After living on the streets of Goiânia, Brazil, for about three years, 43-year-old João Coelho Guimarães knew it was time for a change. Walking into Padoo, a small local barbershop, João didn't know what to expect.
All he wanted was one thing -- to trim his overgrown beard. What he wound up getting from the staff changed his life.
João Coelho Guimarães
João Coelho Guimarães was 43-years-old and had been homeless on the streets of Goiânia, Brazil, for three years. During that time, his hair became overgrown, and his beard knotted and mangled.
He knew if he was going to turn his life around, he needed a change, a big one at that.
Making The Best Of A Rough Situation
Even though he lived on the streets, João was a friendly man, and most people in the city knew him by name. He made the best of a bad situation, making friends where he could.
As it would turn out, João's friendly personality is what was about to help him.
The Staff At Padoo Already Knew João
One day, João walked into Padoo, a small local barbershop on one of the streets he frequented. Because of his friendly nature, the staff there already knew who he was when he walked through the door.
They'd been talking to João for the past few months and knew the man was in desperate need of a makeover.
They Didn't Know His Story
While the staff at Padoo knew who João was, they didn't actually know his story or how he wound up living on the streets of the town. Regardless, they knew he was a friendly man.
So, when he walked through the doors of the salon, they didn't think twice about his presence there.
Not Your Typical Barbershop
Padoo wasn't a typical barbershop, though. Along with hairstyling services, the shop also offered clothing for customers to purchase, even some on sale! It was the perfect place for anyone looking to make a drastic change in their life.
Decorated in dark browns with a motorcycle on display and guitars hanging on the walls, Padoo was a stylish one-stop shop for a big-time makeover.
His Hair Was Overgrown And His Beard Was Tangled
It was December 2020 when João finally mustered up the courage to walk into the shop. His personal grooming had seen better days. His hair was overgrown and hanging in his eyes, and his beard was tangled and matted.
Even though he could have used a full-blown haircut, João was only there for one thing.
João Wanted A Razor To Trim His Beard
When João first walked into Padoo, the staff knew who he was and asked if he'd like some water or food. To their surprise, he said no. João was looking to borrow one thing -- a razor.
During an interview, one staff member said, "[Guimarães] came, and we asked him if he was hungry and if he wanted something to eat. But he refused and asked if we had a razor so he could trim his beard."
The Salon Gave Back To The Community
While Padoo was a trendy barbershop, they did more than cut hair and sell clothing. The staff and owner of the salon made a point to help their community where they could.
They did this through various charity organizations and projects, hoping to make their community a better place to live for all of its residents.
It Was A Difficult Time For Many
It was 2020, a difficult time for many in the world. According to the owner of Padoo, Mr. Lobo, their local business wanted to do what they could to help. "We have some social aid projects, and for us, it is very gratifying to be able to help people, whoever they are," the owner said.
"In this time of the pandemic, many people lost loved ones, and others were left with financial difficulties. A little help is always welcome in such a difficult time."
No To The Razor But Yes To So Much More
Taking one look at João's overgrown hair and matted beard, the staff knew what they needed to do. They said no to João's request to borrow a razor. Instead, they told him they would give him a complete haircut and shave.
It was more than João could have wished for. He couldn't believe their generosity.
"We Welcomed Him..."
According to the barbershop owner, Mr. Lobo, helping João was a no-brainer. "We decided to help [Guimarães] because we saw the extreme need he had," said Mr. Lobo.
"We made friends with him over the past two months. And when he asked us for a razor, we welcomed him and gave him the full experience."
It Was No Small Task
João's makeover was no small task. Living on the streets for three years without routine haircuts and little to no way to wash his hair meant the staff had their work cut out for them.
Even so, they welcomed João into one of the chairs and got to work on his hair.
A Video To Show The Before And After Transformation
With knots, tangles, and more than one section matted, the staff tackled João's hair piece by piece. They even took a video of their work, giving them the opportunity to show João his before and after transformation.
Soon, the stylists realized they were only going to get so far with a pair of scissors and a brush.
The Back Of His Head Was Shaved
After trimming off what they could, the staff grabbed some clippers and went to shave the back of João's head. Hair fell to the floor in giant clumps, but they did something João wasn't expecting.
They left a solid amount of hair n the top of his head. He wasn't sure what their plan was, but he didn't really care. He was so grateful.
A Weight Was Begining To Lift
There was no doubt João felt better already like a weight was lifted off his shoulders each time a piece of his dirty, matted hair fell to the floor. Even so, the staff was far from done with João's makeover.
They had more plans for their new friend, including a wardrobe change.
Phase Two: Cutting And Styling
Once the barber finished shaving João's head, it was time for phase two -- styling. Taking the hair that he left on the top of João's head, the barber began cutting and styling.
It wasn't long before João had a fresh new cut. João's face lit up when he was his appearance in the mirror.
There Was Still More To Do
While his haircut was finished, leaving him looking like a totally different person without the overgrown locks falling into his eyes, there was still a little way to go on his makeover.
After the hair was styled to perfection, the barber made their way to the one thing João wanted to fix when he first entered Padoo -- his beard.
Phase Three: The Beard
When João first walked into Padoo, all he wanted was to borrow a razor to trim his unruly beard. Now, it was finally time to tackle it. The barber grabbed his clippers and got to work, trimming João's beard and making his face visible for all to see.
His upcoming transformation is truly something.
João Wasn't Used To The Pampering
Lying back in the barber chair, João took the time to relax and take in the moment. Living on the streets, he wasn't used to this kind of pampering and wanted to enjoy every minute.
Once he was settled, the barber got to work taming João's overgrown beard with one goal: making him look and feel like a new person.
João Was Touched At The Staff's Kindness
João still hadn't seen himself in the mirror yet, with both the haircut and his beard trimmed. Either way, it was obvious he was the happiest he'd been in a while. João couldn't help but smile at the kindness the Padoo staff had shown him.
They were going above and beyond anything he could have hoped for.
He Was Begining To Feel Like His Old Self
With a fresh new haircut and style and a trimmed beard, João was finally starting to feel like the man he was three years prior before we found himself living on the streets.
It was a miraculous change that happened in the span of one afternoon. But the Padoo staff still wasn't finished!
There Were Both Personal And Physical Transformations
In the video made by the Padoo staff, it is easy to see João's personal transformation as well as his physical change. Coming into Padoo, João looked tired and haggard with his overgrown hair.
Now, he was smiling and looked years younger, with a bright face and kind eyes that were grateful to the staff for helping a man when he was down.
Phase Four: A Change Of Clothes
The staff had made João's day, and he couldn't have been happier, but they weren't finished quite yet. They weren't going to send João back on the streets with a fresh new look but old clothing.
So, they brought him over to the clothing racks and had him model a few outfits.
A Day He Would Not Soon Forget
Wearing new clothes and having a fresh shave and new haircut made João feel proud of who he was and how he looked. It was a day he would not soon forget.
The staff at Padoo even packed up a few new shirts, pairs of pants, a jacket, and shoes for him to take.
Two Hours And A Staff Of Volunteers
According to Mr. Lobo, the salon owner, the staff volunteered to do the makeover. "It took two hours to complete the transformation," said Mr. Lobo.
"The whole team volunteered, and everyone did a little, adding up to a surprising result." A surprising result indeed, as João looked like a completely different person who was ready to take on the world.
João Was Over The Moon
Looking at himself in the mirror, João couldn't believe the man who was looking back. While he was a man of few words, the staff at Padoo could tell he was over the moon.
João couldn't stop smiling, and, at one point, a few tears slid down the side of his face.
He Was So Surprised By Their Generosity
With a fresh new look and a bag full of new clothes and a pair of shoes, João was beyond words. He was so surprised the staff at Padoo would take the time to help a homeless man, let alone give him a new wardrobe.
The saloon wasn't where João's story ended.
The Makeover Video Went Viral
The staff at Padoo took a video of João's afternoon at the barbershop, taping the entire transformation. They decided to put it on their social media account, showing the world what a little TLC can do for a person when they are down.
The video went viral, with over 60,000 views and 700 comments. But one person, in particular, found the story too good to be true.
João's Mother And Sister Saw The Post
When the video of João's makeover went viral, two unexpected people stumbled upon the post -- his mother and sister. They hadn't seen João in years and actually thought he was dead.
They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw him in the video getting a complete makeover and life transformation.
His Sister called The Saloon
It had been ten years since João's sister had seen him. So, she didn't hesitate to call Padoo and ask about her brother. The staff couldn't believe it!
They went out on the streets to find João, wanting to tell him the good news and organize a visit at the barbershop.
Maria Wanted To See Her Brother
According to Mr. Lobo, João's sister, Maria, was so excited and wasted no time getting to the barbershop. "[Guimarães'] sister Maria Coelho came in a hurry when she saw the pictures," Mr. Lobo said.
"She lives in Brasília, DF, and has been waiting for ten years to hear some news about him."
Maria Wanted João To Live With Her
It was a tearful reunion, with Maria and João embracing after ten years of being apart. The Padoo staff couldn't believe it was happening.
Maria even offered for João to come back to her home and live with her, getting him off the streets and into a loving and supportive environment.
João Wanted To Stay On The Streets
To the Padoo staff's surprise, João declined his sister's offer. He wanted to stay on the streets. According to Mr. Lobo, the streets were where João felt free. "João is still on the streets," the owner said.
"His sister wanted to welcome him and take him home, but he didn't want to. He said that on the streets, he feels free. That’s why he didn’t want to go home."
João Was Starting A New Life With Friends And Family
Even though he did not go to live with his sister, João was happy living on the streets. And now he knew how to contact his sister, and she knew where he was living.
The staff at Padoo even kept in touch with João, helping him stick to a haircut routine! In the end, João was happy, made friends, and found a long-lost family member.
