Jimmy Ofuoyan, founder of international hairstyling brand, 360Kuts, also known as Khalilimages, has revealed that he plans to build an empire with the establishment, but most importantly, mentor aspiring entrepreneurs passionate about hairstyling in Nigeria.
Ofuoyan is an international brand in men’s hairstyling, as well as braiding and fixing of women’s hair. The disc jockey and digital content creator did not have the privilege to acquire secondary education, and at age 12, he registered at his brother’s unisex salon, where he learnt braiding and fixing of women’s hair. With a bigger vision, he self-taught on men’s haircut via YouTube videos.
The 360Kuts and Khalilimages owner grew in a family of nine, consisting of four sisters and three brothers. After he was granted certificate of completion at the salon, he relocated to Libya in 2016 with his nephew, Tony, and two other friends: Harris and Frank. In a twist, they fell into the hands of human traffickers, who kept them in a prison camp.
The 360Kuts and Khalilimages, his relative and friends escaped from captivity after 18 months and fled to Italy. While in prison, he continued to sharpen his skill by hairstyling fellow inmates and the traffickers with basic tools such as blade and comb.
In a camp where he was relocated to from Sicily, in a reception centre called LAPISS (Laboratorio per le Aree Protette Italiane e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile) in Abruzzo, the 360Kuts and Khalilimages CEO continued to practice his skill and never stayed by idly.
After he moved to a bigger city known as Pescara in 2018, his talent began to shine through earnestly. He started to offer home services, and left his clients in owe of his skills. The 360Kuts and Khalilimages managing director began to attract attention to himself, and was soon patronised by celebrities, entertainers, footballers in the Italian Serie A, among others. He was adjudged as the best in the region and Milan after winning the ‘Blurriest/Fasted Fade Technique Barber Battle’ with Italy-made barbers.
Speaking on his vision for 360Kuts–his haircut brand now popular around the world, he stressed that he intends to produce many more Nigerians like him.
“I have ambitious plans for both brands. With 360Kuts, I envision building an empire that not only offers premium haircut services but also becomes a platform to mentor and transform the lives of young individuals passionate about hairstyling. As for Khalilimages, I aim to establish it as one of the leading lifestyle content creation networks in Italy and even Europe. I want to inspire and empower others through my work, leaving a lasting impact on the industry,” he explained.
