Arnett Gardens man making the cut as a barber

Balbow Saunders was always fascinated by the blaring siren and continuous honking of fire trucks as they hastily made their way to respond to an emergency.

It came as no surprise then that the Arnett Gardens, St Andrew resident chose to be a firefighter as the ideal career choice. But his dreams were crushed after leaving Trench Town High School with only two subjects, physical education and integrated science. He felt defeated, as he viewed becoming a member of the Jamaica Fire Brigade as the ideal opportunity to escape the clutches of the inner-city community.

"Me did a wonder weh me a go do in life. Me did a bit concerned because to go further [firefighter training], dem a say me need five subject. A two me did have," Saunders said. He took the initiative to get involved in the Charlie Smith High School afternoon programme, Adult Continuing Education, with the goal of attaining additional subjects. But another disappointment hit Saunders, as he could not secure the fees to sit the examinations.

"Me say me nah stop right here suh. Me affi do something," the 28-year-old said; and that he did.

He dug deep and started trimming his cousins and other community members, before making the conscious decision to make barbering his primary source of income. He proudly stated to THE STAR that he had been giving himself haircuts while he was a high-school student, but did not think of taking it seriously as a profession.

"Me just make up my mind say me a go do the barbering; and from me start the barbering, me just tell myself say a it me a go do for the rest of my life. Barbering is art, and it is my love of art that brought me to it. Me see the potential in myself and I am very passionate about it," he said.

About three years ago, he received a Level 3 certification in barbering from the Trench Town Polytechnic College and has been focused on improving his skills in an effort to improve the services he offers to his growing clientele. From that time, Balbow's Clean Cut was born. He currently operates from a small shop in his community.

"Me love the satisfaction me get from it. My favourite part of barbering is the fade, to blend out the hair from one level to another; that feel good. Sometime, to be honest, me think 'bout it, 'Why me never go do the firefighter thing?' But me comfortable with barbering. It pays and me enjoy doing it. Me nuh really want do anything else," Saunders shared.

Currently, the entrepreneur is seeking funding to expand his shop and make it into a well-built structure to accommodate more customers. And he will need the space as, when the news team visited his shop on the weekend, customers were patiently waiting both inside and outside to get their haircuts.

Through his business, he is hoping he can elevate his community as well as use it as a push for social mobility.