A barber who opened five shops in Glasgow named after his late grandad has now expanded to the North East.
Alex Mills, from Blyth, Northumberland, always believed that he would grow up to be a teacher or a police officer. When he failed both entry tests, he signed up to work a Camp America in the USA.
While working as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the summer camp in Long Island, New York, he practised cutting the hair of his colleagues.
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When he returned, Alex began volunteering at a barber shop in Glasgow. He worked there for four years before opening his own barber shop in the city in 2016.
The 37-year-old named the shop Handsome Jack's after his grandfather Jack Hunter, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, who died at the age of 95 in 2011.
Dedicated Alex worked six days a week and went on to open another four barber shops in Glasgow. He has now sold two of them and has opened a shop in his grandad's hometown
Alex said: "I have always wanted to get my grandad's name back home. To have a shop in Whitley Bay is a massive accomplishment. It's the main goal which I have worked towards.
"I think he would be super proud, I think he would have loved it. I have got two amazing barbers there and I'm hoping to have a third, as there's a space for that."
Alex moved into his sister's flat in Glasgow after studying Fine Art at Northumbria University in Newcastle.
He said: "I grew up in a family of teachers and police. I always thought my life was heading to become one of those two things.
"I move up to Glasgow after I graduated from Northumbria. I had this plan to become a teacher but I didn't get in, I failed the interview. I then failed the maths test for the police. At that point I was in a bit of a rut."
Alex decided to sign up to spend the summer across the pond and discovered that he really enjoyed cutting hair.
He said: "I went to Camp America, I was a life guard and a swimming instructor at a camp for special needs children. It was at Long Island in New York, which was amazing.
"I went and got my hair cut at the time at a little barber's shop. Everyone was laughing at my hair and I thought never again."
Following his bad experience, he decided he would try his hand as a barber and cut his colleagues' hair in return for a few dollars.
The following year, Alex signed up for Camp America for a second time and spent more time cutting the hair of others.
He said: "When I came home at 25 I went to a barber shop and I said 'I want to be a barber, I will work for you for free until you decide to pay me and I'll be here on all my days off from my job at Urban Outfitters'.
"They paid me eventually after about six months. I was there for four years.
"It was my mam who said 'Go and volunteer and start from the bottom'. I have always listened to my mam."
Alex knew that he always wanted to set up his own shop and worked hard to ensure that it came true.
He said: "I knew what my goal was, I'm a firm believer in hard work.
"I named my shop after my grandad as I loved my grandad. He was 95 years old when he died and I made sure I went to see him all time time. I loved his stories from the war.
"I just wish he had been alive to see it. He died before I opened my own business."
Alex puts his success down to giving customers an enjoyable experience.
He said: "It's not just a rush barber shop. Guys come in and they are treated really well. It's a lovely environment and I think they just feel comfortable here.
"It's appointment based and they get tea or coffee or a little Whiskey or a rum and coke.
"I have sold two of the shops. Two of the guys who worked for me wanted their own business and offered to buy the shop off me so I said 'absolutely why not'."
Around a month ago, he returned to the North East and opened Handsome Jack's on Whitley Road in Whitley Bay.
Alex, who has now lived in Glasgow for 15 years, said he hopes to one day return home for good. He added: "I miss the North East so much."
