Barber's equipment at Today's Hair, comprising of scissors, combs, hair clips and razors.
Mr Sokha Kry, owner and founder of Today's Hair, standing in front his salon. He opened the salon in 1994 in College Park, Maryland, close to the University of Maryland.
Mr Kry, right, and his employees at work in the salon, preparing their stations and cutting hair. The salon's main customers are the college students and the university community.
Humble beginnings
Before settling down in Maryland, Mr Kry grew up in war-torn Cambodia. Due to the ongoing civil war, his family fled the country in 1979, and sought refuge in Thailand. Thee stayed in refugee camps on the Thailand border for five years, until 1984.
Mr Kry presenting an image of himself with a group of children in Philippines. He said this was one of the few photos during a childhood filled with disruption and migration.
. His family stayed in Philippines for 10 months while his father, a soldier for the People's Republic of Kampuchea, applied for political asylum with the United States. He said there was "limited access to go out of the camps" as his family had no legal rights to roam the country.
Once his family was granted asylum in the United States, Mr Kry moved to Maryland at the age of 18. He studied in a cosmetology school to get a job as a barber, and worked in a salon in College Park.
Mr Kry holding his wedding photo. The couple met in Maryland and Mr Kry married Mrs Pola Kry in 1989, in a church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Mr Kry and his wife, Mrs Pola Kry in their salon. They opened the salon along Baltimore Avenue, College Park, in 1994. Mr Kry left his work at the previous barber to set up his own shop as he wanted to begin a family business. Many of his previous customers remained loyal to him, helping his kick off his business with a steady following.
Mr and Mrs Kry celebrated 20 years of marriage in 2009, with a photo-shoot dressed in their traditional costumes. The commemorative photo is displayed in Mr Kry's office behind the salon.
Mr Kry smiles as he shares about his photo-shoot with his wife, Pola.
A day in the life at Today's Hair
One of the employees of Today's Hair enters the salon for work. Working hours at Today's Hair start at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.
Hairdresser Mrs Tam and Mr Kry prepare their stations just before the shop opens at 10 a.m. Each hairdresser has their own assigned station, with tools and equipment that suits them best.
Mr Kry is seen preparing his station, applying disinfecting lubricant to his razor.
Mrs Kry sweeps dust and hair scattered around the floor. The crew take around 20 minutes every morning to tidy up the shop and make it presentable to the customers.
Ms Sophea Lim at her work station. She has worked at Today's Hair for eight years since coming to the U.S. from Cambodia.
Mr Kry and Ms Lim preparing their stations. Ms Lim said one of the hardest parts of her job is "standing all day long." She said despite doing it daily for eight years, it is still tough work. Hairdressers here serve up to 15 customers each on busy days.
Mr Kry at work, cutting Yong Jun Yuan's hair on Thursday, 18 April. Yong is a sophomore in the University of Maryland, studying Journalism. Mr Kry always begins a haircut with a in-depth consultation about what style a customer wants.
Mr Kry carefully cuts Yong's hair. His request: a slope at the back of the head with medium-length sides. Mr Kry said although slopes are a common request, they were one of the more challenging styles to cut as the tight slopes mean there is little room for mistakes.
Mr and Mrs Kry at work at the stations, positioned are side-by-side. This has been the arrangement since Today's Hair's opening in 1994, when it was only the both of them operating the business. Since then, seven other hairdressers have been recruited.
Vincent Song, left, having his hair cut by Steven Kry, who is Mr Kry's son. Steven is a trained barber and works alongside his parents while studying part-time.
Song, a senior in the college, said he has been getting his hair cut at Today's Hair since he started school in the University of Maryland. He is familiar with Steven and the both of them talked throughout his haircut.
Memo Sahin, left, getting his hair cut by Steven, who enjoys a close relationship with his customers. Sahin, a Civil Engineering major, requested a haircut nicknamed "the economic crash of 2008." Steven immediately understood he wanted medium-length top with tight sides and a slope on the back of his head.
Steven cutting Sahin's hair with a comb and an electric shaver. The salon was busy today, but Mr Kry said he expects to see a fall in customers during the upcoming summer break as most of the students return home. "Holidays are quite quiet here," he said.
Tomorrow's Hair
Mr Kry, left, enters his office behind his son's work station. He said he hoped to one day pass ownership of Today's Hair to his son, Steven, in hopes of carrying on the family business. Steven is still undecided.
A Testudo figurine is placed on a shelf in the salon, a tribute to Today's Hair's main customers.
Mr Kry standing in front of his salon. This year marks the 25th year of Today's Hair. He said he plans to renovate the premises during the summer break this year, when the majority of his customers - students - are away.
Comments
Post a Comment