Conversations Encore: The barber who helps boys become good men
Mar 25, 2026
Charles Lomu, a Sydney-based barber and youth worker from Tonga, shares his journey from island childhood to community mentor. He talks about his garage barbershop, the craft and meaning behind fades, using haircuts to build trust, his path through loss and detention, and training young men in skills and communication.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Let The Client Lead Conversation
- Charles treats haircut conversations as client-led: ask open questions because the customer is the expert on their own story.
- He trains apprentices to start with simple openers like 'How's your day?' and then follow the client's lead to build trust.
Haircut As A Low-Stigma Therapy Space
- The barber chair creates a disguised space for men to have one-on-one deep conversations because the haircut masks vulnerability.
- Charles notes clients often feel safe to open up in the chair and leave saying 'just what I needed', gaining instant confidence.
Raised By Grandparents Through Pusiaki Shaped Values
- Charles was adopted to his grandparents (pusiaki) and grew up in Tonga where his grandmother read and explained the Bible daily.
- His grandmother's teaching style was gentle and explanatory, which shaped his values and sense of moral accountability.