Black Crow Barbers has been taken over by a familiar face.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kayla Grant has stepped out of the shadow of Koroit's Deta Hair and Beauty and bought the men's only barber shop.
"Black Crow was with Deta but I thought it was time for the little brother to grow up," Miss Grant said.
I thought it was time for the little brother to grow up.
- Kayla Grant
"Kyra (Crow, owner of Deta Hair and Beauty) asked me if I would consider buying it and I thought, why not?"
Miss Grant was formally the barber at Black Crow and stepped into a management and ownership role on January 13.
"This was not on my radar at all," she said. "But last year with Covid, it was really bloody tough and put a lot into perspective. There were lots of blood, sweat and tears.
"Lots of people had a tough time last year and a lot of clients were coming in not just to have their hair cut, but to have a chat, a cry, a beer and a laugh.
"Sometimes I was the only person they saw all week."
Miss Grant hopes to introduce events for her clients in an effort to connect with more people and bring a men's hub to the town.
"Last year I really felt the community support was alive and well in Koroit," she said. "I had to close for six weeks and men came in with long hair saying they'd waited for me to reopen.
"My clients take me for laps in their hot rods and let me know what's happening in their lives.
"I'm a personal carer too and I think that's made people feel more comfortable with me.
"Once-a-month I want to invite the men to go to the Commercial Hotel for a beer and dinner to have a chat and a social time."
The busy barbers averages between eight and 15 hair cuts a day and on it's busiest day Miss Grant did 29 haircuts.
Though under new ownership, Miss Grant will keep the same set-up of the barbers with walk-in appointments only and continue serving Noodledoof beer.
"I want to get more of a skin care range so some of the men can learn about it," she said.
"But I'll still have the same beer and when I'm busy the men go to the brewery for a beer to have a chat with (the owners of Noodledoof) Alex and Sam and I text them to let them know when to come back in.
"This business has been great for the community. Men have come from as far as Hamilton and Terang and all these places I've never heard of to have their hair cut. They make a day of it by going for a beer, buying their Tattslotto at the newsagents and heading into the butchers.
"I love Koroit and I will live here one day. When I'm not busy I sit on the seat out the front and every second person in their ute waves to me and the butchers across the road really look out for me too."
Black Crow Barbers is open Tuesday-Friday from 9am-5.30pm and Saturday from 9am-2pm.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.