Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Business: Generating deaf employment

Introduction: Thành Nguyễn, Owner, Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Business

[Image: Video begins with Thành Nguyễn signing to the camera. The transcript of what people say are inside quotation marks. Meanwhile, text inside square brackets usually describe images.]

Thành Nguyễn: “I am a Deaf hairstylist.” [Screen shows a series of brief scenes of Thành Nguyễn snipping scissors, or signing with other deaf Vietnamese people. Text on the screen explains, “he was on the news, did presentations, and support Deaf Vietnamese” More scenes shows clips from television programs in which Thành Nguyễn featured. The screen also shows photos of him on a stage with other people. Then we see his hairstyling equipment. And we see Thành Nguyễn with a hair styling customer.]

Thành Nguyễn: “Hello! My name is Thành, and my sign name is [gestures around his face]. I am from Vietnam. I live here in Hanoi. I am the owner of this building. I am a hair stylist / hair dresser and I am also a makeup artist.” [More scenes of Thành Nguyễn with different customers. Some scenes show what his completed work looks like. But other scenes show some of his work in progress.]

How Thành Nguyễn Learned Hairstyling

Thành Nguyễn: “When I was 13 years old, I visited a salon and it was my first time learning how to cut hair. There were so many Hearing people who were in beauty school where we can learn and practice how to cut hair. I was the only Deaf person, and I had no interpreter with me. So I just learn by using my eyes, just watching it.

“But I still didn’t completely understand it yet. So, I bought supplies, such as haircut scissors, brushes and combs, and every other supply that I need. I bought different supplies and I took it with me at home to practice. I visited my families, and several different hearing people, and my friends too who helped me. And I just keep practicing on them for free. They were okay if I make some mistakes.

Transition from Employee to Employer

“So this helped my skills to grow better. And then, hmm, when I was 18 years old, I found a job and began working as a hairstylist. The Hearing owner accepted me and gave me a chance despite making some mistakes. I still work harder, I keep on trying and practicing despite some challenges. There were many Hearing people who actually told me, ‘You’re Deaf. You can’t do it. You won’t succeed. You won’t be able to open your own business in the future.’

“I ignored them. I worked harder than ever despite the obstacles and worked toward my goals. I had a dream of opening my own salon and I want to be my own boss. In order to achieve that dream, I thought about it. I began living on a budget and learned to save money. It took me a while to save until I was ready. And now I’m the owner of this salon!” [Thành Nguyễn grins at the camera.]

Customer Experience

[Screen shows more clips of Thành Nguyễn with customers. We also see some of his customers signing to the camera. Next, the camera focuses on one hearing woman who speaks to someone who is slightly to the side of the camera.]

Woman Customer: “I have been a frequent customer here for years. I admire Thành a lot for his strong will.”

Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Business: Mentoring New Employees

Thành Nguyễn: “During the year of 2011, my salon business opened here. It’s a really small salon. It’s not a big fancy salon. I had another dream. I want to help Deaf people, because they have little to no job opportunities due to discrimination. They are facing so many barriers. I look at it and I thought, I must help them out of my heart.”

[Three Deaf men all sign the same message to the camera.] “We are deaf employees.” [The camera now focuses on each man, one at a time, as he smiles at the camera. One of them sweeps his hand over his hair, as if to bring attention to how the top part of his dark hair has been made a lighter shade of color.]

Training and Empowering Deaf Staff

Thành Nguyễn: “They are the Deaf people that I’m currently training. I’m training and empowering them.” [We see Thành Nguyễn signing with his three deaf employees. Meanwhile, a customer with curlers in her hair waits. Thành Nguyễn gestures toward her hair as he continues to sign to his employees. Next we see three pairs of hands working on her hair. Then the screen shows a larger group of people who are seated. Meanwhile, they listen attentively to someone who is signing to the group. We see a couple of short clips again: Thành Nguyễn signing to employees, and pairs of hands working on a woman’s hair. We also see an employee working on a customer’s hair.]

[One of the deaf employees, Nguyen Viet Long, signs to someone off camera.] “I have learnt a lot from Thành. He taught me sign language and hair cutting skills.

More and More Vietnam Deaf Hairstyling Businesses

Thành Nguyễn: “Cutting the hair, fixing the hair, styling the hair. Whew, you wouldn’t believe it. Do you think that this is easy to learn? No, it is definitely not easy! Many Deaf Vietnamese are surprised and happy because I am Deaf just like them. I understand them, and I want to help them. I encourage and support them.

“I am trying to teach different Deaf Vietnamese that they can spread out on their own. Some of them have moved in different places and eventually own their own salon like me. Spreading across Vietnam from North to South. I want to see more of that, and it makes me happy.

Message for Other Deaf People

“To all of the Deaf people around the world: If you are wishing that you can be successful like Hearing people who own businesses and have been succeeding? BUT you look at yourself and you are thinking negatively and BELIEVE that you cannot do it, that you are a failure and will be a failure anyway and are sad about it? I am telling you, no, no, no! You are Deaf? That’s NOT A PROBLEM. I am also Deaf. I’ve been working so long. It took me NINE years to get here. And now I’m happy.

“You’re Deaf. So what? Don’t dwell on that. You see, now I have Hearing people coming in my salon. I cut hearing people’s hair. It is possible to communicate with them. It can be typing through the phone. It can be written communication. It is possible!

Keep on Fighting and Learning

“I really hope that you Deaf people notice and realize that we have to change ourselves. Keep on fighting despite the obstacles, we keep on fighting, and we keep on going. We have to keep learning that we can help ourselves to learn different skills. We have to ask more questions to learn.

“By this, we will have a future. It will be a good one. Don’t just keep thinking negatively of yourself and become fearful of failures. Don’t keep on praising Hearing people and believing that you cannot do anything. No, no, no! We can be equal like them. We have to support Deaf people, empower and push them that we can be equal.” [Thành Nguyễn waves his hands in the air in deaf applause and gives the “thumbs up” to the camera. The camera wobbles as Thành Nguyễn and the camera person do a “high five”, in other words they slap hands together. Video ends.]