Going to the barbershop is something gay men universally
It's hard to find a good barber, but finding a good LGBT-friendly barber is even harder. Divided strictly into male barber spaces and female hair salon spaces, the world of hair care has traditionally been ruled by explicit gender norms which can create an uncomfortably cis-heteronormative atmosphere. And while researching this piece, I found plenty of stories from trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people whose experiences backed this up. Shear inclusivity
Whether it be a barber or a salon, LGBTQ+ people often feel gender stereotypes can give way to prejudice when it comes to getting a haircut. Every six weeks or so, Vic Leon-Cutler, 35, gets behind the wheel and drives eight miles from Lancing to Hove to get their haircut. They have a pretty no-thrills hairstyle — short back and sides, like the Swedish footballer Lina Hurtig — but this simple request can be met with a lot of fuss. Gender Identity, LGBTQ+ and Barbershop • Inclusion in
Five years ago, I’d have run a mile. Yet by the time he finished, I was hooked. I once dismissed barbers as places of toxic masculinity. I’d long been suspicious of male-dominated places (outside. As I reclined further back than ever, I heard a gentle double thud — the chair releasing. My head was now horizontal, my throat completely exposed. 
The identity
Barbershops are incubators for masculinity. As a visibly queer person, regardless of gender, entering a space like that can be intimidating and even scary. But under the right circumstances, going to the barber can also be a positive and affirming experience. This story was republished with permission from The Buckeye Flame. Our shop created a mission statement in our bio online, embracing all the culture from within the diverse community in which we exist.
LGBTQ
But looking at how spaces typically reserved for women and gay men, like hair salons, can become havens for straight men can shed light on how gender works in the twenty-first century. Join the HuffPost Community. Membership connects you to a movement of readers who believe good journalism builds a better world.
The Queer's Guide to Surviving (and Thriving in) the Straight
Perez: An LGBTQ+ barbershop is identified to me as a safe place where a barber can work and a client can be served. As an LGBTQ+ barber, it’s important to find an environment and people you feel comfortable working with. .
Why Some Men Go to Salons for Haircuts
Discover LGBTQ-friendly barbers and queer hair salons across the US offering inclusive, gender-affirming cuts and welcoming spaces. . Why I changed my opinion of ‘macho’ barbershops – and
Join Mia Baz, Mo Field, Alex Morris, Steve Scott, and Terry Reynolds as they share experiences of exclusion and inclusion within the barbershop as it relates to gender and sexual identity. .