NRL 2024: Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton tackling successful barber business in Bondi

Angus Crichton has faced plenty of tough challenges on the field, but it was taking clippers to the hair of Roosters coach Trent Robinson that made him truly nervous. He’s now turned his hobby into an empire.

Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton doesn’t get nervous when he picks up the clippers. That was, until the day coach Trent Robinson asked for a haircut.

Crichton has turned his passion for men’s grooming into a booming venture, opening the doors to AC Flo at Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach in August 2022.

The 28-year old has been giving haircuts to family and friends since he was a teenager and his Roosters teammates turned to his skills when in Covid lockdown back in 2020 and 2021.

So did Robinson, probably the only head coach to get a haircut from one of his players.

“Yeah, in the bubble I was cutting everyone’s hair. I’ve only given Robbo (Robinson) the one hair cut. I was a bit nervous about cutting that one,” Crichton said.

“I didn’t want to ruin it for him but I think I did alright. It was just a short back and sides, nothing too crazy.”

The likes of Brandon Smith, Connor Watson, Sam Walker and Daniel Tupou are regulars at AC FLO, which is part owned by fully qualified barber Florian Lagrange.

Roosters star Angus Crichton (right) alongside barber Florian Lagrange (left) outside their barber shop in Bondi. Picture: Jordi Kapiotas

“Mens grooming and men’s hair has been growing,“ Crichton said.

“I think the more that men don’t really care what other people think, they are happy to go get groomed and they like to look good. Now that is fine and acceptable.”

Business has taken off for Crichton and Florian, and the business partners are in the process of opening a second shop in Sydney’s east.

The goal is to go global.

Crichton and Florian are looking to expand their business into Sydney’s east, and perhaps further. Picture: Jordi Kapiotas

“We’re looking at our second location in Darlinghurst at the end of next year,” Crichton said.

“It’s something in the pipeline which is pretty cool. It’ll be a bit bigger than this shop. I’m a bit nervous and a bit excited but I think it will be a good journey.

“Florian is on my coat tails, he wants to open a shop in Dubai. He wants one in every city.”

It’s a venture Crichton is planning on pouring his energy into full-time post his footy career.

“It’s good to have stuff outside of footy to keep you going,” Crichton said.

“I’ve always been thinking about setting myself up post footy. You can’t have footy forever. NRL’s careers are short and can stop at any time.”

AC Flo has received a lot of love from Roosters players and fans. Picture: Jordi Kapiotas

While Crichton always enjoyed cutting hair, it was mateship that gave the Roosters backrower the push needed to start the business.

“My business partner is a little French barber from Paris. We used to always talk about opening a shop together. When his shop shut, he came to me and said, ‘The time is now’,” Crichton said.

“He either had to go back to France or get sponsored (to stay in Australia). So we decided to open up the shop together and we sponsored him.”

For Crichton, AC Flo is not just a barber shop but a place to build a community where men can catch-up, get a haircut and potentially bump into their favourite NRL star.

Already, Roosters fans, particularly kids, have been flocking to the Campbell Street location.

“Florian had a great reputation in Bondi before opening our doors so it has been a seamless transition. A lot of his clients followed him across and we have new clients,” Crichton said.

“Roosters fans and all the little kids that come in every now and then with Roosters jerseys, everyone now and then. It’s a cool way to connect with the community and meet new people.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Sydney Roosters star Angus Crichton tackling successful barber business in Bondi