Prison bosses hope a massive jail barber recruitment drive will cut more than just hair.
Chiefs reckon they can lop re-offending rates by offering training courses.
A pilot scheme in one jail aims to turn out more than 250 crimpers each year.
If followed elsewhere it could see thousands of lags handed scissors, razors and brushes. Cons are even getting lessons on how to make small talk with customers, pick the correct hair dye and treat scalps.
A source said: “There is a clear link between meaningful work and going straight.”
The hairdressing courses are run at category C HMP Isis in Thamesmead, south east London, which houses criminals aged 25 and under. Jail watchdog the Independent Monitoring Board, which revealed the plan last week, said the men will get a level-three barbering qualification.
Wild-haired PM Boris Johnson visited the nick last year when he backed plans for cons to do a “proper day’s work”.
He said: “Recidivism is running at 70%, we’ve got to get those numbers down, make sure that people get out of prison and get into jobs.”
One ex-con who learned behind bars, Dominic Othol, now cuts the hair of celebs including England footie stars.
The Ministry of Justice said: “Schemes like this give prisoners the skills to get off crime and into work on release.”
