Publications
Partners
- Adiel Salie runs a successful barber shop from a converted room in his Bonteheuwel home.
- Self-taught, he was last year named the Bump Patrol Schick Battle of the Barbers winner.
- Salie’s services are in high demand - a seat in his barbershop needs to be booked, on average, a week in advance.
In a converted room in his Bonteheuwel home, Adiel Salie carefully snipped at the hair of Alan Winde, the Western Cape premier. As he does with all his customers, he carefully considered his moves as he gives him a classic cut – not too short, not too long and in perfect symmetry.
And his client sat perfectly still, allowing one of the best barbers in the country to work his magic.
"It was awesome having such an important person like Alan Winde in my chair," Salie told News24.
The married dad of two is quite a big deal himself. The founder of Gents Pride Barber Shop was named the winner in the 2020 Bump Patrol Africa battle of the barbers, the same year he was crowned the Duel Master at the Duel of the Barbers in Stellenbosch for a "blitz fade" he cut in 58 seconds.
In 2018, he recorded the fastest fade and best cut at the King of Cutz competition.
He has been perfecting his craft for the past 20 years and his small business attracts people from across the city to the Cape Flats community, about 15km outside the CBD.
His fascination with barbering started when he was a teenager. He started cutting hair as a means to earn money, using his friends as guinea pigs as he worked on fine-tuning his skills.
READ | 'It is a humongous task' - Growing gardens on the Cape Flats to help feed thousands
He was later formally employed as a sweeper in a clothing factory for five years, but his passion was cleaning up mops of hair with his trusty hair clippers, spending time at local barbers to learn what it takes to run a business.
"When I lost my job, I started doing this full-time. I didn't get any formal training - I just did what I had observed and practiced myself."
As his popularity grew, Salie realised his dream of opening his own barbershop in Bonteheuwel.
"Wow, that was an achievement. I learnt so much, gained experience and built a reputation of professionalism," he said.
"But because of where my business was situated, gangsterism was a reality. Initially, there was a level of respect - I operated without any interference or trouble. But later things changed. Twice there were shootings, right in my shop. Luckily nobody was killed or hurt."
Worried about his safety, he closed his doors and started plying his trade from his home.
After two years of saving, he converted one of the bedrooms into a barbershop.
His immaculate workspace boasts professional equipment and quality products used by him and his two assistants.
But when the Covid-19 lockdown hit, his business was crippled.
"There was no income. I wanted to operate my business, but things needed to be legal and done in a way that keeps everyone safe," he explained.
"I downloaded an app so that we could have an online booking system. Now the system is streamlined and more professional as it works according to appointments."
Salie's services are in high demand - a seat in his barbershop needs to be booked, on average, a week in advance.
While most of his clients are local, his social media pages resulted in people from across the city seeing his work and heading to his barbershop for a consult and cut.
Salie also trains the area's children in the art of barbering.
"It's a skill. I want to keep them busy so that they don't spend their time on the street corners, asking passers-by for money. So many have come out of my shop and started their own things, which makes me proud."
While keen to pass on his knowledge to younger people, his eyes remain fixed on expanding his own empire as plans are afoot to open another shop in a neighbouring suburb.
"But my Bonteheuwel branch will always be special. It has given me an income and these customers are my people."
Do you want to know more about this topic? Sign up for one of News24's 33 newsletters to receive the information you want in your inbox. Special newsletters are available to subscribers.
