A homeless man was identified by his family after a photo of him sporting a new haircut went viral on social media. The family had reported him as deceased after he disappeared over a decade ago.
A homeless man from Brazil, João Coelho Guimarães, whose photo went viral after receiving a haircut, has been reunited with his family after they believed him to be dead for over a decade. Guimarães had been estranged from his family for years until a social media post circulated worldwide, leading his family to discover that he was alive.
Guimarães had been reported as deceased by his family after he went missing, spending the last decade of his life living on the streets, surviving by collecting trash.
When Alessandro Lobo, a businessman who owns a men’s fashion store and barber service, offered Guimarães food, he declined but requested a trim for his beard. This prompted Lobo to provide him with a full day of grooming and beauty services.
After grooming Guimarães’ beard, hair, and mustache, the business gifted him three shirts, a pair of trousers, a jacket, and new shoes as a gesture of kindness.
Lobo snapped a photo of Guimarães’ transformation and shared it on social media, urging other businesses to lend a helping hand to those in need.
The before-and-after image quickly gained traction on social media platforms. In the initial picture, Guimarães’ face was barely discernible beneath his overgrown beard and hair. Despite being described as a “very shy person” who spoke few words, he radiated satisfaction and gratitude for his newfound appearance.
The viral post eventually reached Guimarães’ family, who arranged to meet him on December 17.
“They saw the photo and reached out to me. Since he doesn’t have a phone or a fixed address, tomorrow we will comb through the neighborhood to try to locate him,” Lobo stated.
“It’s the holiday season, and the goal was to demonstrate that with a little effort, we can make a significant difference in someone’s life. We should strive to do good deeds without prejudice. We never anticipated the impact it would have,” he added.
