Changing Lives One Haircut at a Time

Kompas/Rony Ariyanto Nugroho

Students of the Baraya Desa haircutting course in Banyuresmi village, Garut, cut the hair of SMK Negeri 2 Garut Vocational High School students, Garut, West Java, on October 18.

Banyuresmi village, Garut Regency, West Java, is a legendary place for the haircut trade. Passed down through generations, the original Garut or Asgar haircutting skill has continued to live on. Now, when the transfer of knowledge is done in a more measured manner, the spirit of maintaining the tradition and achieving prosperity is still very much alive.

The fingers of Tri Widodo, 35, move swiftly to work the sharp scissors on the veranda of SMKN 2 Garut State Vocational High School. Strands of hair were falling to the ground from the head of Diaz, 16, a student at the school, which is located in the heart of Garut.