Barber Ronaldo Dunn, a work ethic exemplar

Mar 15, 2026 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine, Xtra Entertainment

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By Shermon Hawker

(Kaieteur News) – It’s 5:00am. Just about that climax phase where sleep hits best right before the dutiful roosters suddenly rend the silence and passionately announces a new day.

But the buzz of Ronaldo Dunn’s Kemei-branded barber machine contends with the morning birds, for even before the first crowing, he is up already and is in minutes lodged at his barbershop, fully capped, machine in hand, and ready to nip the first strand of hair.

Our special feature is a 28-year-old Berbician who sweep clumps of hair from the tiled floor each day after many rewarding hours spent on his feet fulfilling his foremost desire: that of being a barber.

PERFECT BLEND

With a remarkable consistency that has earned the respect and admiration of many of his peers and acquaintances, Dunn, of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, has anchored himself by impeccable professionalism, and a convincing preservation of discipline.

He is the only child for his mom, but has siblings on the paternal end. Though he did not mingle childhood with them, he stated that they all are now fondly familiarizing to make up for times lost, which he is wholly absorbing. This welcoming personality is ever on display at his work, where the atmosphere is never tense and an engaging discourse flows with natural ease.

Fittingly so, for the nature of such a job warrants exceptional people skills, and the barber he has proven that his mastery extends beyond just cutting hair.

Like many today, Dunn might not have emerged from the distinguished razorblade + comb + scissors era, yet he is versed in that particular technique, while many of his young peers are mainly competent with machines. Irrespective of his methods, there is all the same no shortage of quality or satisfaction to the hundreds upon hundreds of heads he has spruced up over the years.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Formal education was facilitated at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School and eventually the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI). Just out of the latter school, he sought employment and went on ahead. Inspiration would catch up not long after.

“I was doing labor work with a construction company, and I ended up in a lil problem; I ended up and left the work. And just like that I was sitting a day on my veranda, me and a friend we were gyafin…I have a skill, and same time I have this close friend that does welding for the same place at Charles Place, and he said the place need a barber. I said as I know to cut hair, it’s best I check and see if they will accept me, and I went there and checked, they accepted me and I started off from there,” he shared with Kaieteur News.

With a fair extent of experience in that specialized technical area, his first public station was a prime spot at Main and Charles Street, New Amsterdam, which was the launching pad of his career as a barber. Through endurance, experience accumulated, and hundreds of hours of painstaking research, the barber has aced his craft to the point where he has been deservedly referenced among the most prominent of barbers in the town of New Amsterdam.

These credentials are responsible for the daily flow of clients, both first-timers and faithfuls/regulars. Despite his expertise and success, there is no complacency. He remains humble and receptive to learning, and would allocate personal time to further research on how to advance his skills and provide services par excellence to those who confide in his ability to polish their appearance.

Were he to miss the opportunity to become a barber, his nearest option was being a fireman within the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), and strong consideration was given to retaining another technical skill.

“My next alternative if barbering didn’t work out, I would’ve either go and join Fire Station, or I would’ve learned a trade….”

TESTING THE WATERS

For years he shared that Charles Place venue with several other young but truly skillful barbers, with whom he weaved bona fide friendships. Recently, however, he acquired his individual station and relocated to St. Ann’s Street, New Amsterdam, branding his shop ‘Dunn’s Barbershop & Salon’. For him, owning one’s own business establishment affords a profound sense of satisfaction. The present location is furnished with topnotch interior, creating aesthetics that sees his barbershop now being touted as one of, if not the most exquisite of all such entities in the town.

As the capital of Region Six, New Amsterdam is a major commercial zone, not lacking much as well in the technical arena. In a fiercely competitive field abundant with career barbers, a new and upcoming barber with limited exposure and experience would feel the brunt. This reality did not bypass him, but became his bed companion many nights back then as he sighed and laid himself out, frustrated…

“When I now got into the work, I used to go to the bank and pay my rent and stuff. Some days you ain’t cut no hair. I used to take it on lil. Tried to discourage, but you just got to keep strong and keep your head up and focus on your aim and where you came from. It used to get to my head sometimes, but I used to always say that’s how you’ll know when there are better days ahead. I see a day like today coming, from the starting,” he affirmed.

He detailed his positive navigation of obstacles strewn along his path.

“Sometimes I would go work and I would see things in front the door, like lime and some weird stuff. Then challenges like people trying to talk you down, or people would try to tell you things that other people say. Sometimes it don’t be true. Some people come and try to break your mind towards what you’re doing. It’s all on you to be strong and know the aim that you came for in being a better person in the work that you’re doing…”

PARADIGM SHIFT

Whereas in an earlier phase of his life he handled earnings recklessly and lavishly, the young barber is now prudent with his financial management and much more lazer-focus and goal-oriented. Whereas he once submitted to alcoholic lust, that indulgence no longer forms part of his life. More than for himself, he seeks to inspire those around him to commit to personal discipline. And whereas it proved challenging and frustrating at the beginning of the journey, Dunn related that the job is now very yielding, “very beneficial.” This change in fortune could have only materialized after personal re-evaluation, and a positive realignment of his goals.

“I notice I used to spend a lot of money on the alcohol and stuff, and I used to end up going in my savings to get my work started, as in the rent part. I ended up stop drinking so I can focus on my work mostly.”

Dunn’s discipline to his profession is as sharp as the pristine lineup on foreheads and temples. His dedication is as neat as the drop fades he so meticulously designs. His punctuality and work ethics are worn about him just as the working cape. Moreover, these are traits for which clients and peers can give testimony.

LASTING IMPACT

His hobbies are, unsurprisingly, reading up on everything barber-related, and tuning into such contents on social platforms to trace new methods, learn new styles, and discover products and essentials, all of which are geared towards broadening his service capacity. Beyond the blades and buzz of the machines, Dunn enjoys travelling and going on adventures. He also engages customers in deep conversation on philosophy, owing to his love for sharing advice.

We all retain imperfections, and he is no exception. Be that so, he diligently strives to fashion his lifestyle in such a manner so that he could be hailed as an example to many, and that he would have made a lasting impact when,  “it’s all said and..Dunn.”

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• Barber, barbershop, Kemei-branded barber machine, New Amsterdam, Ronaldo Dunn

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