Changing lives, one haircut at a time

For homeless children, getting a haircut is not a priority but one hairdresser in Mombasa, GEORGE BRUNO aka Bruno the guru stylist is making a difference and creating some warmth for such kids

Jasmine Atieno @sparkleMine

When he dropped out of  Kwoyo Kochia Secondary School, Homa Bay, in 2012, George Frank Bruno barely had any hopes for the future. 

His father, a widower, could no longer afford his school fees when he was in Form Two, leaving him with no option but to drop out.

But Bruno knew deep down that there were good tidings in store for him if he went out to look for a job. 

His mother had just passed on the same year and the void was so immense. His father’s business as a laundryman was not doing well enough to even put food on the table. Only he was sure that staying at home would not yield much for him. 

“I remember telling my dad about my intention to move out to start a new life, but he could not fathom it.

But one morning I woke up and told him I had made up my mind no matter what his opinion was, I was determined to move out,” he recalls. 

Trusting his determination, his dad gave in, but reminded him that should things fail to work out for him, he was free to go back home. 

“I told him I would only go back once I made it in life. One thing that my parents taught me that has shaped my life is to always trust in God, do what I love and give it my best,” says the 23-years-old who currently stands out as one of top hair stylists in Mombasa. 

Desire to give out

Also well known as Bruno the Guru Stylist, Bruno is one of the most popular stylist barbers in Mombasa town not only for his to-die-for haircuts and makeover hairstyles, but his passion for helping the needy.

He founded Bruno Beauty Hub through which he engages young people interested in growing their hair businesses as well as free training for new barbers. 

That is not all. Once every month, Bruno visits children homes to give the needy children free haircuts and make clothing donations. His show of kindness has over time won the hearts of many in the coastal town. 

“When I came to Mombasa in 2013, I started working as a casual labourer at a construction site before getting into hawking toothpaste, soap, body oil, matchsticks and  boiled eggs,” he recalls.

But in mid 2015, Bruno decided to follow a career he had dreamt of since childhood, beauty. “My dream has always been to become one of the best barbers and hair stylists in the world.

So I went for it. It all began when my elder brother accepted me as a cleaner at his beauty parlour located in Ukunda, South Coast,” says the youngest son in a family of five. 

After months of learning how to cut hair and running a business, he set up several Facebook accounts to build his network before he finally settled on Bruno’s Beauty Hub and spa, a Facebook page that shares content on beauty, cosmetics and personal care as well as share his work with his followers.

He does not have his own barber shop yet, but this page has steadilly obtained a lot of followers. 

In May 2017, he moved from Ukunda to Mombasa where he landeda job as a barber earning a monthly salary of Sh3,000.

His motivation was to gain as much experience as he could with his eyes on the ultimate goal — to make himself a brand in grooming.

“I have worked with different barbershops all in a bid to follow my passion and achieve my dreams of being the best barber and stylist not only in Mombasa, but in the barbers industry countrywide and worldwide,” he says.

Early 2018, he quit his job as a full time barber to start working in a salon to gain experience in beauty and hair dressing.

He worked at the salon for a while before he met his current boss, Susan Kalinda, the owner of Urbano Lounge.

Susan believed in his dream and offered him a job that gave him an opportunity to build his own brand.

“My passion and resilience quickly won Susan’s heart. She allowed me to work for her while I grew independently as Bruno’s Beauty Hub.

I bring her clients and while at it create a strong platform for myself that will soon be a physical beauty spa,” he explains.

Online marketing

Online marketing has played a huge role in doing all these. Almost 80 per cent of my clients are fetched from online advertising. 

In October 2019, he started a foundation known as Bruno’s Movement, which prints T-shirts with his logo and sells them out.

All the profits from the merchandise are used to support different children homes in Mombasa. “I do all these things to give thanks to God for the talent he has gifted me with.

I didn’t pay for it and the only way to show gratitude is giving back to the community. I love charity work and I promised myself to help the needy my whole life with the little I have,” he said.

About giving orphans free haircuts, Bruno says everyone has the right to an ordinary life despite their social status.

They need to have the right to be included in the community by accesing services such as having their hair done by real hairdressers. He describes life on the streets as tough because there is no one to help you.  

“I always do my best, trust the process and never give up no matter what. Above all trust in God,” says Bruno. 

Bruno’s future plan is to open a barbershop and SPA that can accommodate both learners and skilled barbers and other professions interested in the beauty business. 

“When I look back at my life, I realise that every time I thought I was being denied something good, I was actually being redirected to do something better.

You must always convince your heart that whatever God decreed is most appropriate and most beneficial for you. Trust in God, trust the process,” he says in conclusion.