Seeking to address fears inside salons, queer barbers make their own spaces

In response to safety concerns, queer-friendly barber shops have emerged to create spaces of inclusivity and respect.

As a licensed barber, Addison Mees considers an appointment for a haircut as an act of self care. The owner of HEADCRAFT studio in Chandler, Mees opened the space in November as a haven of inclusivity that encourages clients to “Come as you are. Leave with great hair.” 

He designed the studio with that spirit by intention, offering a safe space for everyone, and primarily focused on the LGBTQ+ community. A space where gender and sexual identities—and hairstyles that express individuality—aren’t judged or assumed, but rather embraced. 

He’s also attempting to create an inclusive and affirming space for those who may be neurodivergent, introverted, and those who navigate and manage a mental illness. The name of the studio itself is actually a nod to the intersection of hair, identity and mental health, Mees said. 

More than anything, Mees' shop is a departure from tradition – of the run-of-the-mill businesses catering to cisgendered people or those not within the LGBTQ+ community. Businesses that can be social minefields for people who live a queer experience.. 

“There’s a lot of toxic masculinity in the barber world,” Mees said.