Having pride in your appearance is a very human trait. It displays a measure of self worth, often bestowed upon oneself as much as by others. It allows you to control how others see you and thus give you confidence. A nd while our society has slipped into a malaise of self-obsession (i think you know who i’m talking about), there are those that simply aren’t seen or simply ignored. The destitute and rejected. They exist in every city in the world. The homeless.
London Hairdresser, Joshua Coombes, and photographer friend Matt Spracklen are on a mission to restore dignity to this ignored minority through the simple kindness of a haircut and a sympathetic ear. They give out free haircuts and post the accompanying story behind each person as part of the dosomethingfornothing project.
Josh has taken to travelling around the world and the stories he has collected are as much a recognition of the similarities in the problems that homeless people face across the globe as a call to humanity to recognise these people as more than walking shadows.
Some of the most touching are below:
Something as simple as a free haircut can gives formerly hopeless people a smile. Even just for a day. Maybe we could all do more to care for the most vulnerable in our society.
