Once operating under a tree, the 24-year-old now owns Takara Barbershop at Mara Arcade in Klang and is recognised as one of the country’s top professional stylists.
Sallehuddin told Bernama that his passion was sparked at age 16, while he was in Form 4. “I started by cutting my friends’ hair using a RM2 pair of scissors. Seeing my interest, my aunt signed me up for a two-day course organised by GiatMara in Sungai Besar, Selangor, in 2016,” he shared.
After completing the course, he received free barbering tools, including scissors, combs, and a long-wire clipper. “At first, I didn’t know how to make use of them, but I was determined: if others could do it, why couldn’t I?”
Despite facing challenges while practising the techniques he had learnt in the short course, Sallehuddin was determined to keep going. After completing his SPM, the third of six siblings enrolled in a six-month hair-design course at GiatMara Shah Alam in 2018.
During this time, the humble space under a tree in front of his family’s wooden house served as his training ground, where he would hone his skills by offering haircuts for as little as RM5 each time he returned home.
“When I decided to pursue this field seriously, some relatives and friends were skeptical, thinking it wouldn’t lead to a lucrative career or had no future,” he said. “But I believed that with passion and sincerity, anyone with skills can succeed.”
Global recognition
To further sharpen his expertise, Sallehuddin actively participated in various national competitions, earning a bronze medal for hairdressing in Worldskills Malaysia Belia 2019.
He also underwent training under the skills development department (JPK) after being selected as the sole national representative in the hairdressing category for the World Skill Competition (WSC) in Shanghai, China.
Sadly, the event, initially scheduled for October 2022, was postponed due to the pandemic. While disappointed, Sallehuddin remained grateful for the invaluable knowledge he had gained during his training under the JPK, which ultimately inspired him to pursue instructor training.
“During my training for the WSC, I worked from Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm, with no days off. I was under constant supervision by my coach. At one point, I even ran away from training and hid for a week because I couldn’t endure the intense sessions and the strictness of my coach,” he recalled.
All of this paid off, boosting his confidence for international competitions. This eventually led to him clinching the 3rd runner-up position at the 28th Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologist Association Cambodia-Asia Pacific Hair, Make-up and Beauty Olympics 2024, held last October.
In addition to offering hairstyling services to a wide range of clients, including brides and celebrities, Sallehuddin now travels across the country to share his expertise as an instructor.
“For hairstyling classes, I usually charge starting from RM350. For bridal hairstyling, fees range from RM500 to RM900. While some may consider it expensive, these services require extensive skills,” he explained.
His expertise has also garnered attention in neighbouring countries like Indonesia, where he has been invited to conduct hairstyling classes. Looking ahead, he hopes to collaborate with hair professionals from Thailand and Korea in the future.
Dispelling negative perceptions about technical and vocational education and training, Sallehuddin said he has proven that such graduates can build successful and lucrative careers, as long as they are dedicated to learning and applying the skills they acquire.