“In hard times, we have to remember that other people are facing even greater challenges,” says the owner of RR Barber.

The São Roque barber takes to the streets, and transformation happens. At random locations, Rodrigo Rebelo approaches homeless people and asks: “Would you like a free haircut and beard trim?”.
This act of solidarity turns into socializing without differences. “There are no differences, because while I’m cutting my hair or shaving we talk without any kind of prejudice.”
“When life starts smiling at you, you have to thank God. I had a hard time, because I never had anything given to me, but now that I have something, I try to do good for others and for those who can’t afford even a simple haircut or shave.”
You should know that at RR Barber, a degraded haircut costs nine euros, a shave costs three euros, and a simple cut costs seven euros.
“In difficult times we have to remember that there are other people facing even greater challenges. This is a motivation to keep going, offering support to others when possible.”
The haircuts and beard shave that Rodrigo Rebelo gives to homeless people can be seen on his Instagram page (Rodrigo Rebelo).
“This act of helping someone can inspire other people to do the same,” creating a positive cycle of kindness and empathy.
Not incidentally, a citizen living in Switzerland wanted to send a donation (100 euros) to finance more initiatives of this kind, which Rodrigo Rebelo rejected in the first instance “because it didn’t make sense” what he had been doing. It was then agreed that Rodrigo Rebelo would distribute food kits to the homeless at the end of each cut.

“If I could make a difference…”

“Many of the homeless have no one to help them and lose the meaning of life. They live just another day, with no direction and if I can make a difference, even for an hour, I’ll be there whenever I can.”
Rodrigo Rebelo runs RR Barber, located in the parish of São Roque. He is 25 years old and also from São Roque. RR Barber opened its new premises five months ago, which means that it’s our interviewee’s second barbershop. The first was near the pharmacy in Rua João Leite, where he spent two years and two months.
“Now the space is bigger, not least because I had the ambition to have someone else working with me,” said Rodrigo Rebelo.
In addition to Rodrigo Rebelo, RR Barber works with Pedro Carreiro and tattoo artist Rudy Aguiar.
A barber for three years, he says that “the business is going better than I expected”. He trained at Vila Ensina – Centro de Estudos e Formação, in Ponta Delgada, where he was even invited to train a new wave of students interested in starting a career as a barber.
Grateful for the recognition, he recently participated in a barber competition in Matosinhos at Exponor Porto. He said his participation ” went well,” and the fact that he was among “the six best barbers doesn’t take away from his humility—quite the opposite.”
In this profession, Rodrigo Rebelo appreciates “the transformation that takes place when people leave RR Barber. It’s fascinating to see the difference, as they also admit that a simple cut makes all the difference and raises their self-esteem”.
RR Barber only cuts men’s hair, but “sometimes ladies also come in, who really appreciate a degrade cut.”
Cutting with a cordless machine or with scissors and a running comb are skills that Rodrigo Rebelo has learned to master.

A love of the profession

Barbers have a long history and have played an essential role in many cultures over the centuries. Today, barbers are becoming increasingly popular, but Rodrigo Rebelo points out that “much more than providing a stable living through hard work, you have to love the profession.”
Before becoming a barber, Rodrigo Rebelo had worked for several companies, some linked to fast food. “I worked, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. However, as I was already cutting my father’s and some cousins’ hair at home a few years ago, I ended up taking the course at Vila Ensina – Centro de Estudos e Formação.”
Rodrigo Rebelo had to start cutting hair in the hallway of his parent’s house to pay for the course. He was criticized for this, but he never gave up, and those who criticized him underestimated his persistence.
RR Barber works by appointment only, and it’s challenging for anyone who goes there to be seen because, for the time being, there are only vacancies from May 8th.
From Tuesday to Saturday, RR Barber is open from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 19:00. Sunday and Monday are rest days.

Marco Sousa is a journalist for Correio dos Acores-Natalino Viveiros, director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.