The binary is also reflected in the price. Although gender-based pricing is now illegal in some states like New York and Massachusetts, countless salons across America still charge more for “women’s haircuts.”
This application of the binary leaves out a lot of people who identify somewhere on the spectrum, as well as those looking for something different from conventionally feminine or masculine cuts. At Hairrari, all haircuts are priced according to the creativity of the cut and the length of the hair.
“Hairrari was such a respite for me because it felt like the only public place I could hang out as trans/fully myself,” client AB Blader wrote in an Instagram post. “I remember my first time there telling Syd I wanted a haircut that would make me look like a cute f@g femboy and not a lesbian and they knew exactly what I meant. Truly such a genre euphoric moment.
When Ryczko founded Hairrari ten years ago, she didn’t immediately announce it as neutral. She always wanted the place to be a friendly space for everyone, and especially non-binary people. The clientele and team (many of whom are former clients) have come to reflect this.
Ryczko officially added the gender neutral label about four years ago when a client suggested it. “I never really thought it was a good idea to label Hairrari as neutral,” Ryczko says. “But after thinking about it, I [realized]…it is what it is, it is neutral. We cater to everyone, and we also want people to feel comfortable requesting any type of haircut, whether feminine, masculine or androgynous.
