How important is it for Asians to get haircuts from Asian barbers? For many living abroad the answer would be VERY IMPORTANT. The qualities of an individual’s hair can vary greatly from person to person, and it is commonly said Asian hair has different qualities to say Caucasian hair. That is why in recent years, classic barbershops have made an unprecedented comeback for Asian Americans.
 

With a prolific tradition in specialized men’s barbershops in Hong Kong, Mark Lau, son of one of the most representative & celebrated barbers, Master Lau from Oi Kwan Barber’s (since 1962); has succeeded his late father’s business and rejuvenated its brand with a mission to establish a sub-culture for Asians by integrating classic barber techniques with modern male grooming products from Japan, presenting a new fusion of the barbershop experience for Asians. Following his further study at a barber school in KOBE, Japan, Mark started a new shop with a broader vision in 2017, aimed at middle-class customers over the world. “Asians deserve to enjoy specialized barber services not limited to local style e.g. Cantonese or Shanghainese, but for Asians in general.” Mark said. Paying tribute to his father, he spent months preserving the signature of his shop: a vintage barber chair with over half a century of history. 

In the latest Part 2 of the series namely “The Present”, Mark explains how he rejuvenated the brand with a mission to establish a sub-culture for Asians by integrating classic barber techniques with modern male grooming products from Japan, presenting a new fusion of the barbershop experience for Asians. 

 
By sharing the same vision of preserving Asian heritage to the globe, DotAsia is proud to collaborate with Oi Kwan Barber’s to fly up high across Asia! Please visit http://oikwanbarbers.asia for further details and stay tuned with Mark’s stories in part 1 & 2 on our DotAsia channels.
 
 

This.Is.Asia Newsletter Issues

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

10 Years of DotAsia

10 Years of DotAsia

Young Asians Setting Out to Change the World. #RiseWithAsia Whether 10 Internet-years is a long time or not is a matter of perspective. On 9th October 2007 at 12 noon UTC, the .Asia Sunrise launched, allowing trademark holders priority...

read more

Top 10: Asian musicians

In the face of declining global music sales in recent years, the music industry in Asia, particularly that of China, South Korea and Japan, is a rapidly growing economic sector; home to some of the world’s largest music markets. I have shortlisted my top 10 most influential and outstanding Asian musicians as follows:

read more

The Beginning – A Brilliant Sunrise & Landrush

.Asia Sunrise Party in Tokyo Going hand in hand with our mission, before going Live (first-come-first-serve registration) on March 26, 2008, DotAsia successfully completed the Sunrise and Landrush periods from October 9, 2007 to March 12, 2008. The Sunrise Period...

read more