A barbershop in Logan is doing more than cutting hair, with owner Nicky Pati using the chair as a place for conversation, connection and support.
Mr Pati’s journey into barbering began in Samoa, where he gave his first haircut under a tree using his mother’s sewing scissors and a stick carved into a comb.
After finishing school, he moved to New Zealand in 1999 to build his skills before relocating to Logan in 2004.
“I moved here when I was 25,” Mr Pati said. “Logan felt like home. There were so many Samoans and Pacific Islanders here, I felt like I could connect and relate.”
Mr Pati joined the Slacks Creek barbershop Spasifik Cuts in 2006 after reconnecting with friend Beau Loulanting, who had opened the business a year earlier.
Over time, he moved from barber to manager, then partner, before eventually taking over the shop in 2017.
Today the business has grown to include a second location at Springfield and has become a gathering place for many in south-east Queensland’s Pacific Islander community.
Beyond haircuts, Mr Pati has also created spaces for conversations around wellbeing.
Each month, he hosts a group called His Space, where men gather to talk, share experiences and hear from people who have worked through personal challenges.
The barbershop also offers free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship, while apprentices use the opportunity to practice their skills.
Mr Pati recalled one encounter with a man who had been living on the streets.
“A few years ago, a homeless man came in. He didn’t open his eyes the whole time. I gave him a haircut and some water,” Mr Pati said.
“When we finished, he opened his eyes and said, ‘I haven’t seen that guy in a long time.’”
For Mr Pati, the role of a barber extends well beyond the haircut.
“Customers become lifelong friends,” Mr Pati said. “I feel like I haven’t worked in more than a decade, I’ve just been doing what I love.”
Mr Pati’s story is one of several highlighted in Logan City Council’s Logan Legends campaign, which celebrates people making a difference in the community.
Residents can nominate a local hero or read other stories by visiting loganlegends.au
