Indian Barbers Turn Haircuts into Art

Indian Barbers Turn Haircuts into Art

Two brothers who cut hair in northern India are offering more than just the usual haircut. They are making art.

Brothers Rajwinder and Gurwinder Singh Sidhu are using their customers’ heads and hair to make their art. They cut hair into the shapes of famous people and places – from the face of singer Michael Jackson to the towers of the Taj Mahal.

The barbers use different kinds of scissors and trimmers to get the look just right.

Barber brothers Rajwinder Singh Sidhu, 29, and Gurwinder Singh Sidhu, 31, make a haircut tattoo of Michael Jackson. REUTERS/Sunil Kataria

Rajwinder is the younger of the two brothers. He said they got their start by offering free haircuts “to anyone we could get ahold of.”

Now the brothers, who are 29 and 31 years old, have more experience. They charge their customers up to $30 for their special cuts.

The customers have brought the brothers pictures of famous Bollywood actors, sports stars and even Mickey Mouse. The customers say they want something that will create interest at social gatherings or parties.

Darbar Singh got a haircut that looked like the Taj Mahal on the day the Reuters news agency visited the brothers’ business.

“The monument is very beautiful,” he said. He added that his special haircut will help him “stand out in the crowd.”

I’m Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

barber – n. a person whose job is to cut men's hair

scissor – n. a tool used for cutting paper, cloth, etc., that has two blades joined together in the middle so that the sharp edges slide against each other

trimmer – n. a tool used to cut items such as hair or grass very close to the surface, usually electric or battery powered