Have you ever wondered what Santa is doing for all these months between Christmas? With a stroke of luck, we managed to track him right down to Palackého náměstí, where apparently he has a second job as a “top notch” barber and hair stylist.
But can Santa be trusted to put down his naughty and nice list, and pick up a pair of professional salon scissors?
Putting your lovely locks in the hands of a new hair stylist takes a level of trust, no matter who you are. But if you’re an English speaker living in the city of Prague, it has the potential to be a perilous drama ending in tears. Thankfully, one highly trained hair professional from the USA realised this widely-spread problem for foreigners, and snapped up his opportunity to make a business in the heart of the Czech capital.
Kraig Casebier says he strives to be the Czech Republic’s best barber, and even has the ambition of one day cutting the president’s hair. With an already strong clientele, especially among expats, it appears that his dreams could turn into a reality. It may seem peculiar then, that this ambitious American has another job – being a “freelance” father Christmas.
Kraig was born and bred in the States, and comes from a long line of popular American barbers, including his father and his grandfather. His reviews are exceptionally positive, ranking him as “one of Prague’s best stylists” , and his schedule is bursting with clients who want a piece of him. But he tends to surprise them when he tells them of his tendencies to get into his red Santa suit.
“I think he dresses up as Santa because it makes people laugh.” Says Rob Kay, a regular client and local Director of Prague Gay Maps. “It looks like he is the only guy doing anything of the sort in Prague, and he gets a lot of attention from it. But it in no way lessens his reputation as a barber. He is known all over the place as one of the best in the city.”
He added: “I’m one of the fussiest people around when it comes to getting my hair done. Kraig really knows what he’s doing. There is a reason he has become so popular, and it’s not just because he is easy access for the people here who want to speak English. I think he has a rare talent for working with people’s really specific needs.”
Kraig, despite being well known as the fun loving guy, insists that despite his unusual hobbies, he takes his profession seriously. “I realise I’m not your every day guy. But I’m not crazy” he insisted. “I just like a bit of fun, and we can’t escape the fact that I do look a bit like Santa.”
“Still, as far as hair goes, I love what I do. My goal is to be the best in Prague, if not the country. My goal is to become known as the top men’s hairstylist in Prague if not the country through my skill, hard work and determination. I take my reputation very seriously and strive to give my clients the best haircut and service they have experienced.
“I have one client that told me he saw someone at a club with a really good haircut and thought it must be one of my clients. He asked the guy and it turned out to be the case. It’s a nice feeling to know that my work stands out.”
Kraig can be reached at Head hair salon on Dittrichova 6
