FEATURE: Fades, family, and the future: The inspiring story of a Wits barber
Luthando Jose has shown that resilience can turn a simple pair of clippers into tools of survival, hope, and entrepreneurial success.
- Luthando Jose began cutting hair in his residence to create an income stream.
- He balances his studies at Wits while supporting his family financially.
- His dedication earned recognition from the CEO of Legends Barber, who personally delivered professional equipment.
The hum of clippers echoes through a small Wits University residence room on a late weekday evening. The smell of hairspray lingers in the air, faintly mixing with the familiar aroma of instant noodles cooking next door, two students next in line waiting their turn while chatting and scrolling through their phones. At the centre of it all is Luthando Jose, a 20-year-old construction in property Studies student with the precision of a seasoned barber and the determination of someone who knows what’s at stake.
His focus is razor sharp as he leans in to perfect a fade. A quick flick of the wrist, a buzz of the clippers, and a smile from the client in the chair. Jose looks up for a moment and laughs. “It started as just helping guys look fresh without breaking the bank,” he says, “but now it’s how I keep things together for me and my family.”
Like many students, Jose juggled lectures, assignments, and the pressure of fees. But his story took a turn earlier this year when his father lost his job, the only steady income at home. Around the same time, his mother began chemotherapy. Suddenly, the little money they had went into treatment.
“I don’t want to lie, it hit us hard,” Jose says, his tone cracking. “Fees, groceries, even small things like toiletries it all became uncertain. That is when cutting hair became more than just a hobby. It became a way to survive.”
Instead of seeing the challenges as a dead end, he then looked for a gap. “It didn’t make sense to me that guys were paying R150 or R200 for a haircut around campus,” he explains. “So, I used my allowance, bought clippers, and started charging R50 or R60. Affordable for them, survival for me.”
Every day is a balancing act; from morning until late afternoon, he’s in class or hitting the books. Evenings are reserved for fades, tapers, and line-ups. “Time management is key,” Jose says. “I know that from four o’clock, I’m in barber mode.”
Jose’s hustle might have remained just a res-room success story, but fate stepped in on March 20, 2025, at the Wits Entrepreneurial Hub. That day, he spotted none other than Sheldon Tatchell, founder and CEO of the iconic Legends Barber brand.
“I just thought, this is it,” Jose recalls with a grin. “I walked up to him, introduced myself, and told him about my business. We exchanged Instagram handles, and that was it. At first, I tried to follow up, but he didn’t reply.”
He shrugs, laughing lightly. “I figured he’s the CEO of Legends. The busiest man in the game.” Still, the pressure at home pushed him to try again. This time, the persistence paid off. After a few attempts, Tatchell finally responded.
And then came the moment Jose never expected. On Friday, August 22, 2025, Tatchell himself arrived on campus and handed Jose a package of professional barbering equipment to grow his business.
“That day was life-changing,” Jose says, shaking his head in disbelief. “To start so small and now have Legends recognise me? It felt like a dream. It’s the kind of thing that motivates you to keep pushing.”
If Legends gave him validation, his friends gave him the foundation. They were his first customers, his promoters, and his constant supporters.
“I’m proud of him,” says Sanele Segutya, a close friend, “I have watched him from the start just a guy with clippers in his room to someone who is running a serious business. He is going far. I know he will make money and build something real out of this.”
Another friend, Baxolile Mbobo, remembers his first impression with a laugh. “Honestly? I thought he didn’t know what he was doing. I saw him cutting in res and thought, nah, let me not risk it. But then I tried him once and I was impressed. The guy has skills! From there, we became friends. I even helped him promote the business. Now, our vision is growth more customers, more exposure, more success.”
Their support goes beyond haircuts. Jose says his circle has kept him grounded, encouraged him through tough times, and reminded him that his hustle matters. “Sometimes, when I feel tired or doubt myself, they remind me why I started. That’s love, man.”
For Jose, the story is only beginning. He dreams of expanding his barbering beyond the walls of residence rooms to professional spaces where students and young professionals can afford a fresh cut without the high price tag.
“I see myself opening a place, building a brand, maybe even linking up with Legends officially,” he says. “But most importantly, I want to show that even when life hits you hard, you can create something out of it.”
As another student peeks into the room, asking if there’s space for a quick trim before heading to the dining hall, Jose waves him in with a grin. The clippers buzz back to life, filling the room with a familiar sound.
For now, the hustle continues cut by cut, fade by fade. But to those who have seen his journey, it is already more than a hustle. It’s a story of resilience, grit, and the determination of a Wits student who refused to let struggle define him.
“Every haircut,” Jose says, pausing between his haircut session, “is a step forward.”
FEATURED IMAGE: A young Luthando Jose holding his equipment. Photo: Supplied/Legends Barber
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