In an act that has captured the hearts of many, a homeless man in Philadelphia, US, was the unexpected recipient of a remarkable token of kindness.
Joshua Santiago, a barber known for his charitable acts on social media, offered the homeless man a free haircut on a snowy winter’s day. The man, identified only as T and aged 25, was visibly taken by surprise when Josh approached him with a stool ready to cut his hair.
Removing his woolly hat and hood, T initially appeared puzzled but gradually relaxed as the haircut started, resulting in a smart new appearance. The heartwarming encounter was shared by Joshua on his TikTok account, @empoweringcuts, with the poignant caption: “Every soul has a story, and sometimes the loudest cries are the quietest ones.”
T, from South Jersey, had faced two years without a home at the time the video was posted. Joshua regretfully noted in his caption “Unfortunately, today was one of those days when I had just cleaned out the back of my vehicle and didn’t have any shoes or clothes with me. I really wish I had, because he was in desperate need of sneakers and clothing.”
The touching TikTok video features T wearing Crocs amidst the heavy snow, reclining with his eyes closed, savouring the moment as Joshua expertly styled his hair and shaved his beard. It gave him not just a new look, but a renewed sense of dignity.
In a touching display during the haircut, Joshua gently wipes T’s nose for him. As the video draws to a close, T beams happily, giving the camera a smile before heading off down the street. Joshua’s TikTok video showcasing this moment of compassion has struck a chord with viewers, amassing 2.9 million views, 274,000 likes and over 7,600 comments.
The most liked comment reflects the heartwarming nature of the interaction: “That’s someone’s baby. Thank you for being so kind and making him look amazing.”
Another viewer remarked on T’s gentle demeanour, noting: “He has such a sweet face. You can see the little boy he once was.” A third user, moved by T’s situation, commented: “My goodness he must be so cold. The crocs in the snow is breaking me.”
Additionally, one particularly touched user said: “When you wiped and cleaned his nose I lost it. This is what humility and grace looks like. That’s someone’s baby, as a mother thank you for seeing that.”
Even though the video originates from America, the UK has similar initiatives assisting those without homes. For instance, Haircuts4Homeless is a charity established by seasoned hairstylist Stewart Roberts, who drew inspiration from global colleagues providing haircuts to homeless individuals.