Long Island's 'Star Wars' Barber's Free Cuts For Christmas, 'My Only Way Of Giving Back'

LONG ISLAND, NY — In selfless acts of kindness, Long Island's own "Star Wars" barber Anthony Ciarvino makes a habit of giving haircuts for free to people who are running low on cash.

He never asks clients to pay up front, and waits till the end to hear the code he has developed over the years, the simple phrase, "Catch you next time."

When seated in the chair, not only do they get a nice clean trim, cut, or buzz, but they are also treated to the whimsey of his shop, which seems more like a museum or a place to chill out than a place where some serious hair is styled. (It is serious though.)

The quaint space, nestled back off Broadway in Rocky Point, serves as the home of Star Wars memorabilia like droids and tie fighters from the 70s and 80s, and even a replica of Han Solo, the iconic character made famous by Harrison Ford, hands stretched out in protest, apparently frozen in "Carbonite." There's a litany of other classic toys, too.

You name it from your childhood, he probably has it.

But the holidays are different.

While anyone needing help to look their best, maybe at a school function, job interview, or a date, can walk in any time of the year and get a cut using the code, the holidays stand out due to a spike in the free cuts he gives out.

His free holiday haircut is in its seventh year now.

Ciarvino, who is known as Tony in the community, cuts hair for his church, and in recent years, he has advertised his free services on his personal Facebook page and in community groups.

"I've been doing it every year," he said. "We've been doing it — not so much, publicizing it — but we used to do haircuts through the church and the organizations that would ask for donations."

He has heard of people making the sacrifice of spending their last dollar on a gift or a toy to make someone else happy.

"They're not looking or feeling good for the holidays," he said. "

So at least the haircut makes them feel better."

Others see his posts and they share them, spreading the news of a free haircut like wildfire.

Some of the clients have traveled.

Other clients describe how it has been a big help for them.

While others tell him the haircut helped them go see their family with a nicer haircut.

"I guess everyone's got a story," he said.

Normally cuts run between $15 and $23, and some people don't have that to spare on the holidays.

Last year, he did about 20 cuts, while this year, it has only been about 10 so far since Thanksgiving.

He will be open Saturday, and then closed Sunday and Monday.

The shop will open again on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, but it will only be a half day.

His policy is no questions asked, so he doesn't really have a lot of poignant holiday stories.

"We don't really ask," he said. "It's not even about that. That's why we don't even want to know."

He doesn't want to embarrass anyone or make them feel bad while they are in the chair.

"They don't even come in and tell you, 'Hey, I'd like the free haircut,'" he said. "They just say, after the cuts done, 'Catch you next time,' and I know exactly what that means."

But at the same token, he has to be wary of holiday scammers.

"You don't want people to take advantage of the situation, because you get that too," he said. "It's free to help somebody. It's not supposed to be to put money in your pocket. Sometimes you help the wrong people."

Despite the downside of his charity, the free cuts make him feel good.

"It's the only way I can give back," he said. "It's very little to what you can give back to some people. Everybody can give something, and most people do. I think, every year, people try to give what they can to the best of limitations."

"I can't give much, and I donate where I can," he said. "Somebody needs something, of course, but the haircuts are just what I can give back to my business. People, they have floods, they have fires, they have heart attacks, they have sickness, and so the community always rallies around."

Christmas isn't the reason for giving back.

"I think people are traveling and seeing family and they're already stressed out as it is," he said, adding that the confusion of where to spend their last dollar causes more anxiety. "They don't got to worry about a haircut. People have nothing, but they feel good going into Christmas."

Haircuts when needed most can make people feel human again.

"We give people the opportunity to look good," he said.

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