Maram Hammadi came to the United States from Iraq as a refugee in 2012. He dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but quickly realized that for people who don’t know English, only low-paying jobs are available. Starting out as a dishwasher at a Panda Express, he learned the language at an adult school in Spokane, and then found a path to cosmetology school while working in the oil fields of North Dakota. In 2023, he opened his own barbershop, Jazz Barbershop, in Shoreline, a suburb of Seattle. This city, located north of Seattle between Seattle itself and Everett, was formed in 1995 and is among the youngest in the region. Shoreline is also conveniently situated: it’s a 15–20 minute drive to downtown, offers more affordable housing than Seattle, and has its own public transportation system, along with an extensive network of parks, including the famous Shoreline Park. It’s a typical “bedroom” suburb with a diverse population—lots of families and good schools—and this is, according to Hammadi, where he “lives like in a dream.”
When one of his clients asked Hammadi whether he would like to cut the hair of the Egypt national soccer team, which had come to Seattle for FIFA World Cup matches, he immediately agreed. Along with his barbershop colleagues, he spent many hours behind the scenes at the hotel, preparing the team for its games—first against Belgium on June 15, and then against Iran. Despite the packed schedule, Hammadi canceled his appointments and went to take care of the guests.
“Egypt’s king,” Mohamed Salah, specifically asked that it be Hammadi who cut his hair after seeing the barber’s work with the other players. “These guys are cool—so humble and so simple,” the barber shared. He added that the team bonded with him and his crew, asking for advice on where to go in Seattle. Hammadi recommended Bellevue Square, as well as noting that there’s a special cultural closeness between Iraqis and Egyptians.
“Languages intertwine, and there’s so much love between us,” says Hammadi. “It’s all so rewarding because I was a refugee and I worked so hard. But it’s that which makes me happy.” For a former refugee who went from dishwasher to the owner of his own business, meeting his idols and getting a chance to connect with big-time sports became a true reward for years of hard work.
Based on: At World Cup Seattle, Egyptian team gets hair cut by local barber