Here's a plot twist for you: a petroleum engineering graduate lands a solid job with an American multinational company, then turns around and opens a barbershop.
Sounds unlikely? That's exactly what happened to Agilan Elan Ponnusamy, and it's how Ace Of Fades came to life.
Rewind to 2021. COVID-19 had thrown everyone's plans into chaos, but for Agilan, the uncertainty opened a door instead of closing one. He had always been curious about entrepreneurship, and he loved experimenting with hairstyles on the side. So when a shop lot in Petaling Jaya became available, he pitched the idea to his friend Darshen. Neither of them overthought it. They just went for it.
The vision was simple: affordable, quality grooming for men in the PJ community, no compromises. Not the fastest way to build a business, but definitely one built to last.
Walk into Ace Of Fades and it's easy to see why customers keep coming back. Every haircut is treated as a one-of-a-kind job. Head shape, style, personal quirks – the barbers take all of it in before the clippers even come out. Pair that with genuine hospitality, and a simple haircut turns into an experience worth telling a friend about.
And that's exactly what happened. With barely any marketing budget in the early days, Ace Of Fades leaned on one thing it could fully control: the quality of the service. Word of mouth did the rest.
"Being in the business world opened my horizons to think beyond the box. It taught me to think critically, understand my customers and constantly look for ways to improve," says Agilan.
And it's not just about the classic cut. Ace Of Fades runs a full menu these days: think the signature Gentleman's Cut at RM35, beard shaping with a hot towel finish from RM15, plus hair treatments, facials, waxing and even hair colouring for guys who want to switch things up. There's a Junior Cut too, for the little ones tagging along. Basically, whatever grooming mood you're in, there's a service for it.
That mindset has paid off. What started as a single outlet at Tropicana Avenue has since grown into two, with a second branch at Tropicana Metropark, Subang Jaya, alongside the addition of partners Dhivyan and Nimalan. More locations are in the pipeline, and the doors are wide open for licensing, for anyone who shares the same passion for great grooming.
Curious to see what the buzz is about? Booking is easy and there's no prepayment needed. Here's where to find them:
- Tropicana Avenue, Petaling Jaya: Lot P-G-13A, No 12, Persiaran Tropicana, PJU3, 47410 Petaling Jaya
- Open daily, 10am – 8pm
- Get directions
- Tropicana Metropark, Subang Jaya: LG-06, Southplace Shoppes, Persiaran Teknologi Subang, 47500 Subang Jaya
- Open daily, 10am – 9pm
- Get directions
Or find out more at aceoffades.my
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