Starting a barbershop has proved to be profitable to a section of Kenyans who have ventured into the business.
With the high rate of unemployment, most youths have ventured into barbering and diversified it to gain more clients.
In this article, WoK looks at Kenya’s top-rated barbers.
Eric Simiyu
Eric Simiyu, popularly known as Eric One Wash is the founder of popular salon and barbershop, African Royalty Salon.
The barber also runs a showbiz agency that promotes African artistes and concerts.
Through his agency, he has shaved African superstars including Burna Boy, Skales, Otile Brown and Ali Kiba.
He has also shaved politicians such as former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his predecessor Abdulswamad Shariff.
Fahim Skills
Fahim Skills is another celebrity barber, and the founder of K Styles Hair Studio.
He has worked on both male and female celebrities including Mungai Eve, Rayvanny, Otile Brown, DJ Joe Mfalme and Oga Obinna.
In June 2022, he sparked mixed reactions online after disclosing that Otile Brown pays him Ksh 100,000 weekly to cut his hair.
Jimmy Jay
Jimmy Jay, popularly known as Barber Wa Taifa, is a barber plying his trade from Nakuru County.
Having been employed for five years, he quit employment to start his own barbershop which has been in existence for over seven years.
Jay opened his current shop in 2019 and pumped over Ksh 1 million into the same as capital, also noting that he has since made profit out of his investment.
“Because equipments are expensive. For example, a chair costs Ksh 50,000 and for this space I had to get six of them. Other stuff include the gypsum, tiles, CCTVs, products and entertainment,” he explained.
George Dufanda
George Dufanda is a celebrity barber operating from his shop located at the Safari Business Arcade along USIU road.
In a past interview, the barber said he learnt shaving while he was 13, using razor blade and a pair of scissors.
He was born and raised in Congo from where they fled from and lived in Uganda for eight months before settling in Kenya later in August 2011.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and former Mombasa Governor Hassah Joho are some of his many high-profile clients.
The Unknown Barber
The Unknown Barber works at Mintos Salon in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa County.
While at work, the barber puts on a black mask which has since become his signature look thus his name.
“The idea of wearing the mask came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I knew people would not pay so much attention to it because the government had directed compulsory wearing of face masks,” he explained.
Jimmy The Barber
Jimmy The Barber is a professional barber and colorist working from Nairobi.
He has majored in shaving and dying.
Jimmy has also worked with a number of celebrities including Konshens, KRG The Don, Khalif Kairo and Tanzania’s Paul Clement.
