Bruno started the course with no specific expectations; he discovered a profession and today runs his own barbershop.
Bruno Brasil da Silva never imagined that a free barber course would change his professional path. A resident of the area where the Ramacrisna center is located—in Ibirité—he would frequently pass by the facility and learned from his aunts that a training program was being offered. Driven by curiosity and without any grand expectations, he decided to sign up. Two years later, he has turned what he learned into a new source of income and opened his own barbershop at home.
His interest in turning this new knowledge into a career emerged during the classes, encouraged by his instructor, Guilherme, who became a mentor to him. The personalized attention and support in overcoming challenges helped Bruno develop his skills and discover a craft that ignited his desire to keep learning.
“I joined the course without any specific intentions. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that I would pursue this as a profession,” he says.
The training program offered by Ramacrisna prepares youth and adults to enter the job market as barbers. Spanning 80 hours of in-person instruction, the course covers techniques for cutting hair and beards, hygiene, styling, hair care, and the organization of a professional workspace. For Bruno, the classes were significant—not only for learning the techniques, but also for realizing that he could turn this knowledge into a career. What began as mere curiosity grew into a genuine interest, which he nurtured through further study, practice, and by exploring new references within the field.
“I started the course without any real expectations; it hadn’t even crossed my mind that I would pursue this as a profession. It was during the classes that my interest developed—you always find areas that need improvement, so you keep searching, keep digging, and you learn. Things that once seemed difficult are now part of my daily work routine; I use those skills to earn an income and buy new equipment,” he explains.
After completing the course, he had the opportunity to work at a barbershop, where he gained professional experience and continued to learn. However, as he held another job at the time, he had to step away from that position—though he didn’t give up on barbering altogether.
“I started doing haircuts at clients’ homes, and I began using that income to buy supplies—hair creams, razors, and various other high-quality tools,” he recounts.
The idea of having his own space emerged while he was still taking the course, but a lack of financial resources forced him to put those plans on hold. Gradually, through private appointments and the gradual acquisition of equipment, he gained the experience and confidence needed to take the next step.
About two months ago, he decided to take a major step in his career as a barber by setting up a space in his own home to welcome clients by appointment. This shift also brought greater convenience: instead of traveling to each client’s home, he now organizes his appointments at a fixed location. “I don’t have a top-of-the-line chair or the absolute best equipment, but what I do have works perfectly well. And, God willing, I will continue to improve,” he says. One of the main challenges was overcoming the fear of making mistakes and dealing with client reactions. Through practice, Bruno learned to accept feedback and view comments as opportunities for improvement. Today, he balances his work at the barbershop with another job while continuing to invest in his profession.
“Even now, there are haircuts I haven’t performed yet—I’ll admit, I still feel a bit of fear. But once you actually start the cut, that fear begins to fade; you focus on the task at hand, and that’s how the fear eventually disappears,” he says, adding that the real secret to success is study.
The experience brought changes that go beyond technical skills. Bruno shares that he has developed greater discipline, persistence, and an ease in interacting with all kinds of people—skills that have even proven beneficial in his other job.
“Barbering teaches you to be persistent. When I started the course, I was a bit lazy; but after finishing the training and entering the field, I realized that just getting by—doing the bare minimum—wasn’t a viable path. It taught me to strive for more. So, it ended up…”
