Mourners offered free haircuts at Palace

The free services have been available every day since October 14, when the body of the much-revered King was moved from Siriraj Hospital to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall of the Grand Palace.
Somphop Tochalui, a 40-year-old mourner, was delighted to see such a free service available.
“I wanted to have a neat haircut before I entered the Throne Hall,” he said.
He said the services were voluntary. “They were very nice. My haircut was good,” he said.
Supervised by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, the free haircut services will be available till January next year.
Surapee Wisetkoop, who oversees the volunteers, said the service was provided to all mourners, especially ones whose hairstyle did not look appropriate to pay homage before the Royal Urn inside the Throne Hall.
One of the volunteer barbers Chatchai Wititsupalai, 27, said he and the others had of their own volition chosen to give free haircuts to pay respect to the late King and also improve their hair-cutting skills in the process.
He said the volunteer barbers had contacted each other with the idea to undertake such a charity campaign for this occasion.
“This is my first day as a volunteer barber while the others who asked me to join had come here since October 14. Even professional barbers are providing free haircuts,” he said.
He said the service would cover hair-cutting and hairdressing and all the barbers can provide regular haircuts in a wide range of styles.
“I am proud I’m able to take part in a generous campaign to help other people although this charity work is so tiring,” he said, adding hundreds of mourners turned up each day to avail of the free service, and the service was provided until late night.
An employee from Bangkok, Narumon Kitcharoen, 57 said this was a really good campaign because they were bringing skills in which they were good in to help others.
“I saw many people waiting for free haircuts and many were walking feeling better after a new haircut. I also decided to try this free service, and it was really satisfying,” she said, soon after getting her hair cut.
Bang-on Ueaprasert, a 69-year-old housewife living in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, said she did not need a new haircut but she wanted to support the volunteer barbers because of their good intention to help others.
“I saw the tent where the free haircut service was taking place when I was walking around Sanam Luang, so I decided to try it. The barber welcomed me politely and served me professionally. And it was free,” she said.
She said she was very satisfied with the service and wanted to thank all the volunteers.
Wannapong Rodrew,45, a fruit gardener from Chumphon province said he wanted to have a part in helping volunteers barbers improve their skill.
He said he knew about the service from newspapers and TV.
“I know all barbers have to practice their skills using mannequin heads, but I think it would not be as effective as real heads, so I wanted to help them sharpen their hairdressing skills as well as to support and encourage volunteers having the intention to do something good in memory of the late King” he said. He added that he admired and respected them for sacrificing their time and money to take part in the campaign.