This Homeless Guy Got An Incredible Makeover – And It Changed His Life In An Unexpected Way

João looked a little worse for wear when he arrived at Padoo Barbearia barbershop. Being homeless meant he had no means to tame his big, bushy beard and out-of-control locks. But the team knew just what to do, and by the end of his makeover, Guimarães was almost unrecognizable. Then, in an incredible turn of events, the Brazilian’s new look led to a life-changing moment that had everyone – including us – in tears.

Serious homeless problem

It’s hard to tell because of all the hair, but João Coelho Guimarães was 45 years old at the time of his dramatic transformation. Heartbreakingly, he’s just one of a large number of people in Brazil without a home. In Sao Paulo alone, for instance, roughly 24,000 people don't have a roof over their heads. That’s according to the city’s own official figures from its last headcount, anyway.

Weathered man

That figure is truly staggering – especially when you think that it could actually be much higher. Before Guimarães’ makeover, he’d been roaming the streets of Goiânia for quite some time. But you may have already guessed that from his disheveled appearance.

Mysterious backstory

Yes, at that point, it’d been roughly three years since Guimarães had a roof over his head. And as for how he found himself in that spot, the 45-year-old’s background is a little bit of a mystery. But whatever his back story may be, one thing was for sure: his hair and beard were in need of some care!

Overgrown hair

Guimarães rocked a scraggly dark mane that rested above his shoulders. His facial hair was in a similar state, too, with the graying beard stretching as far down as his chest. Most barbers would have their hands full dealing with that much hair, but just before Christmas, one establishment took on the challenge.

Checking out the local barber

We’re referring to Padoo Barbearia, of course, which we mentioned a little earlier. Guimarães knew the shop well and would pass it regularly while he strolled the streets. But he hadn’t yet got up the courage to pop his head in. That was until December 2020, when the Goiânia resident decided to drop in on the workers.

Perfect makeover spot

But this wasn’t just any old barber shop. Padoo offers so much more than a haircut. That’s right: the business operates as a stylish clothing store, too, with racks of jeans and shirts dotted around the space. So if you’re looking to undergo a full makeover, this seems like the perfect place!

Proving their generosity

With Padoo’s emphasis on personal grooming and fashion, it’s hardly surprising that the business has quite a social media following. To give you an idea of the numbers, the versatile store boasts more than 10,000 fans on Instagram alone. Impressive, right? But the staff who work there still seem pretty down to earth, and Guimarães’ arrival revealed just how generous they really are.

Padoo's owner

How so? Well, to explain more, the proprietor of Padoo spoke to Universo Online. His name is Alessandro Lobo, and he doesn’t just run the barbers. In fact, he’s a country music artist, too. What a range of talents! During his chat with the site, Lobo recalled the moment Guimarães first walked in.

Taking it one step further

Lobo said, “[Guimarães] came, and we asked him if he was hungry and if he wanted something to eat. But he refused and asked if we had a razor so he could trim his beard. That’s when we had the idea, and everyone who was at the store decided to help him in a different way, providing him with a day of beauty.”

Familiar face

And what a day it proved to be! But before we get into Guimarães’ jaw-dropping transformation, Lobo revealed more about the team’s connection with the 45-year-old. This wasn’t the first time they’d crossed paths, you see.

Part of the community

“We decided to help [Guimarães] because we saw the extreme need he had,” Lobo told Bored Panda. “We made friends with him over the past two months. And when he asked us for a razor, we welcomed him and gave him the full experience.” The owner also touched upon how Padoo’s role in the community has changed in recent times.

A little help goes a long way

“We have some social aid projects, and for us, it is very gratifying to be able to help people, whoever they are,” Lobo continued. “In this time of the pandemic, many people lost loved ones, and others were left with financial difficulties. A little help is always welcome in such a difficult time.”

More than he bargained for

Guimarães was just one of the people Padoo decided to help, and his makeover is pretty spectacular. What did it entail? Well, Lobo wasn’t exaggerating when he said the 45-year-old received the “full experience.” Yep, while the Goiânia resident was at first only interested in trimming his beard, he got far more than he bargained for...

Cutting through the tangles

In a video of the transformation posted on the store’s Instagram page, the barbers start off by focusing on Guimarães’ mop of hair. Specifically, they zone in on the back. With clippers in hand, the professionals begin to shave the shaggy main, leaving a tangled mound at the top. It makes for quite the visual, but their work has some way to go yet.

Tackling the beard

From here, the staff comb the longer hair away from Guimarães’ face and style it, blending it with the shorter cut around the back and sides. At this stage, the new look is really coming together. Yet one aspect of his appearance still requires a touch-up. We’re referring to his ungroomed beard, of course.

Styling the new look

To give the professionals a better view of the wild facial fuzz, Guimarães then rests his head back against the barber’s chair. He’s looking remarkably relaxed at this stage, and we can just make out a smile forming under his beard. It must have been quite a weight of his shoulders, after all – literally and metaphorically speaking! Following a trim, the workers go on to dry his snazzy new haircut.

A whole new wardrobe

By the end, it’s fair to say that Guimarães looks like a different man. But his makeover didn’t end there. Alongside the haircut and styled beard, he received three new shirts from the clothing store. The homeless customer got a pair of shoes, a jacket and some pants on top of that, too.

Showing off their expertise

Lobo told Bored Panda, “It took two hours to complete the transformation. The whole team volunteered, and everyone did a little, adding up to a surprising result.” And he isn’t kidding! Who could’ve predicted this outcome after only a couple of hours? It’s just further proof the guys at Padoo really know what they’re doing.

Tears of joy

But perhaps more importantly, what did Guimarães think of the changes? Was he a fan of the new look? Well, to say that he was pleased would be a bit of an understatement. While Padoo’s visitor kept his words brief, his emotions filled in the blanks. And he started to shed tears of pure joy.

Sharing the transformation

Following Guimarães’ visit, Padoo went on to share its video of the event on Instagram. The business also posted some photos on its social media page, comparing what he looked like before and after. So that should’ve been that, right? The good deed was complete. Well, not exactly. It was this online coverage that led to a somewhat life-changing moment for Guimarães.

Going viral

People were so impressed by the transformation that the footage quickly went viral. Yes, the Instagram images gained thousands of likes. And since being posted in December 2020, the video has earned in excess of 66,000 views and 700 comments.

More attention for Guimarães

Everyone loved the makeover and went out of their way to praise Padoo’s work. One user wrote, “What a wonderful action you have done. Congratulations to everyone involved. You were awesome.” Before long, though, Guimarães’ story gained traction in other unexpected places.

International sensation

Both The Sun and the Daily Mail covered the story on their respective websites in December 2020. Plus, web pages such as UNILAD and, of course, Bored Panda, also spoke of Guimarães’ transformation. How amazing is that? This heartwarming local tale is now an international sensation!

Lots of praise

As for the reactions, Bored Panda’s coverage of the story also generated plenty of comments from online users. One said, “Those barbers are such amazing people. If only everyone could do one small act, the world would be fine.” Meanwhile, someone else echoed those sentiments in a message of their own.

Painful judgement

The user wrote, “This is an excellent story, so never judge a book by its cover. I try to do random nice things for people when I can, and it feels good. And I can forget about the rude, mean, hurtful [ways] people I’ve known have treated me. I wish [Guimarães] all the luck and the very best.”

Strangely familiar

Here’s the thing, though. As the photos on Instagram started to take social media by storm, Guimarães’ story developed another intriguing twist. Some people from Guimarães’ past noticed the images when they went viral. And they couldn’t quite believe what – or who – they were seeing.

Spotting a long-lost family member

So who were these people? Incredibly, they were Guimarães’ mom and sister. Before seeing the photos, they believed their relative was no longer alive. Yes, you’re reading that right! And you can now imagine how shocked they must have been. The pair were convinced that their family member had passed away more than a decade ago.

A surprising twist

Talk about experiencing a seismic shift in your life! Now, you’re no doubt wondering where this twisty tale goes next. Just think what would you do if you discovered that a long-lost relative or child was still alive and well.

Reaching out

Unsurprisingly, Guimarães’ mom and sister quickly contacted Lobo in the hopes that he could help them out. And the entrepreneur didn’t disappoint, managing to organize an unexpected meeting in the lead-up to Christmas. To reveal more about that special day, Lobo continued his conversation with Bored Panda.

Ten years of silence

Lobo told the website, “[Guimarães’] sister Maria Coelho came in a hurry when she saw the pictures. She lives in Brasília DF and has been waiting for ten years to hear some news about him.” From there, the Padoo chief reiterated that her family had been convinced that Guimarães was no longer alive.

Capturing the reunion

So after Coelho got in touch, Padoo reached out to Guimarães and documented the magical reunion. Yes, the staff snapped pictures of the 45-year-old as he returned to the barbers on a sunny December day. He wasn’t quite as glammed up as the last time, wearing a T-shirt and shorts with a rucksack over his shoulder.

Tear-jerking moment

Mind you, that detail quickly faded into the background when Guimarães and Coelho finally reunited in the store’s doorway. Following a decade apart, the siblings shared a lovely embrace, unable to hide their happiness. And once again, Guimarães couldn’t hold back the tears.

Huge response

And he’s not the only one. We can feel a tear or two coming on ourselves! What a beautiful moment. After they came together, Padoo then shared the images in another Instagram post, which generated an equally large response on social media. The montage of photos earned just under 23,000 views and more than 100 comments. Guimarães is obviously a celebrity in the making.

Not the end of troubles

We know what you’re thinking: Guimarães could finally leave the homeless life behind, right? We hate to break it to you, but that’s sadly not what happened. Lobo shared the details with Bored Panda.

Staying on the streets

“João is still on the streets,” Lobo said. “His sister wanted to welcome him and take him home, but he didn’t want to. He said that on the streets, he feels free. That’s why he didn’t want to go home.” You didn’t see that coming, did you?

Inspiring hope

And it’s fair to say that a number of Bored Panda users were in the same boat, too. But one person took real heart from the tale, tying it back to their own situation. In the website’s comment section, they wrote, “I’m adopted and long to find my birth family. After reading this story, [I think] that someday my greatest wish could be realized.”

Renewing faith

“Your kindness renewed my faith in the compassion still alive in today’s world,” the user then added. “[Guimarães] is a very handsome man, and I would so love to meet him one day. It is sad that he chose to return to the streets but very understandable. My heart goes out to him.”

Lobo's take

So yes, while the conclusion is a little bittersweet, Guimarães was clearly happy enough to stay where he was. Plus, he’s now reconnected with his family. That’s life-changing in its own right – especially after a decade of uncertainty. What did Lobo think of it all, though?

Big changes

“It is Christmas time, and the intention was to show that with little we can change someone’s life,” the salon owner said to Universo Online. “That we have to do good without looking at who. We did not imagine that it would have this repercussion.”