DEZ
WHAT’S IT TO YA?
Photo & Words: Tagwa Moyo
Dez Smee is a barber and the owner of Boombox Barbershop located in Vancouver. Football has been in Dez's life for as long as he can remember, as he grew up with the game always being on TV at home.
Dez has South African roots, and one of his earliest football memories is the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Dez's early days of cutting saw him giving his homies trims with Walmart clippers but he soon realized that it was something he wanted to take more seriously.
Now, the space that Dez has built at Boombox is more than just a barbershop; it’s a part of a growing soccer community in the city. Pull up for a trim or to catch a DARBY or simply for the banter.
How did you first get into soccer?
I’ve always played soccer since I was young. Growing up, it was always on TV in our house. The two players who stood out to me as a kid and really got me into it were Ronaldinho and Drogba. Proper ballers.
Dez has South African roots, and one of his earliest football memories is the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Dez's early days of cutting saw him giving his homies trims with Walmart clippers but he soon realized that it was something he wanted to take more seriously.
Now, the space that Dez has built at Boombox is more than just a barbershop; it’s a part of a growing soccer community in the city. Pull up for a trim or to catch a DARBY or simply for the banter.
How did you first get into soccer?
I’ve always played soccer since I was young. Growing up, it was always on TV in our house. The two players who stood out to me as a kid and really got me into it were Ronaldinho and Drogba. Proper ballers.
Being from South Africa, do you have any special memories of Bafana Bafana?
I’m sure everyone can guess. It has to be Tshabalala’s opening goal in 2010. I was 12, and my dad let me skip school that morning so we could watch it, which never happened, so I knew it was special.
When and how did you first get into barbering?
I started about 10 years ago. I went to barber school after a summer of cutting my friends’ hair with Walmart clippers. I just thought it seemed like a pretty chill job—listen to good tunes, watch some sports, and chop it up with people. It seemed like the way forward for me, and thankfully I’ve never looked back.
Which footballers make your haircut Mount Rushmore for best trims?
R9 is the obvious answer. If you’ve been to Boombox, you’ve seen him everywhere. But Djibril Cissé gets in there. Carlos Valderrama is a legend. And Rodrigo Palacio for the dedication to the rat tail.
I’m sure everyone can guess. It has to be Tshabalala’s opening goal in 2010. I was 12, and my dad let me skip school that morning so we could watch it, which never happened, so I knew it was special.
When and how did you first get into barbering?
I started about 10 years ago. I went to barber school after a summer of cutting my friends’ hair with Walmart clippers. I just thought it seemed like a pretty chill job—listen to good tunes, watch some sports, and chop it up with people. It seemed like the way forward for me, and thankfully I’ve never looked back.
Which footballers make your haircut Mount Rushmore for best trims?
R9 is the obvious answer. If you’ve been to Boombox, you’ve seen him everywhere. But Djibril Cissé gets in there. Carlos Valderrama is a legend. And Rodrigo Palacio for the dedication to the rat tail.
So Chelski? How did that come to be?
Chelsea. It was mainly Drogba. It was also the first jersey I had—I think my mom got it for me. Luckily for me, she didn’t pick the Spurs shirt.
If you could give cuts to two Chelsea ballers, past or present, who would you choose?
This is a tough one. As much of a baller as he is, Cole Palmer’s barnet needs sorting out. I’d like to think I’m the man for the job—see what I can do there.
Kanté—quick job. Probably one of the most humble and nicest footballers to ever play. He gets one on the house. Single-handedly won Chelsea the Champions League.
Chelsea. It was mainly Drogba. It was also the first jersey I had—I think my mom got it for me. Luckily for me, she didn’t pick the Spurs shirt.
If you could give cuts to two Chelsea ballers, past or present, who would you choose?
This is a tough one. As much of a baller as he is, Cole Palmer’s barnet needs sorting out. I’d like to think I’m the man for the job—see what I can do there.
Kanté—quick job. Probably one of the most humble and nicest footballers to ever play. He gets one on the house. Single-handedly won Chelsea the Champions League.
Vancouver can sometimes be seen as a cliquey city. You are trying to change that narrative, creating a space within Boombox for people to come together—not just for haircuts, but for football. Why is community so important to you?
Without community, life is boring. Growing up involved in different communities, you learn why they’re important to people. I’m always honoured and humbled when people show up to Boombox when they don’t even have a cut, or they’re just here to watch a game. It’s cool to know that people know each other through Boombox.
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Without community, life is boring. Growing up involved in different communities, you learn why they’re important to people. I’m always honoured and humbled when people show up to Boombox when they don’t even have a cut, or they’re just here to watch a game. It’s cool to know that people know each other through Boombox.
