Mane man Jamie’s haircuts for homeless
FOR most of us getting a haircut is just a regular task that we don’t give too much thought.
But when you’re homeless, like many other things, going to the hairdressers becomes a luxury. But one barber is helping to change that for homeless people in Cardiff.
Jamie Richards shuts up his own barber shop in Aberdare to travel to the capital and offer haircuts to people living on the streets free of charge.
The 21-year-old said: “A lot of people say that they’re going to help or would like to, but I thought I actually would. I started doing it about three or four years ago and I had big response from it then. The first time it was terrifying, but it is worth it.”
Jamie started offering free haircuts around three years ago, but has recently returned to Cardiff to help out.
After recently opening up his own barber shop, The Man Cave in Penywaun, around three months ago, the dad-of-one returned to Cardiff on Monday to offer free haircuts.
With a foldable chair, comb and a pair of scissors, the barber set up shop on the streets of the capital and cut hair for 10 people. On his most recent trip he was also able to raise £50 to spend on Greggs products which was also handed out to the homeless.
Jamie said: “They were all really grateful and some are in tears when you show them. We get a bit of everything and nine times out 10 they are absolutely fine. It’s a real eye-opener.”
Jamie recalled one man revealing his story of how he ended up on the streets.
He said: “I talked to one man before and he had a really good job, but he lost his job, his father passed away and he had a heart attack. His wife then left him and he went into depression and that put him on the streets. It hits home.”
Jamie said many of the homeless people he helps are happy to have their hair cut in public, with some passers-by stopping to take pictures. Jamie added that he plans to return to Cardiff sometime before Christmas to offer free haircuts again.