Nikky Okyere, a Ghanaian hairdresser who left the shores of Africa in search of pastures has become the go-to barber for celebrities both local and international including English Premier League players from Africa.
Business is now booming for Nikky, but that was not always the case. According to Nikky Okeyere, his mother wanted him to be a Lawyer or a Doctor but he had dreams of being a barber.
He decided to follow his passion and thus took the chance and headed to the UK where he built his brand and now cuts the hair of top English Premier League players like Crystal Palace‘s Wilfred Zaha and Bakary Sako.
Background
Nikky Okyere in an interview with Kwaku Manu has indicated that he grew up in Kotobabi, a town in the Accra Metropolitan district, a district of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
In a family of 7 siblings with one being a step child, Nikky Okyere disclosed that he, his brother and his mother were living in a poor condition especially when their roof leaked when it rains and that result in their living room being flooded.
Nikky Okyere noted that his mother always made sure he draws closer God and she took him to church all the time. Nikky said he had lost his father in his early stage to a short illness and his mother had to pass through the thick and thin to make sure they were well taken care of.
How Nikky Discovered His Barber Styling Talent
Nikky has revealed he never knew he was gifted with the talent as a barber until he challenged one of his friends that he can barber his hair better than the one who cut his hair and his friends dared him to do it.
Nikky explained that he took a bold step and corrected the mess a barber had done of his friend’s hair and he received massive applauds from his friends around that encouraged him to keep shaving people.
Nikky noted that after he discovered his talent, his mother still never wanted him to be a barber but rather asked him to go to school to become a doctor or lawyer.
How Nikky Traveled Abroad To Further His Barbering Talent
Nikky said he one day shaved a guy whom he never knew him. On the process of shaving him, Nikky said he got him entertained with his personal conversation and that was his uplifting period.
The young guy then went home and came back to tell Nikky that his mother was very touched by how Nikky had shaved him explaining that in London he has never had such a haircut before.
The mother of the guy Nikky shaved promised to take him overseas to continue shaving and she fulfilled her promises as she sent documents for Nikky to process to get his visa.
Nikky told Kwaku Manu that upon two attempts, he secured his visa and travelled to UK.
How Nikky Met The World Class Celebrities He Shave Them
On how he started to have celebrities have their hair cut in his shop, Nikky explained that he first shaved Yakubu Ayegbeni, Everton’s superstar and subsequently, he also called on his colleague footballers to com and have haircut in his shop.
One important trick Nikky Okyere revealed he always does to keep his clients is just to keep them entertained by discussing any topic that pops up in his mind with them.
And also, he has dancers who also entertain his clients in his office when he’s shaving someone and they have to wait.
Ghanaian barber, Nikky Okyere, knows the importance of working hard. After moving to the UK he’s become the barber of choice for well-known Premier League footballers. His success in the UK helps him to send money home to friends and family in Ghana and also he recently invited his 80-year-old mother to travel overseas for the first time.
Watch the video below:
Below are videos and pictures of celebrities Nikky have shaved: