8-Year-Old Trained Barber Offers Free Haircuts To 400 Kids In Her Philadelphia Community


Neijae Graham-Henries, 8, graduated from the Junior Barber Academy in Philadelphia and has since been using her barbing skills to give free haircuts to 400 kids in her Philadelphia community, according to CBS Philadelphia.

Graham-Henries was the only girl in P. Michael Boone’s class over the summer and he claims she was also the youngest student. Graham-Henries was only 7 years old at the time.

“I never expected to see a young lady in my class, but she was eager to learn, and I gave her the same guidance I’d give my older students,” he told Yahoo News. “I’m very proud of her. She was a great student and I am excited to see where this will take her.”

Photo via: Michael Boone


When Graham-Henries’ brother initially registered for Boone’s program, she became familiar with the trade. He chose not to finish the course nevertheless because he realized barbering wasn’t for him, and Graham-Henries enrolled in its place.

“The whole process is to finish it and do it really good and to, like, style it good,” the 8-year-old said in regards to how she approaches each haircut.

At a recent back-to-school gathering for neighborhood children, Graham-Henries and Boone provided free haircuts to roughly 400 schoolchildren while working together. Boone says he has already asked Graham-Henries whether she may attend the community service initiative in November when he will provide free haircuts to the needy.

Author: Abu Bakarr Jalloh

Abu Bakarr Jalloh is a Sierra Leonean content writer, author, Neo Pan-African and founder of The African Dream, an online platform for inspiring, positive and compelling African stories. Contact: abubakarrjalloh@theafricandreamsl.com WhatsApp: +23276211583