DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Middle School gymnasium was briefly transformed into a barber shop last week, complete with stylists and miniature customers wearing the classic black cape.

Barbers with Ringside Cuts visited Dowagiac Middle School to provide free haircuts to students in the school district’s summer migrant program. In the course of an afternoon, a team of three barbers gave 31 students haircuts.

“This is something I wanted to last year, so this year, I was pushing for free haircuts for the migrant students,” said Ricki Lucio, the staff member responsible for organizing the event. “I know it is hard for migrants to find time to take their kids to go get haircuts or even have the funds to take them for haircuts, so I called up some friends and asked them if they would help me do this for these kids, and they were more than willing to do it.”

Lucio said he wanted to provide the migrant students with haircuts, rather than other necessities such as toothbrushes or other toiletries, because it is something many people don’t immediately think of as a need for young students.

“I remember when I was a watching other kids get cool haircuts, and [my family] not being able to afford it,” he said. “So, I wanted to give back and make sure that these kids are able to get a haircut before we start school in a couple weeks. It’s not something that lasts that long, but kids really like having their hair cut.”

For the barbers who offered the haircuts, they saw the occasion as a way to give back to Dowagiac’s youth.

Migel Rios, owner of Ringside Cuts, said he wanted to provide the haircuts, because he remembers the confidence that a new haircut brought him when he was younger.

“I want the kids to feel good,” he said. “If they feel good, they will do better.”

The other barbers agreed.

“A simple haircut can make a kid smile, make their parents smile as well,” said El Tequero, 23, of Dowagiac. “These kids are going to grow up to remember that we were the guys that came to give me a free haircut.”

Barber Roel Lopez, 20, of Decatur, pointed to smile on the face of a young student whose hair he had just cut when asked why he wanted to participate.

“That’s why I do it,” Lopez said. “A proper haircut from a barber is probably a first for a lot of these kids. Just seeing [the children’s] reactions is great.”

At the end of the day, all three barbers said they wanted to give back to the students and give them confidence before they enter the new school year.

“This was a way to do something good,” Rios said. “I’m really happy to do this.”