From K‑Hip-Hop Star to Barber Boss: How Handsome Factory’s Annie Lee Turned Hong Kong’s Grooming Culture Around

In recent years, Hong Kong has embraced barber shop culture, offering men a different kind of grooming experience and turning a haircut into something to enjoy. Any conversation about the city’s barber shops has to include Handsome Factory, which brought barber culture to Hong Kong, and its remarkable founder, Annie Lee, whose life story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Annie is the wife of Brian, a member of the hip-hop group 24Herbs, and helps run Handsome Factory, which opened in 2015 and has since transformed men’s grooming culture in Hong Kong. Though she is a woman, Annie works alongside men in the barber industry every day. She doesn’t see herself as any less capable in this male-dominated field. “The most important thing is finding the right person for the right position,” Annie says. That is why Handsome Factory also has female barbers, whose skills are every bit as strong.

Although Annie has never experienced a barber service herself, her knowledge of barber culture is far from superficial. “The history of barbering dates back to ancient Egypt, and for thousands of years, it has been an essential part of men’s grooming. Most barber shops primarily offer haircuts and shaves, with classic men’s styles at the center. Handsome Factory was founded to help promote barber culture in Hong Kong, and it has since grown into a team of 33 barbers.”

Annie may look delicate, but she is a true force to be reckoned with. In her younger years, she was a member of Tashannie, a Korean female hip-hop group that was hugely popular at the time. She began dancing at age 3, building a strong foundation that later led her to choreograph for many Korean dance artists. Even Rain, one of Korea’s biggest stars, shows his respect when he sees Annie. Despite her impressive past, Annie has no airs about her. Few people realize that she also helps run the menswear brand 8five2shop, the skateboard specialty store 8Five2Shop, and handbag brand Matahari Bags. With only 24 hours in a day, how does she balance family, work, and caring for herself? Annie laughs: “Learning to manage your time is really important. Since going through illness, I’ve come to understand how important good health is. I wear an Apple Watch every day to keep track of my physical condition and record my daily workout plan.”

A few years ago, Annie battled a serious illness, underwent brain surgery, and lost her sense of balance, the ability most essential to a dancer. Even walking became difficult. “There was a time when I thought I might never walk again. Then my mother encouraged me and helped me regain my confidence. I worked hard to get back on my feet and relearn how to balance. I started taking yoga and dance classes again. Even if I fell more than 10 times in a one-hour class, I learned to begin again with humility.” Annie recounts her story in only a few minutes, yet it is hard to imagine the effort it took to adapt to life again. Her resilience would earn anyone’s admiration, and she is someone worth learning from.