'Thankful for the gift of being able to give': S'porean barber, 28, gives free haircuts under HDB block for Christmas season

Since November, Aidan James Loo has been offering free haircuts to people on the streets of Singapore.

On Dec. 21, the 28-year-old brought some extra joy to residents at Haig Road, giving them a fresh new look just in time for the Christmas season.

For three hours between 6 and 9:30 pm, he cuts hair for nine people, most of whom are elderly.

The gift of giving

The initiative was in collaboration with an organisation that supported low-income families around Haig Road with food and other essentials, Loo told Mothership.

After seeing the videos of him giving free haircuts, the organisation reached out to him with the idea of taking his mission to Haig Road.

Loo was happy to do it, especially as it aligned with the festive season.

"Thankful for the gift of being able to give," he wrote on TikTok.

He began offering free haircuts to people on the streets because financial issues prevented him from continuing to work as a barber professionally.

Inspired by VicBlends, an American barber and content creator who gives free haircuts to strangers, Loo decided to do the same in Singapore, and use his skills to bless others.

A warm evening

Loo's setup under the HDB block was simple.

He laid a large white sheet out on the floor, put a plastic chair in the centre, and provided his customers with a barber's cape.

The care he took with each haircut, however, went beyond simple appearances.

Seeing that his first customer, an elderly man, was afraid of the sound of the clippers and kept flinching, Loo kindly switched to using scissors for the rest of the haircut.

He also exchanged Christmas greetings and smiles with some and brought a mirror for everyone to see how their hair turned out at the end.

There was a brief interruption when a social worker from around the area checked on what was happening, but it was resolved after the organiser explained everything and showed that they were not making a mess.

After cutting the hair of nine customers by himself, Loo felt drained but fulfilled.

"[The customers] were so gracious, and I was honestly exhausted by the end but my heart was full," he said.

The outpouring of support online also made his efforts worth it, he added.

"So nice you are doing what you love! Keep it up," one commenter wrote.

Another thanked Loo for his kindness and said, "Never underestimate a simple gesture that could feel a lot to the receiver."

@aidanjloo Thankful for the gift of being able to give 🎄 Merry Christmas yall! 😍 #francescosbarberclub #freehaircuts #sgtiktok #singapore ♬ Can't Get By Without You - The Real Thing

Top images from aidanjloo/TikTok