Barbering? What drew you to Men’s Grooming? I stumbled across barbering through a barber apprenticeship advertisement when I was jobless and on the back foot. Barbering as a skill let alone as a craft or an art is the freedom of expression through hair. It can be artistic, or it can be practical or both. It’s the joy of artistic problem solving which stems my passion and interest. While also being able to offer support in the form of a conversation for all, be it regulars or one-off walk-ins, it’s the mesh of the two that make it for me. Tell us about WA Barber Apprentice of the Year, a massive achievement congratulations! As we all know covid has affected many and interrupted much, however having a reason to motivate myself every morning through my apprenticeship, and the offer of learning new skills was all I needed to work for it. (the award) The award Itself was a huge surprise! I knew I was nominated for it and was a finalist but to take out Barbering was amazing! It gives me more vigour to push forward and hopefully pioneer in the Barbering Industry. What do you love most about Barbering? The creative aspect of being able to craft something tailor made for each person that sits in my chair, and having a share of stories whilst doing it, what’s not to love!
46 Barber Shop Year 10 Issue 3
