The Trbovlje short-haired boy was, like most at that time, initially shorn by his mother. When he first set foot in a hairdresser's salon in the fourth grade, that visit shaped his life - without him even realising it at the time. What he saw was a male hairdresser who entertained customers, made people laugh, moved with ease and visibly enjoyed his work. »That would be me«, he thought childishly. It was this thought, this intense memory, that led him to visit the barber's shop on the information days, alongside the soldier's and mechanic's schools. It was immediately clear - this is it, this is what it will be for him, because: »It was ful girls,« he's just being honest.

But there was obviously something else to keep him there. »I didn't know where my path would take me at the time, but I already felt that working with people, with my hands, my form and creating was not just a profession, but a way of life.«

He did his apprenticeship with a renowned Ljubljana hairdresser To Steve, who quickly recognised the talent in the boy. Already in his second year he got an invitation to the Academy in Stuttgard, as the youngest participant, where he received confirmation that he was on the right track, while at the same time he recognised his hunger for knowledge. He saw what the world has to offer, how much knowledge there is in this profession, how much creativity and possibilities. Year after year, he became more committed to the business.

»I quickly felt the satisfaction of the job, because as a hairdresser you see the result in a short time, you see the change in the person. There's something particularly nice about seeing your beauty in the mirror, when you gain confidence and your eyes shine with satisfaction. Isn't that the most beautiful thing you can do with your work?«

HAIRDRESSING SALON

In his twenties, he worked with Kristjan in Celje, with whom he built a professional story. With his help and trust, he worked for six years as Demonstrator for L'Oréal- educated hairdressers and represented the brand throughout the former Yugoslavia.

At the age of 28, he set out on his own and opened a hairdressing salon. He regularly trains in London, at the one of the most prestigious hairdressing academies in the world - Vidal Sassoon. »They don't teach you to repeat, they teach you to think. They teach you how to create techniques yourself, how to understand geometry, line, structure and the person in front of you. This knowledge has marked me forever,« she says gratefully.

It was his knowledge from London that put him at the top level of hairdressing. He still regularly attends training courses that are at the cutting edge of the hairdressing industry.

It's not just knowledge; clients tell her that she has a certain quality, that she assesses them very well at first glance - her style of dress, her gestures, her figure, her hair, her face... and she instantly senses what hairstyle would suit her best. How does he do it? »I don't know. It's something that's inside you, you can't teach it.« That's why his clients like to say to him, »Luka, do whatever you want with my hair.«

When talking about the salon, he likes to point out, »There's no fuss in our salon. I don't even let our hairdressers do it, no gossiping! Clients come for a good feeling, not for negative energy, which is what gossip is. But we have good music, Severina Trošt's art paintings and lots of laughter.« So for many of the clients she has been cutting hair for 25 years, she doesn't know who she is working with, but she knows who she is as a person. And that's the point, he points out.

BARBER SHOP

A few years ago, he opened barber shop (barber shop), the first in Zasavje. Before that, he went on to train in Rotterdam, at Shorem Academy, at the heart of the birth of the razor.

Why this step? »There's too much of the man in me for me to be okay with just being with women for days on end. I missed the male debate and socialising. Well, I opened up barber shop."

Although he likes to point out, »I'm more of a barber than a hairdresser.« Women's hair requires more geometry, imagination and knowledge - and that's exactly what he gained in London. Interestingly, there they often draw like architects before going to the salon. It's a geometric haircut, which makes the hair stronger and less split.

LEATHER BRACELETS

As if creativity had not allowed status quo-, he also started making leather bracelets. »As a thrower and a rocker at heart, I loved wearing leather bracelets. They were hard to come by, so I started making them myself.« At first, just one, two, three... When he found it soothing, he worked all weekend, on holidays... and made 600 of them. For the soul. »I wanted to experience for once what it's like to sell on the stamps. Well, I went to metal days and sold these bracelets.« What's left, he sells them through an online shop, mostly to England and America.

Is he still doing them? »No. But I'm going to start again, because I remember many times how good I felt, what peace I felt inside when I was making it.«

SCISSORS REPAIRER

Quite by chance, he also became a scissors repairer. At first for the soul, but then the story developed into something bigger. He was entrusted with importing for Europe - Yamamoto brand. He has serviced more than 3,000 shears in 12 years and holds an English Grinding Certificate.

What you think, you do, and ideas are not scarce. »Yes, I have balls, as far as that goes,« he says, in straightforward Zasavian. »Whatever I do, I will believe in it so strongly that something will already have happened.«

In the future, he plans to start a haircutting academy, as he loves teaching both the girls in the salon and other young people. »Because I believe that knowledge is meaningless if you keep it to yourself.«

Although he says that »nothing fazes him«, he is always looking for challenges, for new developments, for new knowledge. »I don't want to fall asleep. I want to be biting something, creating something all the time.« Definition of an acrobat.

When he's not in the saloon, he can be found in his kayak fishing, on his motorbike, at the street workout or alongside metal and hard rock.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

When you enter the salon, you see a wall full of training certificates. In addition to hairdressing training, she also attends sales and marketing seminars. Why?

»Entrepreneurial skills are very important in any service industry. That's why - if you're going out on your own, learn the basics of entrepreneurship. Even before I opened the salon, I had been going to an accountant for half a year to learn - about taxes, about purchasing and material management, about paperwork...«

Entrepreneurship, he says, comes naturally to him. It's in him. »Even in the little things. For example - the other day I asked a hairdresser colleague: Why do you buy a box of gloves every month? Buy 10 at a time and get 2 free. It makes a difference - you can divide the extra money among your employees so that they are well paid too. Isn't that nice?«

LOCALPATRIOT

Lokalpatriot has always looked to the Zasavska valley. »Why not make a shift in hairdressing and fashion in Trbovlje, when there was nothing then? I am at home here. I feel good here. I prefer to work in a smaller place that offers more peace, more genuine greetings and more familiar eyes.«

Today he proudly says: »I believe that there are many of us who have brought positive change to Zasavje. It has been progressing very well recently. Many local people are staying at home. Many are now immigrating.« He also has a very positive view of the City of Acrobats. »I am proud of all those who are strengthening the development and progress of Zasavje. The stronger the environment, the more opportunities there are for us, small creators in all fields. Development goes hand in hand.«It also points to the following as a positive example Urha of Bistro Bombino.

He adds quietly, »I wish I was in the City of Acrobats with the salon one day. Put me on the list.«

ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE

He has always loved working with people, but at the same time, »The older I get, the more I like peace.« He also encourages his employees to develop their careers while emphasising quality of life. He makes sure that his employees' working hours are pleasant, their salaries are good and their relationships are honest.

What advice would you give to young people embarking on their own business journey? »Believe in your story. Be stubborn. Keep biting. For as long as it takes to succeed. Beginnings are hard. Results never come quickly. It's all biting in the long run. But it's worth it.« 

When we want to squeeze into his hairdresser's schedule, he finds the first available appointment weeks or even months in advance. »But,« he is quick to point out, »I'm happy to make time for someone who is coming for the first time. So: don't be intimidated, call.’

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