Barber Andrew Stylianou celebrates six decades of cutting hair in Cairns
From mullets and mohawks, to tight fades and styled beards, this Cairns barber has seen — and done — it all. Hear from the veteran of 60 years.
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From mullets and mohawks, to tight fades and styled beards, this Cairns barber has seen — and done — it all.
Andrew Stylianou has been cutting hair in Cairns for 60 years and is still still going strong with the scissors or straight-razor in hand.
Mr Stylianou first began cutting hair as an apprentice when he was 16 after he moved to Cairns from his home in Cyprus.
He spent time cutting hair in Mareeba before he began his own Grafton St business, Andrew’s Barber Shop, in 1971.
It operated across the street before finding its current home at 90 Grafton St, Cairns.
Despite nudging 80, Mr Stylianou isn’t slowing down and still finds joy in the conversations with friends he gets to have in the chair.
“The thing about the job love is the chance to meet and learn from a lot of people,” he said.
“Every conversation is different it might be about football, which I don't know much about, or might just be a catch up with an old friend.”
Mr Stylianou said the ever-changing fashions and trends were one thing which has kept the job fresh for him.
“You have to keep up with the times and fashions and learn to adapt it’s good doing something different everyday to keep it all fresh and new,” he said.
Mr Stylianou operates the shop with his son Demitrious, who himself has been carrying on his father’s work for 34 years since he turned 16.
Demitrios said he did think of entering a career in carpentry but being around the environment of the barber his whole life it was a natural fit to follow the footsteps of his father.
“It’s not a bad job it can go up and down with the amount of business but everyone needs a haircut,” he said.
“To be serving the community this long means we are part of the community and it is great to see locals supporting locals with our usual customers.”
Mr Stylianou’s barber shop is open Monday to Saturday 9am-4.30pm.
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Originally published as Barber Andrew Stylianou celebrates six decades of cutting hair in Cairns
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