This inspired me to open up a barbershop with my cousin in 2015, at the age of 32. At the time, we were situated in a small shipping container in Brixton, but we still created a comfortable and open environment for our customers. We were also one of the few barbershops in London to be based out of a 40ft shipping container. But we didn’t let this stop us, as it doesn’t matter where you are based for you to be able to create a vibe.

In the 2020 COVID pandemic, barbershops in the UK were forced to close for many periods during the various lock-downs. Human contact was limited as we were advised to stay indoors and isolate ourselves. This put a lot of stress on people’s mental health. Mine included. The situation helped me realize the importance of owning a barbershop and the difference it could make to people who might be struggling with mental health challenges, not just post-lockdown, but beyond that. I saw an opportunity to keep doing what we were doing as a barbershop, but to get the right training to be able to address certain things if needed, such as people’s mental health.

This led us to transfer to a different unit in Brixton, using lockdown as an opportunity to renovate a bigger shop that specifically focuses more on the customer. So, we opened our new branch in September that year.

Mental health has always been important to me because as a barbershop owner, you are being trusted with personal information because people generally feel that they are in a non-judgmental space that feels safe.

Typically, you’d hear a range of things in a barbershop. From local gossip to nights out, or even current affairs. But, sometimes you get to deal with more personal stories also, from people who may have relationship troubles, family-related problems, or even financial or work-related stress.

In order to be able to listen to our customers properly, as well as facilitating a safe space for them, I signed myself and my colleagues up for a charity called 12th Man, which had launched a campaign to provide free mental health training using Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainers to teach people basic mental health assistance and referral skills.

The charity helps in organizations where essential conversations take place, including some industries like the tattooing industry, the transport industry, and the hospitality industry. At the time, I had to inform my team that we were not claiming to be therapists—our intention in doing this was to train ourselves to better hear and understand the men who have conversations with us. Being able to show empathy and be good listeners was the ultimate goal.

Although our intention was to better communicate with our customers, this program also allowed me to pay further attention to the staff that I am managing, as I was able to notice when they felt worn out. It has encouraged me to ask the right questions. It also allowed me to personally reflect and become aware of my own triggers, such as the emotions that come with me overworking myself and not taking enough breaks.

The training also teaches you to show empathy, not sympathy. People with mental health challenges don’t want you to feel sorry for them, they want a good listener who might be able to help lighten the load, in a balanced, empathetic, and positive manner.

Technology has also helped us to significantly improve our offering. We are a bookings-only barbershop and use an app to ensure people don’t have to wait for long hours. Interestingly, sometimes our customers use the app to leave us notes about how they are feeling, or potential conditions they might have. This prepares us to ask the right questions or to be more caring and conscious in relation to certain topics. In person, these men may not feel comfortable telling us that information due to the idea that opening up may make them seem “weaker.”

We’ve had very positive feedback from our customers since implementing the program. People send us personal messages all the time thanking us and saying that they’ve been going through their own personal challenges, and respect what we’re trying to do. In July, we collaborated with a fashion brand and offered optional free haircuts to customers across those days, while donating the proceeds to the mental health charity, CALM.

Currently, we are in the process of teaming up with another charity called The Lions Barber Collective, run by Tom Chapman. After Tom’s best friend sadly died by suicide he decided to start this charity. The aim of The Lions Barber Collective is to train barbers on how to have appropriate and relevant conversations with other men, allowing them to open up while breaking the common norm that all men have to “man up” and will be shunned if they speak of their own mental health. The Lions Barber Collective is similar to 12th Man, but it is specifically tailored to barbers which will offer us more specific guidelines.

There is such an amazing opportunity with the platform that we have. We can genuinely help people. Ultimately, we’re trying to listen, to pick up on certain things, to show empathy and to make someone’s day better.

Ben Theophanous is the business owner of Curfew Grooming in London. You can follow him on Instagram @curfew_grooming.

All views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

As told to Carine Harb.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.