Interview by Stephanie Moon
Stoked! That’s how we would describe ourselves after our latest interview with the next “Faces of Bali”, Damea Doresy.
Known for his incredible command above and below water, this former pro surfer is now one of the most respected lens men in surf photography and is also one of the best clip masters around town.
His barbershop, Dorsey’s Barbershop can be found inside Deus in Canggu. Vintage Rock ‘n’ Roll inspired, it specializes in not only cool cuts (for both men and women) but also straight razor, hot towel shaves and beard trimmings. He’s cleaned up quite a few heads here!
This Southern California native who discovered Bali in the early 90s and who permanently made his home here two years ago sat down with us to talk Bali, then and now, surf, and most notably beards! So let’s get hairy!
When did you first make it to Bali?
I first came to Bali in the early 1990s.
Was it love at first sight?
It had amazing surf and good people. I was stoked to be here. It was to me a literal paradise. I wanted to come back as much as I could. I was addicted!
Were there a lot of beards back then?
There were no beards then. It was all about long hair. I had long blond hair then, down past my shoulders.
When you first came to Bali, was it to surf or shoot photos?
Initially I came to surf, later it was for both. I’d surf and hang out at Toobs. That was the main place to hang out back then. That was all we were after: amazing surf and good people.
What type of surf were you after?
I was after any type of fun surf. Back then I surfed Kuta Beach, Kuta Reef, Airport Rights and Lefts, Uluwatu, and I went to Grajagan ( G-Land in Java).
What was Toob’s?
Toob’s was a bar restaurant on Jl. Poppies 2 in Kuta that showed surf movies and organized trips to G-Land in Java. Toob’s had this massive wall mural of a wave with a surf board on it that you could stand in front of and take a photo like you were surfing, pretty funny stuff.
What was Uluwatu like then?
It was like getting lost in time. You’d take a taxi to the edge of the end of the road then you’d hop on the back of a motorbike clutching your surf board where you’d be taken down these bumpy dirt roads. You had no idea where you’d be going. You’d just arrive at Uluwatu and it was the friendliest place on earth.
Tell us a Bali memory that really stands out to you.
People always remembered your name! It was incredible, if you returned to a place you had passed through (years could have gone by) and you had interacted with the locals, they always remembered your name. Unbelievable! I’m the worst at it so I was so impressed. Bali was the coolest thing ever, Amazing!
When did you first discover Canggu?
In the early 2000s. I never came up here because there was nothing. One day coming back from a surf trip to the Mentawais, I passed through Canggu. You wouldn’t believe how deserted it was. There was barely a road to get out here, it was that far and that hard to get to, nothing but rice fields. Even the villages, they were very sparse. Nothing!
The change now is unbelievable!
When you chose Bali, why Canggu?
For the vibe, both with the locals and with the foreigners. It’s a small community but there is always enough happening to keep it interesting.
You don’t get bored here.
Also, people respect your space. You can do your thing here but when you want to be social there is always someone to hangout with, to chat with.
What’s up with that Bali vibe?
There’s a huge international mix of people from every corner of the world. It becomes a very neutral spot. Its a massive melting pot and very open minded. People respect one another and genuinely want to help each other.
Also, lets not forget that Bali magic. That unseen, but very present current of energy. Unless you’ve been here, you can’t explain it.
How did you get in to the beard biz?
When I came to Bali two years ago I needed a trim, I was getting hairy here, as you do. I tried a few spots for a simple grooming. One was a local shop that cost me 10 rup’s. He did a great job but the large, orange, paper scissors he was using weren’t getting the look I wanted. I then tried a place in Seminyak which was too much pimp and puff. Good, but not what I wanted either. Since I have experience with hair, I thought why not open a barber shop here.
(Damea had a hair salon with his ex-wife in Carlsbad, CA after he left Rip Curl. This gave him the time to pursue his passion as a photographer. Being the tunnelled vision creative and focused person that he is, he went home and put together mood boards for the shop, presented them to his good friend Dustin Humphery of Deus for advice and direction. The rest is history.)
Best thing about having a barber shop in Canggu?
The clients. I have this one guy who has his annual cut and trim with me. I clean him up. He travels around the world. A year later he comes back to me all woolly and wild! Priceless.
The best thing about about grooming others?
It’s the feel good feeling you get from your clients. Every 30 minutes you get results and a sense of accomplishment.
I have people who walk into my shop, men and women alike, with these disheveled looks. We clean them up a bit. They feel good. We feel good!
How do you judge a good hair cut?
Mess it up after you’ve cut and styled it. If it still looks good, then it’s a good cut.
The perfect beard?
Not mine!
Wooly and wild or tailored and trimmed?
Keep it neat. If it’s wooly and wild, tailor and trim it!
Advice to anyone growing a beard?
They require maintenance. You can get hairy, but keep it in a nice shape.
Did i say maintenance?!
The person your kissing will love you more.
Worst food to eat with a beard?
Dippy, saucy stuff.
What you can’t leave home without?
Camera
Above or below water?
Underwater for sure!
Salty or sandy?
Both
What would you like to be reincarnated as?
I would like to be reincarnated as an eagle. Being an apex predator that could fly would be amazing.
Desert island hit?
The Eagles “Hotel California”
It’s “the dark desert highway” that gets me every time.
Any regrets?
No regrets. Life throws situations at you to see how you handle it. It doesn’t always work out the way you want, but it challenges you and gives you the opportunity to build character.
What inspires you?
Trying to simplify it as best as I can—passion—that inspires me!
This interview is part of a series called “Faces of Bali” and was originally published on the Ocean Tribe blog page. You can find the Tribe team on Instagram @oceantriberetreat.
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