St Albans salon offered free haircuts to homeless people

Franki Berry

Published: 9:00 PM January 14, 2018

Updated: 3:02 PM November 1, 2020

Hairdressers at Menspire gave free cuts to homeless people on Christmas Day. Picture: Josh Lamonaca - Credit: Archant

Kind-hearted staff at a city hair salon offered free haircuts for local homeless people to raise money for charity.

Hairdressers at Menspire gave free cuts to homeless people on Christmas Day. Picture: Josh Lamonaca - Credit: Archant

Relect the Trendz partnered with salon Menspire, on Hatfield Road, in order to open their doors for disadvantaged people on Christmas Day.

The initiative not only helped homeless folk to feel their best, but also raised more than £500 for local shelter Open Door.

Hairdressers also visited a homeless shelter in Hemel Hempstead to offer the same service.

Salon co-director Josh Lamonaca, 28, said: “It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, there was so much love in the air and so much joy.

Hairdressers at Menspire gave free cuts to homeless people on Christmas Day. Picture: Josh Lamonaca - Credit: Archant

“A haircut is one of the things that makes you look and feel fantastic and to be able to offer it to these guys is incredible.”

About 40 men and women came in to smarten up and change their look.

Menspire has been linked with Open Door ever since Josh and co-director Samuel Palmer set up the business in 2012 and in time, they hope the event will be widespread across the district.

Josh said social media helped the campaign: “I didn’t expect the support, I thought it was going to come in dribs and drabs but as soon as we put it up on social media, people started to show love, hearts started melting and people started giving.

Hairdressers at Menspire gave free cuts to homeless people on Christmas Day. Picture: Josh Lamonaca - Credit: Archant

“We do the haircuts all year around but when it comes to Christmas people are a bit more giving.”

He hopes next year will be “bigger and better”.

People on the donations page were full of praise. Kamal said: “A noble cause, well worthy of support shown to me by my brother/barber. Let’s help those less fortunate and make a positive change.”

Dini Braka said: “I hope this makes a difference, thank you for your initiative creating this page to help the homeless.”