He hated his grandma’s haircut. Now he gives seniors the cuts they deserve

The memory is seared into Alvin Foo’s mind: A childhood visit to his grandmother’s nursing home, where he was greeted by her freshly shorn hair – cut so close to her scalp she was almost bald.

“It looked hideous,” he recalled. “I felt they could have done a much better job.” 

That moment left a mark on him.

Years after his grandmother’s passing, Alvin found himself wanting to do something for other nursing home residents, to “help them look their best and feel cared for in what can often be a gloomy place”. 

“I want them to feel more comfortable staying in the nursing home, to lighten up their spirits, make them look more refreshed and energised, so they have the will to continue living and even bring cheer to those around them,” he explained. 

Fast forward decades later, Alvin – in his apron, scissors in one hand, comb in the other – is deftly snipping the hair of an elderly resident at Green Avenue Home for the Elderly.

“Every cut, every comb, every stroke is my way of expressing the love of Christ to them,” said Alvin, a youth worker at Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church.

Around Alvin’s waist, a tool belt holds his essentials, while a nearby folding table displays hair clippers, a hairdressing cape and a neck duster brush.

For the hour, the nursing home’s outdoor communal hall is transformed into a makeshift salon as Alvin serves the elderly.

As he finishes trimming a senior lady’s hair, an elderly man approaches, taps his own head and says: “Botak (‘bald’ in Malay),” before adding, “xie xie ni (‘thank you’ in Mandarin)”.

“Many people think shaving a bald head is easy, but it’s actually one of the most challenging haircuts,” Alvin said. “You need to run the clipper slowly in one continuous motion, like mowing the lawn. Otherwise, you end up with streaks across the head, which looks very unsightly.”

Moments later, the elderly man emerged with a clean-shaven head, eyes gleaming as he gave two thumbs up.

The power of a simple act

For the past three years, Alvin has been volunteering as a hairdresser across the island, providing free haircuts in prisons, nursing homes, community hospitals, active ageing centres and even at events like Hair for Hope.

“I see haircutting as a form of healing,” said the 56-year-old, who is a youth worker at Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church.

“After a haircut, you can see the change in the recipient – they feel refreshed, uplifted, and more connected to themselves. For me, it’s also about the gift of touch. Some (nursing home) residents rarely experience someone touching them in a caring way, and that simple act can mean so much,” he said.

For Alvin, each trim is more than grooming. It’s a moment of connection, dignity and care woven into a simple act of a haircut.

Patricia Tan, Senior Nurse Manager at Green Avenue Home for the Elderly, agreed. “I really appreciate having volunteers here,” she said. “They bring joy and companionship to the residents, especially since family members cannot be around all the time.”

For Alvin, each trim is more than grooming. It’s a moment of connection, dignity and care woven into a simple act of a haircut. “Every cut, every comb, every stroke is my way of expressing the love of Christ to them.”

He has seen how a good haircut can do wonders.

“Even without mirrors, the residents can feel it with their hands and know if they’re satisfied. The way we handle their hair gives them confidence – that’s something I’ve observed,” he said.

“Many residents may initially fear getting a haircut as they are worried it won’t look good. But when they see other residents return to the ward looking neat, they want their hair done too. Many times, we end up with extra requests.”

But beyond boosting confidence, a haircut can sometimes take on a deeper meaning.

“A friend of mine once cut the hair of a resident, not knowing it would be her last,” he related. “A week later, she passed on. Her family reached out to say how grateful they were that she had looked neat and dignified in her final days.”

Alvin has been heartened to notice how, over time, the seniors begin to look forward to their visits. But that bond also brings heartache.

“When you visit nursing homes regularly, the residents become friends. And when you find out they’ve passed on, it’s sad knowing you won’t see them again,” he said.

From a hobby to a way of healing

For Alvin, volunteering as a hairdresser is not just about giving back to the community, but also the realisation of a long-held dream. 

“Haircutting is my hobby. I wanted to do it even back when I was in school, but I didn’t know how to start,” Alvin recalled. “I finally signed up for a hair-cutting course in 2016. I wanted to cut my own hair as my regular barber had retired and I couldn’t find one I liked.”

Alvin with all his haircutting essentials.

Through the years as a volunteer hairdresser, Alvin has gathered plenty of stories – from recipients who insist on paying him to nursing home residents living with dementia who suddenly forget why he is there mid-cut. But it’s the moments of unexpected gratitude that stay with him most.

“Normally, after a haircut, the recipients just thank me verbally. But there was once a nursing home resident who held my hand and thanked me. It was a very loving gesture and it felt as though she saw me as her own kin,” he recalled.

“Then there was another resident who, after I cut her hair, walked off without saying a word. But at the end of the session, she came back with a packet of tidbits and said, ‘This is for you, for cutting my hair.’ That was a nice surprise.”

A national mission to give back 

Alvin is one of many volunteers who have found an opportunity to make a difference through The Healing Nation (THN) platform, which taps on artificial intelligence to match volunteers with opportunities based on their skills and preferences. 

Spearheaded by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), THN is a Methodist-led national mission to mobilise the community to give back to Singapore.

It was launched to commemorate the 140th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore and marks the Methodist community’s contribution to Singapore in commemoration of SG60. Through this initiative, MWS seeks to build an ecosystem of sustained community participation by deepening volunteer engagement. 

The platform hosts opportunities beyond MWS’ Centres or Methodist-related locations, with more than 150 volunteer opportunities available, ranging from senior outreach to reading with students and supporting persons with intellectual disability in water play. These are offered in partnership with 24 SG Cares Volunteer Centres (VCs) and three community partners, connecting to over 100 charities.

Amy Lin, Head of Community Partnership at Care Community Services Society, operator of the SG Cares VC @ Geylang and Serangoon, affirmed this growing movement.

She said: “We are grateful for the efforts of The Healing Nation in rallying individuals to uplift the lives of the underserved. Through this initiative, we have seen more volunteers step forward to support the causes of the social service agencies we serve, enabling us to better meet the needs of the community.

“It is heartening to see this spirit of giving grow, and as we commemorate SG60, it also serves as a timely reminder that each of us plays an important role in strengthening the social fabric of our nation.”

To be part of a growing community of volunteers bringing hope and change, visit www.thehealingnation.sg.

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