Nia Bowers
The barbering and grooming market in the US is showing dynamic growth and is increasingly becoming a magnet for international-level masters. According to industry analysts, this segment is now worth over $6 billion in the country. The main reason for this demand is the growth of male grooming culture and the popularity of personalized services, where the stylist and the quality of the result play a significant role.
In a highly competitive environment, the experience of specialists who are not only in demand but also able to build their own businesses with the characteristics of mature projects in a relatively short period of time is particularly valuable. For the American market, where hundreds and thousands of new studios open every year, such examples remain the exception rather than the rule. In this report, we tell the story of a unique barber from Kazakhstan who has succeeded in doing just that. What’s more, his achievements in barbering have been recognized with independent and reputation awards from Google Review and Travel to Art.
Nurbol is an expert with 13 years of experience, a member of the world’s largest hairdressing organization, Organisation Mondiale Coiffure (OMC), and international honorary associations Kazakhstan Beauty Federation and Kazakh Beauty Industry. OMC brings together leading masters from more than 50 countries around the world and is the main regulator of international championships in the field of hairdressing and barbering. Saben’s professional achievements include OMC awards for judging and coaching, the National Trainer Award, and titles in international and national competitions: Barber of the Year, Star Barber, Juror Award, Fast Fade. His signature Fast Fade technique deserves special attention, as it is recognized as the professional standard for high-speed work in high-traffic conditions.
His expertise includes working in international studios and creating his own brands. Previously, he founded the Winchester Barbershop Brand network in Kazakhstan. The project was awarded Best Barbershop and Best Service by the Google Maps + Yelp equivalent, attracted more than five investors, and became a full-fledged business platform for launching a barber academy. As part of the training, more than 100 specialists took a course on Nurbol’s original programs, Fade and Fast Fade, with over 50% of graduates subsequently launching their own projects in the industry. Such a conversion of training into entrepreneurship is considered an outstanding indicator even by the standards of developed markets.
Before launching his own brand, Saben held management and creative positions at the international chains Top Gun and Chop-Chop. Under his leadership, these projects achieved customer retention rates of up to 95%. He was responsible for marketing strategies, team management, and the implementation of service standards adapted to different cities and audiences, which later became the foundation of his American project.
Nurbol began his career in the US relatively recently, in early 2025, choosing a model typical for the American market: working as a barber on a percentage basis. For an immigrant without a local name, client base, or recommendations, this is the most competitive and vulnerable point of entry into the market. Nevertheless, in six months, thanks to his uniqueness, high professionalism, and quality of service, he managed to increase his client flow and the cost of his services.
“The American market is very pragmatic. Here, they value quality, technique, and attitude. It’s very easy to check for these qualities in your work. If a person comes back again and calmly sits down in the chair without explaining what they need, it means you’ve done your job professionally,” Saben shares.
According to Nurbol, the average bill for the service at the start was $30, of which $18 was his fee. This is the average figure for the Ohio market. During the first six months, thanks to repeat results and a well-established work technique, he gained many regular customers, and his workload increased by 60% without a decrease in demand. This undoubtedly had a positive effect on the cost of services.
Eight months later, Saben registered his own company and opened a private suite studio, completely switching to an independent business model. By this point, his client base had grown by 80%. By the end of the year, the cost of a haircut had reached $45, and the studio’s current workload had stabilized at 90-95%, which is quite high.
“I have always believed and continue to believe that a barbershop is not just about haircuts. It is primarily about trust. People entrust me with their time, mood, and confidence. After all, a haircut is an important part of one’s daily personal image. Therefore, understanding the desired result and its repeatability are very important,” Nurbol notes.
In addition to its impressive financial results, Nurbol’s project was ranked among the top three barbershops in Deerfield Township by BusinessRate Awards last year. This prestigious award is based on verified Google Reviews data and reflects a high level of customer trust, quality of service, and a solid reputation in the local US market.
Another highlight of Nurbol’s talent was the prestigious Travel to Art statuette. The expert jury of the competition, focused on the achievements of creative industry figures in the US, recognized Saben’s work and project with the “Excellence in Men’s Grooming & Barbering” award.
Thus, Nurbol Saben’s case demonstrates how a combination of applied technology and managerial thinking allows an immigrant to quickly build a service business in one of the most competitive markets in the world. In the near future, Nurbol plans to open a full-fledged barbershop with a team of 8-9 barbers. This will be a logical continuation of the scaling phase of a business model that has already proven itself effective in another national market.