Hairdressers give hope to the homeless: free haircuts in Munich!

Hairdressers give hope to the homeless: free haircuts in Munich!

A special initiative took place in Munich's Nußbaumpark on Sunday, August 24, 2025. The “Barber Angels” and the homeless aid association “Die Brücke” offered free haircuts to people in need on this day. The event not only aims to freshen up hairstyles, but also to give the participants back some dignity and self-confidence. The hairdressers appeared in white coats, which gave the event a professional touch.

Among the guests was 49-year-old Erhan, who lives in Neuperlach. He had difficulties with the authorities regarding citizens' money and hopes that a new haircut will give him more self-confidence. “I'm going to the clearinghouse of the city of Munich on Monday,” he says, while master hairdresser Henrik Aschenbrenner cuts his hair. Sitting next to him is Christian, 55 years old and also homeless, who found out about the campaign from “Die Brücke”.

Commitment and support

“Die Brücke” is an organization that has been looking after those in need in Munich for years and distributes food, hygiene products and clothing every Sunday. The commitment of this initiative is based exclusively on donations and volunteer work. A total of eleven hairdressers offered their craft for a good cause this Sunday and offered haircuts and personal discussions for three hours.

As Uwe Pichl, the Bavarian boss of the “Barber Angels”, noted, many hairdressers came from other cities, but there is still a great need for volunteers in Munich. The line to get in was long until 2:30 p.m. and the anticipation of those waiting was palpable.

The idea behind the Barber Angels

The “Barber Angels” were founded in 2015 by master hairdresser Michael Rieder to fight against growing poverty in Germany and to give people in precarious living situations a piece of quality of life back. A fresh haircut can significantly increase self-esteem and positively influence how others perceive you, as the initiative shows. This non-profit organization has now reached over 40,000 people in more than 400 missions in Germany, Austria and beyond, writes the Handwerksblatt.

Although the initiative had to take a forced break during the corona pandemic, a comprehensive hygiene concept was created in order to resume operations. The idea of ​​providing a simple but effective service to homeless people has been recognized internationally, which in turn raises awareness of social issues. In 2019 the project was awarded the “German Engagement Prize”.

The volunteers strive to build a strong network. Through their work, they promote empathy and understanding of social challenges. At the end of the day, a small gesture, like a haircut, can have a big impact on the lives of those in need. The “Barber Angels” are a shining example of how you can achieve a lot through social commitment and small actions.