With scissors in hand, a chair and various books, Denny Beuerbach will arrive in the country to participate in the International Book Fair in Guatemala (Filgua), where he will offer an experience that combines a haircut with a moment of reading aloud.
Known internationally as the Reading Hairdresser, Beuerbach has become popular for a simple concept: while he cuts his clients’ hair, they read a book aloud, turning an everyday act into an experience that is difficult to forget. Additionally, his children’s book The magic hairdresser It is part of its proposal to promote reading among new generations.
The initiative was born as an experiment motivated by a personal need: finding more time to read. Over the years, the project became a phenomenon that has taken it to different countries to demonstrate that an everyday act can become an opportunity to promote reading and strengthen reading aloud.
“The protagonist is never me; it is always the reader,” said Denny Beuerbach in an interview with Prensa Libre. The hairdresser explained that the idea did not arise from a moment of genius, but out of necessity; It just happened.
He shared that the fusion between reading and cutting hair was born during a time when he was working too much. “I’m a hairdresser and I worked in the salon, but I was also always involved in projects and doing other things outside of my job, which led me to question whether I was missing something. I realized that I needed more time for myself and to read.”
One day, while I was thinking about how to make more time for reading, a close friend came to the barbershop. While I attended to him, he began to read a magazine aloud.
Then he said, “Listen, I’m going to bring out a book. If you read this book out loud, I’ll give you a 50% discount.” His friend accepted and Beuerbach discovered that he could also turn that moment into a learning space.
“The funny thing was, my next customer asked if she could read too. I said, ‘Sure, but I’m sorry, I can’t give you a discount too.’ She said, ‘It doesn’t matter, it’s fun.’ And she started reading the same book,” he recalled. That day marked a before and after.
The book was passed from one customer to another, while everyone read aloud. From then on he began to offer that experience occasionally to those who visited his barbershop.
A year later, the first child reading during a haircut completely changed the perspective of the project. “It wasn’t just fun anymore; something magical was happening, something very personal to me.” Since then he decided to direct the initiative towards promoting reading among children.
_(Free Press Photo: courtesy Denny Beuerbach)
Over time he realized that the project was a success. However, even if he offered 50% discounts or even free cuts, he felt like he still wasn’t reaching the kids he really wanted to reach. That’s why he decided to leave the room. He took his red carpet, a large box full of books, and began touring public spaces.
“My main goal is that one day, anywhere in the world, it will be completely normal for a child to walk into a hair salon and read a book out loud while having their hair cut. That’s what I really want,” he highlighted.
This is all part of me. It’s not just something I do; It’s part of my life. I’m not Mother Teresa or someone who thinks, “I’m doing something extraordinary.” On the contrary, I feel that it is all those people and all those children who do something beautiful for me when they read to me.
“With this project we have a stage, which is actually a carpet, but the protagonist is never me, but the child who reads to me,” he added.
He explained that he has the habit of asking the audience to applaud when a child finishes reading. “That makes them happy and proud, which is more valuable to me.”
Although he has received awards in Germany for his work in promoting reading, he assures that his greatest satisfaction is that children feel proud of themselves, “That is worth more than promoting reading alone.”
“I don’t care if they read aloud or silently, fast or slowly, if they read perfectly or if they make mistakes. I don’t judge them,” said the Reading Hairdresser, who explained that his goal is for children to simply be encouraged to read.
During these years, each experience has been different, but he remembers one that he considers very special, it occurred in a library. A boy arrived accompanied by his sister, who explained that he did not know how to read, but wanted to participate. Beuerbach accepted.
“I asked the audience to encourage him and read along with him. The entire audience began to accompany him, saying the letters and helping him move forward. When the boy stopped, everyone encouraged him. Little by little he gained confidence. A week later he returned. He was already reading,” he said.
What impressed him most was watching the boy’s mother crying with emotion while his sister hugged him. “He had found the courage to do it. He was no longer ashamed or afraid. That, to me, is really important.” He added that making a person feel proud of being able to read is giving them something that no one can take away from them.
_(Free Press Photo: courtesy Denny Beuerbach)
Reading aloud has great benefits.
“Reading aloud does something very special. Many people don’t even remember the last time they read aloud. And when they do, something happens to both the voice and the story, because they are both heard by other people.”
Beuerbach believes that reading aloud transforms both the reader and the story itself. He explains that you can even play with different voices while reading.
When serving children, he prefers short stories that can be finished during a single haircut. That way they can complete the story during the experience and feel like they achieved a goal.
“The truth is that I like practically all kinds of stories.” When you finish reading, always take a few minutes to talk about the book.
In addition, he confessed that he is excited to visit Guatemala for the first time and meet new stories and new readers that, he assures, will also transform his life.
_(Free Press Photo: courtesy Denny Beuerbach)