Birmingham, UK

I opened the barbershop that once refused to hire me

Dear Delyara, When I completed barber training, one local shop owner told me customers would not trust a woman to cut men’s hair. I worked mobile instead, carrying equipment between clients’ houses, then rented a chair in another salon. I saved for five years. Last year, the same shop became available after the owner retired. I signed the lease. Today marks our first anniversary. We have three barbers, two of them women, and Saturdays are usually fully booked. The former owner came in this morning. He needed a haircut. I recognized him immediately; he took longer to recognize me. I could have said something clever. Instead, I asked how short he wanted the sides. Career success felt better that way. I no longer needed one old rejection to become the most important story in the room. I cut his hair, he paid, and another customer sat down.