Every Sunday, Mark Bustos roams the streets of New York. But he's not going shopping or looking at the art, his purpose is a bit simpler - to offer free haircuts to those who need it most.
The 30-year-old hairstylist works at a high-end salon where haircuts can cost up to $860 but every Sunday he takes his talent to the streets.
He doesn't take money for his work - his only purpose is to try and make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
"The first thing I say to them when I go up to them is 'I want to do something nice for you today'," he said.
"The best way to inspire other people is to be inspired by others."
It was a trip to the Philippines two years ago that sparked Bustos' work, working with local barbers and giving poor children haircuts.
"I decided to work in a little barber shop in the province that my family is from, pay the barbershop owner and pay the barbers to allow me to work next to them for the day," he said.
"We had the less fortunate children roll into the barbershop and I thought, why not bring this back home?"
Bustos said his reasons for giving away free haircuts to those most in need are simple - he wants to give someone else a reason to feel good.
"The reason I'm out on the streets is so I can inspire other people and I just so happen to be a hairstylist and I'm able to give people haircuts on the street," he said.
"But everybody does something that they can do for anybody out on the street."
"If you feel like you don't have much of a talent, then it's not too hard to dig into your pockets or even give somebody something to eat or just even be nice and smile at somebody."
Share
