Comfortable Service Experiences
Finding Value in Someone Who Provides a Tailored Service
I am one of those people who tends to not be happy with my haircut until I have gotten home, had it for a week, and I settle into the new look. For the most part, it isn’t the fault of the hair stylist, I just take a bit to adjust. Knowing this, I really value getting my haircut by someone who I believe understands my vision. Being someone with she/they pronouns, it is really hard to find someone who gets the look I am going for. Most hairdressers see me and assume that I want a very feminine look. Even when I say that I want to look more androgynous, I want people to at least suspect that I am queer when they see me, or I want to look edgy, I would walk out with hair that makes me look twice my age, with a little old lady haircut. Those haircuts are fine, but it just didn’t match who I was!
So I decided to try to find a hairstylist who specifically focuses on hair for the queer community, because they more likely have that vision I am wanting from them. Even though I am not trans, I used www.strandsfortrans.org, because these providers I could trust would be able to convey gender through hair.
I chose Headcraft in Chandler (just south of the Chandler Fashion Center Mall, near where the 101 and 202 south meet), and I was so pleased! I appreciated how the services themselves weren’t charged as male or female haircuts. He took time to ask me more about myself and how I wanted to present. And he actively asked for feedback on how the hair was looking throughout the process.
Something I didn’t realize that I appreciated was the sensory experience he offered. I didn’t realize how having a bunch of different stylists around me was a bit overwhelming in other places, where I would zone out a bit! His space was darker with soft and warm lighting. He asked about comfort, with the door opened or closed, how comfortable I felt if someone touched my hair, and whether I preferred talking or not. Those things made a difference for me that I didn’t know that I needed!
My experience there reminded me very much of what I aspire to offer as a therapist. I actively discuss sensory preferences in the therapy office and adjust the office to make it more comfortable. I take my time to really understand what a person wants from therapy, and what they want that they experience to feel like. Having someone you can trust to hold your vision of progress and success, who will make your comfort a priority, is worth the price!
Plus, similar to my hairdresser, you don’t have to pay an outrageous price to get a good experience. I know that I offer reasonable rates compared to therapists around me, and I am happy to offer discounted rates to those who need them. Take the time to find who will give you the experience you want, and gift that to yourself! You deserve to feel comfortable and taken care of.
