Imagine wanting to quit smoking so badly that you’d cage your own head to stop. Sounds extreme, right? But for Ibrahim Yücel, a 52-year-old from Turkey, it was the only way he could finally kick his lifelong addiction.
Yücel, who had been puffing through two packs of cigarettes a day since he was 16, reached his breaking point after losing his father to lung cancer. Determined to save himself and his family from a similar fate, he decided to take drastic action.
Enter the “head cage.” Inspired by a campaign featuring motorcyclists in helmets, Yücel handcrafted a bizarre contraption out of 40 meters of copper wire. This homemade device, which looks like a cross between a birdcage and medieval headgear, is designed to prevent him from sneaking in even a single cigarette.
And here’s the kicker—every morning, Yücel hands over the keys to his cage to his wife or daughter. That way, no matter how much temptation strikes, he’s physically unable to unlock it himself. Talk about commitment!
Yücel can still nibble on crackers and sip water through the gaps in the cage, but full meals require an “unlock session.” Despite its limitations (and its hilariously over-the-top look), Yücel’s family has supported his mission—even if they occasionally feel embarrassed by his unusual solution.
His neighbors, on the other hand, aren’t quite sure what to make of it. Footage of Yücel strolling around with his metal-covered head has left young children stunned and passersby doing double takes. It’s not every day you see someone turn themselves into a walking anti-smoking billboard.
When photos of Yücel’s headgear surfaced online, reactions poured in. “That’s commitment right there,” one Reddit user applauded. Another joked, “I need this! Nothing else will stop me from smoking!” Others shared mixed feelings, with one person calling it their “personal nightmare” due to the grid-like view.
While some find his method ridiculous, there’s no denying it’s effective—or at least memorable. Yücel may have embarrassed his family and confused his neighbors, but he’s also inspired smokers worldwide to think outside the box (or, in his case, the cage).
Would you go to such lengths to break a bad habit? Share this wild story with your friends and see what they think—because if one thing’s clear, Ibrahim Yücel isn’t just quitting smoking. He’s making history while he’s at it.
