685 Barbershop owner Too Junior Foaga, 17, enjoys learning from his clients. Photo / Judith Lacy
685 Barbershop owner Too Junior Foaga, 17, enjoys learning from his clients. Photo / Judith Lacy
Too Junior Foaga was just 11 when he started helping in a barbershop. Weeks off his 17th birthday, he opened his own barbershop in Palmerston North.
TJ, as he's known, has named his venture 685 Barbershop - 685 is the international calling code for Samoa.
Foaga was born and raisedin Palmerston North but his parents are from Samoa and he decided to acknowledge his heritage in the shop's name.
Last year, Foaga completed his NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering at BHB Academy. He completed Level 3 and Level 4 in rapid time and in October opened 685.
Foaga's parents have handled the legal and business side of things while he focuses on cutting and shaving. He says he's blessed to have the support of family and friends.
A client at Reform Barbershop, Foaga was just 11 when he asked the Reform owner for work experience with an eye on one day supporting himself. After school he used to sweep the floors and run the cash register. It was harder to help out when he got to high school as he got busy with study and sport.
Just after he turned 16, Foaga started working at Star Cutz Barbershop.
Blended cuts, such as the one Too Junior Foaga sports, are trendy. They incorporate a bowl cut on top and shaved skin below. Photo / Judith Lacy
His tutor at BHB Academy, Tyberious Jones, and his schoolmate from Manukura, Iraia Roberts, also work at 685. Roberts is also 17 and the friends also work at the Countdown Distribution Centre.
