If you groom from head to toe and are confident as hell, you're probably doing well in life. But unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Jose Antonio, a homeless man living on the street in Spain. So when this homeless man got a makeover, he couldn't anticipate how much his life would change...
He Struggled With Depression
Jose Antonio spent 25 years of his life homeless in Palma, Spain. He'd been living on the streets ever since his struggle with depression ultimately condemned him to homelessness. The hardships of not having a place to call home took a toll.
He Had A Life Before Everything Went Downhill
Jose was a skilled electrician, back when he was functioning in society like a regular Joe. But when depression hit him, he found it difficult to get out of bed. His condition made it impossible to continue working, and he found himself on the streets.
Everyone Knew Jose, One Way Or Another
Jose's homeless status made him a celebrity of sorts around Palma because people had grown accustomed to seeing this kind homeless man around. He was well liked by the locals, who lovingly nicknamed him Josete.
He Worked Odd Jobs Here And There
Josete had been homeless since he was 30 years old, but he survived by doing odd jobs here and there, like working as a parking attendant in Mallorca. This allowed him to buy food in order to get by. But his living conditions were awful nonetheless.
He Was Only 55, But He Looked Way Older
Josete was only 55 years old but he looked way older. One day, he ran into Salva Garcia, a local woman who felt like she needed to help out. Garcia had a very peculiar offer for Josete. Little did he know, that this would end up changing his entire life.
The Proposal That Changed His Life
Garcia was the owner of La Salvajeria, a local hair salon where she was about to give Josete a head-to-toe makeover. Best of all, it wasn't going to cost him a dime.
He Was Ecstatic
The homeless man knew that this was a great opportunity to change the way people saw him and, in the process, it would give him the confidence boost he needed to change his life and start looking for a better job.
First Impressions
Initially, Josete felt out of place at the salon. The first thing he saw when he sat down and looked at himself in the mirror was his wrinkled face, gray disheveled hair, and a dirty beard.
The Transformation
Garcia asked film producer Dr. Filmgood to record the entire transformation that'd end up completely transforming Josete. It would be another 18 months before Garcia would upload the video, which as you can imagine, ended up going viral.
Jose Had Been Longing For A Change
Josete stopped paying attention to the way he looked a long time ago in order to focus on finding food and surviving every day. But now he was excited for a fresh start, hoping this makeover would give him a boost of confidence.
This Could Potentially Change His Life
Jose asked that the mirror doors be left open so he could see himself one last time. Then, the salon mirrors were removed so that he couldn't see himself until after the transformation was completed. And boy was he about to get emotional when he took a peek at his new self!
Meet the Homeless Marine
Before we see Josete's final transformation, let's meet some other homeless men who were given life-changing makeovers. Former Marine Donald Gould was in his 50s and had spent seven years living on the streets. At first glance, all anyone saw was a man with weary eyes and a wild beard. But underneath was a talented, classically trained musician...
The Road to Nowhere
Gould endured a lot of challenges in life, like the death of his beloved wife in 1998. After that, he lost custody of his son because he was deemed an unsuitable parent. Gould fell into despair and turned to controlled substances. Eventually, he wound up living on the street...
The Project That Saved Him
The city of Sarasota, Florida, placed a bunch of pianos throughout the city, which made Gould truly happy. He went looking for the nearest piano, and it quickly drew attention to him. He left a cap on the lid of the piano and passersby started tipping him.
Gould Was a Hit
A stranger recorded Gould playing piano and posted it on YouTube. That got the attention of news stations everywhere. Eventually, it led to job offers at piano bars, and a GoFundMe account to raise money to help Gould out. Then, "Inside Edition" offered Gould a makeover...
Recovering in More Ways Than One
After getting a new wardrobe, Gould went to a barber for a clean shave and a haircut. He won a new lease on life and even got a job playing piano at a local restaurant. He also got the chance to reunite with his son, Donny, who had seen his story on TV. The father and son were back together after 15 years apart. Now Gould's life is better than ever.
Down on His Luck
Bobby from Rome, New York, was a homeless man who was down on his luck when he ran into some helpful police officers. But these cops weren’t there to arrest him. They just wanted to talk, which led to something more.
Cops Pampered Him
Bobby told the cops that he would love to get a haircut and take a warm shower. So the officers granted his wish and then some. They gave him with a shave, a haircut, a shower and a new ensemble assembled from donated clothing.
Looking Brand New
Thanks to the help these incredible officers gave him, Bobby looked brand spanking new. The officers documented everything and posted it on their Facebook page. Bobby walked away with a spiky new 'do, some fresh duds, a bag full of clothes and big smile.
Street Cuts
Mark Bustos is a stylist who works at Three Squares Studio in an upscale area of New York City. Prices for his services start at $150, but his rate can get as pricey as $800. Yet Bustos takes his rechargeable razor, scissors and combs to the street and gives homeless men and women in New York professional haircuts free of charge.
Seeing Red
This homeless war veteran is often found sitting on a wooden stool on Bowery and Rivington Street in Manhattan. His friends call him Red. Even though he’s hard of hearing, Red will talk to anyone who’s willing to listen. Bustos listened to Red and, in the process, gave the gentleman a whole new look.
Taking It All Off
This man told Bustos about how he moved to New York for a job offer that ultimately fell through, which is how he wound up living on the street. The man asked Bustos to just shave his hair off because he wasn’t sure when his next cut would be. Despite the simple request he looks sharp.
Gorgeous Makeover
Bustos went out of his way to make over this homeless man sitting on the corner of Bowery and Rivington Street in Manhattan and reveal how handsome he is. After Bustos was done, people on the streets couldn’t believe they were looking at the same guy.
Silence Can Say a Lot
Bustos finds that most homeless men are talkative, but Jamar was pretty quiet. Bustos found him outside the Bowery Mission in lower Manhattan. After he showed Jamar his new look after a free haircut, the man asked him if he knew anyone who was hiring. Clearly, the makeover gave Jamar's self-esteem a major boost.
For Veterans Day
Jim Wolf struggled with alcoholism and homelessness. But the Degage Ministries found him and turned this homeless U.S. Army veteran into Prince Charming just in time for Veterans Day. The transformation was truly remarkable.
A Brand New Man
A three-minute time-lapse video showed the beautiful transformation process. The video raised money and awareness for people who are struggling on the streets. These are the kind of folks the Degage Ministries likes to help.
He Had a Setback
Wolf’s video went viral quickly. He started attending AA meetings. But in 2013, he was arrested for trespassing and creating a disturbance. Sadly, homelessness and addiction aren’t always solved with a haircut and a viral video. But here's hoping Wolf can get back on his feet again.
London Hairdresser Helps the Homeless
London hairdresser Joshua Coombes enjoys giving homeless people free haircuts all over the globe. He also loves to connect with them, listen to their stories, and turn their frowns into smiles. Now Coombes is encouraging others to “do something for nothing” with the hashtag, #DoSomethingForNothing.
Haircut in an Alley
Coombes met Chris, a homeless army veteran with PTSD. After listening to his story, he gave Chris a haircut in an alleyway. Coombes wrote in an Instagram post, “He was in a bad way when I first met him. A friend of his had passed away just a few weeks before.” Before he left, Coombes asked Chris what his message was and he suggested that people should spread as much love as they can.
Florin From Romania
Coombes met up with Florin, a man who came from Romania to Paris and suffered a stroke. When he awoke in the hospital, he had no passport and no way to go home, so he ended up sleeping in the streets. But Florin’s hopeful he can return someday. Coombes gave him an amazing haircut. The time they spent together really bonded them in a very special way. Florin even asked Coombes to visit him in Romania when he makes it back.
Mathew From Central London
Coombes met Mathew in 2017 in a park in Central London. A year later, he ran into him again and Mathew remembered that Coombes had cut his hair a while back. Coombes might give these folks free haircuts, but his greatest gift is listening to their stories.
R.I.P. Cedric
In 2017, Coombes met Cedric and gave him a refreshing new haircut. Then the wholesome duo hung out and listened to punk music and swapped stories. In 2018, Coombes heard the sad news that Cedric had died. But, needless to say, he’ll remain in Coombes' memory forever.
The Process Took Some Time
OK, back to Jose Antonio. He had gotten nervous in the salon chair while Garcia worked her magic with her scissors. On the other hand, Jose was hoping that this makeover would increase his chances of getting a good job. You could feel Jose's anxiety starting to escalate.
Adding Some Color
It took some time, but Garcia and her wonderful team of stylists managed to cut his hair and dye Josete's hair color back to brown in order to make him look younger. The results were rejuvenating to say the least. A new man was about to emerge. But the transformation wouldn't stop there.
Shaping His Beard
Josete hadn't shaved in 25 years. But in lieu of shaving his beard off, the stylists decided to give him a trim instead. Afterwards, they dyed his beard and gave him a more polished look.
He Felt Lighter
As more of his hair was taken off, Josete could feel that his head was feeling lighter. But he found it really weird to be getting the star treatment at the salon after years of poverty.
The Before And After Is Seriously Shocking
The last 25 years had been rough and it showed on his tired face, long gray hair, and worn out clothes. But that had all changed in just a few short hours. Jose's hair, brows, and beard were trimmed and reshaped.
Bringing Jose Back To Life
Garcia and the stylists smoothed his beard and shaved his neckline. They even restored the moisture in his beard by using beard conditioner. A few hours later, Josete was a brand-new man. Now, he needed an outfit to match his new hair.
Next, They Hooked Him Up With An Appropriate Outfit
Now that the team was done cutting and shaping his hair, Garcia bought Josete a brand new outfit, which he put on in a changing room. But he was still curious to see what he looked like, as its been a while since anyone paid this much attention to him.
The New Jose Was A Ray Of Light
Josete looked clean and fresh and he also seemed to be 20 years younger. The transformation had worked wonders on his self-esteem, as he truly was unrecognizable. In fact, he didn't even recognize himself when he saw himself in the mirror.
He Gasped
Josete was finally allowed to see himself in a mirror and he gasped when he stared at his reflection. His eyes were full of tears as he came to grips with the man he had now become.
He Simply Couldn’t Believe It
At first, he couldn't find the words to express what he truly felt at that moment. "I'm so different, no one's going to recognize me unless I tell them who I am," he said in the video.
A New Man
Josete's face and outfit weren't the only things that completely changed. Everyone around him noticed that his demeanor and posture had changed too. He also seemed to embrace a more positive way of looking at things.
Going Back To The Monument
Josete returned to the monument at the plaza where he once smoked cigarettes and spent time alone. But this time, he had a spiffy new outfit, some incredible sunglasses, and a brand new attitude. None of the locals recognized him.
A Total Ladies' Man
He seemed to be a real hit with women, particularly the waitresses working at the cafes and restaurants nearby, who simply couldn't believe that this was the same homeless man that used to help drivers park their cars.
No One Knew It Was Him
Josete visited a local bar he had frequented before and ordered a beer. The waiter he had spoken to many times before was shocked when he came to the realization that the man before him was none other than Josete.
Going Viral
Salva Garcia posted a video of Josete's transformation on La Salvajeria's website for the salon's third anniversary. This allowed people from all around the globe to learn more about his story. Needless to say, everyone was living for it.
The Spanish Hugh Jackman
Josete was dubbed the "Spanish Hugh Jackman" after the video went viral. Ever since then, Garcia has shared that a company has offered Josete financial help, so he's no longer living on the streets.
The Silver Fox
Ever since his makeover, Josete has decided to shave his beard, but chose not to continue dying his hair, so that his natural silver fox color could bloom. Now he's giving everyone some major George Clooney vibes!
He’s No Longer Homeless
Josete was fortunate enough to get a free makeover and found financial assistance that helped keep him afloat. After the insane transformation took place, he now also has a part-time job, an apartment, and a bed, which he comes home to every night to sleep, all thanks to the kindness of a stranger who made it her mission to lend someone in need a helping hand.