This Manchester barber is doing £5 haircuts to help with the cost of living

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A barber shop in Manchester has started offering £5 haircuts to help their customers struggling with the cost of living.

Founded by an ex-basketball player who once played for the Manchester Giants and London Lions, Northern Quarter barber shop Jefe’s is offering the cut price trims to men and boys struggling to make ends meet.

The barber shop already offers new customers their first trim for £5 (or £10 with a beard trim), however after reflecting on how the cost of living crisis is ‘getting out of hand’ owner Jefe decided he wanted to do more.

Noticing that other businesses are rising prices ‘because they are also struggling’, he commented that it was a ‘vicious cycle’ before adding that ‘a fresh hair cut can boost confidence and self-esteem.’

He continued: “If the weight of the world is getting heavier. this is where people need to know they have someone they can lean on.”

Tucked just off Stevenson Square on Spear Street, the shop was initially opened after owner Jerelle Okoro retired from sports in 2020.

It made headlines then for launching as Manchester’s first-ever subscription-based barber shop, and now its owner has got the city talking once again with this new affordable service.

Since launching into the world of barber shops, Jerelle has cut hair for the likes of YouTube boxers Swarms and Fuhad, football reporter Carl Anka and The Voice’s Okulaja.

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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Jerelle said: “We know everyone’s struggling at the minute and we don’t want people to struggle mentally because they have to sacrifice seeing a friend.

“The cost of living is getting out of hand, and we’ve noticed that businesses in this crisis are rising prices because they are also struggling too. It’s a vicious cycle.

“A fresh haircut can boost confidence and self-esteem, especially if the weight of the world is getting heavier, this is where people need to know they have someone they can lean on.”

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“I’ve always cut hair, due to my frustrations with how other barbers used to treat me,” he explains. “I felt like the art of conversation and service went missing.

“Now, I have a solid team of like-minded barbers that consistently provide a great service and an amazing haircut.”

“It’s well known in the barbering industry how much impact a haircut can have on people,” he added.

“But that’s not the only thing it can impact, studies have shown men with higher self-esteem perform better in work, act positively, and tolerate frustration much better than those with lower self-esteem.”

Those wanting to book a £5 trim at Jefe’s can do so by texting “Hey Jefe” to 07897022894.

Featured image – Jefe’s