A Pakistani barber uses 15 pairs of scissors to give his country’s cricket stars a cutting-edge hairstyle.
The tiny salon in Lahore owned by Sadiq Ali, 33, is always full of customers patiently waiting their turn to experience the unusual technique.
The father of three holds 15 sharp scissors in one hand and uses them all at once to give his clients a signature ‘spicy’ haircut.
He takes 20 minutes for the haircut and charges only £1.50 for his services.
Local media helped Mr Ali’s client base to grow, and popular cricketers such as Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, coach Mickey Arthur and Inzamam-ul-Haq have become regular customers.
Mr Ali said: ‘They love the spicy haircut that I have invented. It is different from the usual cut because 15 scissors are used to trim the hair and once it is done, the hair comes out really neat and stylish.’
A barber for last 15 years, Mr Ali’s unusual technique was inspired by Chinese hairdresser Zedong Wang, who set a world record for using ten scissors to do a haircut in 2007.
Mr Ali said: ‘I saw his act on internet was spellbound by his talent. He was unbelievable. I was (so) inspired by him that I decided to outdo him.’
A Pakistani barber uses 15 pairs of scissors to give his country’s cricket stars (such as Sohail Tanvir, left) a cutting-edge hairstyle. The tiny salon in Lahore owned by Sadiq Ali, 33, is always full of customers patiently waiting their turn to experience the unusual technique
Bowled over: Former Pakistani cricket team captain Inzamam ul Haq (pictured) was impressed with Sadi Ali’s skills as he cut his hair using 15 scissors at once
In 2011 Mr Ali pulled off giving a haircut to one of his clients using 11 scissors.
He said: ‘It took me at least five years to hone up my skills. Holding eleven scissors in one hand was not an easy thing. They were heavy and it was difficult to make them work all at one time.
‘Slowly, however, I got used to holding them and using them successfully for haircuts.’
Mr Ali said: ‘Every day I get swarmed by customers but I restrict the number for the services to only 20 as I want to do my job perfectly.
Local media helped Mr Ali’s client base to grow, and popular cricketers such as Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir and Hasdan Ali (left) have become regular customers
Looking sharp: Younis Khan, former national cricketer for Pakistan, gets the popular trim
Brush with fame: Mr Ali hopes to set a Guinness World Record for using 16 scissors for a haircut
‘People find my style very unique and queue up outside the salon.
‘Even cricketers come to me for a haircut regularly. Those players who live in other cities visit me for a haircut when they are playing matches here or go for an international tour.
‘It feels good that everyone appreciates my hard work.’
Mr Ali hopes in the future he will set a Guinness World Record for using 16 scissors for a haircut.