Barber creates safe space for trans men
BBCA barber dedicated to helping trans men in Dorset is providing a more comfortable experience for people transitioning.
Kai Strevens, from Winstons Blighty Barbershop in Wimborne, took the step after his own experiences when trying to get a masculine haircut.
Refusal of service, misgendering and being given feminine hairstyles are all issues he said he had faced.
The Barber Council said it had not experienced or received reports of trans discrimination in barber shops.
For many transgender males, having a masculine haircut is part of leaving their female identity behind.
Kieran Eljay Eaton told the BBC that previously being refused a haircut in a barber shop for his assumed gender had made him feel awkward, so he was glad of the new service.
He said: “You have to explain that you are a trans male and it also means they saw you as a female when you walked in, which isn’t what you want."
Kieran said he was told: "Sorry, we don’t cut females hair, we’re not insured to do a female’s haircut."
He said he found this "a bit weird because I was getting a man’s haircut, which is why I went to a barbers".
“Your haircut completes like the look that you’re going for so that people actually think you’re a man," he said, adding: "The more masculine you can look, the better.”
Kai said he understood the struggles of trying to get a haircut because when he first started transitioning from female to male, he was scared to go into a barber shop.
The barber said: "I used to go to my friend every time and, if they weren’t there, I’d wait for them because I just didn’t want to walk into a new barber shop and have the worry of them misgendering me or turning me away."
He said his customers "in the LGBT community know that I am quite easy-going with it".
"They don't feel ashamed to talk about anything to do with transgender, being a lesbian, being gay, because I am open to it all and being transgender myself, I understand," said Kai.
In a statement, the Barber Council said: "We have not experienced or had reported to us trans discrimination in barber shops and are proud of the industry which has led the way in gender neutral pricing and services."
"The public or industry are welcome to contact us, as the regulator, to report discrimination of any sort."
Established in 2014, the Barber Council is part of The Hair Council, which is the statutory body tasked by the government to maintain a register of hairdressers and barbers in the UK.
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