‘The impact has been huge’: Halifax barber offers free haircuts to those in need

David Arevalo cuts a man's hair at Hope Cottage in Halifax. (Vanessa Wright/CTV Atlantic)

Cutting hair has always been David Arevalo’s specialty.

Even as a full-time nurse and barber at Otti Studio in Halifax, the 22-year-old finds the time to give free haircuts to those in need.

“A haircut isn’t just about hair, it’s about making people feel like themselves again,” says Arevalo.

It all started when he began volunteering at Hope Cottage, a Halifax non-profit that offers food and other resources to people in need.

“Matthew, one of the workers here, reached out to me because he knew I cut hair and wanted to set something up. This was back in January. So, we kind of set it up and ever since February, we’ve been cutting hair here,” Arevalo says.

The haircuts happen once a month and frequently draw in regulars and new clients.

“Honestly, I would have never expected any of this to come from cutting hair. I started cutting hair at Dal in the dorms. But the impact has been huge, being able to help people and being able to give back,” says Arevalo.

He adds it doesn’t just give his clients a sense of dignity, but the knowledge that someone is listening.

“They love it, honestly. They like the support,” Arevalo says.

“They like knowing that their story can get out there, that they have a voice…I’ve had a lot of clients here at Hope Cottage kind of feel like they don’t have a voice or that they’re kind of being shut down a little bit. So, I’m using cutting hair to display their voice.”

Arevolo documents his journey on social media of what’s it like balancing life as a nurse and a barber.

He’s not quite sure what the future holds but hopes it won’t end here.

“Honestly, whatever direction it goes, I’m just happy to be here. But I would love for this to grow and to impact more people in the community.”

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