Good Humans | Nasir Sobhani

Aspiring towards love and acceptance without prejudice, Nasir Sobhani has built a life grounded in service.

Known widely as The Streets Barber , Nas believes every person deserves to be seen beyond their circumstances. Through barbering, he's discovered that a haircut can become far more than a haircut - it can become trust, conversation, dignity and hope.

Born in Japan to Iranian parents, raised in Canada and now calling Melbourne home, his path hasn't been linear. After finding sobriety in Vancouver following years of addiction, Nas chose to pursure barbering-not simply as a career, but as a way to connect, empower and serve others. Guided by his Baha'i faith and a belief in the unity of humankind, he has spent years using his craft to restore confidence, create meaningful conversations and remind people that everyone deserves kindness, regardless of their past.

What began as offering free haircuts on the streets of Melbourne has since grown into The Streets Barber movement and Clean Cut Clean Start - an initiative built on the belief that even the smallest act of compassion can change the course of someone's day, or perhaps even their life. 

In our conversation, Nas reflects on addiction and recovery, the empathy that shaped his own journey, and why listening is often more powerful than speaking. He shares his thoughts on style as an extension of identity, the ripple effect of kindness, and why genuine human connection remains one of the greatest forms of service we can offer each other. 

Because if there's one thing Nas reminds us, it's that purpose isn't found in our title or profession. It's found in the way we choose to show up, to connect, and to serve others.

Beginnings & Beliefs

You've lived across so many cultures - Japan, Canada, Australia. How has that mosaic of experiences shaped the way you see people, and the way you connect with them? I'm really grateful to have lived in all those countries - and to have experienced so many different cultures. Actually, I also spent a year living in a local village in Vanuatu when I was 19, which was eye-opening and beautiful experience that just adds to that list. I sometimes take it for granted how lucky I am to have all this exposure. I'll talk to people and they're surprised by what I see as just basic knowledge because it's all I have known - different languages, slang, customs, and traditions. Having that diverse experience has allowed me to adapt quickly, whether I'm travelling or meeting someone from a different culture. 

It's true that sometimes it feels like I don't fully belong to any one place, but that's also a blessing. It reminds me of a Baha'i saying: "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens". So I always full back on that idea of unity.

The Baha'i faith speaks about unity and service to others. How does that spiritual framework guide you in moments on the street, one-to-one, with people often overlooked? The Baha'i faith has really given me a strong sense of guidance and wisdom from an early age. I grew up watching my parents approach everyone without prejudice and with a lack of judgment, no matter who they were or where they came from. That really taught me to see people simply as human beings, as equals, and to connect with them on that fundamental level of shared humanity. 

I've always loved the Baha'i concept of unity in diversity. It's about finding a beautiful sense of unity in our differences. And that's why I'm drawn to connecting with people from all walks of life. When I'm out on the streets, I don't look at someone's past or judge them; I just see them as another human being with their own story. It's really about that spirit of empathy and seeing everyone as part of one human family.

Overcoming and Redefining

You've shared openly about your past struggles with addiction. What role did empathy-both receiving and offering it-play in your path to sobriety? I always say I'm incredibly fortunate because I had the constant love and forgiveness of my family. Their empathy and support - always being willing to take ten steps with me if I took the first-played a huge role in my sobriety. Even though they couldn't fully relate to addiction themselves, their unconditional support and their ability to see me through a lens of forgiveness rather than guilt was crucial. It helped me not just to get sober, but to stay sober. 

Now, when I meet others going through similar struggles, I try to offer that same empathy. I know it's not helpful to just say "Get over it". Instead, I focus on connecting with them, understanding that addiction often comes from deep struggles or trauma. Empathy is like extending a hand to life someone up rather than just meeting them at their lowest point and leaving them there. I always try to hold space for people and let them know there's always hope and another chance. 

Do you feel your own recovery journey gives you a unique ability to connect with others facing hardship? 100%. People often come to me with their struggles because they know I've been through it, and that shared experience builds trust. Over the years, whether in the barbershop or among friends, I've had people open up to me and take steps toward their own sobriety.

The Streets Barber & Clean Cut Clean Start

You often describe a haircut as more than a service-it's a moment of restoration. What happens in that space, between barber and client, that makes people open up? First and foremost, as barbers, we're really lucky because people come to us already letting their guard down. They trust us with their image, and that automatically creates a kind of connection. When someone sits in the chair and knows you're there to make them look and feel good, that's when those walls come down - whether they are aware of it or not. And that space becomes a place where people naturally open up.

It's one of the things I love most about the craft: I don't have to go searching for those connections-they come right to me. That moment of trust opens a lot of doors for real conversation and genuine human connection.

When you're cutting hair for someone who may be going through their lowest moment, how do you approach that conversation with kindness? When someone's at their lowest, I approach them with complete non-judgment. I set aside any personal disagreements or opinions and just let them speak. I focus on empathising rather than sympathising, and I try not to lecture. Instead, I'll often just repeat what they've shared to let them know they're truly heard. A lot of times, that alone helps them find their own answers just by talking it through. I'm not a trained therapist, just a person doing my best to make people feel a little better each day.

Is there a particular encounter on the streets where empathy completely shifted the energy of the moment-for both you and the person in your chair? There are so many stories, but one that really stands out is about a guy I was cutting hair for. In the middle of the haircut, he stepped away to sell heroin to a teenager. I was really disappointed and honestly felt conflicted about even finishing the haircut. But I reminded myself that I was there to serve without judgment, so I finished the cut and treated him with the same respect I would anyone else. 

A few weeks later, I ran into him again, and he actually told me he'd stopped selling since that last haircut. He said he wanted to be a better father and avoid going down the same path. Hearing that really humbled me and reminded me that everyone has the potential to change. It taught be that being a positive influence, even when it's tough, can truly help someone that a step in a better direction.

Connection & Kindness

In a world that often feels disconnected, what have these one-to-one interactions taught you about the power of kindness? Kindness heals, you know? There's so much power in just showing a little bit of love to people, especially in a world that can feel insular and focused on individuality over universal connection. Through my craft, I've learned that these one-on-one interactions can be incredibly powerful. When you choose to be kind, it creates this ripple effect. People feel that joy, and it's contagious. It inspires them to pass that kindness on to others, and it also keeps you wanting to continue that cycle It's like an electric charge of positive emotions that just keeps going.

Style & Self-Expression

Hair is such a visible marker of identity. What does style mean to you-not just in how someone looks, but in how they feel about themselves? Style is really personal, but for me, it's a powerful way for people to express who they are beyond just words. It's interesting because I often use someone's style as a guide when I cut their hair. Two people might ask for the same haircut, but it'll look different depending on their overall vibe. If someone has a really polished style, I might make their cut sharper. If someone's more laid-back, I might give it a more natural, lived-in feel. 

Do you see style as another language of connection-one that communicates who we are without words? It's kind of ironic because I talk about not judging people, but I do read their style cues to shape their haircut. In the end, I think style is a form of body language, and it can speak louder than words. It's a privilege to be in an industry where I can help people express themselves that way. 

Looking forward

What do you hope people take away from the The Streets Barber-beyond their haircut? That you can be of service no matter what you do. For a long time, I struggled with feeling like I had to do something more 'respectable' than being a barber, and I didn't see it as a real way to make an impact. But after going through sobriety and embracing the teachings of the Baha'i faith, I realised that your purpose in life is to serve others, in whatever role you have. It doesn't matter what your job is, or who you are-age, race, gender, religion-you can always find a way to be of service. And that's what I hope people remember: that The Streets Barber is about inspiring others to be the best they can be and to carry that spirit of service into their own lives. 

If you could leave people with one though on connection, kindness, or starting again-what would it be? I think connection and kindness are so important, and instead of thinking of it as 'starting again', it's really about continuing. Life doesn't always give us do-overs, but it does give us chances to pick up the pieces, learn from our mistakes, and keep going forward with new choices. Kindness is powerful, and connection is like the lifeblood of growth. Just like a tree needs its roots connected to the earth, or a phone needs to be plugged in to recharge, we need human connection to truly thrive. If there's one thought I'd leave people with, it's that staying connected-through kindness and understanding, is what keeps us all growing. 

Nasir wears The Brooklyn Jacket in Black, the Ari Over Shirt in Light Stone, the William Jean in Black and Light Stone, the Jo Bomber in Black, the Atlas Tee in White.

Images by Verity from Ginger and Mint