GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Hansel Canady finds himself in his tenth year cutting hair at Hancan Barbershop in Green Bay’s Broadway District.
“I get to work with my hands,” explained Canady, who also enjoys construction work. “I just love the creativity in barbering.”
His journey has taken unexpected turns, from receiving a shout out on The Pat McAfee Show during NFL Draft Week in Green Bay, to becoming the personal barber for the Green Bay Packers.
“It was a lot to take in, but I’m happy to be here,” Canady said. “Being recognized on national TV, that was something that I never would have imagined myself being.”
A decade in, Canady continues to learn and grow as a business owner, including expanding his presence on social media.
“You got to keep up with all the trends that’s out there for like barbershop content,” he said. “Just seeing what’s out there and recreating it here at the barbershop.”
“Every day, I just take it day by day and just am grateful for all the opportunities,” Canady said.
Canady makes it a point to give back to the community he calls home in a variety of ways, including going to schools and offering free haircuts to students in need.
“What I’ve learned is that we have a lot of kids, or just families in the area, that need help in certain situations and haircuts is one of those areas that families need help with,” he said. “I decided to take that upon myself to offer free haircuts.”
His motivation comes from personal experience.
“I used to be one of those kids, so that’s what drives me to want to step in and help them,” Canady said. “It sits really close to my heart.”
Canady sees his role as more than just cutting hair.
“I used to be one of those kids in poverty, so for me to be a black leader here in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and for any African American kids or just anyone in general, I get to show them that you can be anyone who you want to be any day,” he said.
“The biggest thing for me is that when you walk into the door, we all treat you like family when you come in, that’s pretty much it,” Canady said. “Just know that you’re in a nice, welcoming environment and we just make sure we get you out of here with crispy cuts.”
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