These Hamilton barbers started cutting hair as teens. Now, at 20, they own their own shops

Kassim Abdulraheem cut his first head of hair — his best friend's — when he was in grade nine. He said he "butchered" the haircut then, but still cuts his friend's hair to this day.

"He lives in Ottawa... He doesn't get a haircut anywhere else," Abdulraheem told CBC Hamilton.

When he was a kid, he used to watch barber videos on an iPad before he went to bed, he said. 

Now, at 20, Abdulraheem, also known as Kay, owns a barber shop in downtown Hamilton, Kay Cuts Studios.

He's one of more than 60 stylists and barbers coming together Saturday to offer free styling and cuts to racialized youth. Hair stylists and barbers have not met like this in Hamilton before, something that Abdulraheem is very excited about.

"This is probably like the best thing Hamilton has had in a while," he said.

WATCH | Hamilton barber Kassim Abdulraheem on why he loves his job

Abdulraheem opened his barber shop at 483 King Street E. on Feb. 11, 2024, when he was 19 years old. For several years before then, he had been cutting hair in his garage and for other barbers.

He says his work is more than "just cutting hair."

"It's an art. It's also an opportunity to meet so many different people. [On] average, I would cut 15 heads a day. That's 15 different personalities," he said. 

"You actually get exposed to so many different types of people. It's one of the best things."

Abdulraheem said one unexpected aspect of owning a barber shop has been the community he's been able to build in just over a year.

"Everyone just comes and chills here," he said.

"It's just amazing. I love it."