How did you find a Hair Salon?

[Guest Mia J]

I have a question on how some of the people here found a hair salon that were accepting of you.

I know I can't go to one of the two local salons in the town that is closest to me because of comments my spouse has heard them make when she would go to them.

But I am only about 15 miles from the metro area and there are a lot of places there that are not too far.

My hair is now past shoulder length and I want to get it styled and take care of the split ends. I not only want to find a place that is accepting but one that will not do anything that will damage my hair because of personal prejudices.

What kind of experiences have you had.

Mia

[MackenzieB]

I found mine via the resource pages on a local support group website. Yea, I know, I cheated. But I do need to find a closer one. I'm probably just going to look on Yelp for a salon in the Capitol Hill area here (that's the predominate LGBT area). I know... cheating once again.

[VickySGV]

My favorite cosmetics "warehouse", ULTA, where I get my Derma Blend foundation has a styling salon in it. I was in girl mode, buying one of their hair extension pieces one day, and one of the hairstylists had walked over to where I was attempting to get the right color and offered to help me match it to my then natural color, but did a nice sales job by telling me that the next day, and for a week after, they were having a special on Color & Cut services. I made an appointment with her for the next afternoon, and she told me to bring the hair piece in and we would match it with a color that would get my gray under control. The cut part of the job was easy for her, since it was just a tiny bit of layering, and a "dead end" removal. I've had two root jobs and trims since then. I have behaved as girl and been treated accordingly. The first hair job was right before Thanksgiving and she was cooking for her family, and since I am a better than average cook, we had fun talking about the cooking as she was working on my hair.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

My mom and I have been going to this particular salon for ... well since we pretty much moved down here to FL in '89. She's almost family so once my mom told her about me being transgendered she's been a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen and then with me she's given me ideas and suggestions about how to look more female and just watched my progress.

[Guest mistygirl7]

As for me that works in a salon, most likely No one cares. but there there can be few that makes comments. The best you can do is make sure the stylist doing your hair is polite and nice and just ignore the others.

[Guest Mia J]

Misty I suppose I could make the 880 miles between us and come in for an appointment but that is a little further than I want to travel.

I had thought about calling some places and asking if they were gender friendly but I do not want to out myself even before I step through the door.

Mia

[VickySGV]

Mia -- the subject of my being Trans has not come up where I go. After two years on HRT, my hair did not give me away all by its lonesome during the first shot. In fact, the girl commented on how much healthier and femininge mine was for my admitted age, at 60+. I guess post menopausal women develop a more male type hair, so who will know??

[Guest Pammy]

I found mine by word of mouth. Just find someone who has a really nice cut or style that you like and ask where she had it done and who did it. Most women will freely share this information. If not, there are always phone calls. While I was casting about in this strange place for a new stylist, I just called ahead and asked if they were trans-friendly. Those that said yes got a try, those that said no or demurred, did not.

You can also follow other's advice and ask around at meetings or look for online referrals.

Love

Pamela

[Guest Gwendolyn Elizabeth]

Misty I suppose I could make the 880 miles between us and come in for an appointment but that is a little further than I want to travel.

I had thought about calling some places and asking if they were gender friendly but I do not want to out myself even before I step through the door.

Mia

Misty wasn't that far from me. And I think she did a wonderful job. Thank you Misty...

[Michelle 2010]

I just started using mine this year, after no hair cut until I had a 6 inch pony tail. she came recommended from a trans advocate who has her trans daughter visit the stylist when in town. I called and referenced the customer and said "I was told you are trans friendly and would like to give you a try." She made no issue of it one way or the other. I've been twice and sought input from her on layering, color, how to prevent breaking the hair, etc. I tip well and she spends what I think is quite a bit of time just combing it and grooming as the hair finished air drying. A very sensual experience...

The shampoo girl may or may not know I'm trans (yeah, right...lol!) She loves the length and color. It is a bright, busy, feminine salon which specializes in coloring hair, so maybe the customers are not kids or twentysomethings. I don't think I've seen another man... Although its a large room, each station has a sense of its own space due to the displays, mirrors etc. And I luuuv the experience.

I have received no weird glances, no comments from others. As I have become more comfortable in my feminine nature, I don't question if I am "spotted" as "femme". I simply assume I am recognized as such if I have my hair down and earrings in. People are comfortable with me if I am comfortable with who i am; that is, a customer enjoying the salon experience.

I highly recommend trans folks find a salon where they can be comfortable. The experience is too rewarding to not include it in being who you really are

Hugs

Michelle

[Cyndee]

Hi Mia,

Thought I would answer this thread this morning. Word of mouth led me too a very nice place in downtown Seattle that is accepting and professional. I get my custom hair piece(s) there, and they take care of my natural hair which is down my back.

Cindy -

[Paula ult]

The stylist i go to was recommended to me by her brother, she ran a beauty salon for many years them retired, she decided to set up a room in her home that is very professional, with low overhead she charges less than going to a normal beauty salon.

Paula

[Candykane]

I think I would just walk into a few shops(hopefully with info from friends as to which shops are GOOD) If a shop is trans friendly it is not naccessaraly a reccomendation of thier skills. Pick a few shops and walk in and look it over. Give it a try. If you like the shop and some one is talking behind your back, well thats life. I hate to be Catty but shops with gay guys seem to do the best with hair, and no way can they comment about us.

Candy Kane