Local Barbershop to Give Fresh Haircuts for the Homeless

Manny Fresh, owner of Details Barbershop on Dyer Avenue, is doing pretty well these days. 

His barbershop continues to grow in popularity and is a hotspot for local chatter and gossip. 

Members of the New England Patriots travel out of their way to get their hair cut by Fresh. A growing wall of signed photos inside the shop is proof that Fresh's fresh cuts have a growing reputation for being some of the best in New England.

But Fresh isn't just soaking up his success or taking it for granted.

On Dec. 9 Fresh and his other barbers will be giving haircuts to homeless men at the Harrington Hall homeless shelter in Cranston. His wife will be organizing food for the event. It's a way to give back to the community and more specifically, offer homeless men at the shelter a chance to get a fresh cut — something that might spur a fresh start in life.

"We're not trying to get publicity, we're just trying to help," Fresh said. "There's so many homeless guys out there, especially veterans. There's nothing like getting a haircut — you feel like a new man."

Fresh has given cuts at the shelter before. This time, he hopes to bring along lots of care packages for the men containing essentials like shaving cream, razors, soap, toiletries and other essentials.

This is where you can help. Fresh hopes his regular customers as well as people who've never come to the barbershop will drop off some items that can be put into care packages. 

"You don't even need to come in for a cut," he said. "Any little bit will help."

Of all the issues Fresh could put his energy towards, why homelessness?

"A lot of those guys really don't catch a break, you know," Fresh said. "Homeless men really don't get preferred treatment."

Homeless women and children do get more help than men, generally, Fresh said. Homeless men tend to be pushed to the back of the line. And a lot of the homeless men are war veterans.

"These are people who served our country. I figured why not do something to give back during the holidays, to put everyone in a joyful spirit."

And a fresh cut can go a long way towards feeling better about yourself, life and getting back on your feet.

"When you're cleaned up, when you don't look shaggy, people respect to you more," Fresh said.

And it's also about just lending an ear. When you cut hair, you talk to your clients. For some of these homeless men, there aren't many people willing to listen. One man once told Fresh that he had to feign illness to get a stay at the hospital on a freezing cold night. And once there, the nurses and staff didn't give preferential treatment to the man, as if his presence was an inconvenience and waste of resources.

"It's hard to imagine going through a situation like that," Fresh said. "It not like someone would choose to be homeless if they were given the option. With all the bad news out there and terrible things people do to each other, I thought it would be a good thing for us to do this holiday season."

If you want to help, Details Barbershop is located at 891 Dyer Ave. Stop in anytime or call 401-383-8990.