Augusta barber gives free, discounted haircuts to those in need

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A new barbershop in Augusta is working to help people who are less fortunate.

We met the owner, who says he’s seen how haircuts can change lives.

“When I opened up my shop, I always said to myself, I have to give back in some kind of way,” said D’Michael Collier.

Last year, Collier opened his shop, Fresh Startz. It’s an appropriate name when you see what he does.

“Everyone goes through things, right? Knowing that everyone goes through things, I know that my haircut at the very end of the day is going to make that person feel a lot better than the way they walked in,” he said.

He knows everyone isn’t able to afford a haircut.

That’s why Collier has partnered with a non-profit to help give free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness.

He also gives discount haircuts to kids who are less fortunate and kids who get all A’s and B’s.

“Yes, for me, it is a loss,” said Collier. “It may just be a loss of time, and in certain cases, a loss of money. However, I don’t think about that part, because that’s not the important part to me,” said Collier.

It’s about helping everyone in his hometown, no matter who they are, get a fresh start.

After more than two decades of cutting hair, Collier knows what kind of difference a fresh cut can make.

“To know that my haircut had something to do with the betterment of their soul, that right there is a treasure to me,” he said.

Collier’s shop is located on Laney Walker Boulevard, close to A.R. Johnson.

If you’re interested in keeping up with him, you can follow him on Instagram.

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