Loudon barber offers free haircuts in area impacted by Hurricane Helene

After seeing others helping those impacted by Hurricane Helene, the owner of Hamp’s True Definition Barbershop in Loudon became inspired to do what he could.

And what Daniel Hampton could do is what he always does: Lift people's spirits through the morale-boosting power of a good haircut.

Hampton was in his shop following the late September storm when some of his regular customers popped in to ask if Hamp’s had anything to donate to a trailer heading for Asheville, N.C. That’s when Hampton got the idea to load up and do some haircuts on a Monday — when the local shop is closed.

Scott Newman, a sergeant with the Loudon Police Department and a Loudon County Board of Education member, heard about the plans quickly coming together for Oct. 7. And … being off work that day too, he offered to drive his brother’s trailer.

The crew, which also included Fernando Morales and Bobby Bass, went about 85 miles northeast of the shop to Newport, Tenn., in Cocke County. They set up tents and barber chairs near Feed the Sheep Ministries, an organization that provides free food to those who need it.

The barbers gave haircuts to 30 or so people.

“They were just telling me, more or less, how some of them had just got water,” Hampton said. “Some of them had just got power restored.”

Cocke County is one of the state’s nine distressed counties and ranks among the 10 percent most economically distressed counties in the nation, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. The flooding didn’t help conditions for the people who lived there, Hampton said.

“I couldn't hardly go to sleep last night. So it was special,” Hampton said in an Oct. 8 interview. “It's kind of overwhelming … I don't know what to do with myself.”

'I WANT SOME MORE OF IT'

Newman was impacted positively by the effort, as well.

“All that took advantage of the free haircuts walked away with a smile, a little sense of pride and knowing someone cares. Something as simple as a free haircut can change your view in life,” Newman said.

“In my job … I try everyday to help someone; I’ve helped homeless people many times. It’s my job to help. But yesterday was different. The gentlemen standing behind those chairs were there to give back!”

The experience was a new one for Hampton, and he and the barbers are already planning their next trip.

They want to go farther — into harder hit areas — and stay longer.

“I'm trying to look for some more barbers, maybe, or maybe a couple hairstylists as well — because women need help, too,” Hampton said.

“And we're not necessarily cosmetologists, but we did women's hair (in Newport).”

For that trip, they'll also be donating unused items that people need in the cold weather. They're asking for hygiene products, paper plates, plastic utensils, propane tanks, propane heaters, blankets, pillows, coats, socks and toboggans and gloves to be dropped off at the barbershop, 930 Mulberry St. during business hours through Oct. 19.

Hampton found it amazing that even though he didn’t make any money that day in Newport, he couldn’t stop smiling.

“Just being a selfish human, as most of us are, you would think: ‘That ain't no fun,’ or ‘How am I going to do that?’” he said. “But man, it was just rewarding in other ways, and makes you feel so good that it's like, I want some more of it.

“It's wild, I didn't know I had that in me.”