What a transformation! Homeless man is unrecognizable after makeover

Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) - He helps those who have the hardest time in life: In 2017, Joshua Santiago set himself the task of cutting the hair of homeless people in the USA free of charge. Since then, the hairdresser has been working as a volunteer for his non-profit organization "Empowering Cuts". In November, the man had a customer as a guest who has since attracted a lot of attention on TikTok. After his makeover, the homeless man is almost unrecognizable.

This is what the homeless man looked like before his makeover.
This is what the homeless man looked like before his makeover.  © Bildmontage: TikTok/Screenshots/empoweringcuts

In the curious video (see below), the penniless American walks down the street with long hair and a scruffy beard. His clothes are also quite run-down.

Santiago does the young man's hair outdoors in his home town of Philadelphia, right next to a street. First the volunteer shaves his hair, then his beard. Santiago also takes care of his guest's face.

Then the homeless man is allowed to put on a new jogging suit. The hairdresser has set up a mobile changing room on the sidewalk especially for this purpose.

Finally, the time has come. The homeless man presents his new look. And it's a sight to behold!

TikTok clip achieves more than 200,000 clicks

Unrecognizable: With his new jogging suit, short hair and trimmed beard, the homeless man looks like a new man.
Unrecognizable: With his new jogging suit, short hair and trimmed beard, the homeless man looks like a new man.  © TikTok/Screenshot/empoweringcuts

In his light blue tracksuit, with his well-groomed beard and short hair, the man looks completely different. Now he almost looks a bit like a model.

This transformation also delights TikTok users. Since November 20, the video has received more than 200,000 clicks. In hundreds of comments, some are enthusiastic about the makeover, others wish the homeless man good luck

Santiago himself writes alongside the clip: "You don't know how strong someone is until you see how they survive when they have nothing left." His customer leaves at the end of the clip.

Santiago doesn't just fight for people in need in his home town. At times, he travels across the USAin a bus to help even more homeless people.