London - As World Cup fever sweeps across the globe, a barber in San Antonio in the US has embraced the tournament’s popularity by taking the unusual step of styling footballers’ portraits into people’s hair.
In recent weeks Rob Ferrel, owner of Rob the Original Barbershop, has sculpted the faces of Cristiano Ronaldo, Tim Howard and Guillermo Ochoa as part of a haircut.
Though Ronaldo’s Portugal side were knocked out in the group stages, both US goalkeeper Howard and Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa were still set to play in the knockout stages.
Eight years ago, Ferrel was working at a barbershop in Texas when local kids started bringing in requests for hair art.
“At first it was simple patterns and designs, but now if they bring me any image, I can replicate it in their hair,” he says on his website.
Ferrel is now a professional hair artist in San Antonio, though he is still willing to do customised cuts if people ask.
When his local basketball team, San Antonio Spurs, were playing Miami Heat in the NBA finals this month, fans of both teams requested basketball-themed styles.
His toolkit includes standard barber clippers and razors, as well as coloured eyeliner for the finishing touches.
“I create every shape and shade on the portrait – like a puzzle,” says Ferrel.
“You can only do so much with hair, so the eyeliner perfects the picture and makes it look realistic.”
Daily Mail