PENANG-born Periyasamy Joseph, a local barber in the state, walked away as the champion (RM3,000) during the Barber Expo Asia 2023, the largest barber event in Asia.
Held at the Tropicana Gardens Mall Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 16 to 18 this year, the event attracted 102 participants from different parts of Asia.
Popularly known as Joseph among his customers, the 38-year-old Penangite clinched the big win under the ‘Brosh Barber Battle Creative Mullet’ category.
Besides the battle, the three-day event also featured other programmes, such as a hair exhibition, a hair show, and many others.
During an exclusive interview with Buletin Mutiara earlier, Joseph attributed his growth as a barber to the support and mentorship of individuals who had believed in his skills and talent in the past.
“After completing my SPM examination, I used to hang out at my friend’s barbershop along with a few other friends.
“There, I admired how the barber provided services like haircuts, oil massages, and facial treatments.
“When my friends were planning to further their education after getting good results, I faced a different situation due to underperforming in my exams.
“At that point, my uncle advised me that if I didn’t excel in education, then I should acquire valuable hands-on skills to survive in this competitive world.
“I took his advice to heart and decided to pursue a career as a barber after completing my studies.
“Mr Vaithalingam, a popular barber in Penang, and the owner of Brothers’ Barber Shop, played a vital role in my rise in this field.
“I spent a few years working with him, and after that, I decided to join a hair academy in Penang to further refine my skills and broaden my experience.
“There, my boss was impressed with my performance, and I progressed from a junior hairstylist to a professional hairstylist. I eventually left the academy to begin my adventure.
“When I left the academy, Mr Vaithalingam suggested that I operate one of his barber shops in Jalan Terengganu, and to my surprise, I did well there and garnered a lot of attention and support from the locals.
“I spent about seven to eight years before relocating to Bayan Lepas, where I now operate my own shop,” Joseph said during the interview.
Coming from a family with traditional thinking, Joseph said he faced several challenges, especially from family members who were initially apprehensive about his choice of becoming a barber.
“Secondly, unlike those days when barber shops were limited, the number of outlets has increased today, and that is a form of competition for all the barber shops.
“Besides that, another challenge is to ensure we stay relevant and updated as new haircut trends emerge, and we must meet the customers’ needs to retain their loyalty towards us.
“The opportunities are endless in this field, and to survive, we need to evolve and keep up to date with the latest developments,” he added.
In a related development, Joseph is keen to mentor young people who wish to enter the barbering business, just as he was given the trust to do so in his early days as a rising barber.
His shop is located at 8-G-17, I-Park, Jalan Rajawali in Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud