A hairdresser has moved people to tears with his act of kindness.
Joshua Santiago, who was once homeless himself, is on a mission to bring hope to those living on the streets. He offers free haircuts to individuals who can’t afford them and travels across the US with Empowering Cuts, a company he founded in 2017.
The Philadelphia man recently left people emotional with his latest job. In a recent post shared with his 492,100 TikTok followers, he meets a homeless man to whom he gives a free haircut.
In the video, it shows the man looking sad and vulnerable, being welcomed onto the chair for a trim. Joshua then gets to work on his locks and facial hair. Moments later, the man sports a different look with a side fade and neatened beard.
Once the job is done, Joshua hands the man a mirror and gifts him an entirely new outfit and trainers, which he puts on immediately. The final clip reveals his incredible transformation, leaving many viewers in tears.
The post has since garnered 9,700 likes and hundreds of comments. One person wrote: “My boy out here doing God’s work, bless you fam.” Another added: “The Holy Spirit is working through you to give people hope.”
A third person added: “Thank you for everything you do bro. You cut my hair when I was homeless now I’m eight months clean, keep helping people!” A fourth individual shared their emotional response: “These gets me emotional every time.”
Others hailed Joshua, calling him “such a blessing”. For several years, Joshua has traversed across the States to provide complimentary haircuts to the homeless and those grappling with addiction.
Originally from Philadelphia, he regularly frequents the Kensington area to connect with individuals in need. He engages them in conversation before providing a free haircut that significantly changes how they look.
On weekends, Joshua takes a fully equipped mobile RV barbershop out on the streets. The barber believes these interactions offer a chance for real change and transformation.