WITH just a pair of clippers and a dream, Ashwin Chand’s journey to becoming a hairdresser came full circle through optimism and perseverance.
He has come a long way from catching buses in Sariyawa, Nadi, to boarding planes bound for Surrey, Canada.
Chand’s story is one of hard work and determination.
“School didn’t excite me. I went as far as grade eight and dropped out,” he recalled.
It was then that someone suggested he learn a trade to support himself and his family.
Chand first tried his hand at cane harvesting a gruelling task. But six months in, he realized it wasn’t for him.
“That’s when I bought a pair of clippers and started giving free haircuts to residents in the area,” he told S1.
Little did he know, what began as a simple act would grow into a lifelong career, opening doors to some of Nadi’s best-known salons.
“I remember in 2005 when I got hired at Kumar’s Hair Salon. The owner would give me rides to and from work and trained me on how to become a hairdresser,” Chand said.
After a year, he moved on to the reputable My Hair Salon, owned by Bhai Mohammed Saleem.
A New Beginning
Chand relocated to Canada in 2014.
With the promise of a new life, he joined a Surrey salon — but the environment, he admitted, “didn’t impress me.”
“I had a good run, but I needed to move on.”
Building His Own Business
In 2015, Chand made a bold decision: to start his own business.
He began with just a handful of customers, slowly building a loyal clientele through service and referrals.
“The secret of my success is service,” said Chand, who makes every client feel welcome with his humble conversations.
“It all comes down to quality, service with a smile, and a reasonable price,” he added.
Today, Chand operates RJ Village and Spa at the York Centre in Surrey, proof that with hard work, perseverance, and a pair of clippers, dreams can indeed come full circle.
