Kevin Lieu is a local barber operating his small business out of his parents’ garage in Albanvale. He spoke to Sam Porter about his community and his career.
What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I’ve spent literally my whole life here. I live in the area, went to school down the road and it’s where I work and hang out. It’s definitely home for me and a place that I love. My barber business is based in the area and the majority of my customers are locals.
What do you like about where you live?
There’s lots of things I love. It’s easy to get everywhere. We have everything at our fingertips, in particular some amazing food options which I definitely take advantage of. When I was younger, I spent a lot of time outdoors exploring local parks and outdoor spaces. We would go skateboarding, biking, walking the trails. It was a great place to spend my childhood and I’ve got fond memories of being around the community. Obviously my business, Fineline Studio, is also at my home so I’m able to open up the doors and meet a lot of interesting characters.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I wouldn’t change much to be honest. The traffic can sometimes be a bit annoying but that’s hard to control. There’s always going to be small things but ultimately it’s the quirks that make Brimbank so great.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
Obviously I spend a lot of time in my garage barbershop working but I also really enjoy getting away from things and heading to the gym. It’s part of my routine and has become a getaway for me where I can mentally focus and be disciplined. There’s also a lot of council-run facilities such as pools, sauna, spas and leisure centres where I can go and switch off completely. I’m a big advocate for work/life balance so to be able to relax locally and then switch back into work mode is really important.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
One thing that might surprise people is how much of a foodie I am. It’s definitely a passion of mine and I love having a cheat day and enjoying myself with nice food.
How did you get started in your career and what do you love about it?
I just love how it allows me to connect with like-minded and also different-minded people. I get a real cross-section of customers who come in and see me. We speak about all kinds of things and it allows me to network with people from all walks of life. I learn from them and they inspire me. Hopefully they might learn something from me as well. Deep down I really just enjoy the art and satisfaction of barbering. It’s a great feeling to help someone look their best which improves their confidence. I got my start by cutting my own hair actually. Just by experimenting and playing around with things I was able to learn pretty quickly. It also helped to watch others and learn from their styles and mistakes. I’m now keen to help others and pass on my knowledge to them.
