After completing his service during the Chechen campaign, the carpenter transitioned to operating as a barber in Kuban.
Far from the Madding Crowd
In the quiet heart of a Russian village, Max Timin could have been tending to cows or cultivating crops, but instead, he found himself snipping scissors through strands of hair. This country boy transformed into a master of his craft, with appointments booked a month in advance - all without a single strand of his own hair to style.
Is he a jester or a master?
The initial reaction of clients is always the same: "Are you kidding me? Where's the expert?"
Standing before them is a burly, bald man with hands of steel. These rough hands deftly handle a lock of hair, and in an instant, the scissors start dancing.
But you're... bald, a client murmurs.
- But your hair will be jaw-dropping! Max Timin chuckles.
In half an hour, the woman staring at her reflection is already captivated: the hair cascades perfectly, the shape is magazine cover-worthy.
From haystacks to hairdos
Timin's humble beginnings were in the pastures, not in a trendy studio.
- My dad farmed cows, bulls, pigs. My 'style' was a scythe, grass up to my waist, and buckets of feed. Every morning, as far back as I can remember, I'd go to the field, sharpen the scythe, swish-swish, and a haystack would be ready in a couple of hours. If someone had told me then that these hands would be doing bobs and complex coloring, I would have laughed, Max reminisces.
But life took a detour: the army, the Chechnya war. Returning home, there was no work, no prospects - just ruins. He took odd jobs, made moldings, until fate handed him a ticket to a new life. Friends told him he could learn to be a hairdresser in the next town - he took the risk. And it paid off.
- I'd cut grandmas' hair for five rubles - the line would form in the morning. Teachers would say, "Guy, you've got a light touch." I was just doing what felt right. I only found out later that my great-grandfather was a barber. Must be the genes!
The village magic conquered Moscow
Whispers about the young hairdresser's success began to spread. One day, a friend called and said, "Stop making old ladies look fabulous, it's time to conquer Moscow!"
Through advertisements in newspapers, Max found a hairdresser near "Shosse Entuziastov" metro station. The Armenian owner looked at his calloused hands and sneered, "Who are you?"
Max replied, "You won't regret it."
And he didn't.
- I worked like five people, like in the field: tirelessly, with all my heart. Clients came, the owner's income grew like crazy, Max says.
Onwards and Upwards. This young master started carving his niche in the fashionable scene, learning from top stylists like Zverev, Uksusov, and Todchuk. He mastered the technology of intelligent haircutting, where hair lies well even without styling, and the haircut doesn't require correction for up to three months.
Love and Chicken
But the real turning point didn't happen in Moscow's glamour, but in a cozy backroom where his home-cooked meal awaited.
A girl named Christina, with eyes that made you want to lose yourself, started working at the same hairdresser's as an administrator.
I was working like a man possessed, eating burnt pastries on the go. One day, I went into the backroom - and there it was, the table set, chicken and potatoes steaming. Christina said, "Sit down, eat." That's how they got me hooked, - laughs Maxim.
When love happened, Timin found himself at a crossroads - the scene or family life. He chose the latter. He feared that Moscow would tear them apart. So, the young couple decided to move south.
The Garage Salon
In the town of North, women held two beliefs sacred: "The higher the tease, the closer to God" and "Blonde should be so bright it hurts the eyes."
Arguing with them is like fighting windmills. I just started cutting hair differently. And when men started turning their heads to look at my clients... business picked up, - says the hairdresser.
Maxim initially worked in a shop, but he realized he needed his own style in everything. He converted a garage and built a beauty salon right in the center of town. A few years later, he opened another one in Krasnodar. And even in the big city, he found his niche.
The Psychologist with Scissors
What's Maxim Timin's secret? He doesn't shy away from hard work. He has a team of masters, but he still sits at the chair every day.
Once, he cut a conductor's hair right in the train. In her tiny room, under dim light. It turned out perfect.
In Egypt, two tourists followed him around: "It's a month's wait in Krasnodar. Can you cut our hair here?" The local hairdresser gasped, watching Maxim's strong fingers skillfully create perfect lines, and simply said, "I've never seen such technique!"
Maxim doesn't just cut hair - he listens. Clients come not just for a new hairstyle, but for heart-to-heart chats too. They appreciate his empathy and sense of humor.
One lady said, "I want a hairstyle like yours!" Turns out, she gets a buzz cut every five years and sells her hair. That's a business! - laughs Timin.
To balding men, Max speaks honestly: "Either accept it, or prepare for a transplant. But consider this: it's painful, expensive, and 70% of the hair will still fall out."
P.S. His wife and two daughters have never been to another stylist in 20 years.
Photo courtesy of personal archive
"If you want something done right, do it yourself," Max says with a smile.
Lessons from the master who knows all about hair, even without any of his own
- After 40, hair should only be shoulder-length. Long hair ages you.
- Got gray hair? Only consider highlights or a noble blonde. Dark tones are a no-no.
- Bangs - no "fluffies"! Sharp lines, straight lines - they set the style.
- Despite his humble origins tending haystacks, Max Timin transformed his lifestyle from a simple country boy to a master in the fashion-and-beauty industry, showing that home-and-garden skills can lead to success in unexpected areas.
- His journey, from village magic to conquering Moscow, provides a compelling narrative that demonstrates the power of perseverance and determination in achieving one's goals, making him an inspiring figure in the lifestyle industry.
