Veteran barber Ye Guosong from Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province sharpens his shaving skills with a wax gourd. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Veteran barber Ye Guosong from Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province sees wax gourd as more than mere a vegetable. For him, it has been a valuable tool in honing his shaving skills over the past 30 years.

Ye's journey in hairdressing began in 1994 as an apprentice, where he used every spare moment to practice and improve his skills. With scissors in one hand and a comb in the other, he would mimic cutting hair in the air. To perfect his shaving techniques, he even practiced using a razor against a wax gourd peel.

"I dedicated myself to training every day. I would spend one or two hours on each move, continuously practicing," Ye shared with a smile. "I can't even count how many gourds I ruined, but whenever I had free time, I would be there, practicing."

Thanks to his unwavering dedication, Ye's hairdressing skills gradually improved. His passion for refining his techniques and design grew stronger. He invested significant time and effort into learning hairdressing techniques, styling, and color concepts from countries like South Korea and Japan, always striving to stay at the forefront of fashion.

"To truly excel, one must have a love and an unwavering drive for continuous learning and innovation," remarked Ye Guosong.

While others may see his profession as monotonous and tedious, it has been a source of joy for Ye over the past three decades.

"I love the hairdressing industry and enjoy the entire process of styling. Seeing my clients transform and look beautiful is my greatest achievement."

In 2022, Ye participated in a municipal-level hairdressing skills competition in Taizhou and emerged as the champion, earning him the esteemed title of a skilled master in the city.