'If You Look Good, You Feel Good': Metro Barbers Offer Free Back To School Haircuts

The return to school is all about new clothes and supplies, but one metro barber realized some kids may need a fresh haircut.

The 20th annual Faded and Educated Back to School Free Haircut Day was held Sunday at Star Spencer High School. Organizers said this was their biggest event yet.

"If you look good, you feel good," said Henry Talley, founder of Faded and Educated. He has been a barber for 27 years and has been hosting the free haircut event for 20 years.

"I’ve got a God-given gift and ability and I just want to impact the world with my ability," he said. "It's a labor of love for me."

He feels that a simple haircut can have a big impact.

"Self-esteem means a lot," said Talley. "Kids can be cruel, so giving them a good haircut for the first day of school, that's one thing that they don't have to worry about."

School supplies are essential, but a boost of confidence is priceless.

"I just want to be able to impact a kid’s life, you know?” said Talley. “And send them to school looking like everybody else."

Barber Michael Hankins remembers how good that felt.

“I used to be one of these kids in the chair,” Hankins said.

"As soon as I became a barber I knew I wanted to be a part of it."

Now, he's on the other side of the chair.

"It’s just as awesome as being the one getting their hair cut," he said.

And now Hankins get's to carry on the tradition.

"I can remember the anxiety when I was a student," said Hankins. "You just want to give everyone a fresh start and give them that extra encouragement."

Twenty years of growth for Faded and Educated is now packed into a high school gym.

"For the last five years, we've done it at my alma matter while servicing over 500 kids," said Talley.

This year they had over 75 volunteer barbers and 40 volunteer hairstylists.

"The Fade N Up family is here, I’ve got barbers from Lawton, barbers from Norman, all coming together to make an impact," said Talley.

They want to make an impact one fade and one cut at a time, because at the end of the day, it's all about confidence.

"It’s like I said, if you look good you feel good," Talley said.

He says Faded and Educated has a big future, with even more barbers and more haircuts each year.