In 2015, hairdresser Joshua Coombes made a decision that changed his life forever.
Coming home from work, he met a homeless man he had seen several times in the same place. Other times, he bought her some food or gave her coins. But this time, they started a real conversation.
Then Joshua had a brilliant idea. As a hairdresser, he could help a man by giving him a new hairstyle that gave him extra bounce.
Joshua had all the tools needed to make a major transformation. The man on the street was grateful and readily agreed to cut off his unkempt hair and long beard. Soon, many other homeless people found out about Joshua and whenever the opportunity arose, he cut the hair of anyone who wanted it.
One of the many people Joshua meets is Monty, who he wrote about on his Instagram.
Monty and Joshua’s paths crossed in Sydney. When Joshua greeted Monty, he was surprised. It was as if Joshua was the first person to greet him in a long, long time.
Eventually, Joshua offered Monty a haircut and was able to borrow a chair from a nearby hostel.
After many cuts and grooming, only short hair remained and the long beard and hair were gone. After the session with Joshua, the man smiling happily at the camera looks completely different.
It’s hard to believe that these photos are the same person.