Gender-neutral salon helps people express their identity through hairstyles, wild or otherwise

Spring 2019

Gender-neutral salon helps people express their identity through hairstyles, wild or otherwise

April 28, 2019

By Thomas Ilalaole
Medill Reports

Barbara & Barbara salon in Logan Square started off as a small shop in the back of an art gallery. But their idea to create a gender-neutral space — where LGBTQ+ people and others could come to express their personal style through their hair — caught on.

Now the salon has taken over the gallery and its dozen or more stylists help clients use their hair to express themselves. And the prices are set by the cut, not by gender.

https://vimeo.com/medillchicago/review/332839126/2d9f1c6331

The waiting area at Barbara & Barbara Salon (From barbaraandbarbara.com).

Photo at top: Stacy Fox getting her hair cut by stylist Maeva Fernandes at Barbara & Barbara. (Thomas Ilalaole/MEDILL)